Building a DIY Ground Mount Solar Panel Rack with Integrated Storage

Welcome to our latest project where we are busy building an awesome ground mount solar panel rack, complete with useful storage space below! We’ve cleared space above the high water mark, meaning we will no longer need beach area for our solar panel racks. Removing those dangerous trees has given us the perfect space for this combination storage space and raised platform for our solar panel rack. In this blog, we’ll share our journey, insights, and tips for those who are interested in homesteading, living off the grid, and adventure.

Table of Contents

• A Safe Way to Have a Campfire
• Our Campfire Has an Afterburner!
• Pepper Gets Hurt
• Positioning the Solar Array
• Building Like the Egyptians
• Taking the Position of the Sun into Account

A Safe Way to Have a Campfire

We are thrilled that the prohibition against having campfires has just been lifted! This is especially exciting since we haven’t had a campfire all year. We are located close to the water, where it’s quite wet, so we’ve been cautious about fire safety. We brought along our Yukon Solo Stove, known for its low smoke due to its built-in afterburner. This makes it perfect for our area, which is prone to forest fires. We unboxed it, and it’s a beauty! It’s designed for safety and has a lifetime warranty, making it a great addition to our outdoor space.

Our Campfire Has an Afterburner!

As we prepared the fire, we were eager to see how well the afterburner would work. Initially, we weren’t impressed with the smoke, but as the fire heated up, we noticed it significantly reduced smoke output. The design really works! It was such a lovely fall day, and we enjoyed our first campfire of the year, complete with s’mores. The sound of crackling wood and the warmth of the fire made it a memorable experience.

Pepper Gets Hurt

While we were working on our projects, we had a little incident with our Kubota, Pepper. Thankfully, it was nothing serious, but it reminds me to be more careful when I’m at the controls. When we were taking down the cabin in the last episode, the entire second floor fell onto the grapple, and squashed the shroud that protected one of the hydraulic rams. You can see what happened here: Pepper raises the roof! It can be fixed, and Pepper can still operate in the interim, so no worries.

Positioning the Solar Array

Now, onto the main event: positioning our solar array! We are working with thirty solar panels and plan to connect fifteen panels to each of our two inverters. Each panel is rated at five hundred and fifty watts, which means at peak efficiency, fifteen panels can generate over eight thousand watts collectively. This setup will provide us with over sixteen thousand watts of solar power, which is more than enough for our homestead!

Building Like the Egyptians

To ensure our solar array is perfectly squared off without GPS, we used a method reminiscent of the Egyptians. By measuring four feet in one direction and three feet in another, we created a right triangle to help us position the array accurately. It’s fascinating how ancient techniques can still be useful today!

Taking the Position of the Sun into Account

As we finalize the positioning of our solar panels, we are considering the sun’s path and how shadows from nearby trees could affect energy production. We need to ensure the panels aren’t shaded, especially during winter months when the sun is lower in the sky. By carefully planning the layout and adjusting as necessary, we aim for maximum solar energy production.

Overall, this project has been an exciting and educational experience. We can’t wait to see how our DIY ground mount solar panel rack performs and how it enhances our off-grid lifestyle. Stay tuned for more updates on our homesteading journey!

If you’re interested in exploring more about our journey and the tools, tech and other things we use, check out A Few of Our Favorite Things or visit My Wild Holm’s Amazon Page for product recommendations.

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