Mounting your solar panels properly is nearly as, if not as, important as choosing the right solar panels, and the correct size system for your application and budget. Improperly mounted solar panels can become damaged, ineffective, and cost more money in the long run than spending the initial money to properly mount them in the first place.
When mounting your solar panels, there are many factors to take into account. These factors include: magnetic declination, latitude and longitude of your home, the orientation of your roof, and much more. Please Click Here
There are many different options for solar panel mounting, each with their own benefits and limitations, and each designed for specific, different, mounting challenges. The four main types of solar panel mounting hardware are:
- Roof Flush Mount
A Roof Flush Mount does specifically what it sounds like it does; it mounts your solar panels flush with your roof (elevated about 1-2 inches above the level of the roof. This allows for a very clean, aesthetically pleasing finish in which your solar panels appear to be nothing more than an extension or part of your roof. The benefit of this type of mount is that they are relatively inexpensive, and work great for locations where an appropriate roof pitch is already available. GridMaxx GT Grid-Tied Solar Kits and RemoteMaxx Remote/Cabin Off-Grid Solar Kits from DIY Solar Guide come standard with Roof Flush Mount Kits.
- Ground/Roof Tilt Mount
These mounts are designed to be used on flat roofs, the ground, or on roofs where the tilt is not adequate for solar panel installation. These mounts tilt up your solar panels, enabling them to capture the maximum amount of sunlight possible for the best efficiency and ROI from your new solar system. Ground/Roof Tilt Mounts are generally more expensive than Roof Flush Mounts.
- Top of Pole Mounts
These specifically engineered mounts require a pole that is secured in the ground, which is used to secure a rack on top, which will hold a predetermined number of solar panels. These mounts are generally adjustable in their angle, allowing for maximum solar exposure at any latitude, and are typically the most expensive solar panel mount available.
- Side of Pole Mount
Much like a Top of Pole Mount, the Side of Pole Mount requires a pole to be secured in the ground. The mount is then attached part way up the pole, where it will hold a predetermined number of solar panels in place. These mounts are most typically used in lighting, pumping, and small scale applications. For larger pole mount applications, it is recommended that you use the Top of Pole Mounts.
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