Wire Management Tips for Rail-less Solar Mounting - Part 1

Installing solar panels on metal roofs is easier and less costly with a rail-less mounting solution vs. rail-based systems. With 80% less racking systems and material, simpler logistics and less time on the roof, you’ll gain savings and ease of installation. But there are a few nuances, such as wire management, that may be different than rail-based systems and must be planned out in advance.
So today, we'll focus solely on wire management and provide you with a unique perspective to visualize hands-on installation. We’ll do this by installing solar modules upside-down, so the exact wiring details can be easily seen. Welcome to S-5!’s upside-down world of solar on metal roofs!
• Introductions - 0:00
• Rail-less solar mounting and wire management - 0:58
• Things needed for wiring your solar modules - 1:54
• What is strategic string design?- 2:35
• How to practice good string design - 4:41
• Next time on Insights with Experts - 7:35
More Videos on Direct-Attach Solar Mounting:
Exposed-Fastened Roofs - • Insights with Experts ...
Standing Seam Roofs - • The best way to mount ... and • The best way to mount ...
#metalroofing #solarpower #solarwiring #installsolararray #solarmounting #solarwiring #solarpower #metalroofing #solarpower
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[@taylormills08]

Great video. Although I do have one comment. We like to tuck our mc4 connections into the module frames. We’ve seen mc4s succumb to moisture ingress when exposed right between module gaps. There is an o-ring and they are designed to withstand sunlight but I have seen failures on a 4yo system when mounted like that. I should share that this system had some other shoddy workmanship so maybe it was partly due to that. Also those particular connectors were unbranded so maybe true mc4 connectors would have yielded a better result. Thank you for producing and sharing this content. Don’t mean to be a dark cloud. Just wanted to share my experience.

[@TheMetalRoofingAcademy]

Thanks for attending our S-5! video session and glad you enjoyed it! Yes, we agree that best practices are to keep the MC4 away from direct UV. In the demo, we did not directly address that, but in practice, the connectors would have been tucked underneath the frame edge. Good call.

[@hossak88]

Leapfrog wiring is another good thing to have in your bag of tricks. This can locate your homeruns in the same spot, or close to it,

[@TheMetalRoofingAcademy]

Good point. The leapfrog method of solar panel wiring is definitely worth considering.

[@popbumper]

I'm a rookie at solar and planning to take the DIY route, so this question may be an ignorant one. I'm not seeing any explanation regarding microinverters and wire management. I know you don't have to contend with series strings, but even so your product should be fine for anyone doing microV's, right? Any videos on layout and design for that method? Thanks.

[@TheMetalRoofingAcademy]

When using micro inverters or optimizers (MLPE's) with our direct-attach PVKIT, the MLPEs will typically be bolted directly to the module frames and the cables tied up to the PV Disk or clipped up to the module frame using one of our cable clips (www.s-5.com/?s=cable%20clip). We have several videos that discuss this that you can view here (tinyurl.com/ehmv8yjm). if you have any other questions, please reach out to us at [e-mail]

[@angelsolis7340]

We lay rails. Are those not touching the ground

[@TheMetalRoofingAcademy]

I'm sorry, could you please clarify for us? Are you asking if solar rails need to be grounded?

[@ridemfast7625]

Are the "pull through" wire clips different then the other pv wire clips? They attached to the panel frame sideways? Part number?
th-cam.com/video/q4kDLHiPeO0/w-d-xo.html

[@TheMetalRoofingAcademy]

Thank you for reaching out with your question. The wire clips used on the pass through wire are the same as the other wire clips and yes all the wire clips that we offer simply slide and bite onto the module frame for easy, secure installation. You can purchase our wire management clips and other hardware items by using the following link (www.s-5.com/product-category/hardware/?swcfpc=1)

[@cdoublejj]

i feel like doing parallel might make things eaiser

[@TheMetalRoofingAcademy]

Depending upon the size of your array and layout of your roof, parallel just might be an easier way of doing things.

[@angelsolis7340]

Wire trey not I. The budget

[@TheMetalRoofingAcademy]

There are other options besides wire trays depending on the size of your array. In some cases, installers are able to clip the wires to the module frames or to the PV Disk in our PVKIT rail-less, direct-attach system. th-cam.com/video/NZHrHjxzkYQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7cVzOPG35e5SvCKC

[@kirodon]

i have a nacep certifecate

[@TheMetalRoofingAcademy]

Ok thank you, if you need anything email [e-mail].