New garage time!
- Thread starter fatjay
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Can I mount the panels to steel angle iron? Or do I really need aluminum angle?
I'm making my own mounts that will run up and down, with the panels mounted sideways. The gap is 7 foot between the center and outer ones, with a 3' overhang, so the panels will "balance".
In the image below, the black lines are the steel cross you see in the above image. The orange lines are what I'm going to mount on those to attach the panels to, which don't exist yet. And the purple is the panels.
I'm making my own mounts that will run up and down, with the panels mounted sideways. The gap is 7 foot between the center and outer ones, with a 3' overhang, so the panels will "balance".
In the image below, the black lines are the steel cross you see in the above image. The orange lines are what I'm going to mount on those to attach the panels to, which don't exist yet. And the purple is the panels.
sodamo
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- Big Island, HI
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- LS XR4140H (Mine) BX2380 (wife’s)
Likely either would work as rails as long as adequately sized and you can support. Are you going to be painting/ repainting the steel. I leave my aluminum natural and use SS fasteners.
How will you attach? Your panels appear to have some sort of attachment. I just predrilled and bolted directly.
Also how you attacking the panel supports (orange) to the structure (black)?
Here is a pic of the aluminum feet I made rather than attach directly.
How will you attach? Your panels appear to have some sort of attachment. I just predrilled and bolted directly.
Also how you attacking the panel supports (orange) to the structure (black)?
Here is a pic of the aluminum feet I made rather than attach directly.
Ok I went and mocked up a scale-ish model of what I'm thinking.
The racks, being angle aluminum, will be 20'. They will have 7' spans on each side of middle beam. The angle aluminum comes in 25' lengths. I'll get them in 20' and get the 5' drops, then cut the 5' drops in half to support the cantilevers.
Each large block below is 1 foot. 20 ft OAL. The solar panels come to 19.66', there will stacked 6 high. This is from the side view. The black boxes are steel int he middle. They will have steel angle iron ears, 2"x2" welded to it on top and bottom. This isn't shown below. The steel will be drilled and I think a rubber washer between the steel ears and the aluminum racking should be ok.
The green is solar, pink is aluminum, and black is steel. 2.5 ft from the bottom black ear to the top aluminum on each side to form triangles to support the racking. I think this will make it strong enough to support snow load and wind.
The racks, being angle aluminum, will be 20'. They will have 7' spans on each side of middle beam. The angle aluminum comes in 25' lengths. I'll get them in 20' and get the 5' drops, then cut the 5' drops in half to support the cantilevers.
Each large block below is 1 foot. 20 ft OAL. The solar panels come to 19.66', there will stacked 6 high. This is from the side view. The black boxes are steel int he middle. They will have steel angle iron ears, 2"x2" welded to it on top and bottom. This isn't shown below. The steel will be drilled and I think a rubber washer between the steel ears and the aluminum racking should be ok.
The green is solar, pink is aluminum, and black is steel. 2.5 ft from the bottom black ear to the top aluminum on each side to form triangles to support the racking. I think this will make it strong enough to support snow load and wind.
Ok got some prices back. 2x2 1/4" angle aluminum 25' sections is $164, that's a LOT higher than I anticipated. It's the orange pieces in the diagram in the 2nd post. I need 8 of them.
I'm thinking of switching to angle iron, then mounting rubber washers between the panels and the steel. I'm waiting on quotes for the angle iron, but flat stock is $36 for a 20' length.
I'm thinking of switching to angle iron, then mounting rubber washers between the panels and the steel. I'm waiting on quotes for the angle iron, but flat stock is $36 for a 20' length.
sodamo
Super Star Member
- Joined
- May 20, 2004
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- 15,802
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- Big Island, HI
- Tractor
- LS XR4140H (Mine) BX2380 (wife’s)
Believe I used 3/16 angle
I picked up some steel and started work again. Go figure, it's cool when i take a break, and hot when I work.
Soon as I puled out of the shop, freak rain storm. Had to strap down in the pouring rain.
Started bracing. It's a lot of cuts, I need to find a way to speed it up. And the angles are to hard for my saw, so I have to use the bench to cut it.
Soon as I puled out of the shop, freak rain storm. Had to strap down in the pouring rain.
Started bracing. It's a lot of cuts, I need to find a way to speed it up. And the angles are to hard for my saw, so I have to use the bench to cut it.
So I'm going to run power to the shop, real power. My house has 200a service, 100a per leg. I want to run full power to the shop, all 200a. The reason for that is I eventually want to generate all of my power in the garage, and backfeed the house, so I want the ability to send it all both ways.
I used this site: https://paigeconnected.com/calculators/wiresize-calculator
This said I need 1/0 copper or 4/0 aluminum.
So I found this: SWEETBRIAR-CUT :: Sweetbriar, (2) 4/0, (1) 2/0, Aluminum, Cut to Length :: Rexel USA
so I think I'm going to go with that.
I used this site: https://paigeconnected.com/calculators/wiresize-calculator
This said I need 1/0 copper or 4/0 aluminum.
So I found this: SWEETBRIAR-CUT :: Sweetbriar, (2) 4/0, (1) 2/0, Aluminum, Cut to Length :: Rexel USA
so I think I'm going to go with that.
bigtiller
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- central Iowa
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You could use a bigger building. That garage looks awfully full to me.
