panels on a bowed roof [RE-wrenches]

[Kirk Herander]

Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Packet8 Digital Phones Service can save you up to
$999 annually on your phone bill! First Month Free!
Free Activation! Save $110 instantly. Wow. 1-877-868-1135
http://click.topica.com/caaexdPbz8Qcsbz9JC9a/ TMONE
-------------------------------------------------------------------

William,
Thanks for your good advice.
To be clear, this is not to compensate for an old sagging or warped
roof.
>From a side view, the roof is not a straight slope but rather a long,
sweeping arc, the slope of which varies depending on the height of the
roof you're at. Call it a bell curve, sort of. It has a name
architecturally, but I forget it. The challenge is to create an
evenly-sloped rack to mount panels which is "tangent" to the arc and at
proper tilt angle at point of mounting.
After looking through some catalogs, I found that unistrut makes a 6"
strut welded to a 2 hole mounting plate. They also make a hinge. So the
tangent can be made by bolting one end of the hinge to the top of the 6"
unistrut mount, then bolt unistrut rail to the top end of the hinge (2
feet per rail). The rail is the tangent line running up/down the roof.
Several of these rail assemblies across the roof form the base to bolt
on horizontal unistrut rails and problem solved. I hope.

Kirk Herander
Vermont Solar Engineering
802.863.1202
fax 802.863-7908
NABCEP(tm) Certified Solar PV Installer
Xantrex Certified Dealer Charter Member
NYSERDA-eligible installer
VT Solar and Wind Partner


-----Original Message-----
From: William Miller [mailto:wrmiller at charter.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 3:34 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: Re: panels on a bowed roof [RE-wrenches]


Kirk:

Direct Power and Water Power Posts can be ordered in various lengths.
We 
have dealt with un-flat roofs by installing posts of various lengths to 
create a straight line at the tops of the posts.  The height can be
micro 
adjusted with shims (usually stainless washers).  Across the tops of the

posts we install unistrut.  The strut gives us an infinite adjustability
of 
where the rack feet can land.

If this doesn't make sense I can probably dig out a photograph or 
two.  Hope this helps!

William Miller



At 12:16 PM 2/28/2006, you wrote:

>Hello,
>
>I'm installing both pv and DHW on a bowed roof. This is a new house
>where the builder/owner got fancy.  As for racking, I can only think of
>using KEE Klamp floor flanges that swivel, and lock them at the proper
>angle to create a "flat" surface with unistrut or galv. pipe as short
>legs and crossrails. Any experience or other ideas out there? Thanks.
>
>Kirk Herander
>Vermont Solar Engineering
>802.863.1202
>fax 802.863-7908
>NABCEP(tm) Certified Solar PV Installer
>Xantrex Certified Dealer Charter Member
>NYSERDA-eligible installer
>VT Solar and Wind Partner
>

--


-- 
----------------------------------------
I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users.
It has removed 7221 spam emails to date.
Paying users do not have this message in their emails.
Try www.SPAMfighter.com for free now!

Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Small Business Virtual Office VoIP Phone System. Big
Business Functionality for a Small Business Telephone
price. Packet8 Business Sales 1-877-868-1135
http://click.topica.com/caaexd2bz8Qcsbz9JC9f/ TMONE
-------------------------------------------------------------------

- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & how to change your email address: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit:
http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER
--^----------------------------------------------------------------