Semi DIY PV Installation. Comments Please

[spread-tee]

Personally I wouldn't be putting timber in the ground, whatever you do it wont last as long as your panels. Depending on your ground how about some diy screw piles? easy to do by your self, no digging, no concrete, and not expensive. There is a thread about them here somewhere including a little timelapse of us driving some in.

Desp

[nowty]

If you are going to concrete the fence posts into the ground I would add a 2 or 3 inch high collar of concrete around the post above the ground or else the bottom of the posts are likely to rot even if using pressure treated posts.

[AE-NMidlands]

If you are going to concrete the fence posts into the ground I would add a 2 or 3 inch high collar of concrete around the post above the ground or else the bottom of the posts are likely to rot even if using pressure treated posts.

Are you sure the timber won't just rot above the concrete collar?
If I could get real creosote I would saturate any timber with it but especially where it emerges from the ground or any collar.
A

[smegal]

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?

[nowty]

If you are going to concrete the fence posts into the ground I would add a 2 or 3 inch high collar of concrete around the post above the ground or else the bottom of the posts are likely to rot even if using pressure treated posts.

Are you sure the timber won't just rot above the concrete collar?
If I could get real creosote I would saturate any timber with it but especially where it emerges from the ground or any collar.
A

It stops rain water splashing onto the wood but I agree a good spirit based wood preserver coating as well.

[Ken]

Wooden post rot just below ground and often you can look at them and they look OK but waggle them and they move. If you can stop the water getting there it helps.

Do you even need the posts to be in the ground, the structure could just sit on the ground on slabs and be suitably anchored on the corners. Its not as if the wind cannot go both side of the panel to minimise lift.

[Moxi]

Hi Smegal,

Good to hear from you again, any chance of some photos of the sparky's work today if possible - always good to see how these things are being done.

Cheers

Moxi

[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.

[smegal]

Hi Smegal,

Good to hear from you again, any chance of some photos of the sparky's work today if possible - always good to see how these things are being done.

Cheers

Moxi

Unfortunately, he messaged me this morning to reschedule due to sickness at home. I'll post back when he's booked in again.

He did our EV charger, which is how I found him. He's not a solar installer as such, but has done solar specific training. He was just snowed under with EV installs.

[smegal]

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.