Aerocompact: the most DIY-able ground mount?

We install 40 solar panels with Aerocompact ground mounting at my mother-in-law's house!
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[@pavalenta]

Seems like a good solution for areas where snow accumulation is minimal, looks like same company has a roof mount solution that allows for additional tilt if your roof isn't at an optimal angle

[@ryancarlson1041]

There is a large ground mount system like this down the road from my house. During the summer they have all kinds of weeds grow between the panels. It's nice to see you tried to block weeds, hopefully it will work.

[@willistisdale4293]

Also the white reflects sunlight up to the back of the bifacial modules👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@av1204]

This is neat you should try other backers to see if there is a difference in effeciency. White chipped granite is what i'd probably use for long term. Put down a border, weed fabric and then the chipped granite.

[@ingramgordon5438]

This is nice. Looking forward to the follow up videos.

[@davidorcutt9246]

That’s great. Waiting for the follow up video:-)

[@jextrad]

Bulletin board tarps are readily available with black or white on one side and they can be cut and seamed into larger pieces. Farmers use them as roofing and retention pond liners.

[@ServiceTrek]

nice innovative idea for an option. On your future update could you explain the angles and trajectory aspects of the east-west configuration and the affects on the performance of the panels.

[@JasonCarmichael]

I hope those are bifacial panels. ;) How much white rock can you get for $1100? (But then you still have to fight with stuff growing through it.) I adore this ground mount. This looks extremely easy to install from a DIY perspective!

[@engineer775]

They are!

[@terrya6486]

Keeping the critters of of them will be interesting.

[@Kosmonooit]

Easy! Could also clear grass and put some small granite concrete stones on the ground to prevent growth once its set up

[@mrquestseeker]

Hi Engineer775, what is the cost of these, and would i be able to order a few to play around with

[@clarencewiles963]

This looks great thanks for sharing 😊

[@et5222]

If you have access to white gravel or cream washed stone it would make a nice border around this project.

[@phillewis1768]

That's pretty cool, easier to clean the panels.

[@engineer775]

Very good point!

[@VanillaAttila]

Not if theres snow@@engineer775

[@VanillaAttila]

Would love to see you install vertical bifacial panels, doubles as a fence. In snow locations its even more efficient when there's snow on the ground reflecting.

[@shawnquinlin2769]

They down here in south carolina. We dont really get snow unless up by the mountains ​@@VanillaAttila

[@InVinoVeritas.]

Nice!! Plan to go even less expensive DIY with cinder-blocks, zip tie, tie downs.

[@engineer775]

Yes, That is the less expensive move to Ballast the array.

[@DerykRobosson]

I wonder what amount of time was required to pull the panels off to gain access to screwing in the missing screws.

[@joefrommontana252]

Very cool. Best looking option for what I need by far. But like anything, if they won't give you a price, there's a reason. Moving on...

[@jasonbroom7147]

Any thought to a vertical mount installation of bifacial panels, over that roofing underlayment?

[@cgutowski471]

I've got an east facing 25 degree incline at my cabin that I want to use for solar, didn't think it was possible until seeing this. If these are available in a one way facing configuration, might be possible to use this ground mount. Still going to be a challenge to get done due to the incline.

[@engineer775]

Yes, you could put a cell facing aero compact on that slope. What size array are you thinking of?

[@cgutowski471]

@@engineer775 was thinking 4kw array. I already have 10 400w REC Alpha Black panels, just couldn't figure out how to use them in this area.

[@engineer775]

Send me an email so we can design and quote you a system. @@cgutowski471 [e-mail]

[@Ojames600]

Can you please tell me what ground screws and drill you used to secure those metal rails ?

[@engineer775]

The ground screws came with the kit but they look like 18" penetrators from American Earth Anchors and we grabbed the cheapest plugin 1/2" impact from Harbor Freight.

[@Ojames600]

@@engineer775 Thank you.

[@Lerxsty2112]

I wonder how well that would work if you had installed posts while building a septic leech field and putting the panels over white rock?

[@engineer775]

Posts?

[@Flowing23]

great work.

[@rodneyhunt]

I tried to contact aero compact in the past and they would not even respond. Interesting concept if the price is right.

[@joeldcoxks]

I totally agree. I’m looking at the PowerField PowerRack, for ease of DIY install. I have doubts about being able to put large ground screws into my very heavy clay, and I’m not sure it makes sense to pay someone to come drive posts for something like a Sinclair

[@wadebrewer7212]

Sweet. I bought the PE46 augers and will pipe off of those for the next round of panels. Dug piers and poured concrete on the first round...pass on doing that again.

[@kwhonlyev]

Nice. what is the difference in the installation for this ground mount array from the pole mount solar array cost? I like the installation concept

[@SetitesTechAdventures]

This is a pretty interesting product. I have a similar sized array on a temporary ground mount and this could solve some of the issues I have. I currently have a bunch of old 250w panels but I want to get some bifacials later but I have pretty rocky soil that has made it a pain to put in normal ground mounting. What do you expect the output characteristics to be with this setup. I have seen commercial applications of easy west panels mounted like this and I understand they make up for the angle with higher panel density. I haven't seen anything from aerocompact about how it handles snow. Are they high enough up to get sun to the back of the panels to aid in melting?

[@engineer775]

We have been looking for an alternative solution to our postpounding due to the terrain or the soil conditions. I set some of this out with solar for almost 6 months without any anchoring or ballast and it never moved.

[@JasonCarmichael]

@@engineer775 In urban environments where the ground level is pretty much "protected" I bet this would get by pretty well without anchoring. My 10-panel "sail" is in my backyard with "18-inch earth screws" and hasn't failed yet after 3 years, "wind protected" with house and privacy fences.

[@roberthealey7238]

Have you looked into vertical mounts for bi-facial? Supposedly the overall performance of vertical mounting is greater despite being counter-intuitive.

[@engineer775]

I have and the jury is still out. I don't think the performance is greater but it is surprising a lot of people.

[@stalwart56k]

this is the video you need for bi-facial vertical performance. TLDW It's very location, weather, and land-use dependent. south facing is better for bi-facial except when there is snow on the ground AND the array. The vertical panels don't hold snow like a 30 degree south facing array does and make more in those conditions. Vertical is also great for growing grass and plants around your solar if you are a farmer or play at being one ;) kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3K5gGR_rst0b68

[@ColinBollinger]

Is that going to hold a snow load? will the panels flex or break under load. being so close to the ground it seems like a pain with the snow. does it have heat to melt the snow?

[@PatrickKQ4HBD]

They're in western South Carolina. Not much snow load there. How much do you get?

[@Tommy-K4BWN]

I have been thinking about a setup like that East and West get the sun from both ways

[@robertcoutts926]

What about vertical like a fence? A string E-W and another N-S even alternating which side the bi-facials are pointing ... like to hear what you think of that.

[@Tommy-K4BWN]

@@robertcoutts926 I know east and west of work because the Sun comes from the East and sets to the West but I don't know about North and South not last the Sun is going around in circles.

[@stalwart56k]

What is the price on this system?

[@OGPLife]

How flat do you think the ground/grade should be?

[@engineer775]

After doing it I'm thinking within 2 inches. I thought I could just build it picking a fairly flat piece of land, but there was enough undulations that cause some difficulty during clamping. I really didn't want to scrape it down to dirt because they're the amount of rain that we are getting and I didn't want to work in the mud. We made it work by just laying this TPO roofing on the ground and built it. I could have done a better job knocking down the high spots and filling in the lows.

[@Sylvan_dB]

Did you consider tyvek house wrap?

[@CatCrazyFamily]

Yuuuup sooooo EPIC !!

[@Scat.original]

what is the white ground cover you used? Thanks

[@jake-mv5oi]

I like that idea. What's the footprint on that install?

[@engineer775]

30X35

[@jake-mv5oi]

@@engineer775 thanks.

[@johntierney3353]

Are the panels bifacial?

[@engineer775]

Yes they are. KBSolar 375

[@stagman4611]

Are they bi-facial panels ?

[@randyarmour6774]

@engineer775 answered "yes" Panels are KBSolar 375 about 10 hours before your question.

[@offgridliving4128]

Is there a reason they can’t make the mounts with more angle?

[@gregandersen8475]

Wind load. I think they make up to 25 degree for South facing only.

[@joesmith6972]

There's just something about having my solar panels so close to the ground without protection that just screams "NO" to me.

[@wdwtx2.0]

Interesting.

[@powerfieldenergy]

Not as simple as a plastic bucket. No screws, no metal, no tools, no assembly, no bolts or clamps. PowerRack by PowerField is as simple and DIYable as it gets!

[@jerbear7952]

I'm not sure what your product costs but it's pretty darn clever. I'm not a customer but I see a lot of advantages to it

[@gregandersen8475]

Hand tool powered ground screws or leveling and lifting thousands of pounds of rock to ballast the buckets. Especially if you want to use less than two buckets per panel. This seems quicker to me.

[@user-zy1oh8jk7j]

Nice if you have enough land

[@cragar]

Cool idea. @WillProwse has tested out a couple of different ground mount solutions like this (kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKPZl5KmpsqBfpIsi=3PF-Td4pkXcyb0bF). Hope this works for you/your MIL. Look forward to a follow-up video.