Favorite rail-type PV mounting system [RE-wrenches]

[August Goers]

Interesting commetary. We use aluminum racking with all stainless hardware but it is always tempting to utilize galvanized steel strut because of its strength, cost and availability. I've inspected several systems installed 5+ years ago with steel strut and was surprised to see that very little corrosion had occured. We work in the San Francisco Bay Area so there is a good deal of moisture in the air. The channel spring nuts tend to corrode and the ends of the channel rust a bit but otherwise things hold up well. I did not see any galvanic issues between the panels and the strut whatsoever. Bill, what is your experience here? I thought that maybe the anodizing on the panel frame was enough to keep the corrosion at bay. 

All this in mind, we design our systems to last 25+ years so I'm sticking with aluminum and stainless until I am fully convinced that galvanized steel is going to last through the long haul. 

-August

Luminalt Energy


----- Original Message ----
From: Bill Brooks <bill at brooksolar.com>
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 1:54:06 PM
Subject: RE: Favorite rail-type PV mounting system [RE-wrenches]


Sky,

Who signs off on the engineering for your galvanized rail systems? They are
often not allowed on the Left Coast without engineering. Also, what do you
put between the galvanized steel and aluminum module frames. There must be a
special washer to isolate the dissimilar metals.

Bill.

Bill Brooks, PE
Brooks Engineering
873 Kells Circle
Vacaville, CA 95688
office and mobile phone: 707-332-0761
fax:707-451-7739
email: billbrooks7 at yahoo.com
web: www.brooksolar.com

Ecclesiastes 11:7 Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sky Sims [mailto:sky at ecologicalsystems.biz]
> Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 8:14 AM
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Subject: RE: Favorite rail-type PV mounting system [RE-wrenches]
> 
> 
> Galvanized steel rails attached to the panels without the use of top
> down compression fittings.
> 
> Pros: Flexibility of design and ease of use for medium to large sized
> crews     Ability to pre assemble the arrays in controlled conditions
> before placing them on the roof
>     Increased quality controls
>     Speed of installation
>     Requires a crane or at least a 4 man crew for installation
> 
> Cons: requires a crane or at least a 4 man crew for installation
> 
> Sky Sims
> Ecological Systems
> www.ecologicalsystems.biz
> 220 County Road 522
> Manalapan, NJ 07726
> ph)732-462-3858  fax)732-462-3962
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ian Woofenden, Home Power [mailto:ian.woofenden at homepower.com]
> Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 9:01 PM
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Subject: Favorite rail-type PV mounting system [RE-wrenches]
> 
> 
> 
> Hey Wrenches,
> 
> What's your favorite rail-type PV mounting system, and why?
> 
> Ian
> 


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