Solar panel pole mount

[also josh]

Trying to figure out options for mounting my 200W solar panel (65” x 26”, 27lb) in a somewhat crowded theme camp. I’ve got a monkey hut but seems like a bad idea to try to mount to that. My current hairbrained idea is to get an 8’ x 1 5/8” chain-link fence post and affix it to playa using a canopy footing with (3) 3/8” x 18” lag screws. Pole would have additional support via 2-4 ratchets straps (also lagged into playa) acting as guylines in one of the following configurations (to scale)



Is this totally stupid? I’ve had a couple people tell me it’s not a great idea but wanted to poll the greater community. Backup plan is to screw some flush mounts to a piece of plywood and drag that thing around the hut to get the optimal sun depending on time of day.

[Popeye]

Just one panel? Use four sticks of EMT, Fence rail etc. and support at each corner. Lag and guy each corner. This will get it up in the air far enough to keep drunks etc. from falling on it and it will be high enough to keep tents from shading it. You will have to shorten 2 poles to get the best angle or flat isn't to bad either.

[also josh]

That does sound like it'd be very stable but might end up being more of a footprint than I can add to the camp layout. Plus a lot more hardware, but maybe that's what it takes to do it right. How would you go about affixing the panel to the pole in each corner?

Forgot to mention in the original post that I'd be mounting the panel to the pole using a mount like this:

[HarryN]

How about a ladder?

This is an experimental setup that I did with one of my helpers (who also is posing in the photo)

Those are 3 solar panels ~ 26 x 59 inches on a 12 ft ladder, but just a normal ladder could do what you are after.

3 panels on ladder with Ryan 200 k compr.JPG

[Elorrum]

“Digging Holes Do not dig holes in the playa larger than six inches wide and two feet deep.“

I am not sure if this would work, but I found this on the main site. Would driving your pole 2 feet be sufficient to hold it? Nothing else to knock into or trip on. Drivers in the $40 range.

[Token]

Jeez, no one wants to say it …


Yeah, the original drawings … that’s a stupid idea. All kinds of trouble, blood and tears.

If it can’t take sustained 70Mph wind from any/all directions … don’t do it.

Them drawings n methods - not good for 70.

If you want 8’ up, you gotta sink it 4’ down.

I would solve this a different way.

Instead of one big-ass panel, use 4 50W panels, or 7 30W … and strap them to the hut along the ribs, distribute the load. Bit more wire and connectors but much lower effort and way less maintenance tightening guy-wires twice a day for managing thermal expansion and dynamic load stretching.

[Popeye]

That does sound like it'd be very stable but might end up being more of a footprint than I can add to the camp layout. Plus a lot more hardware, but maybe that's what it takes to do it right. How would you go about affixing the panel to the pole in each corner?

Forgot to mention in the original post that I'd be mounting the panel to the pole using a mount like this:

Those scissor type supports on shade structure don't hold up on Playa. Don't think the one pictured will either.
Depending on what panel mounting connectors you use I'd look at shade foot pads, only mounted on the top of the structure instead of the bottom.

[gaminwench]

Keep in mind that you are going to need to dust your solar panels off regularly.

[also josh]

How about a ladder?

Interesting idea, but looks like the pic didn't attach, could you try again or PM it to me?

EDIT: Nevermind, just showed up. What are you doing to anchor the ladder?

Jeez, no one wants to say it …


Yeah, the original drawings … that’s a stupid idea. All kinds of trouble, blood and tears.

If it can’t take sustained 70Mph wind from any/all directions … don’t do it.

Them drawings n methods - not good for 70.

If you want 8’ up, you gotta sink it 4’ down.

I would solve this a different way.

Instead of one big-ass panel, use 4 50W panels, or 7 30W … and strap them to the hut along the ribs, distribute the load. Bit more wire and connectors but much lower effort and way less maintenance tightening guy-wires twice a day for managing thermal expansion and dynamic load stretching.

THANK YOU - appreciate the directness. I'll see about arranging em in that way. First thing to figure out is how to best poke holes in tarp/aluminet without creating an ever expanding tear. Probably some sorta grommet pressing device.

Those scissor type supports on shade structure don't hold up on Playa.

Noted.

Keep in mind that you are going to need to dust your solar panels off regularly.

Yarp, gonna bring a broom or some other long stick contraption and tie a rag on the end of it. I'll also have a step stool.

[HarryN]

The taller ladder / 3 panels per sloped side set up was actually for a disaster relief project that I was helping with.

Those are 12 ft electrician's ladders that we use to put solar panels on top of conversion vans.

In the actual on site project they ended up just using some local scrap wood screwed to a building instead of a ladder.

Then they mounted panels on both the east facing and west facing side of the building so that they could obtain sunlight in both fairly early morning and later in the afternoon.

___________________

The set up that I am testing now is just a normal height ladder and 2 panels on each side, but mounted similarly.

Same concept though - 2 panels facing east, 2 panels facing west for a longer solar capture period. Some people prefer to just point panels south.

The 12 ft ladder height made it difficult to mount 3 panels on each ladder "face". Ryan and I could do it, but it required doing it exactly one specific way and it was slightly hazardous.

The shorter ladder / 2 panels per ladder face is a lot easier.

I am adding some tape on cushioning to the uprights and increasing to 4 (or more) bungee cords to reduce some of the effect of the panels bouncing a bit in the wind with just 2 bungee cords per panel in that photo.

I am kind of heavy and do electrical work, so I use electrician's ladders - they are a lot stronger and non conductive.

The plan is to use 4 lag screws at the base of the ladder - similar to what people use for tying down their other stuff and tents.

____________

The black suitcase thing that Ryan is standing next to is the power system. ( My helpers and I build them for disaster relief use / sort of at cost )

It has the batteries, charging and 1 kW inverter inside. I have a similar one at my house for running the garage refrigerator "off grid". It can actually power the one in the house as well in an emergency.

I am renting one of these set ups to a camp. We will see if it actually makes it to BM because I have worked with a different camp in the past, and last minute logistical issues caused them to not have space to bring it along.

[Token]

As our Aussie friends say … time for some Maths!

The listed 200W panel is a smidge bigger than 1m squared. We round that to 1.

70mph wind on 1msq produces 210 pounds of force. Let’s call that 200.

An 8 foot pipe or ladder is 96 inches, but let’s say the panel itself is 16” lower at 80”

Pipe is inserted into a 4” by 4” foot pad and bolted down. Center to bolt, let’s say 2”.

If I apply 200# at 80” - our panel in wind…
And the center to bolt is 2”

The leverage is 80”/2” = 40

40 x 200 = 8000# of pressure - 4000# digging in, 4000# pulling bolts up.

The ladder is much better. From center line (simplify the ladder slope a bit, ignore it for brevity) let’s say 2 feet, 24” I’m lazy so I’ll round it to 20 cuz it divides into 80 real nice.

The lever is 20 into 80 … 4x

Now our forces are 200# x 4 = 800#, but we have 4 points on the ladder … so 200# digging on one side, 200# pulling on lag bolt the other side - this could survive. Much better.

Even with the ladder, I would do something creative to distribute dynamic loading, like put down some OSB plywood then set the ladder on it, then drill and bolt the feet down to the Playa. Spread that back and forth digging and pulling load.

That was fun.

[HarryN]

Thanks for running the calcs and ideas.

I had been struggling with some of the details related to bolting it down.

The "suite case" contains about 100 lbs of "stuff" so that might help a little as well.

Having a piece of plywood as a base might also help with slowing down the heat coming off the playa and provide a place to put the fridge.

[also josh]

nice! great to have some numbers behind this, thank you. And for the details of the ladder install. For lagging into the playa/plywood, are you drillin straight through the ladder feet? Think 3/8" x 18" lags are enough for this?

[BBadger]

Probably not through the feet. They usually won't have anything to drill through, and most are made of lightweight materials anyway.

Instead wrap some cables/rope/mule-tape/etc. through the first rung, and use those anchor each foot to the ground with one or more lag screws.

[HarryN]

As Badger noted, the base of the ladders that I have aren't setup for really bolting down.

Since those 4 panels, a good ladder, and some misc. are worth nearly a grand, I might use a combination of methods.

Thinking about some 90 degree brackets that attach to the sides of the ladders and then bolting / lagging those down.

Might have to switch to a ladder that folds into 4 sections to keep the length down to a size that is easier for the group to transport. ( everything 5 ft and under sometimes helps)

Right now, my focus is on finishing up 3 of the power systems so that I have a spare in case someone else wants to rent one.

[HarryN]

A little bit of progress on updating the ladder mount.

I tried to use a ladder that folds into 4 sections (total 64 inches long) but it was just too unstable and I came close to having the whole setup come crashing down in the yard.

Changed over to this 6 ft electricians ladder and it is a completely different experience.

2 panels shown, 2 more to go (on the flip side of the ladder)

Still need to add a mounting setup to bolt down to the ground, but at least this part works so far. It would have been helpful to have a helper, but was able to do this by myself.

Sorry for the low photo quality - it was dark and I was taking the picture with just an LED work light.

P1033264 comp 600k.jpg

[Drizzt321]

Please make sure to follow up with this after the Burn, let us know how it all went. I'm pretty curious myself.

[HarryN]

Please make sure to follow up with this after the Burn, let us know how it all went. I'm pretty curious myself.

Unfortunately, I will not actually be at 2022 burning man. I am largely recovered from an accident last year, but not completely confident enough to be in that environment just yet. Also - could not get a ticket, which has been a chronic challenge for me for years. Too late for all of that now, so just helping out.

I am building 3 of these:
- #1 is spoken for for a camp to help them power their stuff, assuming that they are able to solve some logistics / transportation challenges that they are running into.

- #2 I am building in anticipation of the need to support the annual disaster relief efforts that I volunteer for. (fall storms / fires)

- #3 is a spare / possibly available, depending on how efficient I am at building things.

[Drizzt321]

Please make sure to follow up with this after the Burn, let us know how it all went. I'm pretty curious myself.

Unfortunately, I will not actually be at 2022 burning man. I am largely recovered from an accident last year, but not completely confident enough to be in that environment just yet. Also - could not get a ticket, which has been a chronic challenge for me for years. Too late for all of that now, so just helping out.

I am building 3 of these:
- #1 is spoken for for a camp to help them power their stuff, assuming that they are able to solve some logistics / transportation challenges that they are running into.

- #2 I am building in anticipation of the need to support the annual disaster relief efforts that I volunteer for. (fall storms / fires)

- #3 is a spare / possibly available, depending on how efficient I am at building things.

Ah, sorry to hear that! But glad you're also taking care of yourself to heal up for 2023

Well, would be cool to hear how it works out for #1 going to a camp. At least 3rd hand at least.