DEAD SIMPLE Solar Ground Mount from BOX STORE LUMBER

😇 Our Small Business: greenacrehomes... ❤️ Our Tools & Gear: amzn.to/3nAROIz 🎁 Help Our Homestead: paypal.me/green... ⬇️⬇️⬇️MORE LINKS BELOW⬇️⬇️⬇️
🔗 Part One Build: • DIY Wood Ground Mount ...
🔗 Off Grid Videos: • Off Grid Power
🔗 Solar Panel Mounting Brackets (that I didn't end up using): amzn.to/3F2IuDx
🔗 New Homestead Build Videos: • Building Our Property
🧰 Sam's KZbin Channel: / samcraftcom
🎉 Our Amazon Shopping List: amzn.to/2lyNvAe
🎵 Music Links: artlist.io/Sam...
🔷 ABOUT US 🔷
We're a DIY family building our "forever homestead" from 15 acres of raw undeveloped land in Tennessee. All of our content is family friendly and safe for everyone to enjoy.
We finish building our simple, DIY solar array ground mount today. This was built from off the shelf lumber and parts available anywhere! No special tools or equipment needed and perfect for any off grid camper or off grid cabin setup! This is a 1 kilowatt array, or 1,000 watt solar panel array. Each solar panel is 250w and were purchased as used off-lease commercial panels from Spencer at Langston's Alternative Power: www.langstonsa...
#solar #diy #greenacrehomestead
DISCLAIMER*
This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[@sam-and-angela]

If you like solar, check out our friend Seth's channel and his solar playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLTrfbWw_mKRLQhwP1v4x2OhteH3P-ecgt

[@Old_Man_Pete]

Best part about your videos is the way you build, you're brilliant at building but do it the way us casual DIYOLOGYSTS build ( on the fly , multiple trips to the hardware centre ). Keep up the good work as the ideas are brewing 👍

[@rondahoward5341]

Glad to hear everyone’s safe and praying for those that have experienced this devastation!

[@kayhenry6293]

That is way cool. You’re ahead of the game when it comes to solar.

[@philipx2]

I have 30 year old solar panels mounted roughly the same way. I mounted 20 100 watt solar panels on pallets bolted together on their original roof mount rails missing the original mounts. So too did the bolt with washer works great.

[@lindacantwell8266]

I hope and pray that you and your precious family are all safe from the tornados last week. Please keep us posted. Love and prayers for all affected by the storms.

[@karencary3312]

You got it done. Can't wait until Part 3. Stay warm and stay safe. God bless.

[@deannaoverstreet4146]

I’m to old to do this, but I love following your family!

[@moiragoldsmith7052]

I really appreciate ' Warts and all' truth. Makes me think more about any 'how to' job. Thank you Sam and all. And have a wonderful Christmas time. Be blessed with fortuitous abundance. 🥳💫🎄

[@charlene5461]

My husband and I want to switch to solar and we will be watching together, to better prepare us for the task. It's a lesson learned, even if you learn from someone else's head scratchers!! Thanks for your knowledge!

[@AlmostHomestead]

Nice work Sam. I enjoy building something based an idea or a sketch. I like the fact that you showed some of the process of figuring it out. Looking forward to part three.

[@sam-and-angela]

Glad you liked it! I also like videos where I see someone working through their steps/thoughts. I find it gives me ideas of my own most times. :)

[@buckpowers4837]

Nothing wrong with planning as you go and finding out some things don't work. You learned a lot and watchers did also. Can't wait for the next part. Enjoy

[@denisewilson8367]

On the fly is my way of doing a lot of things. And always 2 -4 trips to the hardware store or auto parts store depending on the project at hand. Looking forward to seeing you "light it up".

[@danhorton3127]

Super helpful, and this guy's really easy to listen to. Thank you

[@kopenhagenkid]

Great job installing your solars panels Sam

[@rubberdc]

Thank you so much for tonight . I almost missed you but stayed on to chat . thank you for that opportunity .

[@lisabevans8107]

Very glad you're all safe. We rode out 100 plus mph winds today, crazy!

[@joellenbroetzmann9053]

Sam as a child of the Underwood typewriter era, I appreciate watching you do things with solar. I think once you move there, you would be kept busy with local farmers just setting up solar for them so they could save bundles on their energy costs. I wish you lived in northern WI because I would love to build something like that on my back patio so I had some backup electricity to run my furnace fan and other important things. My Mom lives with us. I always think about how frail she is getting and how difficullt a power outage in winter would be without a backup source. For those living with a well and septic, how wonderful it would be to have the pumps on both working if other power fails.

[@lynnobrien9429]

That was a clever idea looks nice and flush and secure. great job!

[@jeanielipskey1272]

Wow, can't wait to see what & how you are going to do this.

[@Texacate]

Great frame. My only concern is when the lumber start to dry and shrink. You may want to loosen/retighten all the fender washer mounts every 2 months until it's stabilized.

[@johnthomas5806]

Sam, that is a very good looking solar stand, will try one in my backyard to power some lights outside....thanks

[@kathyanne3587]

Love your work, and your honesty, more young men need to be more honest.......

[@suesweetpea7]

GREAT JOB SAM!! I AM GLAD Y'ALL ARE SAFE AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT VIDEO.

[@ericjohnson1008]

Love how it all turned out. Y'all are rocking it.

[@haydenuk02]

Brilliant work and thanks for sharing this with us take care

[@grandperesdream3183]

I don't like that overhang, Sam. Any substantial amount of wind will put a lot of pressure on the 'flying' ends of those expensive solar panels. A few more boards, even at today's prices, may be a good investment. I really enjoy your videos and understand that the things you do tend to work out very well.

[@almachapman5409]

It's a learning experience 😁

[@rustylilacfarm]

Glad you guys are safe!!

[@W9HJBill]

Awesome. I am so doing this for the 6 panels I have. The main reason I'm going to base my design off yours is because you have yours on "skids" and not sunk into the ground like most others. This TOTALLY gets around building codes in my area since it's a non-permanent structure (assuming anyone sees it in my back yard).

[@OldCritters]

Very similar to ours Sam good job. Thank you Angela for the wonderful soaps I love them , slighride was promptly stolen by my hubby (he won’t share big baby!) lol amazing sent I am and have given them as gifts 👍💞

[@sam-and-angela]

You are so welcome!

[@southerngalcharm4460]

Love, love- thank you for this series- solar is my long term dream. Thanks for explaining the washers- one thing about your channel, there are no dumb questions- free to ask & I was really wondering about those when you used them- and they make perfect sense. Eagerly waiting the next video. Thank you Sam & Angela.

[@sam-and-angela]

Solar has also been a long term wish of ours! We've had these panels for about 2 years now and are so happy to finally be using them!

[@brendahaire8824]

I am afraid your panels will take flight under 100 mph winds. Maybe more structure to support the solar panels. Stay safe and have Merry Christmas

[@ronaldclemons5520]

Live and learn, we have all been there. Blessings on you guys🙂

[@hnhardin1217]

This setup turned out great!

[@rc7856]

You did an excellent job!

[@janetkoball44]

It might be advantageous to build the boys are jungle gym so the don't have to test the strength of your projects and also have fun. If you get to , a tea big tree house would be loved by your strong, boys. I've heard of them with rope pulleys for a basket of snacks. Love this family and all your projects.

[@cathyalt6729]

I was thinking about doing the same thing can't wait to the next part 😳❤️

[@LynneAnn51]

So enjoying your channel, learning too. All of you are doing such a great job. Solar panel is perfect!! What a family team. 🤗🤗

[@jonathanc2757]

Im in Nash and getting into solar

[@markallenashcraft976]

Looking good. keep up the good work. I just want to take the time to wish you all from my family to yours Have A Merry Christmas and Have A Happy New Year, wishing you all the best, and hope that 2022 is better than 2021. Remember always be humble and kind.

[@sam-and-angela]

Thank you! We hope the same for you and yours too!

[@randydinglehopper62]

Great, thank you

[@lindapeterson7166]

Hi Sam & Angela,looks good Sam.Have a wonderful week ahead.👏😊👍

[@larryschmitt2513]

Sam your just making it happen 👍🏻

[@blakewilliamzieglercombs9484]

Nice install of those washers don’t work out maybe come strips of 2x4s ripped down laying over the edge all the way across?

[@carolannbolinger3795]

I hope you guys are okay. With the storms you had down there last week.

[@lindas8350]

Glad your family is ok and no damage. I saw your other video but I couldn't comment. Stay well and Stay Safe! Merry Christmas to your family!

[@beverlyweaver899]

Good job Sam

[@patriciamaines-riggs1982]

I was starting to watch my cat got interested in the noise. It was you screwing in the supports. She then watched the entire episode. Good show from Nicole and me. Lol Lol

[@sam-and-angela]

Hehe so cool! Glad kitty liked it!

[@tinamariegregory3130]

Oh ! I love the rebar stakes , great idea, well worth waiting for hahaha. Projects evolve and you are managing each challenge nicely ! God bless you all.

[@matthewknight5641]

The only problem with alot of over hang is panel flex is really bad for the panel and causes the to not last nearly as long. I think you did great with the project

[@janniedgordon6157]

I really like your project.

[@sam-and-angela]

Thanks!!

[@ramhornjoe]

Thanks Sam, new subscriber. You have showed me a practical solution for getting our panels up on a budget.

[@craigmortell]

the groove around the edge of the panels feels like its crying out for you to run some cord around it to anchor it back to the horizontal boards. Just a thought

[@justyouandmekid101]

Good Morning 🌻🌻 Awesome 🥰🥰

[@meilyn22]

Great to see! Nice video.

[@user-hg2tk3xj9y]

Hope everything works out well, with wood not sure on how tight it all is on the panels how it will handle expansion/contraction....but I would not sweat it to much at this stage.

[@kriswhite1344]

GREAT JOB!!! Solar is a new thing for me. Looking into power station nothing spent yet..

[@sam-and-angela]

The BLUETTI is our limiting factor with what we want out of the system. There are changes coming soon since we'll be living in the camper temporarily until the home is done.

[@annarobinson382]

Our method of digging post holes is all manual - digging bar, post hole digger, clippers for small roots, saw or ax for slightly larger ones, sledgehammer if we can get at larger rocks, shift the hole if all else fails.

[@patriciabeyer7824]

🙌🙌 You guys are moving right along. 👍👍

[@joannekettle1526]

Glad you are all safe, awesome video 💕

[@maraoz]

fantastic, man! thanks for sharing :)

[@benerandamargarejo9453]

Merry Christmas to you and your family God bless you all

[@oldcountry220]

As long as things stay put all is right in the world.

[@NackDSP]

That is brilliant. I was pissed when I saw that the metal racking cost as much as the panels. This is such a great solution. Fender washers to the rescue!

[@sam-and-angela]

Happy to help! Also happy to report this rack mount is still working great to this day -- 2 years later!

[@annemarielee4436]

Hope you all ok x

[@mindi.m]

It's cool to watch the process. Thanks for explaining it along the way. So the washers will do the trick? Permanently? I thought the bracket [the right size, of course] looked much more sturdy. I'm just curious.

[@That1ufo]

I would go with 2 washers or a fat bolt washer

[@carolyncarlson3825]

Nice install....hugs

[@kopenhagenkid]

Great video Sam

[@johnsturtevant9351]

I would have turned the brackets upside down - reversed them. Then bolted the panels, but not sure that would have worked in the end. Looks good though.

[@Hollybank5]

Sam got ‘er done ✅ You had a few twists and turns there for a while, tho. I’m excited to see the next reveal !!

[@leahr.2620]

Tell those boys Aunt Leah said, don't be climbing on those solar panels 😉

[@GoingSolarEnergy]

Nice Job! Looks great!

[@jesusislord2457]

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Whatever. Where's Ang and the ferrel boys? 😂 I hope you all have a blessed Christmas; celebrating the birth of Jesus! Best wishes for a much better new year! We have to have hope. Big hugs! Big respect! Big love! ☮️💖🙏🇺🇸🇮🇱✝️🤣🤜🎄

[@Jennifer-nv8sl]

Sam, you have a workshop. Couldn't you rip the 2X4s so that they would work like a tongue and groove on the solar panels? That would give stability in severe weather. Just a thought but what you did is excellent!

[@Jules19694]

Looking great hopefully will provide enough electricity.

[@estellaknox9285]

Neatly done SAM

[@tradermunky1998]

You go about building stuff like I do! That's not a compliment.🤣

[@dellaburns7307]

Adaptions probably how the guy who invented the wheel got it to work lol

[@jackiegardner7483]

Wow great job👍

[@dwisecup51]

I live in Ohio. The first 60 mph winds would put your stand flying across the field.

[@That1ufo]

Even 30mph could possibly flip it, build a floor and load it up with blocks. And add bolts in the wood so it cant separate, or Simpson ties

[@janetkoball44]

If something doesn't work, fix it or change it. Flying by the seat of your pants. Looks like a great project done right. Thanks.

[@djterry1218]

I think that your solar mount stability depends on the wind velocity.

[@johnsturtevant9351]

In Tennessee everything has wings - I am thinking he may need concrete in time - but first things first.

[@estring69]

I like the skids. Good idea.

[@1bturner]

? Do you intend to build a storm shelter of some kind since you live on mobile homes? I know there are some fema approved above ground tornado shelters you can do. The Kelley’s Country life channel built one after they had a tornado hit and Destroyed the camper trailer they were living in. Just want to keep y’all safe and I think it would be great content. 😊 love the channel thanks for the content.

[@sam-and-angela]

We would LOVE to! Even before the latest storms in the US, we've wanted one here. They're surprisingly affordable as commercially available units... especially given the alternative cost to life. It's on our wish list!

[@simplisticvitality2359]

Find something to anchor better, with the angle it will act like a sail and fly in a storm.

[@CantankerousDave]

Sam's on his way to becoming a sunologist, I see.

[@sam-and-angela]

Hahaha I dunno about that... :)

[@davidhelfrich7150]

Boys will be boys 😉. If you build it they will come and "check it out".

[@leetaves9143]

doing it on the cheap thats the way to go, did you set them at 45 degrees from FL

[@DIYDaveT]

This ought to be good up to about 50-60mph winds. After that... But the cost of racking is very high so it could still be economically worth it to do it this way. But I live in a hurricane area where I need 170mph rating and this is not going to work for me. YMMV!

[@wordvendor1]

Totally mean, but I'll wait, pouting the whole time, lol 😾😂 You make me feel like I could do this SO much cheaper than hiring someone.

[@TheWoodHaven]

That couldn't have been designed any better. Everything fit perfect. What do you have there? 400 watts worth of panels, or are those larger than 100 watts each?

[@thomasmorse6692]

Not sure but the solar mount clip looked like it could be screwed underneath the 2x4 and the upper part would slip over the solar panel. Looks good though. Interested in what you can run off those 4 panels.

[@shaniaa9287]

Solar panels don't do much in the dark do they....looking awesome Sam

[@robertd6925]

Have you had any issues with warping?

[@HomesteadDad]

Having had it for 7 months now, how do you like the mount? Anything you would change? I'm thinking of doing something similar. Thanks.

[@sam-and-angela]

This mount has been great, and still used to this day for our off grid camper setup. I've moved it twice; once with an ATV and winch, the other with an excavator and a strap. A support board broke on me with the second move but I was able to rebuild it (see our latest video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5bQlWOaZr-hhKM ). For just four panels I really have little to complain over. It's been sturdy and I've had no problems with the panels not being secure. For the long life of the mount I should have put the angle at our equinox angle and not the winter solstice that we had at the time of building. I thought I would have time to fix it before summer, but here we are past our summer solstice and I've not had time yet. :) I do have plans to build a new mount, but for the reason to mount more panels that we have. I'll NOT do a portable style for this next mount because I have the location I want it pinned down and it will use less material. Hope this helps! -Sam

[@iwantosavemoney]

You might want to anker it down so it don’t blow over sir.

[@dper1112]

Are your solar panels aluminum frame? If so, your stainless washers have the potential to cause galvanic corrosion, which could affect the aluminum.

[@sam-and-angela]

I didn't think of that! You're right -- aluminum frames. This mount may be more temporary than we first thought (for good reasons) so I'll not make that mistake again. Hopefully they won't start reacting to each other in the next month or two?

[@dper1112]

@@sam-and-angela I think in your setup the corrosion will be very slow. The years scale, not the months scale. :-)

[@Zombie-adventures]

Looks cool! How many panels total to stay off grid?? I bought the smaller Bluetti with two panels for emergencies.

[@davevandu2144]

Temporary and it'll work till something more permanent comes along Lord willing.

[@jackiegardner7483]

💁🏼‍♀️🌻