How To Mount Solar Panel — A Step-by-Step DIY Guide - EcoFlow

If you’ve decided to reduce your reliance on the grid and switch to solar, congratulations!

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit our website.

There are so many solar energy benefits for you to enjoy — including saving money on your electricity bill or eliminating it altogether.

Of course, before you can start enjoying the benefits of solar power, you need to get your system up and running. A crucial step, if you’re going for a fixed installation, includes mounting your solar panels.

This DIY guide covers how to mount rigid rooftop solar panels.

You’ll find everything you need to know, from the components and materials required to the best location for mounting and step-by-step instructions.

If you’ve decided to reduce your reliance on the grid and switch to solar, congratulations!

There are so many solar energy benefits for you to enjoy — including saving money on your electricity bill or eliminating it altogether.

Of course, before you can start enjoying the benefits of solar power, you need to get your system up and running. A crucial step, if you’re going for a fixed installation, includes mounting your solar panels.

This DIY guide covers how to mount rigid rooftop solar panels.

You’ll find everything you need to know, from the components and materials required to the best location for mounting and step-by-step instructions.

In this guide, we’ll use EcoFlow’s 400W rigid solar panel as an example. With an industry-leading 23% efficiency rating and an IP68 waterproof rating, EcoFlow’s rigid solar panels are among the highest-performing and most durable options for residential photovoltaic (PV) panel arrays.

EcoFlow’s rigid solar panels come with a EcoFlow Tilt Mount Bracket for easy rooftop installation. The components include four fixing brackets, two adjustable brackets, and screws. This should be all you need to mount rigid solar panels on the roof or any other flat surface on your home that receives direct sunlight.

For a more permanent rooftop installation, you also want to include roof attachments, mounting rails, and module clamps.

In this type of mounting system, you’d need to drill the attachments onto mounting rails to attach the structure onto the roof securely. A support bracket installation kit would work well for this setup.

Other installation types include bolt installation and pressing block installation.

You can find solar panel mounting kits that contain all the necessary mounts and screws from reliable third-party manufacturers.

Besides the installation kit, you’ll need tools, including:

• Wrench

• Angle ruler / Triangle ruler

• Tarp/Canvas

There are various mounting materials you might use, depending on where you mount your solar panel array. Let’s cover a few options below:

• Aluminum: is strong, lightweight, and resists corrosion. It’s easy to work with an aluminum angle, and any home drill will suffice for the holes you’ll need to create. In addition, you’ll find that the material is compatible with most solar panel frames. However, aluminum is not advisable if you need to weld the mount to a structure.

• Angle Iron: This material corrodes quickly but is easy to use. You can slow corrosion by galvanizing the material, but the mounting brackets and the bolts are still susceptible to rusting, especially in damp climates. Angle iron is a readily available material, and brackets are easy to weld.

• Stainless steel: is difficult to work with and a costly option. But it comes with the benefit that it will stand against the test of time, lasting decades. If you opt for a stainless steel mounting system, you should probably work with a professional installer.

• Wood: is readily available, easy to work with, and inexpensive. The downside is that it degrades faster than the other options, even when treated. You’ll need clips or battens to attach solar modules to a wooden frame.

As you can see, different materials come with different benefits and drawbacks. Which choice is right for you can depend greatly on your budget, environment, and where you want to mount the array.

There are multiple options for mounting your solar panels. The best option for you is most likely the flat surface on your home that receives the maximum exposure to sunlight.

For irregular surfaces, you can augment your rigid solar panel array with flexible solar panels. Flexible solar panels don’t produce enough rated power to be the sole choice for a residential PV array. But they can help you maximize your electricity generation potential.

Goto Yijia to know more.

Here are some of the most common options for locations to mount your solar panels:

A rooftop installation is often your best option for mounting solar panels on your home. Depending on the specifics of your location, rooftop panels are less likely to be affected by shade or other external factors that diminish electricity generation than other parts of the house.

You can install solar panels on various roofs, including residential homes, tiny homes, sheds, and off-grid builds.

However, rooftop[ installation can be tricky. You may face limitations due to which direction your roof faces and its incline.

Don’t forget to consider the age of your roof. Depending on the materials used, the average residential rooftop lasts between 25-50 years on average before having to be replaced. If your roof is nearing the end of its useful life, install your solar panels after you replace your roof.

A solar panel installation should not damage your home’s roof if properly installed. Indeed, they may shield your roof from sunlight, inclement weather, and other natural damage and extend its lifespan.

Mounting your panel on the ground is a good option if you don’t have the space on your roof or your roof is shaded or north-facing. Portable solar panels are worth considering in this case. They’re easy to reposition to maximize sunlight capture — even during the course of a day! And you can easily take them anywhere and set them up in seconds.

Permanent ground mounting is more common for large-scale commercial solar power systems. Ground mounts typically require extensive areas of land.

Start by gathering the necessary tools for a DIY installation.

Other things you should take care of during the planning and preparation stage include getting required permits and checking local requirements for offsetting structures from existing buildings and property lines.

Depending on where you mount the system, you may need to comply with additional safety requirements. For a ground-mount solar system, this might include having a fence or a perimeter of a certain distance around the solar system free of vegetation.

You’ll also want to be aware of any water wash areas, flood zones, or other factors that may lead to restrictions on your property. Municipal regulations might not let you build near those. Plus, installing a ground-mounted system in an area that floods or has frequent severe weather events could lead to problems.

Once you’ve gathered all the tools and followed up on permits and safety requirements, it’s time to set up your mounting system.

The first step is to attach the fixing bracket to the solar panel. Lay the solar panel face-down on the tarp or canvas to protect the photovoltaic surface.

You want to be sure the mounting holes on the back of the panel align with the holes in the fixing bracket. Don’t modify the module frame because doing so may void your manufacturer’s warranty.

Now attach the adjustable bracket to the fixing bracket. Do this on both sides.

When you attach the adjustable bracket, ensure the installation tilt angle is at least 10 degrees. If you don’t, there is likely to be dust accumulation and decreased performance. If the tilt angle is less than 10 degrees, make sure to clean your solar panels more frequently.

It’s essential to think carefully about the tilt of your solar panels to get the most out of your investment and generate as much energy as possible. Several factors determine the optimal angle for your panels to capture as much sunlight as possible.

Do your research to find the optimal tilt angle for your solar panels based on where you mount them. Factors that impact the best angle for your panels include latitude, roof tilt (if roof mounting), and even the time of year.

Want your solar panels to chase the sun and efficiently optimize their angle?

Consider the EcoFlow Solar Tracker, which continuously pinpoints the ideal angle to the sun and adjusts your panel accordingly. Solar trackers can be particularly useful in areas with low average peak sun hours.

Once you decide on the angle and adjust the mounting hardware, you are ready to install the PV panel.

The steps required to mount your solar panels will vary based on the method, location, and manufacture of your PV panels. However, regardless of the model of PV panel you choose, there’s a lot of common ground between manufacturers.

Hopefully, this guide has helped you get one step closer to reducing your reliance on the grid and fossil fuels for electricity. If you don’t feel comfortable doing the installation on your own, increasing demand for residential solar power has created a very competitive environment for professional installers.

No matter what solar power system you choose, the initial investment (even if spread out over time with financing) is substantial. It doesn’t make sense to pinch pennies on installation if that means you end up generating less electricity.

Saving on your utility bills is how you achieve solar payback quickly and realize your return on investment.

If you decide to mount your own solar panels, consult the manual or manufacturer’s instructions to avoid voiding the warranty. Any money you save by going DIY will quickly be eclipsed by losing your warranty.

If you’re searching for the best portable, rigid, and flexible solar panels available to homeowners, check out EcoFlow today.

For more information, please visit solar mounting accessories.

I looked at those yesterday as I had the same question on how to mount to unistrut, or some variation of unistrut. They are made by a company called Power Strut. Their web page for those mounting brackets can be found here: https://www.power-strut.com/docs/li...r-components-sell-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=f6fe_2

It appears to me that most mounting solutions that use unistrut are just hold downs. These hold down brackets don't use fasteners to attach to the solar panel itself. That bothers me. I see no reason why the mounting brackets from Rich Solar couldn't be used on unistrut. I think it is a much more cost effective solution.



Use of the above brackets depends on the orientation of your unistrut. If the unistrut is running perpendicular to the solar panel then the most likely way to use these brackets would be on the top and bottom rails of the panel.

Alternatively, you could use these brackets - also from Rich Solar - anywhere in any orientation.
When bottom side of the frame is accessible (not mounted low on a roof) and the rails could be shifted for alignment, I've just put bolts through the mounting holes in panel frames, into the Unistrut or similar slot nuts. That could work, for instance, if using U-bolts to mount Unistrut rails on a pipe frame (as an alternative to solar mount rails also used that way.)

I've put up ULA series racks where the manufacturer sent me drawing and whatnot for the permit office. Also, I've planned arrays that stayed under the structure size for no permit required. (City charged me more for a "permit" not to have a building permit (stamped my plans as such) than they charged for the electrical permit.) Rooftop, if we stay under 40 pounds per attachment point we don't need a mechanical permit. I would want to lag screw into rafters not just sheathing anyway.

It is hard to find hot-dipped galvanized unistrut anymore, most are just a thin coating. Aluminum would be good. Stainless hardware is expensive, but so far I've gotten away with regular steel slot nuts and stainless bolts.

I like the way those Unistrut solar end clamps work, actually clamp to the rail properly with a nut. I'm building a Unistrut DIY rooftop mount for my panels. I too strained and stressed over the different mount solutions, and I found that all engineered rails were expensive and were made with code compliance and inspections in mind. I'm rural, so inspections and permits aren't as big a problem. I saw the pipe-based rails some have mentioned, but I wasn't happy with the panel to pipe interface possibilities and rust(!) was definitely going to be an issue with steel pipe. Wood was out of the question.

The choice came down to Aluminum or Galvanized steel Unistrut. The cheapest I was able to find Al Unistrut was about $70 per 10' for 1-5/8"x1-5/8" slotted strut. With shipping from Grainger it was about $ for 15 struts. Galvanized was $450 from Home Depot in my neighborhood and I could take it home right off the shelf in my truck. So galvanized it was.

I chose Quickbolt mini flashing and their lag bolts as the mounting hardware solution. Low cost and minimal install work for my asphalt shingle roof type. I had to find a way to properly tie the quickbolt to the unistrut spacer (simply a cut piece of regular strut 4" long) so I settled for a combination of 1" stainless washers, stainless lockwashers, and the stainless nuts provided by quickbolt. I would then mount the unistrut rail to the unistrut spacer with a stainless spring nut and another lockwasher and washer and stainless bolt. (Pics soon!) I didn't use square washers or the solar panel strut washers Unistrut offers since I couldn't find them in stainless steel.

Piecing together the mounts and hardware was a minor engineering exercise, but I was able to source aluminum panel clamps, 316 Stainless bolts, washers, lockwashers, and also stainless spring nuts on Ebay for less than $250 total. Pics coming soon.

I'm building a Unistrut DIY rooftop mount for my panels. I too strained and stressed over the different mount solutions, and I found that all engineered rails were expensive and were made with code compliance and inspections in mind. I'm rural, so inspections and permits aren't as big a problem. I saw the pipe-based rails some have mentioned, but I wasn't happy with the panel to pipe interface possibilities and rust(!) was definitely going to be an issue with steel pipe. Wood was out of the question.

The choice came down to Aluminum or Galvanized steel Unistrut. The cheapest I was able to find Al Unistrut was about $70 per 10' for 1-5/8"x1-5/8" slotted strut. With shipping from Grainger it was about $ for 15 struts. Galvanized was $450 from Home Depot in my neighborhood and I could take it home right off the shelf in my truck. So galvanized it was.

I chose Quickbolt mini flashing and their lag bolts as the mounting hardware solution. Low cost and minimal install work for my asphalt shingle roof type. I had to find a way to properly tie the quickbolt to the unistrut spacer (simply a cut piece of regular strut 4" long) so I settled for a combination of 1" stainless washers, stainless lockwashers, and the stainless nuts provided by quickbolt. I would then mount the unistrut rail to the unistrut spacer with a stainless spring nut and another lockwasher and washer and stainless bolt. (Pics soon!) I didn't use square washers or the solar panel strut washers Unistrut offers since I couldn't find them in stainless steel.

Piecing together the mounts and hardware was a minor engineering exercise, but I was able to source aluminum panel clamps, 316 Stainless bolts, washers, lockwashers, and also stainless spring nuts on Ebay for less than $250 total. Pics coming soon.

Nice! Send some pics when you can! Thx I did my ground mount with 2" galvanized pipe frame + 10ft long universal strut (beefier type) cross-members with bolted hold-downs. Built this array by myself (1 person). Worked well. The array is nearing 4 years... no rust, no problems, no loose hold downs, and steady in winter storms.


The basic items used are
- U-Bolts to bolt the universal strut to the 2" galvanized pipe

- nut w/plastic ring for hands-free fit in the channel + bolt + square hold down like this demo pic



Here's an edge view showing the bolt hold-down into the universal strut mounting numbers. The panel edges sit on the edge of the universal strut. When you have side-by-side panels, 1 x hold-down works great.


For the end panels where there's only 1 edge and the square hold-down doesn't have 2 panels to hold 'flat', I used a strut near the edge but completely under the panels. Used a piece of semi flattened EMT conduit to provide a base for the square hold-down to lay flat and not tilt off the edge of the panel.

Thanks for uploading! Did you use separate grounding connections since the clamps don't have penetrating teeth?

I used something like this - https://www.amazon.com/ISPINNER-Aluminum-Conductor-Connector-Grounding/dp/B09CFYL2MR/ref=sr_1_13 Used self-tappers to screw into the panel frame + array framework and threaded a 6awg twisted copper wire thru them to connect all the panels.

Also used self-tappers to screw thru the universal strut into the 2" galvanized pipe to 'bond' the universal strut pieces to the 2" pipe - so the whole metal structure had an electrical path and the ground wire was attached to it as well as the panels.

How are the panels attached to the unistrut ? I had planned to make up a fitting using a short piece of 90 angle but there may be other methods.

I have 18.5 kW of panels mounted on unistrut (Superstrut) using 1/4-20 bolts, nuts and fender washers. It’s a pole mount arrangement so back access is easy. Panels directly against the top of strut, fender washer and nylok nut inside the channel, fender washers that fit inside the channel and are large enough to cover the hole are easy to find. The trick is to space the struts such that the holes in the panels line up with holes in struts. Lay it out on the ground before you attach the strut to your horizontal pipes so you understand the spacing. I’ve had no trouble with REC, Canadian Solar and Solarever 120 cell half cut panels and some off brand 100 watt panels.

square hold down

I finally found some square washers on Amazon, but they seem really expensive...from $1-3 each, like this: Square washers

And nothing when I search for Square Hold Downs. This includes searching Tractor Supply and Home Depot. I did buy Nylon Unistrut nuts 3/8" at Home depot, $7 per 5 nuts...plus bolts and washers (small ones).

I did find a few other considerations on Amazon: Clamps with strut nuts But seller has a caution, and long shipping time. I found a few other options, but would require even more hardware/modification.

• Are there any other sources I can shop to find hardware to mount 35mm panels to unistuts?
• Should I spread the panels out a bit? It would be better for shade in the morning to not have space...and move the panels all the way to the west of the 30' area of the barn...would leave 5' on the east side. 6x 48" wide panels.

Thanks for any feedback!

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• Generator, Solar.jpeg.png
• Barn, south side IMG_.jpg

I finally found some square washers on Amazon, but they seem really expensive...from $1-3 each, like this: Square washers

I am using aluminum strut and the channel for the strut, this 30 mm square washer could slip through or perhaps just barely overlap the gap.

I have 1” fender washers that will easily slide through the gap. I bought 2” wide by 1/8” aluminum bar and am cutting that in pieces to keep my mounts from slipping into the strut channel. I’m cutting this to 2” x 3” rectangles and drilling holes for bolts to slide through.

I did find a few other considerations on Amazon: Clamps with strut nuts But seller has a caution, and long shipping time. I found a few other options, but would require even more hardware/modification.

This looks like it will work, but on that link and others I browsed when sourcing parts, I did not see dimensions or the words made for strut so I can’t say for sure. This stopped me from getting those