We have also used the local franchisee of TechnoMetal Posts for many jobs that are ground mounts.
Around $250 per post is what we paid also. They were in and out on our last job in 2 days, but their machine did break down for a while. They placed 32 posts in 2 arrays for a 12.6 kWp array (60 modules). We marked the 4 corners of each array & told them how far apart to place the posts & off they went. Marked, drove, cut off those too high & welded on extensions to those too short, then ground the welds & painted. We also topped them with Unirac U-LA racking and it lined up well. -Glenn From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Larry Brown Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 7:24 AM To: [email protected]; RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] helical screw piers Wrenches, We used a company called techno Metal Post ( www.technometalpost.com ) I believe it is a franchise arrangement with the main company in Canada. Here is a business opportunity if a franchise does not exist in your community. They are screwed into the ground while hydraulic pressure is applied. We received a stamped engineering report after completion that identified how many posts were set, to what depth and how much hydraulic pressure had been applied for load bearing capacity It requires a special unit designed for this purpose We set 8 posts in 2 rows of 4 and then attached a UniRac U-LA Ground Mount racking system for 28 Sanyo 200's The posts in this case were 2" schedule 40 galvanized steel pipe ready for the UniRac mounting system They also shot the elevation and cut each pipe to the proper height so that the relationship between the front row of pipes and the back row of pipes was set to receive the racking system and then the mounting rails would be at latitude for this site. We supplied the heights that were required. Many other uses for these screw piers. Pictures on their website Larry On Jan 26, 2009, at 1:48 AM, ASAP POWER! 2 wrote: Sounds like we gots to have it. Larry, any pics? If I assume correctly, these are literally screwing into the ground in place of a concrete footing. such that you can place/attach a structural or pipe column or its part of the screw. I can call some local rental yards and do some internet searching, but is there a brand name to the screw, driver, or a specialized 4WD unit? How many did you drive for 5.6kW? I had contacted the outfit that advertised on TV/web for a while a couple of years ago, but wasn't impressed, however, thought maybe with the right soil it could be exceptional tool for quick guy wire anchoring purposes for wind towers. This sounds like something more substantial. Thanks, Peter D. _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Larry Brown Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 5:58 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] helical screw piers Eric, We just used helical screw piers on a 5.6kw ground mount The site was difficult due to its slope and soft because the frost had come back out after some warm days There was an excellent chance that a concrete truck would have gotten stuck and a back hoe would have made a mess The 4 wheel drive unit that drives the helical screw piers had no trouble navigating the terrain, did no damage to the site, was in and out in less than a day. The piers were in two parallel rows and all were within 1/2" of our string, though that is in the skill of the operator In very rocky soil it might be more problematic Larry Brown Sun Mountain On Jan 25, 2009, at 8:05 PM, Eric Andrews wrote: Does anyone have any experience using Helical screw pier footing for ground mount racks? Eric _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: [email protected] Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: [email protected] Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
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