Post your Ground Mount Setup: No questions or comments on the setup. (pictures only)

[bestconcreteblock]

 

[RichSolar268]

My DIY Solar Carport

 

[Offgrid Jungle]

Eight 400 watt panels in Costa Rica. Hand made stands that allow for angle changes. Our recommended angle is 8 degrees down here LOL

 

[RichSolar268]

View attachment 232951View attachment 232952My DIY Solar Carport

Will do in the morning when the sun comes out.

As promised (almost forgot)

 

[RV8R]

Looking to build a mobile ground mount system... only for 600w total so (6) 100W panels. I'd love to do a pole mount setup but I won't likely be able to do that since I don't plan on burring the pole in concrete...

Hi @matttelz


Not saying what I did is good or right ,,, but;

3 PT Fence posts 8’ pounded in over 3’

2x6’s

Metal angle

 

[Hedges]

Is all the weight of everything reliant on the shear strength of the screws/nails? or hopefully lag bolts

I spent a small fortune in lag bolts to secure the structure.
I'll be replacing the 4x4 Posts with concrete pillars later this year.

The concern is weight of panels and rectangular frame causing joints like this to fail/slip, effectively punching post up through PV panel.

Would like to see horizontal joist mounted on top of post. Maybe notch post so joist bears its weight on top and extended part of post allows screws from the side. Or joist entirely on top of post, with board or plywood gusset on the side screwed into both.

 

[Osmethne]

The concern is weight of panels and rectangular frame causing joints like this to fail/slip, effectively punching post up through PV panel.

Would like to see horizontal joist mounted on top of post. Maybe notch post so joist bears its weight on top and extended part of post allows screws from the side. Or joist entirely on top of post, with board or plywood gusset on the side screwed into both.

View attachment 233299

Yeah that seems to be a good way to build it. I see a lot of videos of people building it without a notch. Those lag bolts are carrying quite a bit of weight.

 

[OzSolar]

Would like to see horizontal joist mounted on top of post. Maybe notch post so joist bears its weight on top and extended part of post allows screws from the side. Or joist entirely on top of post, with board or plywood gusset on the side screwed into both.

You could add a bracket after the fact. Once you're in the deck section at your local big box store you'll see all sorts of things like this for less $2 each. They also add a lot of rigidity to the whole system helping to reduce twist.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Simpson-Strong-Tie-A23Z-Angle-Z-Max/1115047

 

[Dacflyer]

Here is my setup, used mostly square 1.5" sign post
(salvaged). They are anchored in cement. I used 5 gal
Buckets as forms, and a little more than 1 bag of concreet. Can be taken apart of i wanna move them..
I have a total of 2 racks, more to be built later on..
I have 3x 330w panels mounted to 1 rack.

 

[HalfBaked]

Looks legit... Lol

That mount has survived several intense storms and one near miss tornado. I will upgrade if it becomes necessary.
Meanwhile, here's the summer version:

 

[Slalom man]

Lets keep this thread to member builds of their ground mount either home-made, store bought or Frankenstein.

No questions or comments on the setup, just members post their mounts only with details below. I want a thread where people can scroll through everyone's post/pictures and see what their setup is and get ideas what might work for them instead of searching for days at every thread. If you have questions or comment about a build, message the member directly. I (and probably other people too) just want to scroll down and see the setups. Just hit the Like button and that is all. Please no comments or questions.

Details of your ground mount system including some detail about your setup. EX. - total KW size of ground mount built for, overall dimensions, what size ground contact posts you used (PT, Poles, I-beam...) Costs to build and maybe a picture if you did something unique (single axis, adjustable, etc..), your location (Canada vs FL will have an impact on design), what manufacture you purchased from if store bought​

4-6 Picture of Overall ground mount completed, picture with some panels on but still being added so we can see the mounts/bracing under the panels, how it's anchored into ground (concrete, screw anchor, wires, etc..), picture behind the panels. pictures of how the vertical posts are connected to panel posts (some people use lags, u-bolts, etc..) We don't need overloaded with every single angle and every nut and bolt. This is just to give a "tease" so if someone likes your setup, we can message directly and get more information.

Thanks for playing!!

Lets keep this thread to member builds of their ground mount either home-made, store bought or Frankenstein.

No questions or comments on the setup, just members post their mounts only with details below. I want a thread where people can scroll through everyone's post/pictures and see what their setup is and get ideas what might work for them instead of searching for days at every thread. If you have questions or comment about a build, message the member directly. I (and probably other people too) just want to scroll down and see the setups. Just hit the Like button and that is all. Please no comments or questions.

Details of your ground mount system including some detail about your setup. EX. - total KW size of ground mount built for, overall dimensions, what size ground contact posts you used (PT, Poles, I-beam...) Costs to build and maybe a picture if you did something unique (single axis, adjustable, etc..), your location (Canada vs FL will have an impact on design), what manufacture you purchased from if store bought​

4-6 Picture of Overall ground mount completed, picture with some panels on but still being added so we can see the mounts/bracing under the panels, how it's anchored into ground (concrete, screw anchor, wires, etc..), picture behind the panels. pictures of how the vertical posts are connected to panel posts (some people use lags, u-bolts, etc..) We don't need overloaded with every single angle and every nut and bolt. This is just to give a "tease" so if someone likes your setup, we can message directly and get more information.

Thanks for playing!!

My ground mount is behind the house in full Texas south sun. Belle, the guard cow, patrols, mows and fertilizes the area.
This can produce 4.8KW from 20-Santan purchased panels.
The frame is built of 1 1/2" rigid pipe with 1/2" Texas oil field sucker rods for mid supports and frame braces all anchored in concrete.
This was designed with single axis rods to allow for hail mode. A locking bolt, leveling plates and a two slot bushing design lets me turn and secure the panels in 15 minutes when hail is predicted.
I told my wife that solar isn't so much about the cost, it's about letting this retired guy work, weld and wire. In peace.
This is my first dive into solar. More to come.

 

[greasemonkoid]

Repost, but just completed the install with all the panels yesterday. Likely more gussets to be added for peace of mind before winter. 16 Heliene, 535w bifacials @ 41*

 

[MountainmanBill]

 

[OGSkeptic]

Aptos 370s. Adjustable angle grount mounts. Flat (storm), summer, spring/fall, and winter settings. Switched to fall setting today, about 5% increase. So far so good.
Also some Ecoworthy 200watt bifacials off the front of the shop. Not ground but not roof mount...

 

[ericfx1984]

Temporary ground mount(s)

 

[seneysolar]

1 panel is all you need to keep the beer cold!

 

[sunshine_eggo]

Yes, if they are producing power

Agree! My first ground mount (stored in the RV when not deployed):

Post your Ground Mount Setup

Wanting to be respectful here. It is fun to look at someone’s project and consider options. Being a big fan of not making roof penetrations, what s_eggo did is admirable. What I think he is calling top rails looks like round-corner square pipe on our containers. Maybe there will come a day...

diysolarforum.com

and second...



And final:

Post your Ground Mount Setup

I see lots of racks made from wood. What is the lifetime of them going to be? Maybe 10 years and then you're doing it again? Here's one of mine. It's held down by duckbill style anchors. I am pretty sure that 4x4 pressure treated posts are going to last more than 10 years. At a bare...

diysolarforum.com

 

[Supervstech]

Yes, if they are producing power

Ok.
This is my 300W array solar charging station.
Iy keeps my travel inverter powered, as well as keeps up the starting batteries in the diesel powerplant.

This is my 1200W array feeding the 24v 180Ah lighting and garage door system for the electric Smith panel truck

This is my vehicle and winch powerstation a single 240W panel with an old renogy pwm charger.

 

[HighDesertDrifter]

8.2 kw in 3 arrays.

Ahh, the beauty of simplicity doing the best you can with what you have!
Sweet memories of the 1st SA. a pallet of $5 / 34 watt 12 volt panels and a $50 Windy Nation CC! The grid was near, but we made our own to start. Now thanks to you guys help we have upgraded and I can't run enough stuff to get the bb below 80% on a partly cloudy day. (OK that was before I really plugged in everything) NOW it's time to add more panels! More POWER Scotty!
Currently our system is running 1500 watts 6 x 250 panels / Flexmax 80 CC / 3 x Li Time 100 ah 24 v battery bank / a $350 Jaxrokie 4000 watt inverter.
Update. 09/03/24 added 1.5 more for total of 3kw Panels = 12 x 250 watts + one more 24v 4000 watt inverter. An additional Flex Max 80 + 3 x 100 ah LFP on the way, a little each month! Poco a poco...

Now we have plenty of amps for a modest / simple life! Frig, freezer, Swamp Cooler, 2 x Shallow well pumps for house and irrigation, lights etc what more could you possibly want or need? Happy Camper here!

 

[Zwy]

Recycled tornado damaged mount was the latest addition. Poles are 8 inch and 9.5 feet in the ground.

 

[ChrisG]

If that's south facing I'd just mount them vertical on all those railings you have on three decks?

Yes 3 decks, top level deck is main level/entry way. Unfortunately here is the compass alignment.

 

[Q-Dog]

testing 200 watts for the shed, may need to double that.

 

[gary_lankford]

This is my 2015 install in spring 2016. Later in the year, I added another row for 9kW total. The struts on the ends allow each 5 panel section to be rotated for angle which involves just pulling a pin and sticking it in the next hole; takes 5-10 minutes. Panels are LG MonoX ACE. Still going strong!




This is my 2019 install of 2s2p 300w Mission panels for a solar direct well pump. I really never expected that 750w WBS solar pump to last this long, but it is still pumping water every day! Though it was a stupidly complicated and poorly implemented rack system I designed, the 2 panel sections can be independently rotated from due south to due west and tilted from vertical to where you see them. Water is pumped to the top tank (500 gal), level controlled by a float switch and drains to the bottom tank (1000 gal) controlled by a float valve before being pressurized in the well house.

 

[BigGun]

Decided to build me a small array to catch some afternoon sun. Working out really well, Hope the fence holds up

 

[ShirBlackspots]

Put some boards underneath my panels, finally