The Different Variants of Solar Panel Mounting Systems

The Different Variants of Solar Panel Mounting Systems

If you plan to set up a photovoltaic system (PV system) at your home or office, you already belong to the wiser group of human beings you care about their environment. So well done for that!

You might have planned on the type of solar panel you want and the location to set it up, but one crucial thing to not miss out on would be the solar panel mounting systems Green Touch. You can mount your panel anywhere from roof to ground to strategically place it on structures. For a solar panel to lay stable and tackle the environment’s atrocities for many years to go, it needs to have a good support system. Especially when placing it on the rooftop.

Depending on the type of roof, solar panels can be racked accordingly. There can be two types of mounting systems. One is a flat roof mounting, and the other is a sloped roof mounting system. Generally, it needs to be parallel to the roof’s surface, but they can again vary mostly for the flat roofs. Sloped roof mounting systems also have different variants. Let’s learn about the different types of mounting or racking systems available for each type of roof.

For Flat Roof

Angles are important in a flat roof mounting system. As mentioned earlier, flat roof mounting systems on horizontal roofs need a minimum amount of tilting where facing is also important to catch maximum sunlight for a greater period. The system can be angled in two directions:

• South facing: Requires 5 to 15 degrees of inclination.
• East-west facing: Needs to be turned 90 degrees for dual tilt.

The system needs to penetrate the roof as the roof might not be strong enough to bear all that extra weight. However, one can also opt for ballasting instead of penetration. In ballasting, concrete structures are placed on the front to secure the solar panel after tilting. It usually requires a foot (tray-like structure) where the solar panel is situated. 

For Sloped Roof Mounting System

In the sloped roof system, penetration is important for the sake of stability. They come in three variants,

• Railed racking system: Rail is attached below the solar panel with clamps for support. Generally, two rails are sufficient. But it depends on the number of panels being installed.
• Rail-less Racking System: This one is more cost-effective and time-saving than railed systems. As you can guess, no extra accessories (rails in this case) are required for the installation. Instead, the panels are directly screwed down to the roof or connected via bolts.
• Shared Railed systems: This system is a combination of both the above systems. It required a lesser amount of roof penetrations as compared to any other solar panel mounting systems. It requires three rails shared rather than the standard four rails system with end and middle clamps.

All we expect from racking systems is to be firm enough to hold the solar panels’ weight. Hence these variants are available to suit your roof the best. Consult an expert to know the best suitable system for your roof.