Semi DIY PV Installation. Comments Please

[smegal]

I didn't really look close enough at what you were doing on your initial plans. I assumed you were going to build a tall lean to shed against the garage (which I also assumed to be yours) with uprights at all 4 corners with a steep sloping roof.

Quite a structure you've built with its single columns so I'm glad you did not do it with fenceposts. Something that tall is bound to flex, my only worry would be, are the ground concrete foundations strong enough.

Anyway, you should get some nice blasts of power from it tomorrow.

That's my next concern. The holes didn't take as much concrete as I expected. Looking at 600m depth and 69kg concrete per hole. I expected to use about double that.

The existing concrete in that holes constrained my digging. I'm considering adding to my bases if it won't make things worse.

[spread-tee]

What's wrong with using a little strut from the top of the posts to the garage wall? That will give you all the support you need no bother.

Desp

[smegal]

What's wrong with using a little strut from the top of the posts to the garage wall? That will give you all the support you need no bother.

Desp

It's not my garage.

[spread-tee]

OK that does make life a bit more tricky, do you get on with the owner?? or probably easier is to put a second row of diagonal posts about 60 cm in front of the originals and then fixed as near to the top of your vertical posts as possible. A diagonal or two between and in the same plane as the uprights will then give you total rigidity.

Desp

[Moxi]

Smegal,

Assuming a wind speed of 22 mph and a panel area of 4.8m square the force exerted on the panels at the top of the structure is 29.36Kg F, this assumes a wind force perpendicular to the panels which in fact it is not, at 45 degrees this would be half so around 15kg F (assumes your angle is somewhere around 45 degrees)

Moxi

[smegal]

Smegal,

Assuming a wind speed of 22 mph and a panel area of 4.8m square the force exerted on the panels at the top of the structure is 29.36Kg F, this assumes a wind force perpendicular to the panels which in fact it is not, at 45 degrees this would be half so around 15kg F (assumes your angle is somewhere around 45 degrees)

Moxi

My panic is based on 6m2 l 33.5 Deg angle and a wind speed of 70mph (very high, but probably happens once a year). That gives ~2kN of force I assume I can divide that by the 3 legs though.

[Joeboy]

If you are not planning on chatting to the garage owner I see the solution being a diagonal strut from the rear of the vertical post to a small concreted post. Probably two vdm's on the two inner vertical beams. The hole doesn't have to be large as it's bracing only.

If the ground is already concrete massed, go forward with rawlbolts and angle iron to pick up the bottom of the acute angle vdm. Then hang an ivy or something off it. Won't be a trip hazard.

[MoSTiE]

Mostie,

Smegal is playing the long game here, a few panels to see how it goes then when SHWMBO is at a weak moment boom! Garage roof full of new shiny goodness!

dangerous but worth a shot

Moxi

Even better .... as that garage roof does not belong to Smegal .... would be nice to be able to install panels on someone else's roof

ffs i thought that was his garage... so the one facing east is yours Smegal?

Back to the current install, see that garage foundation .... i might be tempted to rawl bolt some uni brackets to it and fit a bit of channel at an angle to your uprights, cause the found aint gonna move

[smegal]

Mostie,

Smegal is playing the long game here, a few panels to see how it goes then when SHWMBO is at a weak moment boom! Garage roof full of new shiny goodness!

dangerous but worth a shot

Moxi

Even better .... as that garage roof does not belong to Smegal .... would be nice to be able to install panels on someone else's roof

ffs i thought that was his garage... so the one facing east is yours Smegal?

Back to the current install, see that garage foundation .... i might be tempted to rawl bolt some uni brackets to it and fit a bit of channel at an angle to your uprights, cause the found aint gonna move

Yeah, mine is the east facing one. That's why I want ground mount as it'd give me ~300+ more kWh par year.

The problem I have is that my garden is small and losing a panel's width of the sunniest part wouldn't be acceptable, so I went tall. The height is what's giving the movement in the uprights.

[smegal]

I've managed to have a day off from worrying about my unistrut.My install briefly maxed the inverter out today which was exciting!



I am still considering moving to my East facing garage roof, but am not in a major rush.