The Three Most Popular Solar
Panel Rack Options
Uncover the 3 most popular solar panel rack options.
Which one will work best for your project?
The Purpose Of Solar Racks
When you're putting your solar panels out to generate power, there are some things you need to consider when it comes to solar racks.
A solar racks keep your panels facing the sunlight, so there are some serious constraints on how they're put together.
Most of these constraints are set by the size of the panel, and what you're going to do with them.
Out Of All The Possible Solar Racks, The Extended Shelf Mounted Rack Is The Simplest
The extended shelf mount rack is much like the type of rack that you'd use in your kitchen.
The extended shelf mount rack is suitable for small, relatively modest solar panels and are easy enough to set up.
Extended Shelf Mounted Solar Racks Are Good For Portable Panels
They're good for portable panels (like those that you put out by your RV when camping) or for solar panels good for, say, a small apartment where the panel may need to be packed up and moved when you move.
- This kind of solar panel rack will bend and warp under a decent sized panel.
Caveats For Mounting The Extended Shelf Mounted Solar Panel Rack
When using the extended shelf mounted solar panel rack, you need to ensure that at least two and preferably six inches of clearance exists behind the rack so that the panels keep cool.
They generate heat as part of how they operate, and will re-radiate heat from collecting solar energy.
Roof Top And Ground Mounted Racks Are Solar Racks That Can Handle The Pressure
Larger solar panels need dedicated mounts - something you won't be able to cobble together from going to the shelving bin at Lowe's.
- The answer is a roof-ground mount, which is a frame that gives proper support to a solar panel array, usually with a post that goes into a stud on your roof or into the ground, and a frame attached to it.
Rooftop and ground mounted solar racks are excellent for larger solar arrays.
However, before you invest in one of these solar power racks, note that they also have some cities and neighborhood associations up in arms, because they're 'unaesthetic'.
- Thus, you will need to talk to your local city office about them before you install.
Rooftop And Ground Mounted Racks Are Oftentimes Adjustable
Many are adjustable, and you should elevate them so that vermin and small animals don't make nests inside of them.
Pole Mounted Racks
The third solar panel rack alternative takes the solar panel and puts it up on a pole.
While the pole mounted rack can run into the same sort of ordnances that ground mounts can, they do offer some advantages.
- The panels themselves sit either on top of the pole, or on the side of the pole, depending on how you set it up.
- Some of them can even be set up to track the sun, positioning the solar cell for optimum light collection.
The Pole-Mounted Solar Panel Rack Is Usually Mounted In Concrete
A pole mount will need to have a concrete foot put on it, and it is most definitely not portable.
- This type of solar panel rack mount also runs the risk of damage from high winds, but may be the best choice for a crowded residential area.
Here's to finding a way to bring more solar power into your family!
P.S. Here's a few more tips to help your solar power projects go smoothly...
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