By Ally
I've experienced the unfortunate consequences of not having properly mounted the solar panels we purchased. During much of the year we can get very high winds coming through our area. We purchased quite a few used panels that we got a great discount on and later got four more new & higher wattage panels. At first we did not have any solar mounts (they are not cheap!), and so we laid the panels on the ground out back, south facing. We didn't seem to be getting as much power from the panels that were connected, so we played around with the angle until we were getting more coming in. To get the highest input we leaned the panels at an angle on pallets and tied them down - we previously had one panel flip while on the ground, though thankfully no damage was done.
Sadly one January evening several dustnado's torn through our property. You would think we were in Kansas! Even with ropes holding the backs of the panels to the pallet, one big gust is all that it took to shatter our world!... or err panels. (though in the moment it was quite devastating). As you can see in the picture below: four of the snow covered panels were flipped over, some onto the ground and others onto harder equipment. Tragically one new, and not cheap, panel and one used panel were shattered. Tear :( Soon after the snow melted the solar panels went back to ground level and were tied down as I worked on making the mounts. Months later I had foolishly placed two solar panels on our wooden mount on screws, although not bolted down. Once again a crazy wind gust unexpectedly surprised us and tossed the used panel off the mount and it shattered! It continued through the property and knocked off one of Yolan's panels too, thankfully no damage was done to that one. By that time I could start a solar panel graveyard, alas instead I took them to the dump.
While there are many solar mount options out there, we found that they tend to be pricey. With that in mind we opted to use wood to construct our own mounts. Depending on the mount you construct or buy, the mounting brackets will differ. I had some trouble finding good brackets that would work with the mount size I constructed. When I finished a second mount to use for two of the new panels, I made the brackets I purchased work even though it took some work to get them on secure. I recently finished a third mount, so the process is now quicker and easier. Finally half the panels (and all the new ones) are securely bolted down and should be able to withstand the hurricane winds that comes through this desert ;) . Below are both of the brackets that I've used. The smaller brackets work well on the used panels. As I work on finishing the remaining mounts and securing the panels to them, I remember these expensive lessons learned on making sure solar panels are securely mounted.
