Our Favorite Ground Mount: Power Peak!

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We have been using this ground mount all year and it works great! Let us know if we can get you one!
While roof top solar arrays are the most common choice for homeowners, there are many reasons to consider a ground-mounted solar panel system.
Generally, ground mount solar panels cost a bit more than rooftop solar on a per-watt basis because of additional labor and permitting that may be required for the installation. That being said, if your property isn’t ideal for rooftop solar, installing a ground-mounted system can actually save you more money in the long run.
Rooftop solar arrays are restricted by the characteristics of the roof on which they are installed. If your roof isn’t at the right angle, doesn’t face south, or has obstructions like chimneys or skylights, then your solar array will be less productive. On the other hand, ground-mounted solar panels can be located wherever the conditions are best.
In addition, if your home uses a lot of electricity, your roof might not be big enough for a solar energy system that meets your electricity needs. In contrast, ground-mounted solar systems can be sized to match your electricity consumption without the space restrictions of a rooftop system.

[@engineer775]

practicalpreppers.com/product/power-peak-ground-mount-kits/

[@hxFubar]

Would you suggest DG or gravel as a base around the solar array or is grass better? I would think the DG or gravel would make maintenance better but allowing grass keep the area cooler and help in other ways. The reason I ask is in the past it seemed you used to use DG or gravel and now you seem to have a lot more with just grass around them. Guess it could be customers not wanting to spend the extra too.

[@brianreynolds4627]

wow!…it’s been a while since I saw a Vid you did about bending a copper coil using water in the freezer…I think your young son was helping you out in that Vid…I bought some piping and followed your Vid…years ago now!…good to find you again…Brian in the U.K. March 29th 2022

[@Starkchris]

I love watching you guys wish I could work everyday with you. Nice clean work. I installed a mt solar pole mount. 8 395 qcells with a Schneider system and getting 11 kw for there off grid system. Was less work then that rack system but looks cleaner then a osprey. Thanks for your handy work.

[@richardhulbert9833]

Your videos/KZbin spots have been instrumental for our project, Appreciate them. "STAY YOUR COURSE"

[@teekay1785]

You could also make supports for the poles that clamp on to the vertical posts and have adjustable legs and reuse them and remove quickly at each job site

[@SolarTechFL]

I get similar time installing 3" pipe iron ridge, 12 poles. 4.5yrds concrete concrete and conduit done by 4pm With 3 guys. Last one was 15.5kw pv But the rest of the array takes way longer then that power peak.

[@stacey1703]

Keep up the good work man your doing good man!!!

[@royamberg9177]

I've used this system. Just in the I beam post

[@tjmooney4181]

Thanks 👍

[@TomLongusa]

If you had tried the auger you were bound to hit big rocks and then it’s another rental and lost time...good call.

[@mgp-bct7723]

Wow nice don thanks for the video, how much is the cost for a similar system

[@Floridaslm]

Is there a setup that can easily be laid flat and covered in the event of high winds?

[@teekay1785]

Why not use something like the song tubes to pour the concrete and let it fill hole several inches first then backfill with the dirt . I would think that would be solid mount and save concrete

[@joachimbartsch1045]

7/8 socket, that is a big 11/16 bolt. Is that really needed?

[@karlfair]

Scott, With the galvanized base and the aluminum rails. how are you addressing the dissimilar metals, to stop corrosion?

[@engineer775]

PLP has not had an issue with this. They have been building mounts for 20 yrs.

[@noc8076]

That is mostly a problem in maritime environments where you have constant moisture and salt.

[@karlfair]

@@engineer775 I'm on and around saltwater all the time. This would be a problem in my environment. We would never put a steel and aluminum connection together without isolation. If it's not a problem in dryer and less salty environments, well okay. I will bet when it's time to replace a component in the system, corrosion will be found. Please don't take this as a criticism. You and your team do really nice work. Just food for thought if you ever work around salt water.

[@unionse7en]

@@karlfair it's not ideal, but cars are full of such dissimilar interfaces, the racking system interfaces probably don't need to be undone as often as cars. I think the surfaces that are anodized probably helps a lot. If any of the aluminum is cut post anodizing , i would suggest at least spot painting it... better than nothing.

[@offgridphilosophy7959]

Don't be down voting my dad!!!

[@engineer775]

yeah!

[@AnN-py2em]

Would it be possible/ reasonable, to use a ground mount a little higher to use as a cattle, chicken, or hog shade also like multi use?

[@davidmercier4096]

I would think chickens would be ok “as is” but for cattle, well, with enough money you could. Lol. Major cost increase. Harder to clean and service the panels.

[@alallan7584]

Makes a dandy wood shed too .

[@engineer775]

It does

[@4philipp]

For 4 solar panels, can you do a single mount or rather do two mounts? In an area with heavy snow loads.

[@engineer775]

I would definitely use a single pole mount from PLP. We use them all the time for 3,4,6, and 8 panel mounts before we step up to the Power Peak. If you need a kit with pole mount and panels let me know @ [e-mail]

[@4philipp]

Engineer775 I was thinking of your Well pump + Solar package, just increase solar from 2 to 4 panels and use it to feed the cabin with power. The small pump provides enough water in a day to last me a week and the solar would just sit idle.

[@jodyz3535]

What was the price on just the ground mount

[@deod.p9813]

Jesus! that was so cool, what brand of your solar panel REC? look sexy...

[@samsonite8017]

@engineer775 - What is the height set to on the ground poles? And distance apart? They never sent me a build sheet, tried emailing them and they replied, and couldn't give a build sheet, they told me they thought distance apart should be 'around' 114' apart but they still never told me the depth to bury the poles, or height sticking above grade, and quit answering my emails..

[@panpiper]

I've got to wonder how tornado resistant such solar panels can be.

[@thebeststooge]

THIS is why I would never ever roof mount them and I remember a mounting system (think I saw it on KZbin) from a few years back that had a motor on it (like a motorized bed) that in the home you press the button and it parked the panels so the wind wouldn't use them like a kite and at the very end it had a shade like item that rolled over them to protect them from impact. I was impressed.

[@seabream]

14:54 As he said, this one's designed for 110 mph winds which covers the vast majority of tornadoes. 110 mph is the standard code minimum in Texas, specifically for tornado resistance. In hurricane country like much of Florida, they need to be stronger, and by code, installations need to be able to withstand 160 mph winds at minimum. They also get built for hail and other impact resistance (260 mph baseball sized hail). So, pretty resistant.

[@panpiper]

@@seabream Thank you.

[@callapygian]

nice not having to deal with inspectors.

[@chinafloyd3831]

😎🙋

[@oogie-boogie]

how much just for the ground mount?

[@engineer775]

Of course it is dependent on how many panels this one is ~ 4k

[@oogie-boogie]

@@engineer775 wow thanks,,

[@oogie-boogie]

@@engineer775 my charge controller can handle 6,500 watts,i think

[@EVMacD]

How many yards of concrete is that?

[@engineer775]

7yds

[@engineer775]

It was 7. The design called for 4.

[@EVMacD]

Ok. I thought it looked like a lot. I guess the cement guy/gal didn’t want to go back with anything but a bit of water

[@engineer775]

@@EVMacD Yes, he drove a long way and wanted to go back empty!

[@carlos_sacalul]

Man,all your project are made by a contractor,why you are not work by yourself,at the end you will be much happy. Cheers

[@melvinbush900]

What a waste of money

[@chinafloyd3831]

😎🙋

[@melvinbush900]

What a waste of money

[@larrylarry1206]

What a waste of a comment