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

We built this ground mount off of our existing Garden Fence. So it saved us the cost of 5 posts and concrete, that was already there. We bought a $110 on treated lumber. And another $20 for Deck Screws and Lag Screws. Total cost of the ground mount was $130 and 1 day of work.
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We live in southeastern Illinois on a 41 acre homestead. We just finished building our log cabin in 2018. Now we are focused on trying to grow our own food and raise livestock. Follow us on our journey we continue to develop our homestead and farm, while becoming more self sufficient.
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[@wgoconnor33]

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

[@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.

[@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. 👍

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@TB_559]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@brandonperry3219]

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

[@outdoorstudios2022]

Hi Evan, got to get you up to a mil subs and beyond

[@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.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

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

[@janosvadas]

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

[@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 👍

[@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.

[@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.

[@DarrenMalin]

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

[@teenagefarmer]

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

[@carolmackenzie2283]

Nice work can’t wait for the update

[@seansysig]

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

[@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!

[@MrVictorchase]

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

[@lawrencedavidson6195]

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

[@lorenmeyer5290]

Very nice job Evan and Rebecca!

[@nathanrobinson7715]

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

[@bruceeverett5372]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@edsecorr7812]

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

[@reese9276]

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

[@billgolcher2537]

Awesome setup great solar system install

[@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!!!

[@jamesmckay9966]

thanks we love your videos. please keep it up.

[@user-of2iw5ko4y]

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

[@markpriddy1]

Thanks 😎

[@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.

[@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.

[@x81reaper]

Goooood Job sir !

[@lindadecker3538]

Very interesting video, Evan. Good luck on this project.

[@hungryblackbear]

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

[@bevnelson3678]

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

[@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!

[@Dan-qy1rg]

Looks good, I think your going to get some real good usable results for your needs. I just set my house up for a gas generator, along with the disconnect, so I'm ready to go. I might try it within the next few days to a week, due to the snow and possible ice coming. Good luck on your results, I hope they turn out the results your wanting. Thanks for sharing, have a great week.

[@jackwhite6030]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@BearMeat4Dinner]

Good luck with it all!

[@capecoaster69]

good job !

[@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.

[@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

[@funnywolffarm]

Thanks for the video, as always.

[@jim9520]

Great video. Thank you. This is very interesting.

[@jazzerbyte]

Real world test results are always interesting to see.

[@davidmicalizio824]

All the best!

[@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!

[@BealyGood]

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

[@jap4391]

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

[@davidsmathers5621]

Good luck evan hope it works out

[@stevehvac1]

You do a great job very smart thinker

[@jonathanguess4052]

Nice job

[@santiagoperez626]

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

[@trumpingtonfanhurst694]

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

[@marydanen5220]

Awesome!!

[@carlbrrt]

Cold weather makes our panels put out more. The colder the better.

[@charlesbrunner258]

Great video educational THANKS

[@loamy]

Holy cow you got the panels cheap

[@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.

[@joannak4640]

You got a good start on your system 👍

[@scrapironprepper]

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

[@silverismoney]

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

[@lujitsu1251]

Thank you!

[@ahomeinpisgahontheroad4481]

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

[@mmanut]

Fun Project Guys‼️‼️ GOOD LUCK 👍 Vinny 🇺🇸

[@fb510m]

Pretty smart!!

[@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.

[@dinavoutour7796]

Great video…very interesting

[@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.

[@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.

[@earthenergyhex]

nice work, looks good. I like the roof idea

[@BonaventureUneagbu]

I love it

[@hardymichael533]

Amazing video on KZbin ✌️

[@clintabbott5327]

That was very well done, really looking forward to next weekends video of your testing, how many panels you end up going for, and the permanent install later in the year. 👍👍

[@CountryViewAcres]

It was going to be 24 panels, now it looks like 30 - 315 watt panels.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@1fiatman]

Good to see you making a difference to your environment, energy is way too cheap in the USA here in Europe and UK it's makes real financial sense to fit panels, we have had ours for 8 year's and have paid for themselves. We are now reaping the benefits 👍

[@robertsmith5916]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@ronaldcoleman2326]

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

[@danwilkening888]

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

[@user-hg2tk3xj9y]

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

[@BonaventureUneagbu]

O so interesting this is nice

[@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).

[@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.

[@jimjasper9314]

Check out Wild and Wonderful Off Grid as they are running a full house from their array and he is a master electrician.

[@AlainSylvestre]

put wheel to be able to rotate always facing the sun.

[@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)