solarHandyman
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2020
- Messages
- 56
That's amazing!!!
Post your Ground Mount Setup
- Thread starter drps10
- Start date
Solarcabin Channel
Solar Addict
Old school off gridder here. 20+ years off grid and I started with a mix matched system of panels on my porch roof but after having to skinny out my window to brush the snow off (we get heavy snow) I moved to a ground mount system.
For 10 years I only had a 400 watt ground mount system and it is situated about 30 feet in front of my cabin and pointed true south with angle and tilt for best winter sun in my area. This is a fixed mount system so I don't change it for seasons.
That was connected to three 125Ah Vmax tank AGMs stored in the cabin, a Blue Sky 12 volt MPPT controller and an Energizer 500 watt mod sine inverter. That ran my laptop, 12 volt fridge, led lights, water pump and recharged gadgets and tools. I used the genny for running big tools and my microwave and washer.
Last year I added an ebike, bigger computer, more cooking appliances and I wanted to stop using the gas genny so I expanded my system to a second 400 watt system and I replaced my old AGMs with a 400Ah Enjoybot LFP, Renogy 40 amp MMPT controller, Weize 1200 watt pure sine inverter.
I also set up a 200 watt recharging station on a trailer so I can move that to get the best sun any time of year and I added some portable panels and power stations for camping or low sun days when I may need a backup instead of running the genny.
All together I have 1.4Kw of solar, 800Ah of LFP, several power stations and portable panels and now I can keep everything running and charge my ebike, run a second fridge, electric lawn mower, electric snowblower and I haven't needed the genny at all through last winter.
My mounts are just my old horse hitching posts with cinder blocks and panels are attached using high tensile electric fence wire and they have never moved an inch in very high winds. I have done zero maintenance in 10 years on the old system other than keeping the snow off and washing them off occasionally.
I just designed an adjustable pole mount system I want to try with some bifacial panels next year and that is the diagrams if someone wants to build one.
I am 60 now and not safe to get on a roof so ground mount is absolutely the best choice for me and with the correct angle and tilt you get more output from a smaller system than a poorly situated roof mount!
For 10 years I only had a 400 watt ground mount system and it is situated about 30 feet in front of my cabin and pointed true south with angle and tilt for best winter sun in my area. This is a fixed mount system so I don't change it for seasons.
That was connected to three 125Ah Vmax tank AGMs stored in the cabin, a Blue Sky 12 volt MPPT controller and an Energizer 500 watt mod sine inverter. That ran my laptop, 12 volt fridge, led lights, water pump and recharged gadgets and tools. I used the genny for running big tools and my microwave and washer.
Last year I added an ebike, bigger computer, more cooking appliances and I wanted to stop using the gas genny so I expanded my system to a second 400 watt system and I replaced my old AGMs with a 400Ah Enjoybot LFP, Renogy 40 amp MMPT controller, Weize 1200 watt pure sine inverter.
I also set up a 200 watt recharging station on a trailer so I can move that to get the best sun any time of year and I added some portable panels and power stations for camping or low sun days when I may need a backup instead of running the genny.
All together I have 1.4Kw of solar, 800Ah of LFP, several power stations and portable panels and now I can keep everything running and charge my ebike, run a second fridge, electric lawn mower, electric snowblower and I haven't needed the genny at all through last winter.
My mounts are just my old horse hitching posts with cinder blocks and panels are attached using high tensile electric fence wire and they have never moved an inch in very high winds. I have done zero maintenance in 10 years on the old system other than keeping the snow off and washing them off occasionally.
I just designed an adjustable pole mount system I want to try with some bifacial panels next year and that is the diagrams if someone wants to build one.
I am 60 now and not safe to get on a roof so ground mount is absolutely the best choice for me and with the correct angle and tilt you get more output from a smaller system than a poorly situated roof mount!
Haddly Negla
Learning more every day
Solarcabin Channel
Solar Addict
I bet you get some nice reflected sunshine with that setup!
Not a clear day yet since I put them up. Just powered up this weekend. It's on property we plan to build eventually, and will be looking to do a proper bi-facial array to take advantage of the location.
altenergy20
New Member
I like this.
More info here:
DIY ground mount
Keeping in line with the whole low-cost solar system, building my own braided bus bars, etc. I thought I would see what it takes to build a low-cost ground mount for those 500W 96 cell panels (1310mm x 1956mm). My goals were to make the whole thing simple to build, with minimal tools and simple...diysolarforum.com
Good defense against haill and snow.
I'm thinking of giving up efficiency and do both sides facing east and west.
altenergy20
New Member
I like it. I thought of vertical mount for my project as well.
Link the poles together for added strength.
Link them under the panels and two steel cables higher at the level of the panels.
Bad Randy
New Member
Bad Randy
New Member
Attachments
Solarcabin Channel
Solar Addict
That's what I said when the wealthy people started moving in around us old country folk and then complaining about our homes, solar power, dogs and kids.
It used to be such a nice place to live!
Damn, that looks like an amazing sweet set up! Would love to see it sometime if you'd be open to it- I'm also in Mesa, AZ
Bad Randy
New Member
Rednecktek
Solar Wizard
12x 208w used panels, Growatt 24v 3Kw AIO, 304Ah built battery with heating and active cooling.
Separate array and setup for the 12v bus using 2x 208w panels, 30a SCC, and 4x WallyWorld DC29 110Ah FLA batteries.
Bad Randy
New Member
I would love to live in your back yard!
ghostwriter66
"Here - Hold my Beer"
This is the one that we are going to try to build this weekend ... seems very straightforward ....
Only change I would look at doing is not laying the diagonal pieces flat. A flat 2x4 doesn't have much at all for strength. Stand it up on end, and it's an easier cut as well.
Murphyslaww
New Member
Have begun our Frankenstein semi-ground mount tracking 3.6kw offgrid array to charge our Ford Lightning, and a 10kw battery bank, and power a Garage Mini-split to be named later... It will all be providing shade to a 3-4 bed, raised bed salad garden with rain-barrel fed, and arduino controlled automatic drip irrigation and single axis tracking, and an anemometer for storm/wind orientation. The system will travel around 30 degrees each way and should increase average solar hours by about 2.5 hours. Jury is out as to how long it takes to repay the tracking system, but we will be tracking the tracking...
It mounts on swivels from the eco-worthy ground mount kit, of which we have two kits, on one end and we're using concrete 4x4 footing blocks and linear actuators for the other end. Still in early testing stage.
Possibly working with Progressive Automations for hall sensor linear actuators so we have positional control of the actuators. We'll see if they want to partner. Using cheap Vevor test units right now, which are working fine. They are a little sketchy, so they are in process of being replaced this weekend with Eco-Worthy actuators, which are much higher quality, for not much more $$$. Just got the 18" Ecoworthy for $39/per on a $10 off sale. The Eco-worthy actuators arrived two weeks earlier than amazon said they would !
It's all about doing it as cheaply as possible, with as quick of system payback through charging the Lightning. Going for 3-4 year payback. It looks doable with used panels from Santan Solar, and a refurbished EG4 6000ex hybrid inverter, and 4x 12v 200ah powerqueen batteries, but may go up to 6 to 8x batteries. Right now, we're at around $4.5k.
I'll be posting a thread in the show and tell section for this project. First two panels are up. Eventually, we may delve into some machine learning with the agrivoltaic side of the project, varying output/orientation to temperature/soil moisture. Picture 8 more panels going down the fence.
It mounts on swivels from the eco-worthy ground mount kit, of which we have two kits, on one end and we're using concrete 4x4 footing blocks and linear actuators for the other end. Still in early testing stage.
Possibly working with Progressive Automations for hall sensor linear actuators so we have positional control of the actuators. We'll see if they want to partner. Using cheap Vevor test units right now, which are working fine. They are a little sketchy, so they are in process of being replaced this weekend with Eco-Worthy actuators, which are much higher quality, for not much more $$$. Just got the 18" Ecoworthy for $39/per on a $10 off sale. The Eco-worthy actuators arrived two weeks earlier than amazon said they would !
It's all about doing it as cheaply as possible, with as quick of system payback through charging the Lightning. Going for 3-4 year payback. It looks doable with used panels from Santan Solar, and a refurbished EG4 6000ex hybrid inverter, and 4x 12v 200ah powerqueen batteries, but may go up to 6 to 8x batteries. Right now, we're at around $4.5k.
I'll be posting a thread in the show and tell section for this project. First two panels are up. Eventually, we may delve into some machine learning with the agrivoltaic side of the project, varying output/orientation to temperature/soil moisture. Picture 8 more panels going down the fence.
Last edited:
I'll get us back on track... Speaking of tracks, the trencher I rented slipped one and this took 5 freaking hours. About 45 minutes digging, the rest repairing.
The concrete guys also spilled a 10ft wide and 8 inch deep pile of concrete I had to sledgehammer through.
Nightmare day in the yard
SilverbackMP
Solar Addict
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2022
- Messages
- 1,008
It’s a hobby. Man needs a hobby. It was either this or large gauge garden railroading.
Solarcabin Channel
Solar Addict
Looks more like some people are trying to sell water heaters than post about ground mount on this topic?
I moved my panels from my roof to a ground mount after a few years of having to get out on the porch roof to push off snow and we get heavy snow here.
Then I discovered with the right angle and tilt you also get higher production with a ground mount over a poorly situated roof mount and you can use a smaller less expensive system.
I would never go back to roof mount and just a quick brush and my panels are ready for winter sun!
I moved my panels from my roof to a ground mount after a few years of having to get out on the porch roof to push off snow and we get heavy snow here.
Then I discovered with the right angle and tilt you also get higher production with a ground mount over a poorly situated roof mount and you can use a smaller less expensive system.
I would never go back to roof mount and just a quick brush and my panels are ready for winter sun!
Kenny_
Solar Wizard
Yep good advice and I'm just getting started here but am leaning toward ground mount systems...
I'm hoping to do both. Roof mounted 20-25kw on a shop facing due south (not built yet, so can determine that), and then possibly a pair of smaller ground mount setups, probably one as a sinclair, and the other as a pergola/carport/elevated setup.
We get snow, and normally a decent dump or two, but I can't see me needing to remove snow more than once or twice a year (Indianapolis).
tmprof
New Member
I guess I'm far enough along in my build that I can start posting some pics of my ground mount. Here is 12 bifacials on a pergola that I extended to cover my whole deck:
I have an 18Kpv and 6 lifepower batteries. I'm still waiting on my electrician to wire up the 200a disconnect between the inverter and the meter. Currently the 18kpv is connected to a subpanel that powers my hot tub, CNC and the kitchen double oven.
I have an 18Kpv and 6 lifepower batteries. I'm still waiting on my electrician to wire up the 200a disconnect between the inverter and the meter. Currently the 18kpv is connected to a subpanel that powers my hot tub, CNC and the kitchen double oven.
Similar threads
