The Best DIY Solar Mount Design // DIY Ground Mount Solar Rack
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.ค. 2024
- 😇 Our Small Business: greenacrehomestead.com 🔗 The Next Build Video: (in production) 🔗 All Our Off Grid Videos: • Off Grid Power ⬇️MORE LINKS BELOW⬇️
🔗 Post Saver: amzn.to/3xpzzgH
🔗 Simpson 6 inch Screws: amzn.to/4aKyY7L
🔗 Simpson 3 inch Screws: amzn.to/3TMk9dH
🔗 Simpson Hurricane Brackets: amzn.to/4cL2Wu8
🔗 Simpson SD Connector Screws: amzn.to/3J1SpNs
❤️ Our Tools & Gear: amzn.to/3nAROIz
🔗 New Homestead Build Videos: • Building Our TN Homestead
🔗 ALL OUR RENO VIDEOS: • Budget Mobile Home Ren...
🧰 Sam's Woodworking Channel: / @samcraftcom
⚡ Sam's Off Grid Energy Channel: / @the-juice-box
🎉 Our Amazon Shopping List: amzn.to/2lyNvAe
🎵 Music Links: artlist.io/Sam-1947495
🔷 ABOUT US 🔷
We're a DIY family building our "forever homestead" from 15 acres of raw undeveloped land in Tennessee. All of our content is family friendly and safe for everyone to enjoy.
In today's video we are building the ground mount solar rack for our two solar arrays. This ground mount is a DIY project that can easily be done with one or two people. Made from common items from the hardware store, this ground mount is super strong, easy to build, and will last forever! Made from all treated wood, 6x6 posts, 2x6 beams, and hurricane brackets! Come along as we show you the complete process and teach you how to build your own solar array mount!
#solar #diy #greenacrehomestead
Video Chapters
0:00 - Introduction
1:55 - Layout & Foundation Work
3:37 - Post Rot Protection
7:50 - Setting the Posts in Concrete
9:52 - Finding the Angle or Tilt of the Array
11:24 - Building the Main Beams
15:52 - Tying the Beams Together
17:46 - How to Get Precise Overhangs with Boards
18:24 - Hurricane Bracket Spacing and Install
19:24 - Attaching the Angled Boards
20:25 - Attaching the Top Boards and Cutting Posts to Final Height
21:25 - Project Completion
DISCLAIMER*
This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. - บันเทิง
It's always good to see you......wow. you always do things over the top. Proud for y'all.....hugs
Thanks so much
Sam you always amazing!!.Angela you got the most amazing/Husband you are blessed!! And the boys special gifts for you and Sam!! Take care!!😊
Looks nice and strong!! You and Angela work together so we'll. Nice to see your oldest son helping too. It won't be long till he will be heading up a project of his own. Thanks for letting us come along to enjoy and learn.
That auger, makes short work of digging holes.
Yes, great to see ya’ll again.
I love the way the Cat always check things out when y.all work
There are some pretty fancy looking set ups that people use for solar. I saw a guy mount his panels on shocks or struts so that he could tilt the panels to be sure they always caught the sun. Looking good Sam and Angela 👍
What is the cost benefit on that. Cost for struts and mechanism vs a few extra panels.
Was that” Life Contained “? As he did that
Best one I’ve seen yet
Good evening Sam and Angela . your are getting a LOT of work done .
Love your videos and enjoy watching them every time. May the lord bless and protect you and your family and working on your homestead and solar system
I'm not a mountologist but, I think you did an excellent job!
Hi Angela and the boys!
Big hugs and big love!
✌️💖🙏🇺🇲🤜
That wrap is very ingenious. Hmm great to know about that and your entire project to give us a template to go by. Cool and thanks for the invite.
🙋more power to you🤣
🤣
Nice work, Sam. Now that you have the basic structure done, you could consider adding additional "torsional" strength to the framework, if you want. In a wind storm, the frame holding the panels will be pushed and pulled and twisted. Adding steel cable tension elements will greatly help in resisting the twisting. I think you could do as little as working on just the two outside spaces (the furthest left and furthest right). Use 1/8" steel cable and turnbuckles along with eye screws to create an "X" in each space a few inches below the inclined panel supports or you can make the "X" level with the ground (flat). Tighten the turnbuckles enough to create some pre-tension support so that a wind will not be able to push or rack the frame before the cables take effect and resist the force. I employed these in my profession and I installed one in my outdoor screen patio porch addition. They really do an excellent job of increasing strength and are almost invisible compare to the green treated lumber. Best wishes from Iowa.
Sam and Angela - the Dynamic Duo ❤❤. The soar panel array is looking great 👍
Sam and Angela, great video showing the solar panel array. All the projects y’all do are so professional, I’m sure they will last many years!
Very nice. It is exactly what we needed. Thanks for showing us how.
Our Family loves your family, you all are wonderful people, and we think whatcha ya all are doing id phenomenal can not wait for your next video thank you so much for sharing
Really enjoy your family project videos. Sam you are one hardworking young man.
Thank you so much!
Super neat and clean looking solar structure.
Awesome progress guys 👍
You are absolutely awesome!! The way you both work, and work together is crazy good!! Love the channel, and thank you for taking us along for the progress. GOD bless
Those post sleeves are pretty cool.😊
Sam you done amazing job it’s is going to look beautiful you are very smart
You always do a great job! No wonder we haven’t seen you!❤
Can't wait to see the solar install and how much power you actually will get from the array when it is completed.
You make it look easy.
TH-cam editing…you can cut out all the frustrating times that make you want to pull your hair out 😂😂
Great 😎👍TH-cam videos
Hello from the Hertfordshire in the UK great job well done ❤
brill video buddy love watching you and your family make and build stiff well done mate
I like the way boulder life did there's diy all metal sourced from the scrape yard. Plus the V shape.
This is fantastic. My wife and I want to do the same thing. We have already gotten information on the power system, inverter and batteries from your earlier video of you putting that equipment in place. We are currently saving and planning financially for this job. While it will be expensive, it will be worth it with the energy bill savings for our retirement. Can’t wait for the next one Sam. When is the video coming to SamCraft on the IR Laser. Saw it in video from SamCraft in background and glass being done on instagram
You guys are a great team....perfect mix of humility, willingness to learn, and a heart to teach...equals very useful and watchable videos. 🤠
That's wonderful 🎉🎉
😊 looks great.
You guys Rock!! Great job!!
Good to see you again!
Looks good.
My understanding with layering boards is that the joints should be staggered. Any particular reason you didn't do that for the 2x6's that tie each row of 6x6's together?
Awesome job as always👍👋
yes nice
Job well done Thanks for the video
Really nice Sam and Angela
You are amazing! I enjoy your videos so much. Thank you.👏
Sam never heard of that post wrap. I burn my posts with a torch like yours.
Then coat it with 50/50 used motor oil and diesel fuel. Posts will never rot.
You all did a nice looking frame for the solar panels.
This is a nice Job. U R on the NW side of the property with the structure which means U R gonna get beat with The Big Wind that comes in behind the cold fronts all winter.
Great job sir
I hope you don't use up too much of the sunshine in that area. :P Super solid array! Looks great.
Random question - It doesn't look like you have a smoker on your Tenn property. Any plans on building one like you did on your old property?
Sam, getting some dimensions on the wooden rack would be helpful: (i) LxW of your 20 PV panels; (ii) spacing btw your 5 posts; (iii) spacing btw the front and back row of posts; and (iv) spacing btw the back row of your front array and the front row of the other array in behind, to guarantee no shading. Many thanks.
Good job
I don't think it will go anywhere the way you built it but for extra stiffness and sturdines I would have fixed one or two diagonal beams between the middle tall posts, to keep the thing from wiggling. This will make it easier on the joints.
Looks pretty beefem! 😎
I want one!!!
Can you post a material list and a blueprint of the design?
In Texas my wood frame had a very short life
What amazes me about this type project/product, is the advances in efficiency that we've had over the last 20 or so years. Going by that, just think how much power you'll be able to generate with whatever panels we have in 10 years covering that same square footage as you're using now.. Between us being on a pretty significant hill facing entirely the wrong direction, and the tree coverate we have on our 'solar south' positioning, we'd either have to take down at least 2 50+ foot trees in our yard, and try to cooerce at least 2 of our neighbors allow us to do the same for 2-3 more trees of equal height to get any sort of good, daily coverage. I may still end up putting up at least a single rack of panels like you've done at the back of our property (we'd have clearance for at least one that size), but our neighbors behind us may not like seeing those panels every day, lol (to be fair we NEVER see them outside in their back yard, maybe once every 2 weeks in the summer when they mow, but that's it). To make it worthwhile I'd most likely have to source whatever the maximum output panels are around today. We could probably get about 50-60% coverage in a day with another smaller array on the very top of our house, but it'd be fewer panels for sure.
You're absolutely right! There's no telling what will be the "standard" in a few more years. :) Maybe consider bifacial panels too for you application? The largest wattage I've seen (at the wholesale place we get ours from) is 580w for a single panel. But there may be higher ones out there.
I like Angela’s pink shorts. Any chance you remember where you got them? And candy center lol
Whenever I was doing construction, we had what they call HML 5000. It looks like the same thing. It’s a waterproofing material.
Since as you said you get lots of wind a small wind mill would give you more power.
Around here, in Western New York state I know of lots of huge dairy farms, small businesses etc who use wind power to operate.
Heck, I have friends who use wind and actually never have issues with keeping batteries charged, most changed from solar which has more issues than people know or think about
Thanks for the practical video, very well done. Now, a question. What is the music that begins at 20:20? Thanks
Ok don't laugh but after the recent storms & seeing the solar farm in Texas get destroyed by hail, I've been thinking . . . Uh oh lol. To save your solar panels from hail storm damage- a think bubble wrap blanket tied on with fish net across entire surface of panels. ❤ 🙂
Maybe 2 layers of thick large bubble - bubble wrap. 😂
I don't think it's that crazy of an idea. :) I have wondered the same thing from seeing those.
Looks nice on the 6x6’s but I also burnt the outside so termites don’t prefer them
#?? do you have any safe guard plans for protection of panels in case of hail storm
Cool as beans. (An etn term)
Sam, give us a bit on your old MidNight solar setup, what happened to it?
That new array outta produce some great power
What is going to stop the water coming up the bottom of the 6x6?
Love watching you. Never seen shrink wrap used on post , but why just a small portion?
More solar wow you will have plenty. How much altogether
We will have 14,800 watts going to the house.
Will the post protector work with a foam postset?
Does something like that benefit from a lightening conductor nearby? Won't be going down the frame as much. Plus more care with earthing, as not so much from the structure?
❤️👍👍👍
Apologies if i missed it, do you have a total parts list anywhere?
Are you sure your southern most array won't shade the other array on the winter solstice, when the sun is at its lowest point in the Northern Hemisphere?
Absolutely. I wouldn't have gone through all this work without checking that. :)
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Did I miss the part where you included the cost to build? Great video and great editing too!
what good is the post saver if you don't go all the way down of the buried post,
Posts always rot off at ground level where there's permanent moisture and oxygen.
Just wondering why you didn't stagger your joints on the second set of 2x6's? Looks like they could not as easily pull apart if staggered.
How deep did those holes go? Doesn't look too deep. Is it below frost level for your area?
Another question about he postsaver wrap. Why only the top of the post for this? What about the bottom of the post in the whole? I am asking for your input, not in any way critical. Thinking of doing what you are doing
How long do solar panels and all the equipment last?
Depends on what you buy. Most panels are 25+ year lifespan.
You are not kidding about the wind. Did you investigate a wind turbine for your property?
It's not as reliable as solar, but something we may look into in the future. :) There are some regulations and considerations around wind power sometimes.
Still mulling over the post protector you applied at the ground level of each post. Seems to me you are merely moving the area on the posts that will eventually rot, from ground level to 12-18" below ground level. I am curious to see how they work over time. Keep on doing what you are doing for another 10 years and we will know.
The compay’s pitch is that posts rot due to a combination of air, water, and fungi in the first six inches of soil. Below that depth, fungi don’t get the oxygen they need to survive. By wrapping the post in a tar-infused plastic sleeve, it eliminates the oxygen (and thereby the fungi) from around the post. Does it work? I don’t know, but it sounds interesting. As you said, time will tell.
The wood is going to wick from the bottom. What's the purpose of that shrink wrap thing if it's so high up?
Sam what inverter and batteries are u gonna use.
The BigBattery ETHOS battery system with a LuxPower inverter. This combo kit: bigbattery.com/products/12kw-15-3kwh-ethos-energy-storage-system-ess/?ref=274&Website&Title&Analyst&ButtonsCamp
Are you going 48V?
👋👋👋
❤😊❤😊❤😊
💖💖🙏🙏👍👍🙏🙏💖💖
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
🙋♀️🌻
Just curious about the cost. We were quoted $70,000.00. Hubs is 73 and I’m 69. Don’t think we would recoup that kind of investment. Just curious how much your arrays cost?
Here's the rough costs on the solar arrays: wood : $2,000, rail kits, disconnect switches, combiner boxes, surge protectors: $4,000, solar panels: $4,000. This is for 14,800 watts of solar, but does not include other components. We'll have a total figure as the project progresses.
P.s. I could do this
If you already have solar panel why do you need another one? I must have missed some explanation earlier
Do you mean the array shown in this video in the background? If so, that’s only half of what we have bought to use for the home. 😎
For the love of God can Americans stop say Heighth, apart from that love you guys
with all that wind ... time for a turbine? no ...
Your video and voice don’t match and your video is making cracking noises!!
Waste of time and money no need for that
l'm guessing you don't live where wind storms can really rip and tear. Sam says he may be overbuilding....but he won't see his investment flying off down the road... .lt's called 'an ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure''.
I do not understand the point of the heat shrink things... Makes no sense to sleeve the wood like that.. Would have made more sense if they were sleeved all the way from the bottom and sealed at rhe bottom. Other why's they look like a waste of money and time the wood will still rot....
I agree better to pour a pier and place a steel bracket in the concrete. Water never sits on the post.
I removed several pressure treated post out of the ground recently. They've been in for 7 years or so. O
The only area of the post that was degraded was the collar area where the post meets soil. Above and under that the post was fine. Yea it will rot the tar wrap just prolongs the life of the post a bit.
The logic of the things is that most rotting doesn't occur below or above ground, but at the junction of the two. Don't know why. They do have a warranty (who knows how useful it is) so they should be standing by it.
Anyone who has replaced a fence will tell you posts rot at the frost line, not up from the base.
🤷🏻♂️🫡😟 I learned so much from you. Diyfferent. Somewhat handyman & a couple other's 👍🏻💪🏻👋🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thanks 👍