If you’ve decided that a pole-mounted solar electric array is the best option for your site, here’s all the info you need to secure it in the ground for the next 100 years or so.
We all know that groundwork is likely the least fun of any part of a construction project as it all gets covered up anyway, it is how ever in a lot of ways the most important. So let’s dig into the dirty work required to set a pole for a solar electric array. Further along, we’ll show you how to have some good, clean fun mounting and wiring the PVs.
Site the Array
PV modules are expensive. To maximize the energy produced by your investment and minimize system costs, always look for the
sunniest location on your property to install your array. When PV modules are wired at high voltage (48 VDC nominal or more), pole mounts
can be located a couple of hundred feet away from the batteries or inverter with minimal transmission losses and relatively small gauge wire.
The best tool for locating the sunniest spot for your panels is a Solar Pathfinder. It takes less than a minute to set up, and will show you when a particular location will be shade-free for every daylight hour, every day of the year. A good solar site should be unshaded from 9 AM to 3 PM, but a larger solar window is always better. Compromises may need to be made if your
site has morning shade but lots of afternoon sun, for example, the site will still be workable, but will likely require a larger array. In my case there is no shading between 9 AM and 5 PM. Until the summertime, then the solar window is even larger, with virtually no shading from 7 AM to 7 PM.
This is about a three week dialog covering nearly all aspects of this type of project. Keep tuning in as we pregress from start to finish.
If your interested in this or other aspects of home solar energy or residential wind power or would like to read up on some of the latest information on sustainable living or Green construction, then follow the link at http://www.shiftingsolutionsllc.com . Also here, you’ll find the DIY kits to build your own solar panels to use on the pole your about to install.
Check it and we’ll see you tomorrow.
