Solar Life: Episode 6 - 12 Solar Panel Pole Mount Design and Build

[@arminius301]

wow, unbelievable ingenuity! Well thought out and modified from what the solar consultant gave you. I have an old 24 foot aluminum pole from my Avion travel trailer canopy I tore down, that I might use for a similar purpose to mount my solar array way up in the air for maximum solar exposure! Keep on inventing and enjoy the fruits of your extensive hard intelligent work!

[@markmazza135]

Ingenious, innovative, and independent of corporate grifters...love it!

[@paulhancock7860]

Awesome video Drew! I live off grid and have an array on a commercial pole mount but looking to expand my system and found your video very inspirational!

[@rockandmeatroll]

I'm endeavoring to build my own house due to my financial mess up, seeing you in action here, amazing project and outcome. I'm INSPIRED. :)

[@hattifattener1]

great job , i like to see people being creative and DIY. i have built two trackers using scrap items such as truck hubs, flywheels, high pressure gas cylinders without using linear actuators. cost was under $1000 per tracker (12 panels). ))) i have a couple of videos about them on my channel.

[@offgridmangogrower]

Tell us a little about your pressurized gas trackers…?

[@butchtheiw]

Exactly what I needed to see, Drew. My wife and I are getting ready to build on 43 acres. We have the whole system ready to build, and I've got the holes dug and the poles ready for (2) 12 module arrays. I was looking for clues to how much footing I need when I came across this video. Excellent. And he even welds! Thanks for the inspiration and an intelligent, easy to watch video.

[@solarscoobyd7629]

Thanks for the kind words. I am glad it inspired you do make something. Send a video when you get it done. I'd love to see it.

[@drdavekaplan]

Excellent job from South Africa

[@calvingarrett3245]

Hello your video just happened to come on my phone here I like how you have everything built for your solar array really nice

[@offgridmangogrower]

Drew…your inspirational….I’m not a tree top kinda guy…so my set up would be in the 3 to 8’ level….I’d also mount external bearings and drill shaft holes…and at least make it manual and track option…since your almost eating that cheese. We have some sycamores trying to shade our gas trackers…and they will be next seasons firewood.

[@sybo10]

Fantastic job! , I'm looking to build a smaller pole mount right now, this gave me some inspiration.

[@timothymahle4368]

Getting ready to do the exact same thing in southern Minnesota but I have steel pipe. I'm putting two up so have to figure out how to stagger them so they don't hinder each other. I finally got my permit after 3 years waiting. Very excited.

[@timothymahle4368]

Do you have a link for the rails? I know you said Solar tech, the 2" angle but I can't find that company.

[@mosfet500]

Thanks for the video. I built my own pole mount using sked 40 steel pipe on a 24" sonotube eight feet down but I set anchors in the tube and welded a base on the pipe to mount it on top of the tube so I didn't get rust and water damage. That was ten years ago and it's still getting us through high winds. I think it was a mistake to make your array so high, mine is about 7 or 8 feet to the top of the pole. I can adjust my angle for winter and summer but I don't run at 90° and my steepest angle is about 28° which give me plenty of room for snow storms. (I'm in the Catskills of NY). You did a very nice job though, very creative!

[@earthenergyhex]

Wow, that is so cool. I wish I could build one. $10K is a great price for all of that!!

[@solarscoobyd7629]

Yeah I got big quotes to do it, so I knew I could build it much cheaper and better.

[@HansKeesom]

What if this 10k was spent on more panels and no pole? Would that generate more power? I don't have the answer but it is a question one needs to ask.

[@cmthumboldt6896]

Great job! Thanks for sharing the content.

[@MrRonaldck66]

very impressive ty for the video insperational

[@tubingtomtom]

I absolutely love overkill. And that’s the kind of overkill I like! Good job! Any kinks you run into I’m sure you will overcome… with overkill 😁

[@dvdrwsor]

Thanks for sharing !

[@awbean5254]

GREAT JOB! YOUR PROJECT REMINDS ME: 1. I WISH I HELD ONTO MY 12 FOOT HORIZON TO HORIZON SATELLITE 📡 DISH MOUNT, SO I COULD MODIFY THE MOUNT TO ACCOMMODATE 8 APTOS DNA 120 440 SOLAR PANELS, BECAUSE OUR POLE MOUNT IS STILL THERE. 2. THE STRENGTH OF THE APTOS ARE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY WIND 💨 LOAD CERTIFIED TO WITHSTAND UP TO 5400 Pa & WE HAVE ANNUAL HURRICANES 🌀 3. ALL THE BEST ON YOUR OFF GRID PROJECT!

[@maddeusdoggeus1]

WOW!!! Thanks for the Video. That Thing will Outlast Your GrandKids!!!! I LOVE IT👍

[@solarscoobyd7629]

Hopefully the next homeowner will also be able to use it whenever I leave. It's been worry free for a few years now.

[@morpher44]

great job

[@jeanclaudeisambart8720]

bravo bon tuto merci

[@northstar5971]

L have a formal mechanical engineering degree. I am very impressed

[@Goandgetit00]

you surely have your shit together Sir.

[@solarscoobyd7629]

Thanks for your kind words.

[@RR123]

Wish there was a kit a bit shorter and for only 8 panels with full documentation for such a mount, Manish tilt would be fine! What's the size range for the panels?

[@ua420]

Amazing video. Inspiring to do my own 18kW PV in Ukraine mostly on my own.

[@neomatrix2722]

Thank you for sharing I live off grid as well and will borrow some of these ideas I do have a question on the charts that you're showing in terms of production what programs are you using so you can keep track of your production thank you

[@NaLovePHAT4Life]

I FOUND THIS VERY HELPFUL. I ENVISIONED A GROUND MOUNT WITH TRACKING BUT EVERYONE IN THE BUSINESS I KNEW IN THE SOLAR PROFESSION DISCOURAGED ME ON THAT. THIS GIVES ME HOPE. I ALREADY HAVE THE SOLAR PANELS 12 X 325W PANELS AND A 4.5 KW INVERTER. I JUST NEED THE MOUNT. I'D RATHER PURCHASE A MOUNTING KIT. I DON'T MIND BUILDING IT BUT HAVING TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE PARTS MAKES ME NERVOUS. I WISH I COULD FIND A KIT REASONABLY PRICED.

[@rockandmeatroll]

Did you find something?

[@NaLovePHAT4Life]

@@rockandmeatroll NO NOT YET, ANY SUGGESTIONS?

[@yamikanichalira960]

Great job. What is the weight of each panel?

[@johnharper1085]

Hi Drew, was wondering how much concrete was used. Also what actuator was used to move the solar panels?. Thank you.

[@bonniependergast6504]

Would it be possible to see the close up view of your top of pole mount. I have looked at several mounts and like you feel that they do not fit my needs. My cabin is off grid, we get lots of snow ( > 5 ft), cold temperatures (-40 C), and lots of wind.

[@mostafanabil581]

You need to build a solar powered gnats trap :D

[@annakissed3226]

Just watched & Subbed with this video. I was wonderingvif you have swapped your panels for the double sided panels Also have you implemented any form of panel cooling in the years since? Thanks

[@TheDishDoc]

Sub'd. Very nice build sir!

[@waar5243]

how is the wind up there?

[@theheathkitshop2424]

What about the concrete eating away at the aluminum post?

[@solarscoobyd7629]

It seems to be fine. I am not worried.

[@richardmainord5417]

As you described installing bearings inside the box tubing where the hinge bolt goes through, you said that you would do it differently. How exactly would you have done it? Also can you give any more information about the actuator? How far down on the pole are the brackets mounted, and how far out from the hinge bolt are the brackets mounted on the box beam?

[@solarscoobyd7629]

I would put the bearing on the outside where they can be serviced. The actuator is 48" actuator for a satalite dish, static load of 1000lbs. The bracket is not a big as I would have liked, I designed it for a smaller actuator and then put on a bigger on one but it still works well. The bracket is about 10" out from the pole.

[@JonOffgrid]

nice

[@solarscoobyd7629]

Thanks

[@SteveZ-fk4xb]

Nice design, Did you lay this out in CAD and have the parts plasma CNC or did you just torch them out. Bearing idea is great, I'll include it in my build. I live in the snow belt against the great lakes so I get the 90 degree tilt, great for cleaning. What linear actuator did you use and did you engineering in the loading on the screw or best guess?

[@bustersnm]

I am building the same thing but w/6 panels. Could you provide the motor controller model and actuators model you used please? Live in Texas panhandle w/ lots of winds. Need strong actuators. Thanks for help!

[@quagmyer7230]

what is the aproximate wind load resistance on that set up with the same amount of pannels? You think it will be strong enough for Florida weather on an open field?

[@richardlynch329]

Is the steel coated with paint or something? Aluminum in direct contact with steel tends to corrode faster than normal.

[@rediornot811]

like your video but I let the pros do mine. Mine will be up and running in about 2 weeks. 8kw pole mount with 13kwhr Tesla powerwall wiring and inverters.

[@campdavidsonfunctionaltrai8583]

why so high? closer to the ground seems like a better design. I want to do something like this.

[@thelightworshipper9687]

I had the same question in mind. Make as low as possible to clear ground even in the vertical position. Maybe there are obstacles in front of the mount that required him to go high.

[@campdavidsonfunctionaltrai8583]

there are 10,000 ways to do everything :)

[@solarscoobyd7629]

@@thelightworshipper9687 We get that much snow here and it builds up in front of the panels.

[@mikejones-vd3fg]

Very cool, and was just wondering why DIY should be cheaper as a motivaton, i mean i get it but what about quality? Theres certain things mass production just wont do because of cost, but you can since youre only maknig 1, using a $2 part instead of a 20 cent one for example and other quality improvements that dont conflict with profit motive since there is none. That being said I wonder if simply maknig a dome out of more panels would hae been cheaper. Putting panels where the solar tracker would move, and just leavning them there, it would take 10x more panels, but maybe would work out to the same cost but with less maintance as your solar dome sits there capturing all angles of the sun all day.

[@raptormatt21]

Looks great! Thanks for sharing. Curious where you sourced the aluminum rail from?

[@solarscoobyd7629]

The solar rail came from by Solar tech, the 2" angle stock came from Best Metals in Town.

[@gmat2545]

How did u mount the solar panels to the wall of your house?

[@solarscoobyd7629]

We used the same racking that they use on the roof mounts. It was bolted to the wall and the panels to the racking.

[@gmat2545]

SolarScoobyD Did you cut away the siding or did you just sandwich it?

[@solarscoobyd7629]

@@gmat2545 We took it off, built it up behind and then bolted to the braces behind the siding. It buckles a little in the summer because it doesn't slip and expand the way it should but it has been waterproof and functional for 2 years.

[@gmat2545]

SolarScoobyD awesome thanks!

[@gmat2545]

SolarScoobyD I don’t guess you did a video on that and I missed it?

[@mohindersembi7647]

HI can you please kindly help me on my solar system I have Panasonic VBHN330SJ53 330W Solar Panel Module which I have connected 7 panels in series which is 7 x 330 watts = 2310 watts and dc voltage approximate 483 Volts And I have another string exactly the same solar 7 x 330 panels series which 2310 watts so if I connected 2 strings in parallel which it's should be 2310watts plus 2310watts total 4,620 watts on this system will it work ? and will it be fine ? Please kindly help me this thanks you Sam

[@FitzgeraldCharles]

I absolutely love the creativity and the project. What part of the US is this install done. I would love to come see it in person and pick your brains a bit. Great job

[@solarscoobyd7629]

We are in New Brunswick, Canada.

[@FitzgeraldCharles]

@@solarscoobyd7629 How can i get in contact with you ?

[@solarscoobyd7629]

@@FitzgeraldCharles email me at [e-mail]

[@jimsimpson4385]

Dude i believe in DIY but i can't see your house. Maybe you would put the panels on the house on a pole as well?

[@johnnypedersen9419]

The bearings is greased for life from the vender. Greasing Them Will ruin the gasket🤔

[@demus8757]

I don't really understand why you did not choose to use an automatic 2-axis tracker system. Now you loose a lot of energy cause the panels will not be in the ideal position most of the time. That's a shame, you paid for the installation, try to get the most out of it.

[@solarscoobyd7629]

It wasn't designed for dual axis tracking and the cost would have been much higher. I am happy with pole mount, it's strong, holds up in the windstorms, and can be adjusted when needed to change the angle. I only adjust it seasonally. Thanks for your comments.

[@alanhollister9122]

Concrete eats aluminum. Won’t be long before it’s ate away

[@bryankovar2930]

The shermanaitor