Racking: I used Prosolar for a long time and then switched to Iron ridge, I am pretty happy with it in all areas but the rails are pricy.
Things I like -It has minimal deflection when tightening, but you have to tighten the Ubolts evenly. -The new mid clamps have teeth that penetrate both the module and the racking so you do not need weebs for module grounding. -End caps for sealing the rails are cheap. -It has slots like uni-rack that allows for a decent amount of adjustment. -As for wire management, there are two types of stainless rail clips for managing enphase size cable or attaching up to four pv wires on parallel rail runs. -When using central inverters I run all of my inverter to module cables in emt-heyco stain reliefs to MC connectors this turns out extremely tidy -For the grounding I use a weeb grounding lug that sits in the top rail with a 7/16 stainless bolt that allows for a strong connection. Things that do make it tedious there are a lot of stainless bolts, I use pentrox as a anti galling compound, what do other people use? when installing a micro inverter system you have to get all of your inverter mounting bolts in place before installing the cabling, they have to be end loaded, I would prefer and bolt similar to the mids that twists and locks in. If you would like a few pictures I can send them to you or you can see them on our facebook page West Coast Sustainables Jason West Coast Sustainables Jason Andrade C-46# 974647 (530) 410-4745 Cell (530) 241-7498 Office ja...@westcoastsustainables.com Watch This! -----Original Message----- From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of re-wrenches-requ...@lists.re-wrenches.org Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2014 8:55 PM To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Subject: RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 7, Issue 43 Send RE-wrenches mailing list submissions to re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.re-wrenches.org/listinfo.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to re-wrenches-requ...@lists.re-wrenches.org You can reach the person managing the list at re-wrenches-ow...@lists.re-wrenches.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of RE-wrenches digest..." When responding to posts within the Digest, be sure to restore the Subject: line to the original, and please edit out any extraneous lines from the quoted message. Today's Topics: 1. Re: Best Ground Racking? (Aaron Mandelkorn) 2. Re: Best Ground Racking? (will...@millersolar.com) 3. Re: Best Ground Racking? (Kelly Larson) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2014 17:28:42 -0700 From: Aaron Mandelkorn <reoso...@gmail.com> To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Best Ground Racking? Message-ID: <ed5186be-1cba-44e8-9df3-887df5d01...@gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Connection through concrete and soon tubes. The horizontal main support tube (4 x 4 square tube) makes wire management easy. It can easily hold wire gutters, j boxes and conduit runs. Typically I will run the home runs in free air and into a wire gutter mounted on the 4x4 horizontal tube. Then conduit down to the bos equipment mounted on a vertical support pole. Aaron Aaron Mandelkorn Owner/Solar Specialist Renewable Energy Outfitters 719-221-5249 970-596-3744 www.reosolar.com reoso...@gmail.com > On Feb 4, 2014, at 4:45 PM, Kelly Larson <solarwre...@asis.com> wrote: > > Thanks, Aaron. How are you handling wire management and connection to the ground? > > Blessings, > Kelly > >> On Feb 4, 2014, at 2:41 PM, Aaron Mandelkorn wrote: >> >> I like SnapNrack 200 Series as well as DPW Solar Multi Pole Mount. >> >> Aaron Mandelkorn >> Owner / Solar Specialist >> Renewable Energy Outfitters >> Box 65 Salida CO. 81201 >> 719-221-5249 >> 970-596-3744 >> reoso...@gmail.com >> www.reosolar.com >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>> On Feb 4, 2014, at 3:28 PM, Kelly Larson <solarwre...@asis.com> wrote: >>> >>> Hi, >>> >>> We are looking to install some 4KW ground mounted arrays. What racking are you using? Best ground connection? Wire management? The shows have so many choices, and I keep doing the same ol thing... >>> >>> Blessings, >>> Kelly >>> >>> Kelly Larson >>> Electrical Engineer >>> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional >>> IREC Certified Master Trainer >>> CA Electrical Contractor# 868189 >>> SolarKelly.com >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >>> >>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> Change email address & settings: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List rules & etiquette: >>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> >>> Check out participant bios: >>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out participant bios: >> www.members.re-wrenches.org > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachme nts/20140204/200eb964/attachment-0001.htm> ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2014 20:47:42 -0800 From: <will...@millersolar.com> To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Best Ground Racking? Message-ID: <07a001cf222d$68315550$3893fff0$@millersolar.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Kelly: Ground mount racking choice is determined on a case-by-case basis. If the ground is flat and area plentiful, we use ballasted on gravel (Dyno-Raxx). If you need to seasonally adjust, we like the DPW MPM. If the ground is sloped other than gradually south, top of pole mounts may be your choice. For flat ground, low tilt (grid-tied) ?fence post? arrays like the DPW LGM work well. For high wind areas, consider the DPW TTRGM on piers spanned by strut. Lest anyone think I am the cheering section for DPW, I suggest you avoid the DPW P6 or P8 ?Tilt Kit? assemblies. The brackets are flimsy. Also, avoid DPW?s L-feet. They are bent aluminum and come pre-stress cracked at no extra cost. For L-feet, use Unirac ?Serrated L-feet.? It is refreshing to hear someone ask about wire management upfront. All too often this is an afterthought. In the industry vacuum we have been developing wire management systems on an ongoing basis. Below is a link that depicts some of our ideas. http://www.millersolar.com/public_html/MillerSolar/practices/PV_wiring/_PV_W iring2.html The Code now requires wire shielding on ?readily accessible? PV which means ground mount. Just managing the wire is not enough, you must shield it from touch. One option is to enclose the PV in chain link, which ramps up the ugly factor (I don?t think three rail pasture fence or even barbed wire complies). Once you fence the array you can dispense with shielding, but you still don?t want the leads dangling in a year or two, so avoid any flavor of plastic wire ties. There have been studies proving they don?t last (US Navy is one source). We have looked at racking members with larger interior cross section (i.e. Pro-Solar) with the intent of running AC and DC leads inside and we have even mocked up a few, but fitting leads and the proprietary nuts into the same channel has proven impractical. Good luck. William Miller PS: Speaking of racking systems, did anyone get the news that SnapNRack and indeed the entire REC Residential juggernaut has been sold? Read the rest of this story Wm On Feb 4, 2014, at 4:45 PM, Kelly Larson <solarwre...@asis.com> wrote: Thanks, Aaron. How are you handling wire management and connection to the ground? Blessings, Kelly On Feb 4, 2014, at 2:41 PM, Aaron Mandelkorn wrote: I like SnapNrack 200 Series as well as DPW Solar Multi Pole Mount. On Feb 4, 2014, at 3:28 PM, Kelly Larson <solarwre...@asis.com> wrote: Hi, We are looking to install some 4KW ground mounted arrays. What racking are you using? Best ground connection? Wire management? The shows have so many choices, and I keep doing the same ol thing... Blessings, Kelly Kelly Larson Electrical Engineer NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional IREC Certified Master Trainer CA Electrical Contractor# 868189 SolarKelly.com <http://solarkelly.com/> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachme nts/20140204/36698f7c/attachment-0001.htm> ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2014 20:54:09 -0800 From: Kelly Larson <solarwre...@asis.com> To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Best Ground Racking? Message-ID: <139aa58f-f12f-47e8-9a94-67da3ac2c...@asis.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hi Aaron, Can you post a picture? It is hard to envision that. Blessings, Kelly On Feb 4, 2014, at 4:28 PM, Aaron Mandelkorn wrote: > Connection through concrete and soon tubes. The horizontal main support tube (4 x 4 square tube) makes wire management easy. It can easily hold wire gutters, j boxes and conduit runs. Typically I will run the home runs in free air and into a wire gutter mounted on the 4x4 horizontal tube. Then conduit down to the bos equipment mounted on a vertical support pole. > > Aaron > > > Aaron Mandelkorn > Owner/Solar Specialist > Renewable Energy Outfitters > 719-221-5249 > 970-596-3744 > www.reosolar.com > reoso...@gmail.com > > > On Feb 4, 2014, at 4:45 PM, Kelly Larson <solarwre...@asis.com> wrote: > >> Thanks, Aaron. How are you handling wire management and connection to the ground? >> >> Blessings, >> Kelly >> >> On Feb 4, 2014, at 2:41 PM, Aaron Mandelkorn wrote: >> >>> I like SnapNrack 200 Series as well as DPW Solar Multi Pole Mount. >>> >>> Aaron Mandelkorn >>> Owner / Solar Specialist >>> Renewable Energy Outfitters >>> Box 65 Salida CO. 81201 >>> 719-221-5249 >>> 970-596-3744 >>> reoso...@gmail.com >>> www.reosolar.com >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Feb 4, 2014, at 3:28 PM, Kelly Larson <solarwre...@asis.com> wrote: >>> >>>> Hi, >>>> >>>> We are looking to install some 4KW ground mounted arrays. What racking are you using? Best ground connection? Wire management? The shows have so many choices, and I keep doing the same ol thing... >>>> >>>> Blessings, >>>> Kelly >>>> >>>> Kelly Larson >>>> Electrical Engineer >>>> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional >>>> IREC Certified Master Trainer >>>> CA Electrical Contractor# 868189 >>>> SolarKelly.com >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >>>> >>>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> Change email address & settings: >>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> List rules & etiquette: >>>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>>> >>>> Check out participant bios: >>>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >>> >>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> Change email address & settings: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List rules & etiquette: >>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> >>> Check out participant bios: >>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out participant bios: >> www.members.re-wrenches.org >> > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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