3200 watt Unistrut solar array follow up video- cheap solar array setup

[@BradCagle]

Nice Job! May I make a suggestion? @1:18 your middle mount washers seem to cast a little bit of shadow on the cells. This can create a hotspot overtime, perhaps use smaller washers? I would say grind them down on the sides, but then you'll probably have rust issues.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

I appreciate that. It does cast a small shadow. But the shadow only extends to the silver trim. So it never actually touches the cells. One size smaller washer probably would have worked. But just seemed a bit small.

[@johncorcoran38]

Thanks for providing an answer to DYI ground mount that doesn't break the bank. Hope you do another video on measurements and spacing of post and rails.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

I hope the videos help. The spacing isn’t too crucial. Depending on your panel length then I just used a full piece of 10’ unistrut for the width. So with mine they have around an 18” overhang off the sides and the panels both meet in the middle. That’s the nice thing about unistrut. It’s very easy to adjust. You will end up spending around $100 on bolts believe it or not. But still I think I only had around $450 in it total.

[@VinceBadovinatz88]

@@GavinStoneDIY thanks for that info

[@jimmycreamer7905]

Hey Gavin, excellent very well done I must say I spoke with you today about off grid again awesome work

[@GavinStoneDIY]

Really appreciate that!

[@Ontgecheap777]

Beautifully quiet there

[@GavinStoneDIY]

Yes definitely. Our previous house was close to the road and the traffic noise so always so bad. We are extremely thankful for the peace and quiet where we live now.

[@VinceBadovinatz88]

Dang another great video. I haven't put my solar panels up either and I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to do it before they show up. This helped a lot I think you might have another video before this cuz this says follow up. I'm putting mine on top of a Bekins moving trailer... I have a lot of work ahead of myself gosh you guys are all years ahead of me. Well I never knew I might need solar until the place I have my Trucking yard and I live there in my trailer cut off the power. I really never considered much about solar. I'm almost glad it happened because once I'm done and figure it all out I guess I'll be self-sufficient

[@VinceBadovinatz88]

The more I look around and see solar everywhere I can't believe how many people have solar. And I didn't know anything about it not a darn thing except people were trying to sell it haha wow so many people were so far ahead of me I think solar is great I really like it. I wish I would have figured It All Out 3 years ago I would have been installing the stuff by now haha

[@Roll2Videos]

Great job 👍 I wish I had of used the bifacial panels on my array. You explain things very well easy to absorb the information. Thanks 🙏

[@vet137]

I like the spring nut idea too, if a panel goes bad you can get it off easy. Great Video!

[@cowboymcq6711]

Nice design The only thing I’d like to do different and who knows if it’s actually worth it would be to have it were it could tilt a bit for winter and summer But super cool 👍🏼

[@GavinStoneDIY]

It can be done with RV jacks and a bit of engineering. I honestly didn’t want to go through the effort. But I’d say it would probably be worth it.

[@cowboymcq6711]

@@GavinStoneDIY great idea

[@fauxque5057]

@@cowboymcq6711 I have 20 panels laying flat on a flat porch roof. Before I put them on the roof they were just laying on the ground. Angling them seems to be over rated in my opinion. The real limitation is how many watts and the max VOC that my all in one solar charge controller will handle. Once it's maxed out it doesn't matter if the angle is tracking the sun or not. If that makes any sense. I have to lay them flat out of sight to avoid permitting and zoning issues. So I just used enough panels to max out my system. Edit. Thought I would also add that 2 of my panels are shattered from shipping. They still produce power just fine

[@gregoryerickson8233]

@@fauxque5057 Did you secure your panels to the flat porch roof? I'm considering doing the same since I have a large metal porch roof but haven't figured out a way to secure the panels on the patio roof without getting on the roof since it likely wouldn't support my weight. Thanks

[@farside87]

Gavin, thanks for the ideas you have provided from your projects. I would appreciate another video about the performance difference between your open array, and your shed build. Do you feel the shed roof with bifacials is performing adequately? Is it really worth bifacials as a shed roof, or just build a roof like a gazebo with no sides? Also, I have read that bifacials perform better in portrait than landscape, do you feel they are producing less in your configuration? You've done a great job, keep us informed. Thanks

[@GavinStoneDIY]

I should take some time and make a video covering these topics. I appreciate the questions. I’m always getting new ideas from other youtubers also. So the goal is to help each other for sure.

[@George_us]

Hello, What is the angle and your solar panel size? My panels are 41" x 82" and placing three panels in landscape orientation doesn't work because each unistrut is 120 inches long and three panels add up to 123 inches (3×41). I plan to put two unistrut together, like yours which gives me 240 inches (2×120) and have five panels in landscape orientation (205=5×41), similar to yours. Thanks

[@GavinStoneDIY]

The angle is around 30 degrees. Which is ideal for Virginia where I am. My panels are roughly 39x79. If you install them like I did 120 inches is perfect. You have to account for the overhang of the panels also. Mine overhang the unistrut 19” on either side. So depending on how you lay your panels out 1 unistrut wide would still work fine probably.

[@fauxque5057]

Not sure about the use of the grounding clips, and the copper wire. The aluminum frames are conductive, the unistrut is conductive, and all of the unistrut is embedded in the earth. Doesn't get much more grounded than that.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

I agree. To be honest I had extra wire and clips from my pole barn solar panel install. So I figured a bit of extra insurance couldn’t hurt. So now instead of grounded, I’m GROUNDED.

[@cgutowski471]

Do you also have a ground wire going to your inverter with the rest of the PV wire? ​@@GavinStoneDIY

[@GavinStoneDIY]

@@cgutowski471 the ground wire from the array is supposed to go to the ground rod where your main panel is.

[@patrickkenny2077]

@@GavinStoneDIY If you do get a lightning strike it will likely make things worse though. Better to keep the lightning protection physically separate. As long as you have SPDs though your equipment will hopefully survive.

[@Steve-wz5pz]

You already have metal posts in the ground - why re-ground the system? Are you not confident in the PV Frame to Unistrut conductivity?

[@GavinStoneDIY]

I believe it would be fine. On the other hand, I had extra wire and clips. So I figured a little redundancy wouldn’t hurt.

[@errcl65]

How did they perform for Wind up lift? And Shear? I have 32 to mount, 4 rows of 8 in landscape or 2 rows of 16 in portrait.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

So far the highest wind I’ve had is 60mph. They didn’t move or shake at all.

[@wadebrewer7212]

Hybrid. I'm using 3inch 240 wall tubing. Have piers dig 38" deep 10" diameter with 14 inch footings. Will run unistrut for the solar panel mounts. Over built? Nope. Have to sccount for snow load at 21 pounds a cubic ft and two days of it not cleaning them off. 3.7kw worth of panels. Nice set up and thanks for sharing!

[@GavinStoneDIY]

@@wadebrewer7212 that sounds like a solid array. What inverters are you going to be using?

[@wadebrewer7212]

@@GavinStoneDIY currently have an older LV5048, the scope of the project has changed. Originally was going to be fir emergency use, but now I want to net zero the meter. So.....Sol Ark seems to be the best option for doing that.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

@@wadebrewer7212 it’s the easiest way to go as far as approval and inspections for sure. Does the new lv6048 have UL approval yet? You may want to check with watts247. I believe those have a net metering option also.

[@sussijensen6977]

Hi from Danmark 🌏🌱🌳🐝🌬🌞🌈❤️ Is it heavy and wath in strong wind

[@GavinStoneDIY]

It seems to work very well in strong winds. I’ve had no issues.

[@sussijensen6977]

@@GavinStoneDIY great i want to do the same model

[@fasnuf]

Awesome,now come help me with mine!

[@GavinStoneDIY]

Sounds good. We can swap labor. You can do some repairs on my Honda.

[@errcl65]

Did you cement the Unistrut into the ground?

[@GavinStoneDIY]

Yes, I used an auger and dug them 2’ in the ground and poured concrete around each foot.

[@unionse7en]

People check with your county before you do this design, it likely won't meet permitting.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

I didn’t ask for permission. But you’re correct. If it were to be inspected it may not pass.

[@thabisomodisane1435]

Thes no need for welding if you know how to use L bruckets

[@thabisomodisane1435]

Unlesd for safety if thes thiefs around your home

[@GavinStoneDIY]

I didn’t really need to use welding on the L brackets. I had the welder for X bracing on the tall side and decided to use it for the L brackets also while I was there.

[@errcl65]

10 and 20 ft of Unistrut not cheap any more.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

Technically nothing is cheap anymore. Steel prices have been on the rise for over a year.