Desigining & building a solar hot water panel rack - Page 8

greif · 10-01-12, 04:49 PM

When I built my panels I used 1" aluminum pex. The biggest thing to remember is not to pull it like you would a coil of wire. You have to unroll this stuff, I did was to anchor the end of the tube so it would not move then actually roll the roll like you are pushing a tire so that it unrolls. It is a major pain. Since you have regular pex it will want to coil back up, my aluminum pex did not since it has the alum core .

AC_Hacker · 10-02-12, 04:01 PM

I can't remember if you calculated wind loads or not, but I came across this page that tells you how to do it.

What is the Max wind speed there?

Best,

-AC

Daox · 10-02-12, 04:10 PM

I ran wind loads on the original structure I had designed. I haven't done it on the new one.

Daox · 10-02-12, 07:55 PM

The trench is just about completed. There is only about 2 feet to go now.

Over the weekend I started working on the rack again. I got my cousin over with a couple ladders and we started putting up the framing that the solar panels will be mounted to.

This is what will be done on each post. Then there will be a long 2x4 (sorry, camera took a dump during the day apparently, I'll get more later) screwed to the top and bottom, and some additional bracing added. The tops of the posts will be cut off.

greif · 10-03-12, 06:39 PM

you may want to add cross bracing to the posts to stiffen everything up like I did with mine. I have withstood 76 miles per hr winds so far and mine is out in the open

AC_Hacker · 10-06-12, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greif

you may want to add cross bracing to the posts to stiffen everything up like I did with mine. I have withstood 76 miles per hr winds so far and mine is out in the open

Wow! Quite a system. How's it working out for you?

-AC

greif · 10-06-12, 06:46 PM

Works good 3 rd year now

Daox · 10-07-12, 05:01 PM

I finally nabbed some time to work on the solar panel rack again. I got the rest of the vertical boards up.

The next step is to put one of these across the top and the other across the bottom. We'll see how strong that all feels, but I'll probably be adding cross bracing in there too.

Daox · 10-08-12, 06:38 PM

I ended up returning the 300' of pex and just purchased 300' of oxygen barrier pex (from pexuniverse, awesome prices) so I can use a cast iron pump. I also ordered my Grundfos UP15-100F pump from them as well which I've been discussing with everyone else here in another thread.

randen · 10-08-12, 06:57 PM

Greif

Could you give us some performance data on your extra large collector. Are you heating the floor or blowing the heat around?? Do you have storage capacities?? how well are you heating?? Can you through out your furnace??

Randen

10-01-12, 04:49 PM	#71
greif a van down by the river Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kaukauna,WI Posts: 108 Thanks: 6 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	When I built my panels I used 1" aluminum pex. The biggest thing to remember is not to pull it like you would a coil of wire. You have to unroll this stuff, I did was to anchor the end of the tube so it would not move then actually roll the roll like you are pushing a tire so that it unrolls. It is a major pain. Since you have regular pex it will want to coil back up, my aluminum pex did not since it has the alum core . __________________ Gary R “If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom. ” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower

10-02-12, 04:01 PM	#72
AC_Hacker Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 4,004 Thanks: 303 Thanked 723 Times in 534 Posts	Wind Loads... I can't remember if you calculated wind loads or not, but I came across this page that tells you how to do it. What is the Max wind speed there? Best, -AC __________________ I'm not an HVAC technician. In fact, I'm barely even a hacker...

10-02-12, 04:10 PM	#73
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I ran wind loads on the original structure I had designed. I haven't done it on the new one. __________________ 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.

10-02-12, 07:55 PM	#74
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	The trench is just about completed. There is only about 2 feet to go now. Over the weekend I started working on the rack again. I got my cousin over with a couple ladders and we started putting up the framing that the solar panels will be mounted to. This is what will be done on each post. Then there will be a long 2x4 (sorry, camera took a dump during the day apparently, I'll get more later) screwed to the top and bottom, and some additional bracing added. The tops of the posts will be cut off. Attached Thumbnails __________________ 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. Last edited by Daox; 10-02-12 at 08:11 PM..

10-03-12, 06:39 PM	#75
greif a van down by the river Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kaukauna,WI Posts: 108 Thanks: 6 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	you may want to add cross bracing to the posts to stiffen everything up like I did with mine. I have withstood 76 miles per hr winds so far and mine is out in the open Attached Thumbnails __________________ Gary R “If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom. ” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower

10-06-12, 06:46 PM	#77
greif a van down by the river Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kaukauna,WI Posts: 108 Thanks: 6 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Works good 3 rd year now __________________ Gary R “If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom. ” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower

10-07-12, 05:01 PM	#78
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I finally nabbed some time to work on the solar panel rack again. I got the rest of the vertical boards up. The next step is to put one of these across the top and the other across the bottom. We'll see how strong that all feels, but I'll probably be adding cross bracing in there too. Attached Thumbnails __________________ 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.

10-08-12, 06:38 PM	#79
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I ended up returning the 300' of pex and just purchased 300' of oxygen barrier pex (from pexuniverse, awesome prices) so I can use a cast iron pump. I also ordered my Grundfos UP15-100F pump from them as well which I've been discussing with everyone else here in another thread. __________________ 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.

10-08-12, 06:57 PM	#80
randen Uber EcoRenovator Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Strathroy Ontario Canada Posts: 657 Thanks: 9 Thanked 191 Times in 129 Posts	Greif Could you give us some performance data on your extra large collector. Are you heating the floor or blowing the heat around?? Do you have storage capacities?? how well are you heating?? Can you through out your furnace?? Randen

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