PaulF007 Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 Ambitious as it may be I think it would be nice to have a place where we can share instalation ideas , from the DYI'd , the dirt cheap plans (@Jaco de Jongh ) , and commercial stuff. I know that when I started my installation I were looking at all the installations for some inspiration. So , if I may, the rules for this thread. Pictures is a must preferably closeups to show detail Let's stick to the topic this time...... If the idea seems to be less safe and not in public interest refer to admin ( @Energy if this is ok with you?) We don't want this thread to be derailed by LONG discussion about the welding techniques or how the steel might be tooo thin or to skew or whatever. Let the ideas flow , everybody here should have a degree of common sense that they could apply Did I mention pictures is a must! Web links is also cool. Maybe this could become sticky sometime down the line and a cool resource place. Lets see . Regards Paul Gerrie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulF007 Posted October 28, 2016 Author Share Posted October 28, 2016 I saw this on another forum of a guy that mounted panels on a RV , I like the way he connected the panels to the frame. http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/solar-panel-mount-frame-53154#post77552 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 Looking at those wide center brackets, shading is not a concern of his. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hobson Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 I used 38mm square tubing and 76 by 38mm tubing for a 4 season manual tilt frame.. Mounted The panels mounted using Tek-screws (100 screws for 80 bucks). ShaunH, LFC, superdiy and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulF007 Posted October 28, 2016 Author Share Posted October 28, 2016 6 minutes ago, Chris Hobson said: Mounted The panels mounted using Tek-screws I wonder if the inventor of those ever envisioned all the uses that they are used today , thank you @Chris Hobson! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Energy-Jason Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 Awesome idea what should we call it (DIY mischievousness) hehe Jay Chris Hobson and PaulF007 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superdiy Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 Here's mine. Unistrut connected with stainless steel angle brackets. I had the brackets lasercut and bended. Sikaflex in-between everything. Panels secured with standard mounting hardware, but I've added stainless steel angles and ball-bearings in the heads of the cap-screws to prevent easy removal of the panels - the allen key won't go into the head of the cap-screw and if you try to use pliers or a vice-grip around the head of the cap-screw, you won't be able to turn it. flatfourfan, YellowTapemeasure, PaulF007 and 5 others 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulF007 Posted October 28, 2016 Author Share Posted October 28, 2016 @superdiy what do you call those "C Channel" here in SA I were looking for them but could not find the correct description for them here .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Energy-Jason Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 All DIY Great Mischievousness! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superdiy Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 1 hour ago, PaulF007 said: @superdiy what do you call those "C Channel" here in SA I were looking for them but could not find the correct description for them here .. Unistrut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulF007 Posted October 28, 2016 Author Share Posted October 28, 2016 8 minutes ago, superdiy said: Unistrut Cool thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 @superdiy show off! grappie net , ,, ek net jaloers. my DIY cheapy. 10mm threaded rods wat n 50mm x 50mm angle iron regop vas hou. Die panele is voor saam vas met n aluminuim angle. en aan die kante. So wanneer die wind waai dan stress ek n bietjie.. superdiy and Saluki 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superdiy Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 4 minutes ago, Fritz said: So wanneer die wind waai dan stress ek n bietjie.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 1 hour ago, superdiy said: Unistrut What kind of price are you looking at per meter length. Because when I get into this again, I might want to get rid of the welded mild steel frame I have on there now. (I'm not even going to post pictures... the DTM I used to paint it was a massive mistake). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superdiy Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 15 minutes ago, plonkster said: What kind of price are you looking at per meter length. Because when I get into this again, I might want to get rid of the welded mild steel frame I have on there now. I can't remember - got it from the local Voltex. 15 minutes ago, plonkster said: (I'm not even going to post pictures... the DTM I used to paint it was a massive mistake). I will never use DTM again - rubbish describes it best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 1 hour ago, superdiy said: I will never use DTM again - rubbish describes it best. I did the first frame using Duram P5 as primer and 3 layers of P4 on top. That worked very well. Then the local hardware store didn't have any P4 on that day and I bought DTM instead. Same manufacturer... but complete rubbish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibiza Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 2 hours ago, plonkster said: What kind of price are you looking at per meter length. Because when I get into this again, I might want to get rid of the welded mild steel frame I have on there now. (I'm not even going to post pictures... the DTM I used to paint it was a massive mistake). Rubicon sells it for R160 per 6m lenth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superdiy Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 2 hours ago, ibiza said: Rubicon sells it for R160 per 6m lenth Just check the thickness of the metal, there are a few options and the thinnest (I think 1mm) is very flimsy. SOLARWIND 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibiza Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 thinnest is 0.8mm. 1 mm is the most popular at Rubicon. I used 1mm and didn't have any problem with the structures for more the one year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverNodashi Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 I can't post pictures due to my commercial involvement, but as a cheap installation, my dad glued some 250W solar panels to his roof with silicone rubber, many years ago, and they're still there. I never took picks of the panels though. Chris Hobson 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaco De Jongh Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 On 2016/10/28 at 1:06 PM, ibiza said: Rubicon sells it for R160 per 6m lenth Way up North, R375 for 6 meter 40x40x1.6mm On 2016/10/31 at 11:12 AM, SilverNodashi said: silicone rubber In our industry, also known as "Instrumentation Welding". Very few things that can not be sealed or stuck together with that stuff, and once cured, you will have a hard time getting it off. Kobus van der Watt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverNodashi Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 12 hours ago, Jaco de Jongh said: In our industry, also known as "Instrumentation Welding". Very few things that can not be sealed or stuck together with that stuff, and once cured, you will have a hard time getting it off. Luckily that's his problem, not mine Which is why I like the more expensive mounting structures so much. It's easy to mount, and unmount incase you need to move / replace the panels, or do maintenance on the roof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 14 hours ago, Jaco de Jongh said: Way up North, R375 for 6 meter 40x40x1.6mm In our industry, also known as "Instrumentation Welding". Very few things that can not be sealed or stuck together with that stuff, and once cured, you will have a hard time getting it off. I had a loose sink in the kitchen (what is called the preparation dish, for rinsing vegetables and stuff). I looked all over the place for brackets and stuff to hold it down but they guy at Builders Warehouse said to me "Why not just silicon it down". So still not feeling happy about such a cheap solution, I eventually used Sikaflex (which is like half glue half sealant) and you know what... that thing's been stuck down for many years now :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superdiy Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 1 hour ago, plonkster said: Sikaflex (which is like half glue half sealant) and you know what... that thing's been stuck down for many years now :-) Now that is a really excellent product (after the DTM discussion we had before). I've used Sikaflex for many things and you can really finish it beautifully with a cloth or finger dipped in turps - unlike cleaning up or trying to finish off silicone sealant. Edit: I you check my panel mounting pics above you might notice Sikaflex everywhere between the different components... ___ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
___ Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Just now, superdiy said: Now that is a really excellent product (after the DTM discussion we had before). I've used Sikaflex for many things and you can really finish it beautifully with a cloth or finger dipped in turps - unlike cleaning up or trying to finish off silicone sealant. Then again, Sikaflex is over R200 a can! But it is excellent and worth what you pay for it. The only place I have not had success is with a plastic shower base. The Sikaflex won't bond to it. I have a shower upstairs on top of my garage, sitting on a wooden floor. The floor flexes slightly with the weight of the occupant, so a flexible movable seal is required between the base and the tiles on the wall. I've tried many products but none of them last more than a few months. Then the water starts leaking through into the garage. If you have advice with that... that would be greatly appreciated :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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