[RE-wrenches] Mounting Enphase when using S-5-PV Clamps

[William Miller]

Benn:

I just designed one of these systems yesterday.  It is for an electrical 
engineer, so I thought carefully about this project.

If you mount your modules directly to the S-5 clips, you need to install 
modules in landscape orientation.  If you have two columns, you can place 
them in mirror image with all cables coming to the center.  This still 
leaves the question: can you cantilever each inverter off of two clips? I 
say not good, because the torque will bend the seam and the inverter will 
lay on the roof in the leaves.  Plan B:  Install one inverter on each side 
of the seam, sharing two clips.  This reveals our new secret -- for a two 
row install, we put all of the inverters on one rail, bringing the PV leads 
from the other row along the module frame with Acme clips and SS ties to 
it's inverter (which is under the other row of inverters).  We have a 
proprietary method for handling the inter-inverter cables.

If you have more than two columns this becomes awkward for cable 
routing:  you have to bring cables from one column of inverters to the 
other with nothing to tie the cables to.

Mounting modules and inverters quite close to the roof may be good for 
aesthetics, but it is not good for cooling and leaf clearing, and I worry 
that mounting directly to the clips may put them too close.  What I suggest 
is to add a level of rail across the seams (mounted with clips) and turning 
the modules portrait.  This gives more clearance and a structure to mount 
inverters to.  If you put the leads all towards the center, you can put all 
of the inverters on one rail (two will fit easily side-by-side under one 
module), making cable routing much easier.

This all applies to the M series inverters.  Reports from other installers 
indicate the D series present multiple cabling and cost problems.

Good luck,

William Miller




At 08:06 AM 10/20/2010, you wrote:
>Mornin,
>
>I'm looking at mounting an Enphase M190 system on a standing seam metal 
>roof and was considering using the S-5-PV clamps (as opposed to just the 
>S-5's and L-feet), which do not use any mounting rails.  No rails means no 
>where to properly mount the M190's!?!
>It was suggested to mount the M190's to each module frame using a 
>fashioned L-bracket, makes sense, but this would require drilling holes in 
>the module frame, and wouldn't that void the module warranty?
>Also, am i the only one who is wondering if hanging a 4.4 pound inverter 
>off of the module frame will potentially cause some sagging/deformation of 
>the frame over the life of the system?  Is this how those "andalay" 
>modules support their inverters?
>
>thanks,
>benn
>
>DayStar Renewable Energy Inc.
>benn at daystarsolar.ca
>780-906-7807
>HAVE A SUNNY DAY
>
>
>
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Please note new e-mail address and domain:

William Miller
Miller Solar
Voice :805-438-5600
email: william at millersolar.com
http://millersolar.com
License No. C-10-773985
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