Rails - XR versus Aire versus ?

[mciholas]

I need to decide on rails for my 12 KW install on a W style concrete tile roof.

Nominated candidate is the Ironridge XR-100 rail on 6 ft spacing using All Tile hook mounts.



Ironridge also sells another kind of rail, the Aire A2 which would also work on 6 ft centers with the same tile mounts.



Why would you pick one over the other?

The XR seems more commonly available. The Aire A2 seems like it can contain wires easier (sit in the channel). Otherwise they look like they can do the same job or am I missing something?

Cost wise, they seem similar.

The XR-100 comes in 168 inch segments, the Aire A2 comes in 170 inch segments. Oddly, I need 679 inches of rail for 15 panels in a row. This is 7 inches short of 4 sticks of the XR and is 1 inch extra on the Aire A2, so the Aire A2 works out better just because it is 2 inches longer per segment.

Anybody got an opinion on which one is preferred and why?

Is there another choice you would recommend?

Mike C.

 

[mciholas]

Anybody used the Aire rails?

Mike C.

 

[nuke]

Id go with aire for the length thing alone

 

[mciholas]

Id go with aire for the length thing alone

It is nice when things match like that.

Right now, it seems the Aire system is much harder to find. But I am looking into it.

Mike C.

 

[400bird]

The Aire looks like like it would just hold water and corrode/bread mosquitos.
I think the Iron Ridge rails are available in 11, 14, and 17 foot lengths. You should be able to make something work.

 

[mciholas]

The Aire looks like like it would just hold water and corrode/bread mosquitos.

I wondered about that. Maybe it has drain holes periodically?

I think the Iron Ridge rails are available in 11, 14, and 17 foot lengths. You should be able to make something work.

The best fit is 3 pieces 204 inches, then less than half a piece of 168. So for four rails, need 12 pieces of 204, 2 pieces of 168, and cut the 168 pieces. It works out okay, less than 3 ft of loss.

Mike C.