These are interesting as the design is a modification of the PowerField PowerRack which is patented. However, that isn't going to keep China from selling them or resellers like Current Connected from getting them and selling them. It would be interesting to compare the two and talk about how much they should cost, $60 (even with shipping) seems steep for an overgrown Greenmade tote. The US-made real deal can be had for under $70, takes modules in landscape up to 1050mm, is "toolless", and has a more solid UV-resistant material (like a garden wagon or warehouse cart) that has an expected service life of 40 years.
I have this idea, to make modular light duty bunkers from shipping containers, which also act as a ground mount and solar tracker. Basically its welded to the 4 corners ontop of the container, and the container is buried. Of course you would need side reinforcement, and with 3 inch angle iron running the full height, this can be done easily. Adding bunks to the insides, along with shelves, and equipment or battery racking, you can also square up and ridgidify the roof and sides, by shelf bracing and cross bracing on shelves/bunks. The solar tracker just attaches to 3 triangular braces made on top,with a pivoting cross bar where the solar panel array frames can be attached to. 2 or 3 rows of panels at most I think. Later, you can add actuators and a tracker timer to get the extra 25 percent from the panels. The roof can be reinforced with successive layers of mesh and concrete, eventually it will be strong enough even with just inches of concrete, minimal if any reinforcements could be added. The whole thing gets sealed up, its easy, just go along every seam with silicone. The unit can be fabricated and painted in another area, and all supplies can be shipped within the container. Total I think metal reinforcements and framing is a fairly low cost. Scrapyard special, or surplus or oil pipe. The inside is cooled from ground, and the shipping container above ground would be unbearably hot. This way is more efficient as less ac or heat is ever needed. Good for a remote installation. Battery and inverter power would be low demand, so grid feedback is an option. For cloudy days, an array the length of the container and 2 rows of tracking panels would be just about sufficient, and just a few 10 or so kwhs is needed. Dehumidification can happen through vents, or even pipe vents with condensators, Ive seen people use bunches of steel pipe at the intake to condensate water. This method is low cost compared to running extra equipment, if needed. The venting and ac would have to be considered per location. Its a good space to house the equipment, and bunks and storage, and supplies if that is ever needed or, just needed for an off grid type cabin, Though I would prefer the traditional cabin and solar array over a bunker any day. Steel containers are not to be lived in. If you get used containers, used steel, used panels, and just a small lf inverter and 10kwh of batteries, you have a good system. You can even add gutters to the solar panels to collect rain water and store it nearby. The gravel and concrete can even be shipped with the container as an all in one kit. What do you think? I think if I was ever needing to use a container or was forced to use a container or forced into needing a bunker, I would definetly do it exactly this way. It takes less materials overall I think it would be a cool airbnb too.
The minimum quantity is 8 mounts, but can be added from there in quantities of 1. The hardware is included based on the orientation selected as easy direction utilizes different hardware.
Another weighting solution for temporary or portable applications would be sacks of gone off concrete mix so you don't have to dick around with gravel.
They hold 5 cubic feet, depending on what you fill them with changes the weight. For example 5 cu-ft of crushed stone is about 550 - 600 lbs As far as panel dimensions, they can hold some really big panels, but they need to switch to horizontal orientation.
Really cool idea, but honestly, these are just overpriced for what it takes to make it. Seems to me, that they want to make ALL of the R&D in the first year of selling. If they were more reasonably priced I would have bought 20. Just not worth what they are asking for them. Thanks for the information and video!
These are interesting as the design is a modification of the PowerField PowerRack which is patented. However, that isn't going to keep China from selling them or resellers like Current Connected from getting them and selling them. It would be interesting to compare the two and talk about how much they should cost, $60 (even with shipping) seems steep for an overgrown Greenmade tote. The US-made real deal can be had for under $70, takes modules in landscape up to 1050mm, is "toolless", and has a more solid UV-resistant material (like a garden wagon or warehouse cart) that has an expected service life of 40 years.
I have this idea, to make modular light duty bunkers from shipping containers, which also act as a ground mount and solar tracker.
Basically its welded to the 4 corners ontop of the container, and the container is buried.
Of course you would need side reinforcement, and with 3 inch angle iron running the full height, this can be done easily.
Adding bunks to the insides, along with shelves, and equipment or battery racking, you can also square up and ridgidify the roof and sides, by shelf bracing and cross bracing on shelves/bunks.
The solar tracker just attaches to 3 triangular braces made on top,with a pivoting cross bar where the solar panel array frames can be attached to. 2 or 3 rows of panels at most I think.
Later, you can add actuators and a tracker timer to get the extra 25 percent from the panels.
The roof can be reinforced with successive layers of mesh and concrete, eventually it will be strong enough even with just inches of concrete, minimal if any reinforcements could be added.
The whole thing gets sealed up, its easy, just go along every seam with silicone.
The unit can be fabricated and painted in another area, and all supplies can be shipped within the container.
Total I think metal reinforcements and framing is a fairly low cost. Scrapyard special, or surplus or oil pipe.
The inside is cooled from ground, and the shipping container above ground would be unbearably hot. This way is more efficient as less ac or heat is ever needed.
Good for a remote installation.
Battery and inverter power would be low demand, so grid feedback is an option.
For cloudy days, an array the length of the container and 2 rows of tracking panels would be just about sufficient, and just a few 10 or so kwhs is needed.
Dehumidification can happen through vents, or even pipe vents with condensators, Ive seen people use bunches of steel pipe at the intake to condensate water. This method is low cost compared to running extra equipment, if needed.
The venting and ac would have to be considered per location.
Its a good space to house the equipment, and bunks and storage, and supplies if that is ever needed or, just needed for an off grid type cabin, Though I would prefer the traditional cabin and solar array over a bunker any day. Steel containers are not to be lived in.
If you get used containers, used steel, used panels, and just a small lf inverter and 10kwh of batteries, you have a good system.
You can even add gutters to the solar panels to collect rain water and store it nearby.
The gravel and concrete can even be shipped with the container as an all in one kit.
What do you think?
I think if I was ever needing to use a container or was forced to use a container or forced into needing a bunker, I would definetly do it exactly this way. It takes less materials overall I think it would be a cool airbnb too.
Looks like an amazing racking system. That was fast! Nice work! Would love more specs.
Oh & I feel your temp, to permanent statement in my soul 😅!
Very slick! I could see these being popular for RVers who want to temporarily set up small arrays when they're parked.
wow, what a simple and elegant solution.
nice bases but thermal activity will increase due to less cooling ability
Love it!💥🤘
These are really cool. Out of curiosity are you doing a test/review on the EG4 18k anytime soon?
Nice! Thanks for the video
Nice product. Will we see a double-row version for east/west alignment and lower pitch?
In a freezing location, would ground heaving cause them to unevenly tilt?
Groound mount?
So simple. So they come in batches of 8 mounts? Hardware included? Just looking at the web site.
Thanks Dex
The minimum quantity is 8 mounts, but can be added from there in quantities of 1. The hardware is included based on the orientation selected as easy direction utilizes different hardware.
Another weighting solution for temporary or portable applications would be sacks of gone off concrete mix so you don't have to dick around with gravel.
Can those mounts be filled with water or would they leak? Water would be soOOoOOooo much more convenient.
They have holes to drain the water so yea they would leak unfortunately
@@dieseldawg7132 Thought that might be the case.. Dang. Thanks diesel!
What's the largest panel dimensions that this will hold and whats the the recommended fill weight?
They hold 5 cubic feet, depending on what you fill them with changes the weight. For example 5 cu-ft of crushed stone is about 550 - 600 lbs
As far as panel dimensions, they can hold some really big panels, but they need to switch to horizontal orientation.
This might be YMMV but would the gravel used to weigh this down eventually be an issue for a residential roof?
Really cool idea, but honestly, these are just overpriced for what it takes to make it. Seems to me, that they want to make ALL of the R&D in the first year of selling. If they were more reasonably priced I would have bought 20. Just not worth what they are asking for them. Thanks for the information and video!
Most of the costs are from shipping, they are mostly air! Still far better price than any other product out there