Chiko Steel Solar Carport: Effortless Installation and Durable Design for Reliable Solar Solutions

[@BricktopCarlos]

Also they can’t be shipped direct to consumers home. They have to be shipped to a business with dock or terminal. Seems like you could build a wooden structure for a lot less and I think it would be much for pleasing to the eyes IMO

[@cquintana9326]

I was just going to post the same thing. I hired a handyman carpenter to do a 12 x 18 pergola-style lean-to for $500 and about $350 in material. (6x4 posts, 2x8 beams and 2x6 rafters) I appreciate the hardiness of steel but not for 5X the cost.

[@joeyhazlett]

The only benefit I see to buying something like this over building your own is that it comes with stamped engineering plans, which makes getting a permit from your local jurisdiction a lot easier.

[@cquintana9326]

@@joeyhazlettI hadn't thought about that. Pergolas don't need a permit around here tho.

[@TRICHOMETRIST]

​@@cquintana9326 The panels might require electrical permits

[@jerkychew899]

@@joeyhazlett It might be more resistant to wind than wood, too. I live in a very windy area so that's a real factor in determining what I end up using. Still, 5x the cost is a bit tough to swallow.

[@scavanger96]

This is very interesting. I would be very interested in Solar Angle adjustable, modular carport sizes for covering the RV, Animals, a Gazebo, etc.

[@tonymazza8305]

The 'nominal' slope for a year-round, fixed mount, south facing solar array is the latitude of the location... In other words, the 'ideal' angle of 5 degrees is WAY too low for panels north of the Panama Canal. In the Caribbean, the angle would be 15-20 degrees (a 1/6 roof slope) and in New York City it would be 40 degrees (almost a 1/1 roof slope).

[@scottmcshannon6821]

what would be the recommended slope for a west facing roof?

[@lawrencedavidson6195]

Jamaica where i live is 18 deg.

[@mnj5089]

Brilliant addition! Would love it if you guys considered offering gutter options for existing arrays too.

[@unionse7en]

Would be awesome if it had Engineering stamps for my County to approve , otherwise I need to pay a Professional Engineer to stamp them.

[@mnj5089]

@@unionse7en That's dumb

[@mainephotoman]

I was reading some bad reviews on these just today, first I heard of them. Now I see this video. Personally I think it’s ugly and looks incomplete.

[@SignatureSolar]

You can view the Stamped Engineering Report on our website at the link below. If you need additional documentation feel free to reach out to us and we can assist. signaturesolar.com/chiko-residential-steel-carport-black-solar-pergola-solar-gazebo/

[@mnj5089]

@@SignatureSolar BOOM! ❤

[@herbfst]

I was just looking at this unit and it only started at $3500. Am I going crazy or did something change?

[@wim0104]

what's "solar" about the car port structure anyways? It's easy to adjust/set the angle & slope of the roof to the sun? Can you move it during the year?

[@benc1927]

$8k for the 3 car version

[@flowerpt]

​@@wim0104the gutters between the panels probably.

[@jerkychew899]

I appreciate the comparison of bifacials to roof-mount, but it looks like you just did a point-in-time spot check. It would be nice to see the different power curves over a 24+ hour period to see what the actual gross gain was.

[@SignatureSolar]

Thank you so much for your feedback @jerkychew899!

[@anthonyenosis1]

Can you design vertical orientation panels mounting tech (positioned panels like a fence) so users can utilize morning and evening light (avoid the, heat degraded, noon peak light - where excess solar is not as needed)? Fence orientation also allows the horizontal space between panels to be used for other things (ag, garden beds, or other things)

[@garrickgaffigan5197]

Has Anyone gotten this approved by their building department. Have Heard that Chiko and SS are not forthcoming with enough information for it to be qualified under code.

[@SignatureSolar]

Hi there! The Stamped Engineering Report can be found on our website on the product page. We are happy to provide any additional documentation needed.

[@bluezcluez315]

Can you also please offer some clarity on the power capacity of this product? You list 12x PV modules on your website, yet show 15x installed here. I assume the listed 400W modules in the description are what was installed; that would be 6 kW for 15x.

[@SignatureSolar]

This demo model comes in various sizes, accommodating different numbers of panels. The one we used could hold up to 15 panels. However, during our video demonstration, we connected only 11 panels in series to mimic the setup on our rooftop, aiming to compare monofacial and bifacial setups. This configuration theoretically should have provided 4kW. Unfortunately, we encountered issues with our inverter, resulting in an output of only around 1% of the expected power, approximately 40-45W. We're currently investigating the problem with the inverter. I hope this helps!!

[@Sjrick]

Ive got a cape cod style house that does not give me the ability to add panels to my house. But i have room in the back to put something like this on my concrete patio. Do you guys offer that ?

[@yahushuadavis7439]

I'm planning to replace my existing R&R Patio Cover, which currently covers an area of 260 square feet. I'm considering alternative options and would love to hear from anyone who has experience with similar projects.

[@flowerpt]

The gutters are a really cool idea. I don't think I need this model but the video is helpful nonetheless!

[@SignatureSolar]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Espiritiv]

What about their AL models?

[@sandras7451]

Will 32 Hyundai HIS-S410YH solar panels fit any of your carports?

[@SignatureSolar]

Hi! If you'd like to call into our sales department at 903-441-2090, our team of experts can look into the specs of the panels and see how many will fit per carport!

[@bartpickett7576]

How are the base plates mounted in your video? I just got mine and have been exploring different options for footings.

[@SignatureSolar]

The most advisable course of action is to install concrete footers. This will require obtaining the necessary permits since it involves excavation of the ground.

[@ericdeweever2331]

Do you offer anything for Florida 170 wind loads?

[@SignatureSolar]

The carport we have is rated up to 150mph. We don't have anything rated that high just yet!

[@wolfroad]

What is included in this package? I looked at your website but it doesn’t provide that information

[@SignatureSolar]

Hi there! The contents are listed under the Install Guides on our website! Let us know if you have any other questions.

[@sde9023]

Will you offer an RV height model?

[@SignatureSolar]

No. What we have is the only height we carry. If you need something custom, we recommend contacting Chiko directly.

[@empower88]

It would make sense if it came with PREAPPROVED PLAN

[@LifeLongLearner-om8jx]

It does come with stamped engineering plans

[@ericdeweever2331]

I have a 55' x 25' design need to speak with someone!!

[@SignatureSolar]

If you'd like to reach out to me at [e-mail] I can get you connected with the appropriate department!

[@pan6479]

any option for snowload as high as 50 lb per sq?

[@SignatureSolar]

Up to 45 PSF

[@jasongphillips]

Comparing voltages???? MPPT can vary voltage in any string depending on what it thinks is optimal. Always compare power, otherwise (using your voltage analysis of power) the static electricity i just produced walking across the carpet is 10x more powerful than your solar arrays. Fortunately if we look we can see 40w and 45w showing when you are talking about voltages as a power measurement 🤦‍♂ 85watts total coming from 2 x 11 x 400w panels? These should be 4400watts per string in perfect conditions. These are currently producing 1% of capacity. Maybe do the power production test when there is power being produced in some nominal range. Anyway, the carport is nice.

[@SignatureSolar]

You are correct. Thank you for pointing out my mistake in using the wrong number to make the calculation. The wattage should have been used. To calculate, you would calculate the increase / original number x 100%. In our case, we would find the increase by subtracting 45 W - 40 W to calculate an increase of 5 W from our monofacial panels to our bifacial panels. Then we would divide our difference of 5 by our original number, 40 W from our monofacial panels. So, 5 / 40 = 0.125. To find our percent, we would then multiply this number by 100, 0.125 x 100 = 12.5%, showing that we actually are getting a 12.5% increase in energy production out of our bifacial panels over our monofacial panels even at this lower wattage production. As solar production conditions improve, we would expect to see this same trend continue. The day of testing was less than ideal conditions, when conditions improve maybe we can go back and do a follow-up test. Thanks for the feedback!

[@jasongphillips]

@@SignatureSolar And since power is low during that measurement maybe its all the more argument to use the bi-facials. 12.5% more when you are getting little sun is even more of a help when you need it most.

[@bluezcluez315]

Creative place to put panels. The design could use some improvement for finished aesthetics. ARKA also has a nice look, at least in their marketing. I believe there is a mistake in the performance comparison, however. You should be comparing power [Watt], not voltage [V]. Looking at the power output, it was only showing 40-45 W. Was that filmed in the morning or evening? Information about anchoring requirements would be helpful too. I assume this needs a significant concrete footer. Here’s another thought - could energy storage modules (heavy, bulky) be used? Another multi-purpose design element. Nonetheless, keep it up Signature Solar.

[@SignatureSolar]

You are correct. Thank you for pointing out my mistake in using the wrong number to make the calculation. The wattage should have been used. To calculate, you would calculate the increase / original number x 100%. In our case, we would find the increase by subtracting 45 W - 40 W to calculate an increase of 5 W from our monofacial panels to our bifacial panels. Then we would divide our difference of 5 by our original number, 40 W from our monofacial panels. So, 5 / 40 = 0.125. To find our percent, we would then multiply this number by 100, 0.125 x 100 = 12.5%, showing that we actually are getting a 12.5% increase in energy production out of our bifacial panels over our monofacial panels even at this lower wattage production. As solar production conditions improve, we would expect to see this same trend continue.

[@bluezcluez315]

@@SignatureSolar Thanks. I still don't think it's an accurate test considering you're only getting 40 - 45 W out of a 6 kW array. I suggest you remove this test and claim from this video. What would be really helpful is more information about assembly and power capacity. The Chiko manual says 2-3 people yet I see about 6x here. And the module and array sizing is as clear as mud. I see one dimension in the Chiko manual (270" N/S span). Your website lists 12x modules per carport then you show 15x here and multiples of 9x on your website images. I want this product to succeed and have customers interested in it but I also don't want to fight with unclear installation and design information on expensive and bulky equipment that can't be easily shipped and returned.

[@mattharvey8712]

Bravo.....great idea.........now .......make it self washing.......they should pay me ......cheers

[@MrSolarFrost]

5 degrees.. need more like 20-30 degrees. Why settle for 5 degrees?

[@SignatureSolar]

Hello! The official response from Chiko is: If the tilt is any higher, then the unit jumps into a much higher engineering paradigm of requirements. And much greater design loads, are required. This means a greater/heavier structure, and much greater cost. A customers’ plot of land may be such, that carport can only go in one location and orientation. With the low tilt angle, the kWh electricity production is not greatly affected if the carport must be pointed to an ‘azimuth’ (direction) that is not the ‘optimal’. If the carport tilt is high, the carport facing in the non optimal direction would significantly decrease the kWh electricity production. The lower tilt angle of 5 degrees will produce more kWh in the summer season that the ‘optimal’’ tilt angle Electricity rates are such now, that the summer kWh rates are significantly greater than the ‘non-summer’ rates. Therefore, the $$$ value of kWh electricity production is greater than ‘optimal’ tilt ‘Optimal’ Tilt is an axiom that corresponds to electricity kWh rates that are the same in all parts of the day, that are not time of use.

[@mafosa8519]

cant you just buy aluminum extrusion and make your own?

[@OFFGRID_Trucker]

If I owned one of these solar carports.. I'd park my White Jeep underneath it.. I've got 1200w (Six Bi-facial 200w JJN) on a dual axis tracker. I ordered a pair of 25' 4ga wire that I'll connect from my 3 controllers that go to my Four 100Ah lithiums, that will replace the small 8ga that is connected now. IT's currently (< lol) connected now creating a bottleneck of power. This would be a perfect carport to park my RV under when I get my offgrid land.

[@NewLightEnergy]

Won’t work in the northern climates. Way to flat of a profile and we don’t really need car ports in the summer. My timetable array is at 76degree for mid Nov-mid Feb.

[@thinde88]

4400 watts of bifacial panels producing 45 watts? Sign me up! I think something’s wrong here. I have 4900 watts of bifacial panels and they regular produce over one kilowatt during storms with a layer of snow on them and zero visible sun in the sky.

[@MichaelKliewe]

"... resilient to corrosion and rust"? Rust is a form of corrosion, it doesn't make sense to name both because rust is already included in corrosion :-)

[@SignatureSolar]

Thank you so much for your feedback!