Affiliate Link to the Solar Ground Mount!⤵ signaturesolar.com/eg4-brightmount-solar-panel-ground-mount-rack-kit-4-panel-ground-mount-adjustable-angle/?ref=C2w_5wtHG6jKcP
AWESOME : My rack will be arriving in about a week from ssk. and the 2 12,000 watt inverts have arrived today and the 2 Rhinos will arrive in about 3 to 4 days. When it all is in one place at one time i will send YOU a pic . The 48 250w panels arrived 6 days ago. CHEERRS
This is great. There are many RUclipsrs singing the praises of the EG4. Only one problem. NO ONE HAS THEM IN STOCK. Like, forever. I wanted one but finally gave up and moved on to another product. Bet I am not the only one that isn't going to "pre-order" my EG4 and wait......and wait......and wait.
Thanks for all your information. I'm on a tight budget so I'm thinking a locust frame, pt 2x4 sleepers and then z brackets. We're recovering from the flood and making progress on the solar. Thanks for the assistance in the area
Hi Joe, thanks for sharing your idea of mounting this kit on four 6x6 posts. I just got my EG4 rack this morning & then installed all 4 posts later in the day. But I think I'll make some sort of galvanized sheet metal caps for the tops of each post, before attaching the mounting brackets. And wow, I'm really happy with the quality of this mounting kit! Such a deal!
Thanks for watching! Wow you really got to work lol great job. Yeah a cap of some kind will help from what others are saying. I just uploaded an update video and you could read others comments on ideas in that video.
Nice to see you have easy soil. Brick notwithstanding. I used a digging bar and shop vac to dig holes to pour piers but we have rough rocky soil. Took forever. Thx.
@@AveRage_Joe I just tried using a pressure washer to cut a trench for electrical. Besides mud spraying everywhere it was tedious in the rock rubble we call soil. Back to the digging bar and shop vac.
Good job. Affordable racking system. The only thing I would do different would be to torch the ends before installing into ground. Show-suggie-bond. Thanks for sharing.
Great video, had some laughs. I’m concerned about galvanic reaction between the aluminum base and the galvanized hardware, and the aluminum base and your PT posts. I think you can rectify that pretty easily if you share my concern. Again, I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
@@AveRage_Joe YES Unfortunately living in Europe in the cold raising family so not in a financial position to jump ship which is really frustrating as mentally I’m ready.
Always nice to see Kitty 🙂 I have these mounts and used 24"x24" pavers for the base (100 lbs each) that seem to be working well so far. I like your idea of the posts - I have a set coming for a east facing mount that I'm going to try that on!. Thanks for the video.
Always fun when the 🐈⬛ is "helping"😆 I wondered about using pavers. I almost used the scrap iron in that pile of metal in the winter lol. I know I didnt want to use concret tho, just in case I ever want to move the rack. Pulling out fence post are not fun so Id imagine concret pillars would be the same. I may actually order another so I can do the same. Face it east cause all I have are facing south! Thanks for watching💥🤘
@@rebelyell1580 Sorry but to me a paver is about an inch and a half thick so how to you put 3" tapcons into those. sorry for sounding so dumb but I was going to use pavers but maybe we don't mean the same thing when we say pavers
@@LarryRichelli These are pavers and they are 24x24x3 and around 120lbs each from a local store. We don't have Lowes or Home Depot around here (100+ miles away) but I see they have 24x24x2 at 90lbs - for those I would use 3/8x2 1/4 tapcons.
Wow man!!..... This is something VERY similar to what I've built for my solar mini split A/C's. EXCEPT for, I'm SURE yours is more level and even than mine turned out. ALTHOUGH, I used twice as many posts (4X4 posts) as you did, I dug 8 posts and used Eco-Worthy ground mounts all attached together using super strut mounting. It turned out VERY solid. This is just a start of my project. I plan to install more ground mount hardware.
@@brandonbates5840 I forgot the name brand of the panels but I intentionally over paneled my mini splits. I'm using 4 panels each for each of my mini splits. 455 watts each. I over panel them so my AC will turn on earlier and turn off later on in the day. Each unit can run on 3 panels but I like them turning on earlier and staying on later. My systems are working great so far but I believe both units can use a touch extra R410A to make colder air at the exit duct. The air is currently about 50 degrees which, in MY understanding, it should be significantly colder. I also just bought 2 Ecoflow Pro's and am going to buy 4 expansion batteries. This should run a good amount of mini split units. I currently have 2 units and plan to have a total of 6. Not ALL these units will run from the Ecoflow Pro and batteries. I don't think 2 Ecoflow's will support that many watt hours durring the night. ..... Thoughts?
Water getting into the ends of the posts is a concern. What's more worrisome, is the fact he's driven the lag bolts into _end grain_ which is _not_ a good idea, especially when it comes to structural integrity. The bolts will pull out of the ends of the posts _much_ easier compared to being driven into face or edge grain
I love this idea for footings as it's super simple. How has this been once fully set up? There is significant rotational force (forward) on the brackets. In particular, the foot as all the weight is forward of the foot. How have the footings held up with those 4 screws in the ends? Those exposed ends also seem like a failure point
Everything has been great so far. No movement in any direction that I can see. The 4 screws in the post ends are doing great. As a few others have stated, its not a good idea to mount on the ends like I did. Better to have an end cap and mount to that. Minimum I need to do is seal the ends so water doesnt seep in.
I put Six 190w Hqst Panels on mine under 2 Parking lot bumpers putting the rack together was easy but it was a Pain in the but to drill thru Concrete, I should of went the route you did
Do you anticipate and degradation on your aluminum mounting brackets due to galvanic action with the lag bolts? Thinking you should probably install nylon washers between aluminum brackets and galvanized washer.
I bought 2 of these about 6 months ago, and finally poured 4x 10" concrete tube footings for 1 of them last weekend. I'm putting 4x 400 watt QCells on it, we'll see how it goes. I need to get the right sized masonry bit unless they happened to include one in the kit. I was thinking about assembling it, setting it on top of the concrete, and marking the holes, but that might be more hassle. Curious to see what yours looks like with 5 panels.
Nice! Yeah its super easy to throw together. Id love to get some Qcell panels. No masonry bits included. I think you need a 3/8" if I remember right for the included ancors. Yeah I would use some regular sized panels but only have 2 left so the odd shapped panels are going on! Should look great once installed!🤘
Did you have any issues with using 10" concrete tubes. The instructions show the forms should be 50cm (approx 20"). I think 20" is overkill. I was thinking that 12" going 4' down for frost protection would be more than adequate. Do you think the 50 cm x 85 cm is using the weight of the concrete as essentially ballast?
@@blossom2174 I haven't had any issues at all, though 10" is about the minimum you can go with the size of the mounts for the anchors, and a full 4' would a little deeper than I ended up going. Mine is near a wall, so wind gusts aren't likely to be much of an issue for me. I think you'll be totally fine with 12" 4' tubes.
If I went with concrete. I also would have done either 10 or 12" tubes and 3-4ft deep! Also next to wall so wind on that south side of house isnt an issue.
You got me thinking, from the short clip I see you connected the two panels on short sides which would make them very tall. Im my case (Florida) that would be a big wind sail IE hurricane. It might be fine in your case since you are next to a building. Im excited to see the next video on how you do it.
I wonder how my neighbors would feel about 5 of these along the chain link fence on my property line. ;) Suggestion: Anyone doing this should toss a couple inches of gravel at the bottom of each hole, this way water doesn't pool against the wood end grain. This will make the posts last longer as most of the water pickup from a piece of wood is on the end grain, even on a treated post. I'd put the cut end facing up as well. I was going to say "better pre-drill the holes in the posts or you'll likely split the wood" but it looks like you did but only showed it on the out-takes.
Personally, I'd recommend sealing the exposed end grain as well, especially with the four bolt holes being fairly close to the edge of the wood. In time that vertical end grain well rot out if not sealed well with something, and once it does there goes the anchor point for the rack.
I think your neighbors would absolutly love you for setting up solar panel racks😆 I almost put some gravel down in there.... was this 🤏 close. I did show pre drilling the holes right before the assembly of one section of the rack but only showed drilling one post🤘
Nice! I'm looking at a ground mount, but would need to go a little higher since I have a lot of wildlife at my property. Nebraska drivers have changed since I last drove through. It was more of "why yes, we do have all day to get where we're going".
Could probly mount it higher if needed. The specs say it handles high winds so wildlife should be ok depending. Yeah 100% the drivers here are SLOW AF😆😆😆
Ive been kicking around this idea too. It will be be very cost effective for a large ground mount system. I have 6000w worth of panels currently and am thinking I can go 2x9 by combining 2 eg4 kits side by side attached to one another.
@@AveRage_Joe If it all works out I will make 4 or 6 EG4 kits in one long string. My goal is to expand my system form 6kw(once done) to 12kw then 18kw.....The hybrid inverter that i have can be paralleled with up to 9 total in parallel for a total wattage of 54kw. It is a sungoldpower hybrid 240v split phase unit. I believe I am going to go with concrete piers below the frostline.
Joe , can you tell me how you feel about buying used solar panels vs used panels? Any make of used panels that you would recommend? Place to buy used panels helpful too.
Thats all I have is used solar panels. Most of them came from Santansolar. They have a website or you can buy through ebay which is what I did. Basically what you dont want is anything that says cracked vinyl, water intrusion, bent frames, broken glass. If they say snail trail, thats ok. I ordered 21 245w panels from him that said manufacture labels were removed and they have snail trails. Every single panel tested great and have been on my roof since purchased. I did have one panel that shattered in shipping, he refunded me for that panel no problem. Shipping for 1 panel is the same for a pallet of panels so might as well make it worth it if you can. Also shipping is high but again, its a freakin pallet of solar panels🤷♂️ I would buy from him again when I can! Even my Dad ordered a pallet of 10, none shattered. He is actually buying another 10 in the next week.
@@AveRage_Joe it weighs the same no matter which way you put it and securing the bracket to the side of the wood is better than the end of the wood strength wise. the frame/ rail / panel is no more than 60 pounds per post and probably less. 4 anchor lag screws in the "side" of each 6x6 will hold over 1000 pounds easy. The bracket will break before those screws come out.
Yeah 100% would be better in the side of the post and the lag bolts are not coming out. I was more thinking how the weight would effect it coming from a different angle.
Hi, im going to do canopy for my house using aluminium rail, not the U shaped though, not sure if it will be strong enough to hold wind on the 3rd floor hmm got the foundation from steel already, just not sure how to get solar panel installed on those steels
Yeah super solid. However, I guess your not supose to mount to the end grain or edge of the wood post like I did. Everyone says to mount on the side of post or mount a cap on the end and then mount to that. Im happy so far. I have an update vid for what I did to help support snow load since I used 10 solar panels.
I just have 2x 200w 12v panels that I am using for an off grid chicken coop. Couldn't I just use 1/2 of this rack setup? This sounds like a dumb question, but I'm asking anyway.
Yeah you could totally use half! No reason you couldnt! Thats actually a great idea. You or someone could have 2 small racks if needed. You would need 4 more end clamps but thats cheap! EZPZ💥🤘
On one of your videos you mounted 10 panels onto this rack. I want to do this with 8 200 watt panels. What parts did you use to join them together top and bottom? THANK YOU
Yes I sure did and its holding up great btw. I should have the steel brackets I used listed in description in that video. They were called "mending" brackets off amazon.🤘
GREAT JOB JOE! WE ARE CONSIDERING USING (2) OF THE EG4 SOLAR GROUND MOUNTS AS WELL: (1) FOR EAST & (1) FOR WEST ARRAY TO EXTEND OUR SOUTH SOLAR GENERATION CURVE PEAK WITH HIGHER MORNING & EVENING SOLAR GENERATION FOR LONGER HOME LOADS & BATTERY CHARGING. WE ENJOY YOUR PROJECTS!
Thanks! Appreciate that! Its a solid rack for sure! I am thinking about getting another for a west facing array! I would face one east but I have to many trees for that lol If you end up going this route be sure to use my affiliate link in description😉😉🫣💥🤘
I am brand new to solar and requesting some advice before I buy my ground mount. Could I safely build a base out of 4x4's and mount 10" locking turf tires underneath so that I could rotate the whole unit towards the sun? I am retired and home a great deal of the time. I am also a very petite female and not so strong as I used to be.
Welcome to the exciting world of solar and offgrid fun! I think it is 100% possible to build a movable base out of 4x4's! Only thing I can think of at the moment is some sort of staking (metal rods drove into the ground)so everyday wind or wind from a random storm wont move it on you when you are not around.
Thank you for your quick reply. This is good news. I will be pounding some 7 ' tall steel fence stakes I use for staking tomatoes. If extreme, geo-engineered winds are expected I would probably remove my panels. Within weeks I will know the exact place I want my ground mount. This mount is my most likely choice a one, and I will order via your link if I do so. My sister may buy one, too.
Yeah shouldnt be an issue at all. Those stakes should be good to go. Do you have panels yet? If so what do you have? Much appreciated if you use my link!🤘
@AveRage_Joe thanks! I'm being over cautious because I've never really worked with solar panels. Summer time I'm going to mount mine exactly like yours!
Yeah Im with ya. Only thing to worry about is the wind or something knocking them over and breaking the glass. So make sure they cant do that and you will be good to go.🫣😁💥🤘
HOWdy A-R-J, ... Racking UP ! my WOOD-BORING Bees love my Treated / Ground Contact LUMBER 😞 ... Who'd of THOUGHT that SOLAR would have TAUGHT us "metric" / lengths & Bolt Sizes ? LOL ... COOP the WiSeNhEiMeR from Richmond, INDIANA ...
The mechanical engineer in me makes me extremely skeptical of this product. Just based on simple leverages, if you put 50 pounds of upward force on the front of that, it looks like it would translate to about 1000 pounds on those lag screws. Hopefully you get near zero wind in that location. Could be easily fixed with a couple of ground cables in the front and back, but the product doesn’t call for that. Would love to see a follow up video of how this thing lasts after a year.
Oh, I see you made another video where installed braces. Yeah sure enough, I don’t understand how they sell that product to people. Can’t imagine this company has a phone number to call because they’d do nothing but talk to angry customers all day.
Okay I'll just change it around a little bit put the shorter one going out and along the one going up and it makes more of an angle more like a 45 degree angle that would work thank you I see how it can you do it now to make it a better angle. But then again I don't live in South.
@@AveRage_Joe of course I can you only showed me two options that I could do by putting yours together of course I use you just build your own solar panel stand to the best angle I know that works year-round I just got to make sure the one in front doesn't shade the one in back at any time of the year. But now I understand that is not inverters I'm more interested in even though I'm still interested and overpriced batteries. It is the generators that are solar operated and their overpriced batteries and less solar panels to charge them which ultimately will cost less than the solar panels that inverter and batteries altogether then whatever it cost for the generators the generators batteries and a lot less solar panels to take to charge them completely in a few hours each day to what it takes for inverter to charge the batteries and much more solar panels to make it work. And even some of these solar generators are UL certified for the electric in the 48 states of United States of America only if you get the right ones.
Affiliate Link to the Solar Ground Mount!⤵
signaturesolar.com/eg4-brightmount-solar-panel-ground-mount-rack-kit-4-panel-ground-mount-adjustable-angle/?ref=C2w_5wtHG6jKcP
Was about to checkout, but then I exited out so I could come back here and use this link. Thanks for the video!
@@mrrkrr Thank you for using the link! Much Appreciated!🤘
do you see a difference in your electric bill?
The car ride was hilarious. Thank you.
That 4 post setup is exactly what I was picturing in my head.
Panels have about a foot of snow on them at the moment😄😄
this is my favorite ground mount solution ive seen yet, and the price is right.
Loved the drive sequence!
😆😆🛻🫣🤘
Heck ya. Made me laugh.
My job is done!😆💥🤘
It was hilarious
so glad I clicked this video! Love the drive to hardware store clips!
AWESOME : My rack will be arriving in about a week from ssk. and the 2 12,000 watt inverts have arrived today and the 2 Rhinos will arrive in about 3 to 4 days.
When it all is in one place at one time i will send YOU a pic . The 48 250w panels arrived 6 days ago. CHEERRS
NIIIIICE! Your gonna have a sweet setup once installed! Yeah send pics!!!💥🤘
Driving sequence for the win. Boom!
Thats how we Roll!!!😏😆😎💥🤘
Love the drive to the hardware store lol!!
😆💥🤘
Always fun to watch your struggles and humour! 🙂
The struggle is REAL😆😆😆 Thanks man, appreciate the watch!💥🤘
This is great. There are many RUclipsrs singing the praises of the EG4.
Only one problem. NO ONE HAS THEM IN STOCK. Like, forever. I wanted one but finally gave up and moved on to another product. Bet I am not the only one that isn't going to "pre-order" my EG4 and wait......and wait......and wait.
BOOM!> Nice Driving skills! Cracked me up. lol.
💥💥BOOOOOM💥💥 Gotta throw that in there lol 😆🛻🫣
The added sounds, especially the fart, was so appreciated! Thanks 🙏🏼
😆Thank you and glad you enjoyed that!🤘
In addition to your main topic, I loved the trip to the hardware store. That was hilarious.
😅 Thanks and thanks for watching!💥🤘
Thanks for all your information. I'm on a tight budget so I'm thinking a locust frame, pt 2x4 sleepers and then z brackets. We're recovering from the flood and making progress on the solar. Thanks for the assistance in the area
Loved the Osha inspector (Cat) pre work inspection of their human.
Very well done!
Only way it seems to work around here😆🐈⬛🔨
@@AveRage_Joe
Safety first!
Hi Joe, thanks for sharing your idea of mounting this kit on four 6x6 posts. I just got my EG4 rack this morning & then installed all 4 posts later in the day. But I think I'll make some sort of galvanized sheet metal caps for the tops of each post, before attaching the mounting brackets. And wow, I'm really happy with the quality of this mounting kit! Such a deal!
Thanks for watching! Wow you really got to work lol great job. Yeah a cap of some kind will help from what others are saying. I just uploaded an update video and you could read others comments on ideas in that video.
NICE !! The driving had me cracking up. Thanks for sharing. God Bless
😜Thanks for watching!!!
Wow, that's a very nice racking kit for the price. Great video!
Yeah it really is and price is great! Thanks Man!💥🤘
Nice to see you have easy soil. Brick notwithstanding. I used a digging bar and shop vac to dig holes to pour piers but we have rough rocky soil. Took forever. Thx.
Yeah for the most part the soil was easy to go through. Those bricks really put a stop to things lol. Cant imagine doing piers!!!😲
@@AveRage_Joe I just tried using a pressure washer to cut a trench for electrical. Besides mud spraying everywhere it was tedious in the rock rubble we call soil. Back to the digging bar and shop vac.
Great drive to the hardware store 👍
Thank You!😆
want to see that next video thats the stuff we love
The sound the panels made... priceless!😆😆
Love watching you're vids!!! Great drive to the store and sound effects loading the posts :)
Thanks Man! Much appreciated!💥🤘
Shit...I was hanging g on to my seat on the drive to the store...fortunately three wasnt a return trip..phew!!
Good job. Affordable racking system. The only thing I would do different would be to torch the ends before installing into ground. Show-suggie-bond. Thanks for sharing.
2:35 your motor insurer in recovery position 🤣🤣🤣 meow to your cat 😉
Lol🤏
Thank You so much. it is great that some one like you is showing how to do it and what it is needed to do it. Now i know.
Thanks for Watching!! Thats how I roll I guess. Seems like no one else shows much other then hey look at this 😏😆😎💥🤘
Great video, had some laughs. I’m concerned about galvanic reaction between the aluminum base and the galvanized hardware, and the aluminum base and your PT posts. I think you can rectify that pretty easily if you share my concern.
Again, I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
Well done i was chuckling especially on the way to the hardware store
😆😆😆🤠🤘
Nice tutorial. I wished I was ready to have a solar system. Unfortunately 10 -12 years away from getting my dream home. Keep the great vids coming.
Thanks!!! 10-12yrs..... Thats a long time away but I guess well worth the wait for the dream home!!
If you are like my wife and I, in 10-12 years your dream home will take another form.
@@AveRage_Joe YES Unfortunately living in Europe in the cold raising family so not in a financial position to jump ship which is really frustrating as mentally I’m ready.
@@JarredSutherland 🤣🤣
love the trip to the store. great video thanks
Sweet, thanks for the help!!
Always nice to see Kitty 🙂 I have these mounts and used 24"x24" pavers for the base (100 lbs each) that seem to be working well so far. I like your idea of the posts - I have a set coming for a east facing mount that I'm going to try that on!. Thanks for the video.
Always fun when the 🐈⬛ is "helping"😆 I wondered about using pavers. I almost used the scrap iron in that pile of metal in the winter lol. I know I didnt want to use concret tho, just in case I ever want to move the rack. Pulling out fence post are not fun so Id imagine concret pillars would be the same. I may actually order another so I can do the same. Face it east cause all I have are facing south! Thanks for watching💥🤘
Can you please let us know how you mounted the rack bracket to the pavers. Thanks
@@LarryRichelli 3/8 x 3 tapcons
@@rebelyell1580 Sorry but to me a paver is about an inch and a half thick so how to you put 3" tapcons into those. sorry for sounding so dumb but I was going to use pavers but maybe we don't mean the same thing when we say pavers
@@LarryRichelli These are pavers and they are 24x24x3 and around 120lbs each from a local store. We don't have Lowes or Home Depot around here (100+ miles away) but I see they have 24x24x2 at 90lbs - for those I would use 3/8x2 1/4 tapcons.
Hey Joe, nice rack! 🤣🤣🤣
Glad to hear you're gonna ground the panels...don't wana get shocked now...🤣
Looking forward to the 10 panel attempt!
Thank you Thank you!!😆 Ive been waiting for that comment lol 10 Panels coming right up!!!😎💥🤘
@@AveRage_Joe 🤣🤣🤣
It's beautiful plan solar panel system I like it❤
Wow man!!..... This is something VERY similar to what I've built for my solar mini split A/C's. EXCEPT for, I'm SURE yours is more level and even than mine turned out. ALTHOUGH, I used twice as many posts (4X4 posts) as you did, I dug 8 posts and used Eco-Worthy ground mounts all attached together using super strut mounting. It turned out VERY solid. This is just a start of my project. I plan to install more ground mount hardware.
What size and how many panels did you use for your mini splits?
@@brandonbates5840 I forgot the name brand of the panels but I intentionally over paneled my mini splits. I'm using 4 panels each for each of my mini splits. 455 watts each. I over panel them so my AC will turn on earlier and turn off later on in the day. Each unit can run on 3 panels but I like them turning on earlier and staying on later. My systems are working great so far but I believe both units can use a touch extra R410A to make colder air at the exit duct. The air is currently about 50 degrees which, in MY understanding, it should be significantly colder. I also just bought 2 Ecoflow Pro's and am going to buy 4 expansion batteries. This should run a good amount of mini split units. I currently have 2 units and plan to have a total of 6. Not ALL these units will run from the Ecoflow Pro and batteries. I don't think 2 Ecoflow's will support that many watt hours durring the night. ..... Thoughts?
@@wildwestunlimitedIf it's an eg4 12,000 btu model I think you have too many watts by about 120. Not sure if that is an issue. Were the panels new?
I would put a cap on top of those wooden posts. Water easily soaks down into the ends and causes premature rotting.
Someone mentioned sealing them so I planned on doing that🤘
Water getting into the ends of the posts is a concern. What's more worrisome, is the fact he's driven the lag bolts into _end grain_ which is _not_ a good idea, especially when it comes to structural integrity. The bolts will pull out of the ends of the posts _much_ easier compared to being driven into face or edge grain
Loved the editing!
Thank You!!!💥🤘
I was thinking about going 1kw for camp next year & I believe this mount will do the trick. 👍
Cool tux 🐱
It will do it for sure! Thanks btw🐈⬛🐈⬛🤘
can you use this to wall mount as well? just flip it and attach it to the wall?
Heck yea Joe more bang for your buck, I would do the same thing!
Belle installation ! Merci pour l`idée et le partage JOE. 😍👍
Thank you and Thanks for watching!!💥🤘
thank you for not editing out your co host.
Can only do things so many times lo🐈⬛😆🫣🤘
Oooh, pretty! I like that!
Thank Youuuu!!!💥🤘
I love this idea for footings as it's super simple. How has this been once fully set up? There is significant rotational force (forward) on the brackets. In particular, the foot as all the weight is forward of the foot. How have the footings held up with those 4 screws in the ends? Those exposed ends also seem like a failure point
Everything has been great so far. No movement in any direction that I can see. The 4 screws in the post ends are doing great. As a few others have stated, its not a good idea to mount on the ends like I did. Better to have an end cap and mount to that. Minimum I need to do is seal the ends so water doesnt seep in.
Driving scene made me lol
Thanks Joe! Very informative! Steve Jordan, Fighting 55Th
STEEEEEEVE Hows it hanging brother😏😆😎
Ground mount (instead of roof-mount) allows the owner to clean off snow and dust.
100% WINNING for ground mount and snow!💥💥💥💥🤘
I put Six 190w Hqst Panels on mine under 2 Parking lot bumpers putting the rack together was easy but it was a Pain in the but to drill thru Concrete, I should of went the route you did
Im not a fan of concrete.....especially trying to get it back out of the ground🙄😆
Love the cat
ME TOO!!!😆🐈❤
You're the best 😂!! I love your content as always
Appreciate it!💥🤘
Do you anticipate and degradation on your aluminum mounting brackets due to galvanic action with the lag bolts? Thinking you should probably install nylon washers between aluminum brackets and galvanized washer.
How are your posts holding up so far? Incidentally, love the driving and loading scene!
Strong like Bull!💪🐃😁 No issues as of yet. I have some video of a foot of snow on there that I need to upload!
I bought 2 of these about 6 months ago, and finally poured 4x 10" concrete tube footings for 1 of them last weekend. I'm putting 4x 400 watt QCells on it, we'll see how it goes. I need to get the right sized masonry bit unless they happened to include one in the kit. I was thinking about assembling it, setting it on top of the concrete, and marking the holes, but that might be more hassle. Curious to see what yours looks like with 5 panels.
Nice! Yeah its super easy to throw together. Id love to get some Qcell panels. No masonry bits included. I think you need a 3/8" if I remember right for the included ancors. Yeah I would use some regular sized panels but only have 2 left so the odd shapped panels are going on! Should look great once installed!🤘
Did you have any issues with using 10" concrete tubes. The instructions show the forms should be 50cm (approx 20"). I think 20" is overkill. I was thinking that 12" going 4' down for frost protection would be more than adequate. Do you think the 50 cm x 85 cm is using the weight of the concrete as essentially ballast?
@@blossom2174 I haven't had any issues at all, though 10" is about the minimum you can go with the size of the mounts for the anchors, and a full 4' would a little deeper than I ended up going. Mine is near a wall, so wind gusts aren't likely to be much of an issue for me. I think you'll be totally fine with 12" 4' tubes.
If I went with concrete. I also would have done either 10 or 12" tubes and 3-4ft deep! Also next to wall so wind on that south side of house isnt an issue.
Go for 10, I have one of the ground mount and after seeing your install I’m ready to tackle it myself.
100% 10 is going on there!🫣🤭 So yeah the rack was super easy if you go this route. Hardest part was digging the holes lol😆
You got me thinking, from the short clip I see you connected the two panels on short sides which would make them very tall. Im my case (Florida) that would be a big wind sail IE hurricane. It might be fine in your case since you are next to a building. Im excited to see the next video on how you do it.
I wonder how my neighbors would feel about 5 of these along the chain link fence on my property line. ;)
Suggestion: Anyone doing this should toss a couple inches of gravel at the bottom of each hole, this way water doesn't pool against the wood end grain. This will make the posts last longer as most of the water pickup from a piece of wood is on the end grain, even on a treated post. I'd put the cut end facing up as well.
I was going to say "better pre-drill the holes in the posts or you'll likely split the wood" but it looks like you did but only showed it on the out-takes.
Personally, I'd recommend sealing the exposed end grain as well, especially with the four bolt holes being fairly close to the edge of the wood. In time that vertical end grain well rot out if not sealed well with something, and once it does there goes the anchor point for the rack.
@@ssoffshore5111 Both great ideas!
I think your neighbors would absolutly love you for setting up solar panel racks😆 I almost put some gravel down in there.... was this 🤏 close. I did show pre drilling the holes right before the assembly of one section of the rack but only showed drilling one post🤘
Damn....I completly forgot about sealing the ends lol🤦♂️ Ill seal the top side! Thanks for the reminder!!!💥💥🤘
@@AveRage_Joe Wouldn't be the first time I was blind and missed part of a video. :)
Nice! I'm looking at a ground mount, but would need to go a little higher since I have a lot of wildlife at my property.
Nebraska drivers have changed since I last drove through. It was more of "why yes, we do have all day to get where we're going".
Could probly mount it higher if needed. The specs say it handles high winds so wildlife should be ok depending.
Yeah 100% the drivers here are SLOW AF😆😆😆
I like your video nice rail set up
Thanks and thanks for watching!🤘
nice install, thank for the video
Thanks man and thanks for watching!💥🤘
Ive been kicking around this idea too. It will be be very cost effective for a large ground mount system. I have 6000w worth of panels currently and am thinking I can go 2x9 by combining 2 eg4 kits side by side attached to one another.
Attaching 2 together would be sweet!
@@AveRage_Joe If it all works out I will make 4 or 6 EG4 kits in one long string. My goal is to expand my system form 6kw(once done) to 12kw then 18kw.....The hybrid inverter that i have can be paralleled with up to 9 total in parallel for a total wattage of 54kw. It is a sungoldpower hybrid 240v split phase unit. I believe I am going to go with concrete piers below the frostline.
Great video, thank you, think I might have to get this mount system
Thanks for Watching! If you do its an easy rack to assemble. Hardest part for me was holding on to the auger and catching the bricks lol😆
Thanks Joe 👍
Thank You!!!💥🤘
Joe , can you tell me how you feel about buying used solar panels vs used panels? Any make of used panels that you would recommend? Place to buy used panels helpful too.
Thats all I have is used solar panels. Most of them came from Santansolar. They have a website or you can buy through ebay which is what I did. Basically what you dont want is anything that says cracked vinyl, water intrusion, bent frames, broken glass. If they say snail trail, thats ok. I ordered 21 245w panels from him that said manufacture labels were removed and they have snail trails. Every single panel tested great and have been on my roof since purchased. I did have one panel that shattered in shipping, he refunded me for that panel no problem. Shipping for 1 panel is the same for a pallet of panels so might as well make it worth it if you can. Also shipping is high but again, its a freakin pallet of solar panels🤷♂️ I would buy from him again when I can! Even my Dad ordered a pallet of 10, none shattered. He is actually buying another 10 in the next week.
So; you can flip the mount over and rotate it (brackets) and mount them to the side of the vertical post instead of the top of it.
I dont think it is designed to work like that as it may be to much weight. The new version is adjustable with the lower brackets.
@@AveRage_Joe it weighs the same no matter which way you put it and securing the bracket to the side of the wood is better than the end of the wood strength wise. the frame/ rail / panel is no more than 60 pounds per post and probably less. 4 anchor lag screws in the "side" of each 6x6 will hold over 1000 pounds easy. The bracket will break before those screws come out.
Yeah 100% would be better in the side of the post and the lag bolts are not coming out. I was more thinking how the weight would effect it coming from a different angle.
Looks good, but I think it would have been better to cement the posts in the ground for increased stability.
I was going to but jic I ever wanted to move or take it down I didnt want to mess with the big chunk of concret after.
Hi, im going to do canopy for my house using aluminium rail, not the U shaped though, not sure if it will be strong enough to hold wind on the 3rd floor hmm got the foundation from steel already, just not sure how to get solar panel installed on those steels
My buddy just made a movable awning for his back patio. He used the aluminum rail. Looks and works awesome!
What is the overall width of the bottom and top rails because my panels are a little wider than normal
179-5/8" or just shy of 15ft by my tape measure!🤘
So how do you tilt the panels?
Thanks.
The new rack has the lower side braces in 2 pieces. 1 brace slides over the other and that is where/how to change angle.
Do you believe this is a solid base or how will you make sure it wont tip over besides the grounding rod?
Yeah super solid. However, I guess your not supose to mount to the end grain or edge of the wood post like I did. Everyone says to mount on the side of post or mount a cap on the end and then mount to that. Im happy so far. I have an update vid for what I did to help support snow load since I used 10 solar panels.
I just have 2x 200w 12v panels that I am using for an off grid chicken coop. Couldn't I just use 1/2 of this rack setup? This sounds like a dumb question, but I'm asking anyway.
Yeah you could totally use half! No reason you couldnt! Thats actually a great idea. You or someone could have 2 small racks if needed. You would need 4 more end clamps but thats cheap! EZPZ💥🤘
On one of your videos you mounted 10 panels onto this rack. I want to do this with 8 200 watt panels. What parts did you use to join them together top and bottom? THANK YOU
Yes I sure did and its holding up great btw. I should have the steel brackets I used listed in description in that video. They were called "mending" brackets off amazon.🤘
What auger was used here? Trying to find an auger that can handle a 12" but to do the same setup here and can't locate the damn auger!
It was my buddies and I will find out. Im pretty sure homedepot and lowes has augers for rent which was my first plan.
What angle does this mount give your solar panels? 22 degrees or so?
Mine is set to 30* but they have a new adjustable version which would be super nice to have!😀
hahahaha AJ..... i think ur new moto should be "BOOOOOOOOMMMM CRASHHHHHHH OPERA"
T-shirt!😆😆💥🤘
GREAT JOB JOE!
WE ARE CONSIDERING USING (2) OF THE EG4 SOLAR GROUND MOUNTS AS WELL: (1) FOR EAST & (1) FOR WEST ARRAY TO EXTEND OUR SOUTH SOLAR GENERATION CURVE PEAK WITH HIGHER MORNING & EVENING SOLAR GENERATION FOR LONGER HOME LOADS & BATTERY CHARGING.
WE ENJOY YOUR PROJECTS!
Thanks! Appreciate that! Its a solid rack for sure! I am thinking about getting another for a west facing array! I would face one east but I have to many trees for that lol If you end up going this route be sure to use my affiliate link in description😉😉🫣💥🤘
What did you do to combine 2 panels into one big ass panel? That’s creative and I like how you think.
Yep 100% did that with a flat steel plate😆😆💪🤫
What size post hole auger bit did you use to dig your holes? 8" or 10"?
fun video. keep em coming!
Thanks and Moar to come!!!
Your cat rocks...
I am brand new to solar and requesting some advice before I buy my ground mount. Could I safely build a base out of 4x4's and mount 10" locking turf tires underneath so that I could rotate the whole unit towards the sun? I am retired and home a great deal of the time. I am also a very petite female and not so strong as I used to be.
Welcome to the exciting world of solar and offgrid fun! I think it is 100% possible to build a movable base out of 4x4's! Only thing I can think of at the moment is some sort of staking (metal rods drove into the ground)so everyday wind or wind from a random storm wont move it on you when you are not around.
Thank you for your quick reply. This is good news. I will be pounding some 7 ' tall steel fence stakes I use for staking tomatoes. If extreme, geo-engineered winds are expected I would probably remove my panels. Within weeks I will know the exact place I want my ground mount. This mount is my most likely choice a one, and I will order via your link if I do so. My sister may buy one, too.
Yeah shouldnt be an issue at all. Those stakes should be good to go. Do you have panels yet? If so what do you have? Much appreciated if you use my link!🤘
Was that a 8" auger bit that you used?
Did you have them in use against the side of your house? Was thinking of a very temporary set up 😂
You could have them up against the house for sure. I had some solar water heater panels here a few days prior.
@AveRage_Joe thanks! I'm being over cautious because I've never really worked with solar panels. Summer time I'm going to mount mine exactly like yours!
Yeah Im with ya. Only thing to worry about is the wind or something knocking them over and breaking the glass. So make sure they cant do that and you will be good to go.🫣😁💥🤘
HOWdy A-R-J, ...
Racking UP !
my WOOD-BORING Bees love my Treated / Ground Contact LUMBER 😞 ...
Who'd of THOUGHT that SOLAR would have TAUGHT us "metric" / lengths & Bolt Sizes ? LOL ...
COOP
the WiSeNhEiMeR from Richmond, INDIANA
...
Funny you mention that. I've been getting wood-boring bees in the treated lumber of my ground array as well. What a pain in the .
I will have to look into that, Never heard of em!! Thanks for the heads up!💥🤘
10 panels its exelent idea ❤
I agree!😆🤘
Wouldn't the wooden posts base rot out eventually. Maybe you just didn't want a more permanent installation.
I guess eventually sure. Im betting it will be good for a long time tho
Did you call 811 before digging those holes? I didn't see any flags :)
Oh yeah......100% called them😆
What are the dimensions of your panels
Did you ground the panels?
Mmmmm not yet lol but could real easy since my house ground rod is like 2-3ft away.
You, go , boy, with. 10 panels
The mechanical engineer in me makes me extremely skeptical of this product. Just based on simple leverages, if you put 50 pounds of upward force on the front of that, it looks like it would translate to about 1000 pounds on those lag screws. Hopefully you get near zero wind in that location. Could be easily fixed with a couple of ground cables in the front and back, but the product doesn’t call for that. Would love to see a follow up video of how this thing lasts after a year.
Oh, I see you made another video where installed braces. Yeah sure enough, I don’t understand how they sell that product to people. Can’t imagine this company has a phone number to call because they’d do nothing but talk to angry customers all day.
Okay I'll just change it around a little bit put the shorter one going out and along the one going up and it makes more of an angle more like a 45 degree angle that would work thank you I see how it can you do it now to make it a better angle. But then again I don't live in South.
Yeah I guess you could change the angle.
@@AveRage_Joe of course I can you only showed me two options that I could do by putting yours together of course I use you just build your own solar panel stand to the best angle I know that works year-round I just got to make sure the one in front doesn't shade the one in back at any time of the year. But now I understand that is not inverters I'm more interested in even though I'm still interested and overpriced batteries. It is the generators that are solar operated and their overpriced batteries and less solar panels to charge them which ultimately will cost less than the solar panels that inverter and batteries altogether then whatever it cost for the generators the generators batteries and a lot less solar panels to take to charge them completely in a few hours each day to what it takes for inverter to charge the batteries and much more solar panels to make it work. And even some of these solar generators are UL certified for the electric in the 48 states of United States of America only if you get the right ones.
I want to see how it swivels towards the sun. :-)
Wouldnt that be fun😆
Cool video 📸😎📸
Thanks!💥🤘
Why did you get treated wood
Why not?
BTW you should have some kind of koodoos from the bats and the inverts... I did what ever I could to get you the credits.
If you used my code it should work! Mucha appreciated!🤠💥🤘
Na nicht übel...!
Und du hast eine schöne Shopping Tour gemacht, aber wo ist das Bier?😅
Thumbs up 👍 ok it’s your fault go for 10!😂 it’s fine leave the nuts 🌰 to the squirrels 🐿️ I’m thinking 🤔 ten is a great idea 😊
Thanks Man! I swear it sounded like some BIG animals in the trees.....nope just a couple squirrels 😆😆
Nick Rack!!!🤩
😆Thank you thank you!💥🤘
How is this holding up Joe?
Holding up great! Plannin a quick update vid!
I guess there was a porch there before you decided to put panel stand there.
I had some solar water heater panels over on that side of house but removed them.
😂😂😂 this was a good video
Thanks Man!!💥🤘