How to Install 1600 Watts of Solar Panels on a Carport! - Four 410W Panels From SanTan Solar

In this video I install an off-grid solar array on my carport! This array was built using four 410 watt SolarEver panels from SanTan solar. I also used S-5! Protea Brackets and SnapNrack Ultra Rail for the mounting system. You can find more information about those products below!
Learn more about SanTan Solar HERE: www.santansola...
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Learn more about S-5! solar mounting solutions HERE:
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Learn more about SnapNrack Ultra Rail HERE:
snapnrack.com/...
You can pick up other solar components I used HERE:
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#Jasonoid #solar #offgrid

[@Jasonoid]

UPDATE: I understand the VOC of this array is super close to 150v, I will put out a video of a DIY adapter I am making to drop the voltage during the winter months. Putting a few diodes in series will allow me to drop the voltage without hurting the total power of the array. I should have mentioned this in the video, sorry I left it out!

[@1ENDUSER]

Wanted to know if my 4 panels work with the DP & not over voltage it. Similar to your specs. Mine are the REC 400w alpha pure. OCV- 48.8 SCA- 10.28. If I put 2 series then parallel the pair I believe it should work in any season living in California? Thanks.

[@Jasonoid]

@@1ENDUSER the DP has a 15 amp charging limit so your panels will be cut a little short on power when put in a 2S2P configuration.

[@SetitesTechAdventures]

I look forward to seeing that.

[@conradcoolerfiend]

@@Jasonoid how short are they cut in this config? percentage wise? thanks!

[@Jasonoid]

@@conradcoolerfiend I'll need the full solar panel specs to provide that number.

[@SanTanSolar]

What an awesome setup, Jason! Those mounts are brilliant! 🙌🏼☀

[@RandiG63]

Thats awesome! Ive been trying to get my husband to do this!!! Ill just do it myself now! Thank you Jason

[@Jasonoid]

I did the install in about 4 hours on a Saturday! Didn't take long at all!

[@Cabernet2000]

Thanks. I’m going to San Tan in January to buy a kit and bring it home. Installing safely is always the new we concern. Have to work through that but I will.

[@Jasonoid]

If I'm going to be near Gilbert Arizona in the future, I would definitely do the same!

[@Scribbby]

Wish you were my neighbour, I'd learn a lot and you can always lend me some power when shit hits the fan.

[@johnperry5960]

Another great video as always, that is a great set up.

[@kevinholland4156]

That's a really good video, Jason. Those mounts are the key to a good solar array.

[@Jasonoid]

Thanks, Kevin :)

[@TheTundercat222]

very nice setup....

[@budmartin3344]

Very nice and clean installation.

[@Jasonoid]

Thanks!

[@johnnysweekends]

Great install Jason. Offgrid is getting so popular for the DIYer so they can have a small system to off set high energy prices or have power on the ready!!

[@Jasonoid]

Thanks! I'm glad that's these can be a simple install with all the resources available these days!

[@luisgonzalezjr.7465]

Great info and explanation for novices. Thank you.

[@Jasonoid]

You are welcome!

[@KatysCampKitchen]

This is a great video Jason! We want to do something like this when our barn is built in the Spring. This was a very helpful video! Thanks so much for putting it together! Katy

[@Jasonoid]

Make sure you do a video on that if you do the project, I'd love to see it!

[@AGilbert_81]

Awesome Jason. You def give us with great ideas.

[@sophiegrisom]

Thanks for the great details. I just finished a solar carport which covers a side RV pad, behind the fence. I attached one side to my existing garage roof, at each rafter (2' apart) and the other side to the ground, a 12 ft span. I slid a steel bar (~3/8" th) under the bottom concrete tiles of the garage roof, cutting a plastic vent stip under the tiles, securing to the rafter below w/ 2 long 5/8" galv lag bolts. I bent the bars ~20 deg to slope up on the solar side, using a hydraulic press. I used 1-1/4" steel EMT for the carport roof, securing to the roof bar w/ a tube clamp (half of chain-link gate hinge). I used 90 deg EMT, plus bent the EMT w/ hydraulic tube bender to make the vertical transition. The solar panels (550 W bi-facial, 9 total) serve as the carport roof, overlapping slightly like shingles (3 panels along slope). Rain dripping between the ends of the panels (2 locations) is caught by cut strips of SunTuf polycarbonate U-roof and run to the garage gutter). The panels are attached directly to the EMT (no rails). The long side runs across the EMT beams. The EMT proved too bouncy under the panel load (60 lb ea), so added 1/4" wire rope along the underside of each tube w/ standoff to tension out the deflection. 1-1/2" or 2" EMT would have been much stiffer. Got a deal on the new panels, only 18 c/W due to some shipping damage (wired 2 to a resistance heater and output per spec). I didn't want to risk damage to my tile roof w/ panels (leaks, varmints, hard to service) and many pipe penetrations so would be hard to fit them. The carport solar roof serves double-duty, protecting a car from rain and sun. Might buy the EG4 6000 W hybrid inverter, add 3 more panels to an existing carport roof, so 2 strings of 6 panels (ea 3300 W, 300 V). No grid-feed, just draw from grid as needed, so no utility reviews and agreements (credit little for solar upfeed now in CA).

[@Mike_219]

Nice looking setup, Jason! I don't have a carport but I am looking into something similar in a pergola

[@Jasonoid]

That would also work great! Similar concept 😁👍

[@conradcoolerfiend]

pretty awesome!

[@Jasonoid]

Thanks!

[@Cue881]

Great video and a very crisp and clean set up for your panels. I can attest to using Santan Solar. I have gotten panels from their Georgia store and am really happy with them. No one could beat their price. Unfortunately, the Georgia store is closing soon. I had picked up 4 260 watt panels for a total price of $100. ($25 a panel) They make systems affordable to the diy guy! Keep up the good work!

[@Jasonoid]

Wow! What a deal on those panels!

[@SanTanSolar]

Thanks so much for the shout-out! We are so happy to hear you have been loving your panels! We are sad to have to close our GA location, but we are working to expand our free shipping section to continue to offer our affordable solar products with affordable shipping to our East Coast customers! ☀

[@czexybeast]

Stopped in the Savannah store last time I was in town in Late June. Talk about being bummed out. I was looking forward to moving to Savannah in spring ‘24.

[@stephanstocker3717]

Great video and info!

[@Jasonoid]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Whiskeywoodchuck]

I have been looking everywhere to try and find those metal roof rib attachment brackets. THANK YOU for covering all of the mounting in awesome detail - very few people are doing this AND INCLUDING where to get the stuff! So again, much appreciated - you got a subscribe :)

[@Jasonoid]

You're welcome 😁👍 It's an awesome project! Snap n rack is super easy to work with!

[@chrissinclair8705]

Excellent video as per usual sir. Great points you brought up.

[@Jasonoid]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@charlesjohnson-bg2vr]

Great video..I need something like this to power EG4 3000.

[@Jasonoid]

You could go even bigger with that all in one inverter!

[@pr5991]

In Australia we can get 415 watts new and very good quality N type panels for $120.

[@Jasonoid]

The prices have dropped significantly since this video was posted. 400w panels are around $100 here as well. Demand must have dropped through the roof lol...

[@rolandrohde]

The prices in this Video show how much the cost for Solar has dropped over the last 9 Months. Right now, here in Germany, I could buy premium Glass-Glass modules for under 100€/Piece (400+W) or something like 60€ for the foil backed ones.

[@jaysonstebbins2539]

Man that looks good! Nice job! So close to that 150v tho! I've gone overvoltage with my delta pro with 142v open circuit 1200 watt 6S2P setup! That's even closer!

[@Jasonoid]

Putting diodes in series on the power wire will drop the voltage by 0.7 volts each, I'm already working on a DYI adapter to throw a few inline in the winter months. With summer temps the voltage is plenty low.

[@WECB640]

He's right, the PANELS are silent. It's the charge controller and inverter that causes massive radio frequency interference. Do some research on how to stop RFI and get a good model. You may still require filters. Ask a local ham radio club for assistance. You can find one by calling the ARRL in CT.

[@dgcbarton]

Nicely done video, with very detailed and useful information for the DIY'er... but one huge red flag for me: The mounting brackets attach to metal roof panel "ribs". I don't believe any engineer would endorse this, especially with any amount of wind load. The brackets should attach through the metal roof panels and into the supporting purlins (framing beams) underneath! This seems like a no-brainer... especially after seeing a lifetime of catastrophic weather damage, always manifests in metal roof panels being torn off and scattered around a sensationalized event site.

[@Jasonoid]

That's not how these mounts are designed. The panels are mounted on the ribs near the supporting beams and thats the design of the system. I installed the mounting brackets per the instruction of the manufacturer. We've had winds of 70mph and everything is good so far. If you have tornado style winds you might need something strong.

[@AskIveSolar]

Those 410s would have been my panel of choice for sure. I kept hoping they would go on sale. Lol. Rarely did. I couldn't come to terms with the price per panel with shipping for me personally.

[@Jasonoid]

Totally understandable, shipping can be high depending where you live. I do like how these panels are UL listed so hopefully that means a long lifetime of good power!

[@twloughlin]

Very entertaining and, while I don't have a carport, I do have a shed with a metal roof, so I think the process is very adaptable to that. I have always wanted to buy items from San Tan Solar, but living in the NE, their freight shipping costs and the need to buy in bulk make their products too expensive for someone with smaller needs. You have to live close enough to do a local pickup from them IMO to make purchasing from them worthwhile.

[@Jasonoid]

I'm sure this process will work with most metal roofing, it's even easier if you have a standing metal seam roof as you don't have any penetrations with screws. Let me know if you end up doing a project like that!

[@twloughlin]

@@Jasonoid Spring 2024! 😄

[@jw3843]

Very nice. I want to make a carport out of solar panels, don't have a good place to put it at where I live now. Not sure the best way to do that but I think it would be a good way to give shade to the car and get power. If I ever move out to the desert, I will definitely be doing that.

[@ometofu]

I just use one section of my grid tie solar panel on the roof during outage. (After disconnect from the grid). As long as there is no snow where u live. Otherwise ur car port needs to be strong

[@Jasonoid]

Did you make that change after the entire setup was approved and installed?

[@ometofu]

@@Jasonoid of course. grid tied system won’t let you have DC bridge like i did for emergency. i basically added MC4 cables.

[@LuisC202]

Jason, do you have any videos of your carport itself?

[@Jasonoid]

It's 20 foot long by 11 foot wide by 7 foot high. A local company built it for a decent price. What else do you want to know about it?

[@Armenian]

Why didn’t you want to use unistrut for the mounts? Available in person at the depot/lowes.

[@Jasonoid]

I did use unitstrut on the array next to it on my shed roof. I couldn't find 20 foot lengths in my area. This array looks so much better vs the old one and the solar mounting is reasonably priced. Here's the old video using unistrut: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHe5pX2OpruSsKM

[@suklee1400]

Looks like you have a great air-gap under your array. That'll help reduce module heat and increase productivity a little. @@Jasonoid

[@nonej8304]

Great Video! Have you thought of using smaller 200W bifacial panels. There are so many now, renogy, ecoworthy, BougeRV,... Would the 200W panels replace the roof and provide higher efficiency for the same surface area? I hope you get a chance to do another 200W rigid panel review. Enjoy the content

[@Jasonoid]

It's better to stick with a residential brand, UL listed solar panel for a permanent mount. Those cheaper brands break down fairly quickly. They won't last near as long as the higher quality panels.

[@arnoldreiter435]

you may want to keep an eye on the voltage as the temps drop. the panels will increase voltage and go over the 150v. you will see an over voltage fault on the AC500. I was running four 250w panels that have a VOC of37.2 in series and on cold winter mornings of 0F as the sun first hit the panels they shut down my Bluetti inverter. I had to remove one panel to stop this over voltage on every cold morning. A sort time later the inverter quit working and i had to send it in to be repaired, thankfully Bluetti took care of it under warranty. There should be info on the panel as to how much voltage gain you get with the temps going down.

[@Jasonoid]

Putting diodes in series on the power wire will drop the voltage by 0.7 volts each, I'm already working on a DYI adapter to throw a few inline in the winter months. With summer temps the voltage is plenty low.

[@ometofu]

One of the reason I didn’t use off the shelf battery systems. My oversized charge controller can handle anything. LOL. Love victron rs 450v

[@Moes_Prep_and_Tech]

I can't wait to see that Video, I bought Four 450 watt panels from Sungoldpower recently with free shipping and the voltage goes over 150 with all 4 connected 😞@@Jasonoid

[@Jasonoid]

@@Moes_Prep_and_Tech by how many volts?

[@Moes_Prep_and_Tech]

@@Jasonoid 41.72 voc

[@TKMoto17]

What are the details of that carport?

[@Jasonoid]

12' wide, 20' long, 7' high

[@leftofone]

Is that a home made carport or a kit? Very nice and sturdy looking!

[@Jasonoid]

@@leftofone I paid a local metal building contractor to build it to spec. It's super heavy duty and was quite affordable. These are common, just look online and you'll find one who will do it.

[@ryankshaw]

Nice video! I'm thinking about doing something very similar at my house. Did you do anything to ground the panels? I didn't see anything about that in your video

[@Jasonoid]

Since the whole carport is metal, I didn't want there to be any electrical hazard. I am currently grounding the entire carport with a grounding rod.

[@mikej9564]

Now that you have your batteries charged, how do you use that energy?

[@Jasonoid]

Running fridges, a heatpump, random electronics, and charging other batteries.

[@Detour4it]

Where did you get your carport mounting hardware?

[@Jasonoid]

Local solar distributor in my area had snap n rack hardware available. They have a website that lists distributors.

[@tonyhernandez3433]

Hey will this work for my eco flow delta 2 with extra Battery I just purchased online. Or. Can you tell me what I can do as I’m a newbie Thnks. And great vid !

[@Jasonoid]

You could mount your solar panels this way, but you'll need to use different panels. I'd recommend watching this video to pick the right solar panel for your Delta 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/anuqaX-sf9-hgrs

[@LarryL619]

I want to do this but as a backyard array on top of a patio. You didn’t mention anything about grounding. Are you grounding any of the panels or mounts? Or is the grounding only a concern back at the junction box? I’m more concerned about fire potential.

[@Jasonoid]

Since it's a metal carport, I'm working on grounding the entire carport. You'll need to ground the array with a grounding rod 6 to 7 feet in the ground, then attach the wire to the panels.

[@LarryL619]

@@Jasonoid I see! Okay? I will need to build in grounding for my solar plans. Thank you!

[@sophiegrisom]

Many youtubes. Grounding is required by NEC, using 8 awg Cu wire or 6 awg Al. Can be via existing metal poles into the ground or a metal building. Most ground just the mounting rails, not every panel. Grounding is for personnel protection. It make your panels a better lightning rod.

[@mariokleidosty9175]

I'm really wondering now why solar panels are that much more expensive in the US compared to Europe, normally it's the other way around. Bought my last solar panels for between 160 and 180$ a piece, brand new 405W and 415W panels. Is it just the UL listed panels or is there some import taxes making them that much more expensive?

[@Jasonoid]

This is my opinion of what the issue is.... here in the USA there are large tax credits for people who chose to put solar on their roof. Local solar companies jack their prices up so they can treat the 'tax rebates' as discounts. For example, they will say something like: "Your total cost for a 5K system is going to be $27,000USD, but after tax rebates, it's only going to cost $21,500USD.... what a good deal right! You wanna move forward?" They mark up their prices to make more money.... just my opinion, who knows if it's really the cause. I just know USA solar prices are jacked up SUPER high vs other countries...

[@suklee1400]

Don't forget high import tariffs on modules, steel, and aluminum.@@Jasonoid

[@notreal5311]

The US imposed tariffs on Chinese imported solar panels, back when President Obama was in office. Increases price. Talks about more, currently: "Separately, President Biden decided in early February to extend existing “safeguard” tariffs on imported solar panels for another four years at an initial rate of 14.75% for the period February 7, 2022 through February 6, 2023, falling to 14%, at the rate of 0.25% a year, by the last year of the four-year period."

[@larrycox6614]

What was the total cost of this system?

[@Jasonoid]

Solar panels were around $1000, shipping was $325, mounting hardware was $300. Total was around $1625.

[@kabulsmartview8513]

Hello Do we have to get permit for this size of solar you installed. I live in California

[@Jasonoid]

This is an off grid setup so it bypasses most those regulations. It doesnt connect to the power grid in any way or form. For a grid tie system you would definitely need to permit the install.

[@sophiegrisom]

Depends on your county in CA. Mine requires a permit for any solar install, charging >$400 for roof and >$800 for ground. My recent setup might be ground since a new carport roof. Exorbitant since almost what I paid for the solar panels ($891). That cost likely violates a CA State Law which mandates that localities cannot make solar prohibitive. Don't report me since haven't let them abuse me yet. Mine isn't visible from the street, but the County may spy via drones. Mine doesn't feed the grid, so no utility reviews or agreements. It can draw from the grid, but so can a stove. They credit very little now for solar upfeed to the grid.

[@zigzagluck]

Great swtup Jason! Just a warning, the total Voc is very close to thr 150V max of the Delta Pro, so if temps drop, you may damage the DP MPPT. I know temps get very low in your area.

[@Jasonoid]

Putting diodes in series on the power wire will drop the voltage by 0.7 volts each, I'm already working on a DYI adapter to throw a few inline in the winter months. With summer temps the voltage is plenty low.

[@SetitesTechAdventures]

Lol at the pronunciation of the Premium AG Panels. It not A G, it Ag as in agriculture.

[@Jasonoid]

Tomato...tomato my friend! LOL

[@ometofu]

Wait a minute. The date is wrong or old video. LOL

[@Jasonoid]

Screen time is off my friend

[@alpachino468]

I never trust sponsored vids...