Is Sandy a PV array killer?

Xringer · 10-27-12, 04:13 PM

Today is the last day for any solar gain for a while..

Worried about the wind.. I feel the fixed mount is going to be okay.
I've placed about 400 pounds of cement blocks under the deck.
The blocks are connected to the deck with steel cables.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...Solar/l044.jpg

The tracker is my main worry.. (Don't ever built a tracker! Too much trouble).

I plan to tie on 4 nylon ropes from the ends of the 4x4 base sections, up high on the support post.
The idea is to keep it from being rocked back and forth too far.

Here's the question:

At what (elevation) angle should the panels be set to? (To avoid wind-loading)?
Would a higher angle (looking up, like the sun was nearly overhead) reduce the danger of tipping?
Since the wind would blow right past the array..?.

Seems like a pretty slick idea.. But what about falling limbs??

Dang, I hate living in Hurricane Alley! (The far northern section).

ecomodded · 10-27-12, 04:46 PM

Nice set up !
I would recommend using thin steel cable for the guide wires, cloths line? perhaps, in grey it would look "normal" in blue it would look bad..
The short wave radio guys all use steel cable, maybe a short wave radio store would stock the proper cable.

Daox · 10-27-12, 06:04 PM

Can you remove the panels until the storm passes?

strider3700 · 10-27-12, 06:42 PM

Or just remove some legs from the tracker and tip it over. I usually just lay my panels on the ground in the event of heavy winds. We have never had winds that could pick them up from flat on the ground but we sometimes get enough that it would push their mount over.

Xringer · 10-27-12, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecomodded

Nice set up !
I would recommend using thin steel cable for the guide wires, cloths line? perhaps, in grey it would look "normal" in blue it would look bad..
The short wave radio guys all use steel cable, maybe a short wave radio store would stock the proper cable.

The ropes (or steel cables) would be a real trip hazard, the ropes will be
removed after the storm passes. I used them for the last big storm and they worked okay.

I already have enough trip hazard with the 4x4 hidden by the grass..

Xringer · 10-27-12, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daox

Can you remove the panels until the storm passes?

I could.. I've removed them before, after they got blown over, prior to be staked down.
It only takes about 20 mintues to get the array lowered and dragged away.
But, it's almost impossible to re-install them by myself.
Can't lift, aline and apply bolts, all at the same time.
I would have to remove the panels and re-bolt them back on the rack, one at a time.
My theft-resistant mounting system is coming back to bite me..

Xringer · 10-27-12, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strider3700

Or just remove some legs from the tracker and tip it over. I usually just lay my panels on the ground in the event of heavy winds. We have never had winds that could pick them up from flat on the ground but we sometimes get enough that it would push their mount over.

That's a good idea. But the way the legs are fastened on the base plate,
makes it too hard to get them off.
Before the panels were installed, I lifted the base (& post) with a floor jack,
so I could install the 4x4s.

I should change the design, and use large steel pipes, instead of 4x4s.
Then I could fasten them to the base plate with large U-bolts.
Which would make it easy to remove a leg or two..

The idea was to save money on the mount, but make it so that I could
drag the whole thing around the yard..
Didn't think about a need to flip it over on it's side..

~~~~

Well, the forecast show most of the strong wind will come from the east,
so the array elevation angle shouldn't be very important.

What's not looking so good is the two large trees, just east of my garage.
The new Prius is parked in the west bay of the garage..
But my Ford Escape might be crushed flat..
The 5kw gasoline generator is also on the west side..

Here's an old pic, when the trees were smaller..
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...lar/panels.jpg
And before the tracking array was moved north a few yards..

Xringer · 10-29-12, 07:06 PM

The wind has been kicking up all day. A few limbs and trees are going down,
but nothing has hit the panels (yet) and they are not rocking-n-rolling too much..

Got the ropes on yesterday..

I think there are 16 cement blocks anchoring down the fixed array..

Only had one grid power glitch.. I think it made both my radon detectors go nuts, with Err #3, which is some kind of interference error.

ecomodded · 10-30-12, 12:45 AM

Has it passed or is it still building up ?
Scary stuff having that glass under the trees.
maybe some Plywood tied over them, if you have time.

Xringer · 10-30-12, 08:47 AM

I think it's pretty much over around here. It's headed west and will turn north to Canada later on.

We got lucky here. Minor wind damage and only a couple inches of rain.
Those ropes worked out nicely. Not much tracker array movement at all.
The trees out there were really bending over (towards the west),
but we only had a couple big limbs break. I've seen much worse here.

Got an iPhone pic from my kid, a large limb took out a section of her backyard fence.
It was from an old dead tree and would have fell sooner or later..

PS:
The sun has been out a bit this morning and we are getting a top-off charge on the battery bank..
http://maps.wunderground.com/data/64...?id=1351606971

10-27-12, 04:13 PM	#1
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Is Sandy a PV array killer? Today is the last day for any solar gain for a while.. Worried about the wind.. I feel the fixed mount is going to be okay. I've placed about 400 pounds of cement blocks under the deck. The blocks are connected to the deck with steel cables. http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...Solar/l044.jpg The tracker is my main worry.. (Don't ever built a tracker! Too much trouble). I plan to tie on 4 nylon ropes from the ends of the 4x4 base sections, up high on the support post. The idea is to keep it from being rocked back and forth too far. Here's the question: At what (elevation) angle should the panels be set to? (To avoid wind-loading)? Would a higher angle (looking up, like the sun was nearly overhead) reduce the danger of tipping? Since the wind would blow right past the array..?. Seems like a pretty slick idea.. But what about falling limbs?? Dang, I hate living in Hurricane Alley! (The far northern section). __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

10-29-12, 07:06 PM	#8
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	The wind has been kicking up all day. A few limbs and trees are going down, but nothing has hit the panels (yet) and they are not rocking-n-rolling too much.. Got the ropes on yesterday.. I think there are 16 cement blocks anchoring down the fixed array.. Only had one grid power glitch.. I think it made both my radon detectors go nuts, with Err #3, which is some kind of interference error. Attached Thumbnails __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

10-30-12, 08:47 AM	#10
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	I think it's pretty much over around here. It's headed west and will turn north to Canada later on. We got lucky here. Minor wind damage and only a couple inches of rain. Those ropes worked out nicely. Not much tracker array movement at all. The trees out there were really bending over (towards the west), but we only had a couple big limbs break. I've seen much worse here. Got an iPhone pic from my kid, a large limb took out a section of her backyard fence. It was from an old dead tree and would have fell sooner or later.. PS: The sun has been out a bit this morning and we are getting a top-off charge on the battery bank.. http://maps.wunderground.com/data/64...?id=1351606971 __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less.. Last edited by Xringer; 10-30-12 at 09:23 AM..

10-27-12, 04:46 PM	#2
ecomodded Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Vancouver Island,Canada. Posts: 1,037 Thanks: 116 Thanked 100 Times in 87 Posts	Nice set up ! I would recommend using thin steel cable for the guide wires, cloths line? perhaps, in grey it would look "normal" in blue it would look bad.. The short wave radio guys all use steel cable, maybe a short wave radio store would stock the proper cable.

10-27-12, 06:04 PM	#3
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Can you remove the panels until the storm passes? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

10-27-12, 06:42 PM	#4
strider3700 Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver Island BC Posts: 745 Thanks: 23 Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts	Or just remove some legs from the tracker and tip it over. I usually just lay my panels on the ground in the event of heavy winds. We have never had winds that could pick them up from flat on the ground but we sometimes get enough that it would push their mount over.

10-30-12, 12:45 AM	#9
ecomodded Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Vancouver Island,Canada. Posts: 1,037 Thanks: 116 Thanked 100 Times in 87 Posts	Has it passed or is it still building up ? Scary stuff having that glass under the trees. maybe some Plywood tied over them, if you have time.