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You have picked out your solar panels for your home, business, RV or boat, and now it's time to consider how you will display these valuable solar modules. Mounting solar panels correctly is part of maximizing production, and it is also an import way to protect your investment from the force of wind. The proper solar panel mounting provides stability and the proper directional and latitudinal orientation for the solar array.
First decide if you plan to mount the modules on the roof, the ground, or on a pole in the yard. Then click on either IronRidge Mounting Configurator or the UniRac Mount sizing publication (PDF format) to correctly size the mount to fit the quantity and model of solar panels you have chosen. Once you find the solar panel mount model or components (as in the case of Unirac) just copy and paste them into our search bar above on our site to find them quickly and add them to your cart. You can also see the different cateogories of solar panel mounts by click on the categories below.
The most common and most cost effective solar panel racking installation is a roof mount. Mounting solar panels on the roof does require penetrating the roof, so be sure to have a licensed professional seal around the mounting feet to be sure that the warranty on your roof will still be honored. If shading on the roof is an issue or if there is not enough space for the array, the solar panels can be mounted on the ground. Using concrete footings the solar panels can be mounted at ground level or on a pole. Active Trackers and Passive Trackers require pole mounting.
Although solar panel trackers are expensive, (several thousands of dollars) they can produce more power in a day than a fixed array as they "track" the sun's path. Solar trackers are often used in water pumping applications to maximize daily production (30-40% improvement over static solar panel mounting). They are generally custom built and take one to three months to manufacturer. One drawback to trackers is that they are subject to failure, as is any mechanical device, and could possibly get stuck in one position until fixed. Trackers are best suited for a handy individual. Each manufacturer provides a sizing sheet according to the number of modules you have and the configuration. These sizing sheets are often found in the Product Documentation tab of each product's specification page.
When it comes to solar panel mounting options, you really have many from which to choose. Plenty of people opt for simple solar panel roof mounts, but if you live in a heavily wooded area or different kind of climate, rest assured you have other options. If you have solar power panels or solar arrays and you want to maximize their efficiency by gathering the most power possible, you'll want to consider a solar tracker. By using a sun solar tracker you'll help your solar panel get the most sun possible throughout the day as it automatically points your solar array to a perpendicular line with the sun. This type of active sun tracker uses a special sensor and is motorized so that you can walk away but your solar panel is adjusting all day long. If you are ready to mount your solar panel, make sure you investigate all of the options available. Set up the appropriate ground mounted solar panel system, roof system or pole mounted system and save money while you generate your own power. Enjoy the freedom of the road and powering your RV with solar panels rather than expensive fossil fuels.
Whichever solar panel mounting solution you need, call us at AltE and we can help.
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Congratulations to Andrew Kasznay on being our June 2009 Renewable Rewards Monthly Drawing winner!
AltE® University has been awarded Institute for Sustainable Power (ISP) Training Program accreditation, by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) for its Photovoltaic Design and Installation and Solar Thermal Design and Installation courses offered in the Hudson, MA headquarters.
With the recent lift in the cap on residential solar hot water heating, there is a surge in interest among residential homeowners nationwide in greening their hot water.
AltE, formerly the Alternative Energy Store, is excited to announce the long anticipated power up of their first solar electric system, roof mounted on the Hudson Mill Business Center.
Despite the economic downturn, with the passing of the Alternative Energy tax credits and incentives and the cost effectiveness of DIY renewable energy, AltE is excited to be positioned to help consumers get ahead.
Hudson, Massachusetts based The Alternative Energy Store is reinventing itself. Launching a re-branding campaign on August 5, 2008, the Alternative Energy Store, found on the web at http://www.altEstore.com will now be AltE... (more)
Alternative Energy Store was named one of America's fastest growing companies by Inc. magazine...
Check out one of the Alt-E founders on CNNfn. ( rm | mov | wmv )
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