[RE-wrenches] pole mounts

Wed Jul 27 15:10:31 PDT 2011

We have more than 70 pole mounted systems, including one of my own that is
16 years old, and I have not seen any problems. Our oldest pole mount
installation is 20 years old and at least visibly, is not showing any
signs of wear and tear.I inspected it last time I was there, less than a
year ago. We have had winds up to 80 mph that I can remember since we have
been installing.We do not fill the poles with concrete, but always use
"capped" pole mounts, that is, those that cover the open end of the pipe
on top. Just reporting my experience, not advocating for anything......

Daryl DeJoy
NABCEP Certified PV installer
Penobscot Solar Design

> I've not personally seen any pole mount pipes
> that were bent or broken.  Has anyone seen
> this?  How common is it?  What sort of damage to pole mount arrays is
> common?
>
>
> At 05:25 PM 7/26/2011, you wrote:
>>I can confirm that quite a bit of water builds up inside the pipe.
>>A few times on rewiring old systems, we used
>>self tapping screws to attach conduit and
>>combiner boxes to the existing pole, and we've
>>had water start running out the hole when it was
>>close to the ground. This was in a dry climate
>>(New Mexico) This was with a rack that didn't
>>cap the pole, but I was still surprised how much water was in there.
>> (gallons)
>>Filling with concrete does seem to be a good
>>idea, but I'll point out its not as easy as it sounds.
>>The concrete just pours out the bottom into the
>>footing, as you keep filling it from the top.
>>Pouring in a foot of gravel in the bottom first
>>would help, or filling the pipe after the footing dried some would do it
>> too.
>>
>>No free lunch,
>>
>>R. Walters
>>ray at solarray.com
>>Solar Engineer
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>On Jul 26, 2011, at 2:08 PM, Dave Palumbo wrote:
>>
>> > Roy,
>> >
>> > I have heard that the small amount of water
>> from condensation will be absorbed by the
>> concrete itself. Don't know for an absolute fact that this is true
>> though.
>> >
>> > Dave
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From:
>> re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
>> [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Roy
>> Rakobitsch
>> > Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 3:17 PM
>> > To: RE-wrenches
>> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] pole mounts
>> >
>> > I would think that adding concrete partially up the pole would cause
>> water
>> > and condensation to collect near the bottom and not drain properly.
>> This
>> > could possibly lead to freezing and the pipe being blown out or
>> damaged,
>> > even if the top is completely capped. I would think that you should
>> either
>> > completely fill the pipe, or leave it empty with a good layer of
>> gravel at
>> > the bottom to allow it to drain properly. I also have no studies to
>> back
>> > this up, but it was just a thought.
>> >
>> > Roy Rakobitsch
>> > NABCEP Certified Small Wind Installer®
>> > NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer®
>> > NYSERDA eligible Small Wind installer
>> > Wind/PV Design Engineer
>> > Windsine Inc.
>> > 631-514-4166
>> > www.windsine.org
>> >
>> > On Tue, July 26, 2011 3:05 pm, Dave Palumbo wrote:
>> >> Todd,
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> We add concrete inside of our steel pipe masts, up to grade level, in
>> the
>> >> interest of having more weight below ground level. I wouldnâ€™t say
>> that
>> >> it made the pipe stronger (that better be strong enough as is) but
>> more
>> >> weight down low will help keep it rooted in a big wind event.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Dave
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
>> >> [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of
>> >> toddcory at finestplanet.com
>> >> Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 2:50 PM
>> >> To: RE-wrenches
>> >> Subject: [RE-wrenches] pole mounts
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Wrenches,
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Fact or fiction: Adding concrete to the inside of a pole mount pipe
>> makes
>> >> it stronger.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Thanks,
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Todd
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Sent from Finest Planet WebMail.
>> >>
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> Drake Chamberlin
> ATHENS ELECTRIC
> OH License 44810
> CO license 3773
> NABCEP Certified PV
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