Solar PV panel DIY self install on a 2 story residential roof

[@valeriebennett3703]

Really clear and very helpful - thank you for making the time to put this video together to help others.

[@eric4709]

Think you made life difficult there. Why not just buy MCS approved brackets, rails and fixings ? That way you will have manufacturers MCS certification for all fixings - ( I know its DIY but nice to have) Much easier to fit ( not under the rail) Also - brackets come with a wide fixing base with many screw holes so you can position the bracket laterally over the rafter to align perfectly with the "valley" of the tile below it and then use the two screw holes that lie over the rafter. I have to say I've never seen brackets fitted "under the rail" ? Also - I didnt see you pre-drilling screw holes in rafters., and - Did you use stainless steel screws for fixing brackets?

[@mikeatyouttube]

The rails were more difficult to install compared to others I've used. Nevertheless they were sold from an approved supplier. Maybe "approved (but awkward)" would have been a better description. The others types I've used were still mounted under the rail but you tightened them from above which was much easier. The bolts (which I should have shown up close) are the TimbaScrew type - 100mil - carbon steel. I have no worries about them - you don't need SS or galvanized in wood rafters unless the rafters are pressure treated (1960s roof - certainly not pressure treated). The TimbaScrew are self drilling and therefore no predrilling. I prefer the self drilling because the more wood you leave in the rafter the better. I thought the best innovation on this install were the brackets fixed to the underside of the panels. The friction clamps that everyone uses to stop the panels falling off are fine but the sense of security once they've been hooked over the rail is very reassuring. There's no guarantee that the friction clamps wont slip - in fact they do, a friend has a system and every 5-8 years or so he has to re-torque them because his panels slipped. (He does live in earthquake country, however). This is one of the other installs I've done: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaKsoKOansiLnqM