Building our First Solar Array. Easy, Low Cost Solar Ground Mount.

[@bobmerrill2057]

I’d rethink putting those panels on the roof of your workshop. Keep them on the ground.

[@CorvidFriend]

I agree. We first installed our solar panels on the metal roof and it was impossible to reach them to remove the snow and we couldn’t clean them because water made the metal roof to slippery. We moved them to ground level.

[@CorvidFriend]

And space below the panels is good. Circumstances meant we had to place the supports for the panels directly on the ground. When we push off the snow, it has nowhere to go. We can only clean off the top half of the panels. Now we’re looking at ways to elevate the panels. Where you have them placed in this video looks great. I hope you haven’t moved them yet.

[@SkyCharter]

Agree 100%.

[@tracelee7332]

In case of hail as well. ​@@CorvidFriend

[@wgoconnor33]

Dude you and Lumnah Acres have it going on !!’

[@barrybills1449]

How do you maintain your sanity with all the wanna, coulda, shoulda comments you get? Every project that you do someone has to put in their 2cents. You’re quite competent, do it your way! Your videos are one of our favorites.

[@ronaldlee2376]

U tubers are paid by number of contents & they get free ideas that will probably help down the road. btw i get your point, patience is a virtue. ( should be "comments) not contents.

[@earthenergyhex]

I know, I could never be a youtuber because of all the YT Engineers out there.

[@iandale]

Ground mounts are just so much easier, nice job. 👍

[@roblynch7234]

You mentioned the final place for the solar panels is the pole barn roof. Just a recommendation-I would try to stick with a ground Mount system. Roof mount systems are a maintenance challenge on a good day. JMO God bless.

[@DEJones71]

I agree, I would never walk around on my roof and risk damaging it. Most everyone in my area have them roof mounted.

[@TB_559]

This is the best TV show I have ever seen. Fun on the Farm with Evan. 👍

[@bay9876]

Throw a cooling /heating loop into that lake for a heat pump powered by solar array, with wood stove and generator back up. Lot of things to do.

[@gradyford7831]

You're such a thoughtful dude. This test winter project to see how much power to expect in real life so your final product will be what you want. Really enjoy your content.

[@michaelgardner800]

Hi Evan, I would put a rubber grommet under the fender washers. As for the ends, it looks like you have room for a block of wood or use a piece of conduit to run the lag bolt though to hold the panels down. Another thing I would do and that is to put a 2 by 4 at the bottom for added safety to help hold the panels in place! These are only my opinion's.

[@reese9276]

especially the 2x4 at the bottom.... imo...

[@kkarllwt]

And some rubber tubing over the lag bolts. With a little space. On a hot summer day the long array will get longer.

[@beyondfossil]

I can confirm that galvanic corrosion will happen between the steel fender washers and the solar panel's aluminum frame. I ended up 3D printing some plastic liners exactly the size of the fender washers.

[@terrya6486]

I have been off grid 5.5 years now and have 16000 watts of panels. 1/2 the year I can run everything in my house and my shop easy. I would say 10% to 15% more than I need in the summer. Now November December and January I could use 15% to 20% more panels. I have 56kwh's of chevy volt batteries and I think 70kwh's would be great when I get there.

[@brandonperry3219]

Would love to see a cost breakdown after you give this a trial run

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

We are starting an off-grid solar experiment this coming week. It looks like we are going about it the same way.

[@tv-ke4lx]

Awesome! Run a 2x4 along to bottom to carry the panel weight Temporary, I would think there’s some kind of angle bracket that would be made for this to make it easier to hold the sides down

[@Tumbleweed5150]

I used 1" chunks of angle aluminum for mine.

[@dallasgombash5381]

@@Tumbleweed5150 Watch using treated lumber with aluminum

[@danwilkening888]

Are you going to do a cost breakdown when this is done? I am thinking about doing this in the future.

[@Jameson4327]

Evan, the one video that I think you should watch most of all is wild. Wonderful off grid. That family started out in a little camping trailer and now they have got a beautiful A-frame home. It’s a very good channel to watch and he excellent electrician. Good luck on your bill. I’ll be following you.

[@diywithjonandpebbles]

We’ve got a lot for our retirement house with a camper on it that we’ll power off-grid for the next 3 years to give us an idea what we’ll need. So finding stuff like this has been wonderful

[@donaldkennedy5604]

You do know that temporary is semi permanent don’t you lol. The homestead is coming along over the years. I remember you cleaning up all the steel around there and getting the barn in shape.

[@e2nomy]

Nice and cheap mounting. Be aware with washers and corrosion especially if they are not also aluminium based. Versus time corrosion will appear here. Maybe with some plastic washer between, will save the situation. Cheers from France.

[@lawrencedavidson6195]

Very good job. I much prefer ground mount panels as they are easier to clean. Greetings from Jamaica.

[@RolandLetendre]

put a 90 degree bend in your washers close to the center hole for the outside panels, it will keep them from wanting to tilt. Love watching your videos.

[@DEJones71]

I hope he listens to you he doesn't take my suggestions

[@InquisitiveSearcher]

I would just put a small block of wood of the appropriate thickness for the other side of the washer to tighten up against. And don't forget to cut a channel for the lag screw to pass through. I would think that the edge of a bent washer would to easily cut/sink into the wood as the lag bolt was tightened.

[@ronaldlee2376]

@@DEJones71 Most of the established channels do not , for a period of time, then the idea is theirs. Same as in real life. This channel has always had great content , filming, explanation & humor......in my opinion. Also, no mumbling.

[@jimmieusaf-pol5818]

Since Evan said this is temporary the current connections might be fine as is, but if it wasn't and with Evan being a good fabricator, he could make some clips and drill a hole in flat aluminum stock to use, and I'd make some for the bottoms to secure into the wood frames as well, with those panels being heavy enough to move over time.

[@CountryViewAcres]

The bent washers are a good idea and a really easy solution. I will try to incorporate that into my next solar video. Thanks.

[@tonyshipman257]

Evan, If you are serious about Solar, I would go with a ground mount, for easy snow removal and to benefit from using Bi-Facial panels. Because you, like us, have a good number of days with clouds during the winter time.

[@seansysig]

Evan the ground heaving with the frost will rack your frame! It could damage the panels.

[@MrVictorchase]

Need to add a bottom support bar to prevent the panels dropping as the materials change with temperature changes.

[@julesdby]

Evan, love your videos and the wide range you cover. If I may offer some advice, you live in a wooden house, you have two battery storage devices full of lithium ion batteries, if they go faulty and go into thermal runaway that’s 1800deg c and almost impossible to put out. Put them away from the house in a fireproof enclosure .. few feet of cable for the safety is a must 👍

[@carolmackenzie2283]

Nice work can’t wait for the update

[@teenagefarmer]

Very nice, hope they work out. I look forward to seeing you guys do more with them. Thanks for sharing.

[@colhubbard9348]

Just a thought, why dont you put a board on the bottom to act as a footer to hold the panels and give added support than just relying on those lag bolts? Food for thought especially if you are gonna roof mount them.

[@jamesmckay9966]

thanks we love your videos. please keep it up.

[@lorenmeyer5290]

Very nice job Evan and Rebecca!

[@DarrenMalin]

for the end lag bolts , cut a small block and pit it the other side of the washer so it tightens down evenly.

[@TKCL]

I'm right behind you, currently building my solar array. Like you I am figuring out my needs and what will need to be upgraded in the future.

[@houndsmanone4563]

Nice set up. Love the team work with you and Rebecca. I too would love to set up array down by my tractor shed and it's nice and sunny there. Enjoyed full-watch. 👍🏽🤠 1/28/23

[@billgolcher2537]

Awesome setup great solar system install

[@nathanrobinson7715]

Love your videos. I'm glad you made it through that bad winter

[@solarcows]

Bought similar (different wattage) Canadian Solar panels also from Signature Solar recently and I'm going to be building a ground array that will double as an equipment shed (the panels do double duty as roofing material). Planning on installing a couple of off grid inverter/solar charge controllers to be the primary power source for the farm with the grid as a back up.

[@BealyGood]

Great info. Thanks for the link. Adding more solar is our next big project.

[@ustmissouri8029]

Hey. I went to SanTan solar. I bought forty of their used 240 watt panels for 2k including shipping. Although used they work fine. Now setting on 13-14 kw of power per hour. BOOM!!!

[@hungryblackbear]

You guys are amazing. I am so envious of you.

[@jim9520]

Great video. Thank you. This is very interesting.

[@jvin248]

I have a stack of panels with an inverter and battery gathered but yet to attach together. I the shipping company left your yellow cardboard 'do not stack" cone intact. Mine was squashed flat, and four panels were fork truck fork speared. Replacement panels shipped also had a flat cone and oil stains on top but those survived.

[@bevnelson3678]

Awesome job done Rebekah and Even. Hopefully it’s going to save you some $$$.

[@reese9276]

A Newbie here. Following THIS very intently !!! Thanks for sharing these !!!

[@bruceeverett5372]

Great video! Just two suggestions--Ground Mount, and move east of the Wabash!🙂

[@williamkn621]

We've installed 1 of 3 hybrid inverters with our panels and batteries that are hooked to the grid to run first from solar, second from battery and if not enough solar they automatically switch to pulling power from the grid. The aim is to have a backup for power outage plus daily reduce our electric bill.

[@johncarr123]

Check out the Solark 1P 10K inverter. It will work perfectly with your current setup.

[@CountryViewAcres]

Sol-arks are the best!👍

[@douglasrobbie9998]

Agree with earlier comment about keeping as a ground mount, where you can brush the snow off in winter and wash dirt/pollen off on other seasons. A cut piece of PVC pipe slightly shorter than the thickness of the panel for the end panels (lag bolt with fender washer goes thru pvc piece and wall of PVC prevents fender washer from angling down too much. Usually, you want some type of grounding on panels, even Romex with stripped wire every 40" wrapped around a bolt attached to each panel (panels should have a few holes on underside of frame) would work when coupled with 2' of rebar driven into ground with U bolt gripping stripped end of the length of Romex.

[@roberto.peterson9917]

Could of used 3rd pearlling at the bottom with 1x1 or 1x2 to make bottom rest for panels take some of strain from lag and washer hold downs

[@alfheib]

Don't forget about wind turbines and a lot of areas where there's a lack of sun in the winter time there is a lot more breeze blowing a lot more wind that maybe something to think about too, if need be you can probably as one and your generator being The last resort from power.. good luck with your system.. God bless and have a good day.

[@joannak4640]

You got a good start on your system 👍

[@scrapironprepper]

Hey I forgot about Limnah. Use to watch all the time........Thanks

[@santiagoperez626]

Madman. You're a genius! You just gave me a great idea!

[@davidsmathers5621]

Good luck evan hope it works out

[@edsecorr7812]

Great job you two work good together love your videos thank you

[@StainedToaster]

I would put a 1x1 or a 1x2 across the bottom of your panels. It’s just added security to keep them from sliding down. It can also take some pressure off of you lag bolts too. If you don’t have any, just rip a couple of 2x4’s down the middle. Just added peace of mind. I also think putting them on the roof would cause issues with cleaning snow, but I don’t know how much snow you get at a time and how often you see that kind of snow fall.

[@Dmac_at_HellsAcres]

LOVE IT! Was trying to find a ground mount that was easy (and inexpensive) to build vs buying something. This was perfect, so thank you so much for posting!

[@SarahStuff-p5u]

On end panels with those fasteners, put a block of wood the thickness of the panel on opposite side, nice build

[@rypkepaulusma]

Nice setup Evan. Now the weight of the panels hangs completely on the screws and washers. Due to the effect of heat and cold, space can be created here, making the connection less strong. Wouldn't you rest the panels at the bottom on an extra rail so they cannot slide? I'm curious how it will look when it's done.

[@markeh1971]

Hi, like the idea of resting against a beam on the bottom edge. Could also use bolts through the solar frame mounting holes into the beam they sit on. Take care & keep on generating your own power. M

[@jap4391]

Evan you give me the guts to go off grid. Thanks for you videos.

[@andrewmaiden3738]

I think a batten along the bottom of the panels to stop any downward slippage would be a quick nd cheap option, even if the rig is short term would be a wise move.

[@Brent-m7u]

Yes keep them on the ground… I can’t clean snow off mine on the roof unless a climb up there which I won’t do due to my age lol…. Also could you do a vid on the connections on the panels. Thanks

[@jackwhite6030]

Sun angle is low Dec Jan Feb plus the clouds are pretty thick.....good idea with the test run

[@TRYtoHELPyou]

oh man, you can not order a system from "signature solar" soon enough. If you can, i highly recommend upgrading! (can be fairly mobile if needed, too)

[@stevehvac1]

You do a great job very smart thinker

[@wileycoyotesr8623]

So far so good. I like your plan and hope it works. Creating mounts for the pole barn will be a challenge.

[@CountryViewAcres]

I think the hardest part will be finding the location the roof truss to anchor into. My luck I will miss and have extra holes in the roof.

[@funnywolffarm]

Thanks for the video, as always.

[@gregj2647]

I’m very curious to see how well this system works. Like you, here in east central Minnesota, it’s very cloudy most of the winter. I’ve been very reluctant to go with solar. We did install a geothermal system to heat and cool our house and we are very happy with it.

[@wiboater4]

I'm in Wisconsin near Green Bay and I've had 24 solar panels for 11 years now and it actually works great here . solar panels get hot so in months like March when the air is cool and clear on a sunny day they produce the maximum wattage. It is low production from about Dec to Feb.

[@dominiquekrempp]

et en français c'est plus simpatique pour nous francophone ....

[@earthenergyhex]

nice work, looks good. I like the roof idea

[@ianhaggart1438]

Great job keep us posted.. I'm very interested in this especially if it means we could go off grid in future.. our electricity prices are going a bit daft just now. Stay safe 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@piefingers1369]

Sure ye checked already. But there are loads on second hand panels from the solar farm at Ex RAF Coltishall in Norwich for sale. Ok. They not new. But they Do a trip £65 a pop. They change them ever 5 years. I am in Aberdeenshire. 4kw does in the summer. But not even close in winter. I am looking to add another 8kw at least for now on ground mount with battery backup. Just to capture the most I can in the winter months. I feel yer pain on the sparks pricing.

[@randallkerns2127]

You didn’t put solar power panels information in the description!!!

[@EastTexasHomestead]

I like the idea of screwing into the treated 2x4 instead of a traditional metal channel. I've been trying to decide the best option for mounting to our timber-framed ground mounts. Thanks for the idea!

[@arthurfoyt6727]

For testing and trial runs..... I used a dozen folding chairs I had around the house. Just prop the panels up on the back of the chairs and wire them up. 6KW array was making almost 5KW during summer testing. Zero cost of materials.

[@dougcleckner3969]

the better angle is closer to 30 degrees than 45. you might be loosing a significant amount of power generation. check your location for proper tilt angle to the sun. hope this helps.

[@jazzerbyte]

Real world test results are always interesting to see.

[@charlesbrunner258]

Great video educational THANKS

[@vlaardingerrr]

Solar is expensive in the USA, exact same panels here in the Netherlands are 105$ a piece

[@junkvista61]

Thanks for video as I am planning to build one similar to this. However I am concerned about rain water will cause wood rot and make the wood soft and lose their strength when the rain water gets into the wood at screws you drill in to the wood. Good video those.

[@RCPVIDEOS1]

Great temp solar video so far. Will follow your next video on the output during the winter. I’m interested in adding solar to charge our electric car.

[@volkerbosch9078]

Hello from Germany, here it is not allowed to screw the solar panels directly to the aluminum frame. the frame is not part of the overall statics. a rail substructure is required for roof mounting. Good luck and have fun with the system

[@157-40_T]

I realize it is temporary but you may want to consider some ground anchors and straps as well as keep taps on weather as strong wind gusts will get under the panels and rip them from framework. We had over 30 tall pine trees rips from ground with gusts only. (No tornados).

[@jmackinjersey1]

Nice. Just remember, when you think you have enough, add a minimum of half as many more. That goes for panels and storage batteries.

[@zaphonesofthome]

Good solar app I have used to figure angles and direction of panels - Sunnytrack. Agree with Cynthia Flick. Best is solar on the ground for many reasons. Also see wild wonderful off grid, my green dream project and good for house size solar-Ambition Strikes but mounted on conex.

[@KYKAYAKER274ey1]

Check out just a few acres they do it great

[@davidcromapix9083]

I wonder why You didn't make the structure with a variable inclination to go down in spring and summer, it cost almost the same in material and it makes better use of sunny and cloudy days. Thanks for sharing !

[@stevehvac1]

You need biracial maybe and mount were they can get sun both sides for more output in winter

[@CountryViewAcres]

these are eventually going on my pole barn roof. Bi-Facials are recommended for Roof mounted solar. If it is a ground mount, bi-facials are the way to go.

[@Bass2010]

You should put a 1x2 at the bottom of the panels to help hold them up just to be safe in case one of the screws come lose just a thought

[@DEJones71]

I am glad you mentioned it. I couldn't figure out why he didn't do that to start with.The lags will loosen up with weather changes.

[@scrapironprepper]

Same thing I just told my wife........lol

[@rnman99]

That's an awesome price for these panels. How much was shipping?

[@kennethpwhritenour2701]

Watch Alan Gina lumnah acres they do strictly solar

[@ediesacres]

This is a great video! I was wondering if you could give the length of the triangle braces? What’s the length of the 45* boards and the other bot that creates the triangle

[@robertsmith5916]

You really should put a support board below a panels to help prevent them from trying to slide down.

[@setholson6550]

I assume you will be putting in a large battery bank over time? Hope you cover that and more in the next video. Love the idea and learning new information. Susan

[@CountryViewAcres]

Yes, batteries will be a part of the final system

[@brentjohnson6654]

New subscriber here. Thanks for the video. I live about 30 minutes from signature Solar here in Texas. They are very helpful for the DiY community. I am in the process of sizing my system on paper and consulting with signature Solar. I am considering various options (partial coverage, emergency generation only, or total off-grid). We just had another ice storm in north Texas. I grew up in northern Minnesota and I have seen cold weather make a mess of things. So I am motivated once again to keep the lights on and provide emergency backup power at a minimum. You are doing a good thing with your real world trial. Keep learning and asking questions. God Bless!

[@trumpingtonfanhurst694]

Thanks! Seeing this gave me a great idea how to build my array easily adjustable for summer and winter :)

[@silverismoney]

Great job, very professional looking and much cheaper than buying the regular metal mounting systems.

[@ronaldcoleman2326]

Ground mounted panels typically out preform roof mounted systems. Solar panels love the sun but heat not so much.

[@jerryrobson9309]

You can grind half of your washer off so it fits the way you want it too

[@dc1544]

If you do not get snow put them on a roof. if you get snow do not put on a roof unless you like being on a ladder clearing the snow/ice off. I have a ground mount because of the snow I get.

[@wiboater4]

You should probably have something to keep the aluminum frames from direct contact with the treated lumber. I think there is a corrosion risk from the chemicals to treat the wood with .

[@mavisknight217]

I would add at least a 2x4 all the way across the bottom of the of the solar panels to support it from slipping down.

[@x81reaper]

Goooood Job sir !

[@ahomeinpisgahontheroad4481]

Would be nice if we all had this and some wind power.

[@myk55501]

Hey, we epoxy the brackets on the roof of RV no screws works great 65mph on the road no holes on the roof. If you have low light area your going to want to put them on a solar tracker and stand it follows the sun strongest light. Easier to maintain panels on ground. You will get more watts a day. Look for used pipe at scrap yards it cheaper and aluminum frame. I would not put those panels on the barn roof there weight plus a snow load would be bad. You don't want to be climbing on the roof everytime you need to clean the panels. Also add a lighting surge protector to the panels. Good luck