EG4 Ground Mount - signaturesolar.com/eg4-brightmount-solar-panel-ground-mount-rack-kit-4-panel-ground-mount-adjustable-angle/?ref=tWl8ELLgfBNOCr DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.

I really like the way you talk, and explain things - I will continue to watch your very informative videos, as I am a lifelong DIY-er! Thanks!

@everydaysolar

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the feedback!

@jimdonahoe1986

8 ай бұрын

Really good job

@jimdonahoe1986

8 ай бұрын

Very cool video

I'd probably use quick release pins for the angle adjustment to make it easier to change the angle 2x/year based on the season. You could also anchor that temp system to the beams with ground screws...

I mounted 4x bluesun 460w bifacial on the eg4 brightmount on a 8' 6" post concreted 3' in the ground. I used a top mount post for a 2" pipe 14' long using u bolts to mount the brightmount to the 2" pipe so my array is completely adjustable. I love it and will duplicate it for every system I build for friends and family in the future

@everydaysolar

7 ай бұрын

Nice, thanks for the feedback on your setup 🙌

@girlintheblueridge6529

7 ай бұрын

Nice idea. How exactly did you attach the u bolts and pole to the mount. They would need to attach to a verticle piece in the center of the mount, correct?

Nice explanation. I’d use threaded rods welded to plate in the sonatube instead of anchor bolts.

Nice setup looks well....

@everydaysolar

8 ай бұрын

Thanks!

thanks for the video!

@everydaysolar

8 ай бұрын

You bet!

It looks simple and quite strong. But it seems to me that at the junction of two bars, no matter how massive they are, metal corners should be screwed on both sides with self-tapping screws. Because 4 panels + a strong gusty wind will be able to tear or weaken even this place.

Thinking about one of these mounts for `24 @ camp. Your 4x4 base also gives me an idea as due to the amount of snow I get the bottom of the panels needs to be at least 3' off the ground. Thanks. 👍

This is great. But probably not great in snow country where I live. It needs to be about 3 to 4 feet above the ground to prevent snow from piling up and blocking the surface of the panels

@bobcole3852

2 ай бұрын

Nah, just 18" off the ground. We get plenty of snow too, not a problema

@branch_ranch

20 күн бұрын

One could have holes deep enough for frost line, say 36" deep. Then use Sonatubes at maybe 48" long. Raise the Sonatube up to your desired height above ground, secure and fill with concrete.

@SpoonerTuner

20 күн бұрын

@bobcole3852 well most winters where I live we get 3 feet of snow on the ground. So I guess it just depends on your location as to how far above the ground you need to go. That idea of making concrete posts out of sonatubes is great. That's probably what I'll end up doing.

Thank you

Grate video thanks for sharing. Subbed. God Bless.

@everydaysolar

8 ай бұрын

Thanks man! Welcome to the channel 👍

Nice.

Nice!

Enjoyed your video. I do have small concern about the galvanized washers against the aluminum: galvanic corrosion. Thanks!

well explained, thanks. I see that all the brackets are (tight n hold) meaning if the bolt get lose for some reason (strong wind age, expansion and contraction...)the panel (tilted 35+ deg) will slip down. should there be (L) bracket/rail at the bottom edge of the panels to hold it? scratching my head how to do it.

great post? Any chance we could get a link to those panels?

How wide are your panels ? What is the angle measuring app you refer to in the video ?

Great video and a really good product from EG4. Personally, I just couldn't see spending the money companies want for dedicated solar mounts. I built my ground mount array using cyclone fence posts and the hangers used for commercial plumbing projects. It was a fraction of the cost and, if anything, is even stronger than most commercial solar mounting products. It's also easily adjustable for angle, if that's something you need.

@everydaysolar

8 ай бұрын

Nice, sounds like that would make for a good video in the future 👍

@jasonbroom7147

8 ай бұрын

@@everydaysolar - If you'd like some pictures showing how it goes together and a rough estimate on cost, let me know.

@ssoffshore5111

8 ай бұрын

@@jasonbroom7147 I'd love to see the details!

@jasonbroom7147

8 ай бұрын

@@ssoffshore5111 - I used 1-5/8ths cyclone fence posts, spaced 8' apart, with 1-3/8ths poles between each post. I then used #2 pipe hangers, which fit perfectly around the 1-3/8ths poles. That's what I bolted each panel to. The smaller poles fit inside the larger ones, so you can use them to set the height/angle of your panels on one side or both.

@GoingSolarEnergy

Ай бұрын

@@jasonbroom7147 I would love to see some pictures. Would you be open to sharing?

Thank you! Great solution! Is the end of the frame strong enough to use a handle to drag the aray around a little bit?

@everydaysolar

3 ай бұрын

You wouldn’t want to do that much as with the base, rack, and panels it is actually pretty heavy.

Would be great to see a review of a similar budget mount, but for a roof

@everydaysolar

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the feedback and I will be doing that for sure in the next month or so.

@MichaelBurko

8 ай бұрын

@@everydaysolar that’s awesome! I hope you’ll cover the mounts used to attach brackets to the roof. Curious about your opinion on QuickBolt QB2 if you’ve tried them.

Do you think it would be possible to build what you have there (with the 4x4s) but add large caster wheels? I'd like to be able to roll it out from my garage onto my driveway and back in garage.

If you know - what is the steepest angle you can get given the mount is only off the ground by two 4x4's (7") instead of the recommended 15"?.

I would have bolted the frame base to the lower 4 by 4s. I would make the lower 4by4s 16 inches longer to the front. And find a bunch of used cement blocks for ballast.

@everydaysolar

8 ай бұрын

I just liked the idea of the bottom mounting plates being secured to 1 long member avoiding movement at each leg. Thanks for the feedback.

@hillybilliescrypto.4965

8 ай бұрын

​@@everydaysolarwhat app are you using to see the tilt angle?

@everydaysolar

8 ай бұрын

@@hillybilliescrypto.4965 just the standard Measure App on an iPhone. You can switch it over to a bubble level to get the angle. I think Android has a similar App native to the phone.

I did not hear anything mentioning UL or other certs? If not, every metal piece needs a individual bonding conductor, not just the ground clamp described because none of the assembly fasteners are rated for grounding.

Man I really wish I could fit 5 of my 44" wide 405W panels on this thing... maybe I can buy 2 of them and make an extension..

@danortiz51

3 ай бұрын

They sell a extension kit for it

How did you come up with a 14' 4x4? I don't see a splice in it and I don't see where I can buy one longer than 12'. Thanks for all your videos.

@everydaysolar

3 ай бұрын

Home Depot and Lowe’s in my area don’t carry 14’ but Menards (Midwest store) does 👍

What are the dimensions of your panels trying to figure out how many of these I need

where did you get the 14ft wood piece from. I have this same set, but I used 2 parking lot bumpers instead

@everydaysolar

8 ай бұрын

Local lumber yard (Menards). My Home Depot and Lowe's only stock 12' 4x4 pressure treated.

How i get this lovely structure from Bangladesh

You should only have to ground one rail, as the panels themselves tie the two rails together. I installed solar on my roof and I was only required to ground one of the two rails.

@everydaysolar

8 ай бұрын

Yep, you are right if you install all the grounding clips you would only have to have a grounding lugs on one of the rails.

@user-dr2pg8fk2i

8 ай бұрын

That depends entirely on the UL listing for the bonding of the clamps or other rail-to-module-to-rail bonding method. Not all products are the same, nor do they qualify.

Is it possible to mount wheels on this? I need to support 3 400W panels that will be on my back deck & need to roll to slightly different locations per season from roof shading on the deck due to sun’s angle.

@everydaysolar

4 ай бұрын

Yep, that is doable and would probably make the legs just a bit wider if I were to place casters under the legs.

what app do you have that has the angle finder? I looked on my play store and there are a ton of measurement apps. Thanks

@everydaysolar

Ай бұрын

I was just using the standard measurement App that comes on iPhone. I image most of the free versions would have the bubble level option.

Do the end clamps and mid clamps come with the EG Brightmount?

@everydaysolar

2 ай бұрын

Sure did 👍

What were the measurements of these panels? I am going to be testing a few of these mounts, and was wondering if I will be able to fit four of my 44.5" SEG 405 panels on each one... Might be too tight though.

@joetripp123

5 ай бұрын

I'm in the same boat. The mount maxes out at 44" panels. However if you don't use the mid or end clips they give you and instead use T bolts I believe you can scoot the panels closer together and make it work. That's my plan anyway. Or bolt the panels to the rails from below and put the panels touching side by side. Max length on the horizontal rails is 179.5".

I have 6 of the 400watt panels. Would i be able to buy 2 eg4 kits and just use half of the second one for a 6 panel ground mount?

@everydaysolar

7 ай бұрын

Yep, that should work but if you would like to bring all 4 pieces of rail together for the top and the 4 together for the bottom you would need 1 additional bracket/splice kit. Also you might want to confirm the dimensions on your panels just to make they will fit. I think most 400 Watt panels are good but some of the jumbo 500+ Watt panels would be pushing it.

So if I wanted a row of eight panels, could two of these be chained together? I'm looking at this from the perspective of digging holes and pouring concrete, could I save myself digging one less hole and concrete column?

@W4ABN

8 ай бұрын

Just think of them like batteries where you can combine them in series or parallel to get the voltage and amps you want for your system.

Better install concrete footings or a ballasted system to secure your ground mount. A single wind gust is all its going to take to flip the entire assembly and destroy your modules. We've sold hundreds of ground mounts all across the country over the past 25 years and have lost count of how many customers that have damaged their modules by not securing the ground mount properly.

@michaelborchardt1527

6 ай бұрын

Would it hold by using 4 earth anchors at each foot alternating front and rear?

what app did you use for the angle?

@everydaysolar

7 ай бұрын

Just the standard measurement app that comes with iPhone and Android. There is a bubble level option.

Is there a reason for the 51” spacing between the legs? Thanks

@everydaysolar

5 ай бұрын

The 51"was straight off the installation instructions. I am sure you could adjust a couple inches left or right if needed.

I was planning to use lazy susan bearing for a single solar panel in a small set up to change its position. Problems would be how can i make it survive windy condition. Sorry for my bad grammar

@kkarllwt

8 ай бұрын

Consider using a scrap rear wheel bearing assembly taken from a car. Bad for the car, good for 1 rpm a day. free at repair garage.

@everydaysolar

8 ай бұрын

I wonder if the lazy susan bearing would rust and not hold up to the elements since it is designed for indoor use. 🤔

@jamesvillas428

8 ай бұрын

@@everydaysolar will there be possible way to make it rust proof?

I have watched several videos for this ground mount. However, one video said you would have to buy the solar panel mounts, for me a 35 mm mount, separately. However, it looks like the mid-clamp does what a solar panel mount or bracket would do. Anyone know? The other video is about a year older. Did the design and included equipment possibly change?

@brinncrowdus9951

7 ай бұрын

Well a quick call and look at the manual answered the question. The old mount did not have the solar mounts as the new mount has 30/35/40 mm end and mid clamp mounts. Nothing else needed to buy.

@everydaysolar

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for circling back and letting us know 👍

Could I make 2 kits of 2 panels each with this 1 EG4? I have greenhouses that would be just fine with 400 watts of panels each. I just don't know if a single EG4 kit can be broken into 2 separate mounts each holding (fitting) 2 panels. Can someone recommend a 200 or 300 watt panel that would fit my needs?

@everydaysolar

4 ай бұрын

Yeah, I think you could break this ground mount into 2 different kits. In order to recommend some panels it would be good to know what you are running those panels into for a portable power station or charge controller. That can help to get panels that will fit the voltage and current specs.

Do you know of a vertical mount for bifacial panels that is near this same price?

@everydaysolar

3 ай бұрын

I do not, I has seen a few guys do the vertical mounts but I think they were just making a custom setup from difference types of fence posts or 4x4 posts.

@tomcoryell

3 ай бұрын

@@everydaysolarThanks!

At 7:00 you talk about grounding. I went to buy the grounding wire and the guy asked "What size wire do you need?" That stumped me! So, anyone, what size wire should I use for grounding? Thanks for any help!

@everydaysolar

5 ай бұрын

I use 6 gauge bare ground wire.

@woolval52

5 ай бұрын

@@everydaysolar Thank you, another trip to Home Depot! FYI, I followed your board base very closely except I used a 2x8 for the long board. I now have four Talesun 400W Bifacial panels mounted, but it did take some "stretching" of the rails as they are 44.6" wide. My stretch section needs improvement but it's mounted for now. My EG4 6000XP inverter and two batteries arrive tomorrow, I hope to be generating my own solar power soon.

Can you install this permanently into a 4x4?

@everydaysolar

14 күн бұрын

I would prefer using sono tubes to have a concrete footing in the ground for each pad. I think that would prove better over time.

I just downloaded the EG4 construction manual, you can't just sit these things on the ground. They require four footings per four modules. Their footings are 19.7" x 19.7" x 33.5" which comes out to 7.5 cu/ft. A bag of concrete mix is ~.6 cu/ft., that means 12.5 bags per footing. HD and Lowe's get $5.36 a bag, that's $269 + tax to put up four modules. You need that ballast to keep the modules upright in high winds or snow loads, that's why they spec so much footing. I don't think these mounts are a great option.

@everydaysolar

28 күн бұрын

What do you think is a better option. I also agree for a permanent installation I would be setting some sonotubes below the frost line and making a proper footing.

@mosfet500

28 күн бұрын

@@everydaysolar Thanks for the reply. I did some more math and at 12.5 bags of concrete each footing weighs ~1000 pounds and you need four of them! That's how they get away without sinking footings but I think it's a bad idea and a lot of people are not using enough footing for the racking. I think it's a good idea to run 12" sonotubes down ~ 4 feet, which also depends on your frost line. What I do in our northern winter climate is stick a couple of pieces of rebar through the sonotube a few inches from the bottom but you can also raise the sonotube up a little to allow the concrete to form a bulb at the bottom but this uses more concrete. A four foot sonotube with a crowned top for water runoff. A four foot tube uses ~5 bags of 80 pound premixed concrete. You can use the expansion bolts that came with the racking you have but make sure the concrete is set for a few days before tightening the nuts. Youi don't need to have one four foot sonotube for one panel, that's poor design by them but they have to because it's only 17" below ground plane. You can get away with 6 or 8 tubes for 12 panels just lag a string of treated wood to the tops of the footings and bolt their aluminum base to it, that should be adequate. Personally I'd do it with six footings for 12 panels. Here's some basic math: Most panels run ~40" wide placed vertically. 12 panels will equal ~40 feet, 6 footings will give you a span of ~ 6-2/3 feet. You can get away with 2x6 or 2x8 treated lumber on top of the footings with that span and weight without any problems. Each panel only weighs ~45 pounds so 2x6 is cheap and easy.

How long are those 4, 4x4’s?

@everydaysolar

6 ай бұрын

I just cut 8' posts in half, so 4'each. If I did it again I think I would get some 10'or 12' posts. They are stable but wouldn't be bad to have a little longer legs.

It's not vandal, theft, or weather proof.

almost no panels you would want will fit due to the 44" even limit. If they ever make one that fits modern panels might be worth taking a look, for now pretty much useless for even the panels that SS sells themselves.

@bobcole3852

3 ай бұрын

I have 455 watt Solarever panels, each mount holds 4 easily