Off Grid at 9950ft in Fairplay Colorado

[elektro]

Installed in April-May, we had to build are own racking system. The racks had too be heavy duty due to the high winds.
The racks can tilt and pivot and are about 13.5 ft. tall.
the solar panels have had to take winds in the high 40's last month but things are coming down now.
System is up and running, and with a little program tweaking all is good.
I have never been off grid before but loving it so far.
Here are some pic's  of my setup.

[Westbranch]

Have you got a bit more detail on the tubing size etc. Another pic?  I have a high gusty wind site and need  to fab something real beeffy too... how deep did you go with the concrete?
cheers

[vtmaps]

The racks can tilt and pivot and are about 13.5 ft. tall.

Welcome to the forum elektro.  Please do post more pictures... is this a top-of-single-pole mount?

It looks like you've got the bottom corners stabilized with concrete blocks.  Also, I can't see the details of the hinge...  it looks like the top bolt goes through the horizontal pipe... does the horizontal pipe rotate, or does the rack rotate on a stationary horizontal pipe?

--vtMaps

[SolarMusher]

Hi elektro,
You 'd better install the BMK inside the panel, closer to the shunt.
Something like that:
Erik

[elektro]

The pole is 6 inch, schedule 40 pipe, 10ft long 4 ft. in the ground. If your putting a pole in the ground keep in mind the soil that you are installing into, the ground up here is solid with lots of rock and gravel. If the ground had more dirt then rock I suggest going deeper with the pole. This is a single pole mount, I added blocks temporary so we could adjust the racks.
I'm using pipe clamps to hold the arms of the racking system to the upper pole, the clamps are rated at 800 pounds each and there is 4 of them.

[elektro]

Erik, you can locate your BMK inside the panel, there are mounting holes designed for it. My panels is full with large wires, so I mounted mine on the outside of the panel. I wanted it out of the panel so I could see the light on it.  If you blow a fuse, the ME-ARC-50 can't tell you.
If it was in the panel, I would have to open it to check the BMK, it does come with a long wire to relocate it outside the panel.