Around here, wood dry rots around the screws, so after about 5 years,
timber built frames are blowing apart. While it might be possible to do
a decent timber base frame using pressure treated wood and carriage
bolts for the attachments, you could not use wood for the final cross
rails as you noted. Actually any of us that do roof mounts are
technically using a timber base frame, but certainly not for the rails!
R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760
On 5/29/2015 1:59 PM, Dana wrote:
I visited a PV array owner built out of pressure treated wood and AL
angle. The wood had warped and twisted and several modules were
cracked as a result of the tension on the panels.
As I tried to move the thought process to all metal (either AL or
iron) I met total resistance. I wished him a great day and got in my
truck & drove off.
It takes all types in this world.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dana Orzel
Great Solar Works, Inc - NABCEP # 051112-136
E - [email protected] - Web - solarwork.com
O - 970.626.5253 C - 208.721.7003
"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"
*P*Please consider the environment before printing this email.
*From:*RE-wrenches [mailto:[email protected]]
*On Behalf Of *Glenn Burt
*Sent:* Friday, May 29, 2015 1:53 PM
*To:* RE-wrenches
*Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] iron & aluminum
Stainless steel bolts and nuts as well as Ss flat washers where the
dissimilar metals meet to keep them separated works OK.
Sincerely,
Glenn Burt
Sent from my 'smart' phone so please excuse grammar and typos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From: *RM You <mailto:[email protected]>
*Sent: *5/28/2015 22:21
*To: *RE-wrenches <mailto:[email protected]>
*Subject: *[RE-wrenches] iron & aluminum
Hi Wrenches, I have had a couple of customers want to fabricate their
own PV pole mounts and racks out of iron. Aside from the galvanic
corrosion and weight issues is there anything else I should caution
these guys about? Any stories about failures etc? My druthers are to
stay with the engineered aluminum pole mounts but when you’re dealing
with someone with fabrication experience and the cost for pre-fab is
high then the obvious outcome occurs. If the unit is properly
treated/painted I imagine it could last many years. Is there a way to
attach an anode to such a rack or would simple non conductive
insulation between panels and rack be the best answer?
Ron Young
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