Visit http://l1nk.com/earth4energy for information on how to build your own solar.
This begins the process to top-of-pole mount my 2 new 200Watt panels. I’m using an 11′ x 4″ OD x .24″ (Wall), Schedule 40 Extruded aluminum 6063 structural pipe. It’s encased in concrete in a hole drilled to about 51″ in depth and 18″ in diameter. There is 6″ of crushed rock at the base and a 7″ square block frame at ground level. Structurally, this mounting should withstand high winds, etc and last a long time. Also, hopefully, this will give a more professional look to this DIY project. I’m laying 50′ of flexible gray conduit from Lowes, in a trench 15′ x 5″ W x 8″ deep. This part of the project was not cheap but I believe it was worth it. If your going to do something worthwhile, enjoy it and make it worthwhile. You can get your pipe at a decent price online from “onlinemetals.com”. My top of pole mounts are from IRONRIDGE, model# UNI-TP/04, which you can get from “ecodirect.com” at a decent price. The 200W panels come from sunelect.com, they are the cheap Grade B’s, but who cares as long as they have a warranty and perform as good as the Grade A’s. Grade B means cosmetic defects.
Post time: Jul-16-2017