[RE-wrenches] Best Ground Racking?

Tue Feb 4 23:02:37 PST 2014

Kelly - Here are a couple of SolarPro articles that you might find helpful:

http://solarprofessional.com/articles/design-installation/ground-mounted-pv

http://solarprofessional.com/articles/products-equipment/racking/ground-mount-pv-racking-systems/page/0/1

For a brighter energy future,

Andrew Truitt

Principal
Truitt Renewable Energy Consulting, LLC

(202) 486-7507

LinkedIn Profile <http://www.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-truitt/8/622/713>

Company Website <http://truittreconsulting.weebly.com/>

NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional ID: 032407-66

Colorado Journeyman Electrician License No.: 600132

 <%28202%29%20486-7507>

[image: 24 copy.jpg]

"Don't get me wrong: I love nuclear energy! It's just that I prefer fusion
to fission. And it just so happens that there's an enormous fusion reactor
safely banked a few million miles from us. It delivers more than we could
ever use in just about 8 minutes. And it's wireless!"

~William McDonough

On Tue, Feb 4, 2014 at 9:58 PM, Kelly Larson <solarwrench at asis.com> wrote:

> Wow, William.  Thank you for all the details.  One size clearly doesn't
> fit all!  I like the page with all the different wire management options
> you've used.  Somebody tell me why we still don't have this taken care of
> WITH the racking...  Shesh.
>
> Blessings,
> Kelly
>
>
>
> On Feb 4, 2014, at 8:47 PM, <william at millersolar.com> <
> william at millersolar.com> wrote:
>
> Kelly:
>
> Ground mount racking choice is determined on a case-by-case basis.  If the
> ground is flat and area plentiful, we use ballasted on gravel (Dyno-Raxx).
> If you need to seasonally adjust, we like the DPW MPM.  If the ground is
> sloped other than gradually south, top of pole mounts may be your choice.
> For flat ground, low tilt (grid-tied)  "fence post" arrays like the DPW LGM
> work well.  For high wind areas, consider the DPW TTRGM on piers spanned by
> strut.
>
> Lest anyone think I am the cheering section for DPW, I suggest you avoid
> the DPW P6 or P8 "Tilt Kit" assemblies.  The brackets are flimsy.  Also,
> avoid DPW's L-feet.  They are bent aluminum and come pre-stress cracked at
> no extra cost.  For L-feet, use Unirac "Serrated L-feet."
>
> It is refreshing to hear someone ask about wire management upfront.  All
> too often this is an afterthought.  In the industry vacuum we have been
> developing wire management systems on an ongoing basis.  Below is a link
> that depicts some of our ideas.
>
>
> http://www.millersolar.com/public_html/MillerSolar/practices/PV_wiring/_PV_Wiring2.html
>
> The Code now requires wire shielding on "readily accessible" PV which
> means ground mount. Just managing the wire is not enough, you must shield
> it from touch.   One option is to enclose the PV in chain link, which ramps
> up the ugly factor (I don't think three rail pasture fence or even barbed
> wire complies). Once you fence the array you can dispense with shielding,
> but you still don't want the leads dangling in a year or two, so avoid any
> flavor of plastic wire ties.  There have been studies proving they don't
> last (US Navy is one source).
>
> We have looked at racking members with larger interior cross section (i.e.
> Pro-Solar) with the intent of running AC and DC leads inside and we have
> even mocked up a few, but fitting leads and the proprietary nuts into the
> same channel has proven impractical.
>
> Good luck.
>
> William Miller
>
> PS:  Speaking of racking systems, did anyone get the news that SnapNRack
> and indeed the entire REC Residential juggernaut has been sold?  Read the
> rest of this story<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001DOU7toids4P6EbtZ8amZnWIPqfwSVSQprZxgWcCDNMwVujGRFeNr6kDDQxv8reDLHOjQsU5ZAbim7nwyi2LH1WCwpxjpydyrqtwAXR7rGEE1Vv9y6CHdApOn8xu7viO-boKxfR0vxuRWZuQZUsi31k7EuNfvsnYtZxiDLh9hiU2snspkUXkwVWlu0bEQXhPr6iN048ijV9vyy42Nc0lSkRY8eR4Vuhj1x9WG_J42Nw3BUMy2LRo8bPk83rGlFxOIi3a3_xZ86ubEYbyk1MwQDdKVfXOrZiplaNIIzrDh6n_xz1PO28GP4feFeQCk2gd8l_yy_pAgMdOHcKD_IDW7y6eRVPj8LA5FS7-3nIgC4egIz2vMLcdeRCtjg_WNZoRohptTtbcFtULUCOupqpn91wIENm--baFFvHj0TycL7wMKVBZI340LaA==&c=-PYi8jywk0XKsL2vpOkRGCzs2UwO52AqIXjyxYLdwi6HgzYpVBBpKQ==&ch=UHlwvhDu_eij1qcoWtW5qiGLvNITtkXGLCqG4RSjo4k9OQWUYTpu8w==>
>
> Wm
>
>
>
>
>
> On Feb 4, 2014, at 4:45 PM, Kelly Larson <solarwrench at asis.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks, Aaron.  How are you handling wire  management and connection to
> the ground?
>
> Blessings,
> Kelly
>
> On Feb 4, 2014, at 2:41 PM, Aaron Mandelkorn wrote:
>
> I like SnapNrack 200 Series as well as DPW Solar Multi Pole Mount.
>
> On Feb 4, 2014, at 3:28 PM, Kelly Larson <solarwrench at asis.com> wrote:
>
>
> Hi,
>
> We are looking to install some 4KW ground mounted arrays.  What racking
> are you using?  Best ground connection?  Wire management?  The shows have
> so many choices, and I keep doing the same ol thing...
>
> Blessings,
> Kelly
>
> Kelly Larson
> Electrical Engineer
> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional
> IREC Certified Master Trainer
> CA Electrical Contractor# 868189
> SolarKelly.com <http://solarkelly.com/>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Change email address & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List-Archive:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Change email address & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List-Archive:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org
>
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20140205/392e481d/attachment-0003.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 35142 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20140205/392e481d/attachment-0003.jpg>