Ground mount rack selection for off grid system upgrade.

[bwoltz]

I'm looking at an of grid system upgrade of some new panels.. Been reading here and other places.. I plan to buy the charge controller, breakers, battery monitor from the forum sponsors.. It looks like I'll be going with 10 230W Solarworld poly panels, I found some for a good price local and can pick them up to save freight.. From what I can see they have a pretty standard form factor and there are ground mount kits available.

I've talked to the city and all they need is single line load calc diagram with parts used indicated, Site plan on where the panels go, engineering mount calcs for the ground racks, and footing drawings for the racks..

Hunting around W&S has brought up 2 possibilities..

2 each of below. The version that hold 5 panels

http://www.solar-electric.com/lpfor34or5so.html

or

3 each of these..

http://www.solar-electric.com/uni-gr-06ah.html

I figure 3 each as they look to only be 160 inches long which means they only will hold 4 panels each.. I can cut one down..

Since these are pre-engineered systems do they come with engineering documentation for both the mechanical strength (wind) and drawing for the footings?? The city seemed to think that they were available from the instructions..

Also which would be better / easier to install?

TIA

Bruce

[bwoltz]

Fwiw,
I went to the guys that make this system below and they have a sheet you can fill out on line. From that they can provide construction instructions and recommended footing plans for their system..

http://www.solar-electric.com/lpfor34or5so.html

http://www.power-fab.com/

I sent in the request via email with a excel spreadsheet they have on their website. They emailed me back 2 pdfs. One with the construction info for the required prevailing winds.. (based on zipcode) and a footing drawing.

Bruce