Semi DIY PV Installation. Comments Please

[Fintray]

Yeah, I'm not sure what I'll do yet, but I'll do something to bring the concrete/wood transition above ground. Plant pots give a nice slightly conical shape too.

You could of course just use the Unistrut for the uprights as well, no problem with rotting and easier to attach the rest of the frame to.

[smegal]

Yeah, I'm not sure what I'll do yet, but I'll do something to bring the concrete/wood transition above ground. Plant pots give a nice slightly conical shape too.

You could of course just use the Unistrut for the uprights as well, no problem with rotting and easier to attach the rest of the frame to.

Would it be strong enough? I'd be happy to use it over the wooden posts to be fair. It really would make the whole installation very Meccano esque.

[Joeboy]

I've certainly got a lot to think about on the wood side if things.

The sparky arrives tomorrow to do the AC side. Are there any considerations/suggestions I may not have thought of?

All the best for the day, You can cut down plastic flower pots as moulds, wrap em around the post leaving a gap/nock at top and do a thick mix to give yourself the cone above ground on the post. As long as the water can run away it won't cause rot through cyclic wetting/drying of the timber. Its a bit awkward to do but worthwhile.

Yeah, I'm not sure what I'll do yet, but I'll do something to bring the concrete/wood transition above ground. Plant pots give a nice slightly conical shape too.

No worries pal, I am working on my ground mount frame today, preserving the timber. I am using this stuff. I used it about 20 years ago when building a treehouse/fort for the kids. 15 years later when i took the fort down to use on another project 98%+ was used again. The ground mount will outlive me.

[Fintray]

You could of course just use the Unistrut for the uprights as well, no problem with rotting and easier to attach the rest of the frame to.

Would it be strong enough? I'd be happy to use it over the wooden posts to be fair. It really would make the whole installation very Meccano esque.

To give all you some idea of the strength of the Unistrut, in the cage of wood there are 3 horizontal rails of Unistrut supporting all that weight.
The cage is 2.4x2.1x1.2M (H,W,D).
So I wouldn't be concerned about it being strong enough.

[smegal]

Small update:

Everything is on order. Hopefully the sparky is coming tomorrow to do the AC.

[Joeboy]

You could of course just use the Unistrut for the uprights as well, no problem with rotting and easier to attach the rest of the frame to.

Would it be strong enough? I'd be happy to use it over the wooden posts to be fair. It really would make the whole installation very Meccano esque.

To give all you some idea of the strength of the Unistrut, in the cage of wood there are 3 horizontal rails of Unistrut supporting all that weight.
The cage is 2.4x2.1x1.2M (H,W,D).
So I wouldn't be concerned about it being strong enough.

WOW, that is a store indeed, held together with a design miracle. Impressed!

[Joeboy]

Small update:

Everything is on order. Hopefully the sparky is coming tomorrow to do the AC.

Nice one Smeagal, all the best on the day.

[Moxi]

Hi Smegal,

https://www.unistrut.co.uk/resources/lo ... ation-tool

If you do go ahead with unistrut if you go to their official UK web site they have a host of design tools and a handy load calculator to help you plan your project.

Alas I don't have photos but I have designed and utilised unistrut in the past that has held up tens of tonnes of pipework and pipe contents in a variety of configurations - it would be more than sufficient for your plans. They also have a new hinged nut out that makes adjustment of panel angle nice and easy.

Moxi

[smegal]

Hi Smegal,

https://www.unistrut.co.uk/resources/lo ... ation-tool

If you do go ahead with unistrut if you go to their official UK web site they have a host of design tools and a handy load calculator to help you plan your project.

Alas I don't have photos but I have designed and utilised unistrut in the past that has held up tens of tonnes of pipework and pipe contents in a variety of configurations - it would be more than sufficient for your plans. They also have a new hinged nut out that makes adjustment of panel angle nice and easy.

Moxi

I had a look at the column loading info on the Unistrut website. The single 2.5mm 41mm looked to be sufficient. However, under advice, I've ended up ordering back to back 41mm for the uprights. This ended up adding over £300 to the project. Just waiting for delivery now. Hopefully tomorrow will be a busy day for deliveries.

The hinged nut is what I ended up going with to achieve the angle, one on the top of the verticals, one on a cantilever arm connected to a rail. The PV rrails are then connected to this rail. Theoretically, this could make it adjustable, but I don't fancy trying to move 60kg of PV modules 3m in the air while connected to three supports, but I'm sure I could retrofit something so that I loosen two of the cantilevered arms, then use something to jack the third, tightening the other two up when the angle is achieved.

Unistrut is an interesting one. I'm a process pipework design consultant by trade, so often spec the use of unistrut, but that's usually done by the installation subbies, so I haven't really got into the nuts and bolts before, so this is quite exciting.

[Fintray]

Would it be strong enough? I'd be happy to use it over the wooden posts to be fair. It really would make the whole installation very Meccano esque.

To give all you some idea of the strength of the Unistrut, in the cage of wood there are 3 horizontal rails of Unistrut supporting all that weight.
The cage is 2.4x2.1x1.2M (H,W,D).
So I wouldn't be concerned about it being strong enough.

WOW, that is a store indeed, held together with a design miracle. Impressed!

You've got your words mixed up there Joe, it should say it's a miracle that design has held together!
The whole thing is on 4 heavy duty castors and it was ok to move when about half full, but I noticed that when it was full the nylon castors were looking a bit flat where they contacted the ground. So rather than knacker them I jacked it up and rested it on some breeze blocks.