I think the advice in the video for adding "blocking" on a portrait install when you are not over a rafter won't apply if you need to have your system inspected. A floating block is good but the inspector is going to want your mounts to be screwed into structure. So what I am doing on an addition (using the exact same mounts and 5 of thse panels) is installing structure to completely bridge rafters. The trusses are at 0", 24", 48", 72", 96", 120", 144", 168", 192", 216", 240" etc. Panel spacing, accounting for the mid clamp width of 20mm, is 41.75 inches. So the position of my bolts is roughly 0, 42.25, 84, 125.75, 167.5, 209.25 -- that's 6 columns of clamps. So it is pretty obvious that the 5th column is the only one that will hit a rafter, because 167.5 is very close to my rafter #8 located at 168. And of course the first row. To give structure to the other 8 bolt positions (4 columns, 2 min rails per column) I am cutting 8 small pieces of 2x6 lumber. They will measure about 22.5" each. It's not exact because the rafter spacing will not be exact so I have to trim them all carefully. The 2x6 will be installed flat on the roof deck to bridge the rafters. They will each be supported by four 4" structural screws, angled thru the adacent rafter into the ends of the small board. So the boards will go between rafter 2 and 3, between 4 and 5, between 6 and 7, and between 9 and 10. That will give me plenty of space to hit structure without any trial and error. Final step of prep, before they fill my attic with insulation, will be to put 2 thin screws into my roof from the bottom at rafter #8, poking out slightly at the future drill location on top, and centered within my line of 2x6 braces. Then I can get up on the roof to mark these locations and pull the screws. That should enable me to hit the rafter on the first try, and will give me a reference point for the height of all the clamps on my roof.

@Terrathrax

25 күн бұрын

That seems like good pre-planning if a new construction.

Thanks for sharing your install details with us. I have a 21kwp system that I self installed 6 years ago, well worth the investment and sweat equity. They do make tools for prying up and removing shingles, the one that I have is called the Dasco 640 24-Inch Shingle Ripper, and there are similar options from other mfgs. Also, it wouldn't hurt to add some roofing cement to help seal and adhere the flashing and shingles. You can get it in caulking tubes to make application easier and cleaner. I also used a "Grip 4-Head Suction Cup Dent Puller" from Northern Tool to grab and hold onto the panels while hauling them on the roof and securing the rail clamps.

@CountryLivingExperience

11 ай бұрын

Cool. Thanks

Leaks guaranteed.

Great video, and info.... thanks so much. Blessings ❤

@CountryLivingExperience

11 ай бұрын

Thank you

💚🌱 Good detailed instructions

@AnonymousNobody2024

11 ай бұрын

I like the new format. There isn’t enough solar content in the homestead niche. You should make more and include affiliate links. 💚🌱

@CountryLivingExperience

11 ай бұрын

Thank you. I have about 30 solar videos from here on our homestead. Here is the playlist....kzread.info/head/PLe8gvCbPFkexFmUtg3xRS4sTZQ1Ve-ft1

Great video

@CountryLivingExperience

11 ай бұрын

Thanks!

👍👍👍

I just installed 36 panels using this mounting system. The only problem I had was when I measured where to place the brackets I didn't take into account the width of the clamp, so I placed Mounts about 41 inches apart so by the time I reached the end of the course the mounts were all the way under the panels. I just drilled two more holes into the rail and moved the clamps out. My own mistake, since I had never done this before and didn't think it through

@CountryLivingExperience

11 ай бұрын

Cool. You made it work though.

@cottagekitchen-dx9dm

11 ай бұрын

Were your solar panels made in America?

@n2thelake

11 ай бұрын

I believe Mine were made in China and assembled in mexico

@CountryLivingExperience

11 ай бұрын

American company. Made in Mexico

@elliotharvey69

8 ай бұрын

I am using the same rails soon. How much do you need to adjust for the width of the clamp? It looks like about 1 inch on the video? So mount them 42 inches apart? Would appreciate any advice you can lend as I'm getting rather nervous. System should be here in 3 weeks and I'm building the roof now. Thanks in advance.

I understand the clips ground the panels together and to the rails, but don't you still need to connect the whole system to a wire and run it to earth? Otherwise, it will try and ground through the structure?

@CountryLivingExperience

5 ай бұрын

Yes, there is an equipment grounding conductor that runs through the whole system and back to the single earth ground rod at the barn by the main panel.

I am about to install the same panels with the same rail system. I am building a new roof for it but I'm struggling to find the dimension from top and bottom for where the rail connects? I can run some blocking in the correct location but the spec sheet is not very clear? Do you have to use the mounting holes on the panel? Or can you clamp them anywhere on the panel? Great videos by the way!!

@CountryLivingExperience

8 ай бұрын

You can clamp them anywhere on the panel rails. Put them in whatever position holds the panel the most secure. You can see mine are different on both sides of the roof.

Wish my roof pitch was like yours, mine is 30 degree. Impossible to walk on!

@CountryLivingExperience

2 ай бұрын

That is a challenge.

I like metal roofs had to replace a few asphalt roofs.

@CountryLivingExperience

11 ай бұрын

I like them better too. This one is just a coop

That's the only part that scares me is messing with the roof like that because shingles really ain't much protection when they're bent up but I guess I trust you

@CountryLivingExperience

3 ай бұрын

If your shingles are newer, they should lay back down and seal properly

Should always hit a rafter or you may regret it when a 100 mile wind rips your panels off the roof.

@CountryLivingExperience

11 ай бұрын

Not mathematically possible with these panel dims. We don't have much wind here. If I was to do this in a windy area, I would not use the mini rails.

Why not mount them horizontally so you hit a rafter every time?

@CountryLivingExperience

8 ай бұрын

Not enough room for all the panels if mounted horizontal.

@GeorgiaDawgs001

8 ай бұрын

@@CountryLivingExperience I should have realized that I was just wondering if you had another reason. You didn't show exactly how you grounded the rails, do you in another video?

@CountryLivingExperience

8 ай бұрын

I did mention that in the next video in the series....kzread.info/dash/bejne/dIaFk6WCf9rAZ8Y.html. However, I also did say in the video that the panel grounding topic is hotly debated and there are two different schools of thought.

I got a question people that live in the northern half of the United States where they have snow is it important to try to put the panels tight together on the top and bottom so that the snow doesn't build up along the rails?

@CountryLivingExperience

9 күн бұрын

No. You need some expansion room between the panels.

@ronbown3836

9 күн бұрын

@@CountryLivingExperience thank you but actually I was talking about the function of helping to keep snow from piling up along the rails that hold the solar panels on if you put the solar panels within say an inch of each other on the top and bottom would that help keep the snow from piling up and causing a leak in the roof

I'm interested in buying this but can't find a direct link for it

@CountryLivingExperience

10 ай бұрын

Here are a couple of direct links for them....signaturesolar.com/asphalt-mini-rail-w-flashing-roof-mount-for-panel-6in-black/?ref=countrylivingexperience, signaturesolar.com/end-clamp-for-mini-rail-40mm-black/?ref=countrylivingexperience, signaturesolar.com/mid-clamp-for-mini-rail-fits-all-black/?ref=countrylivingexperience. Thanks

@Moes_Prep_and_Tech

10 ай бұрын

@@CountryLivingExperience Thank you, and I love your Christian Approach to Channel. All this stuff about aliens and things we can't control. I feel like we have to keep things right within our own families and hope Things works itself out in the end. Things outside of the norm won't influence my every day life to the point,where I'm hysteric. We can have nukes, EMP, WW3, or whatever comes my way. But as long as we believe in something more than ourselves. We can overcome anything that comes our way

@CountryLivingExperience

10 ай бұрын

Thanks brother and amen! Funny thing is I had a bunch of hysterical people unsubscribe from this video....I guess I was being too real for them.

Were they made in America?

@CountryLivingExperience

11 ай бұрын

American brand. Made in Mexico

buy once cry once

"This will be the 1st video on installing a Victron system"????? 🤦🏻‍♂️

I love spending hours of time and several hundred dollars prying up through tar panels and drilling holes in my ceiling for 14 cents of electricity per day

@CountryLivingExperience

10 ай бұрын

I still love smart alec whiners who don't understand energy independence but still watch videos on solar for no apparent reason.