Way back In 2018 after speaking with solar vendors at the international solar home competition in Denver we decided to have solar panels installed on our garage roof. After comparing the panel specifications and the battery backup systems we used Solar City/Tesla and had 3.9 kw installed just on the south facing garage.
In 2021 we replaced these panels with a Tesla Solar Roof. We had been on the waiting list since 2016. We offered the used panels to my son but he did not have time to install them himself and he could not find an installer willing to put them on his roof. So this summer we decided to put them to use.
We already have all the equipment so we had to decide how to mount them. My first thought was a rack in the backyard. But I called installers and the quotes were high. I looked at the racking types on NAZ my favorite DIY supplier and the equipment was expensive. Plus I would have to sink posts and probably get an engineering report and new permit.
So I looked into ballast boxes that sit on the ground. They seemed plausible for only $75 to $85 a piece plus shipping. But I have 12 panels and they are 5’ long. So we were looking at 60 ft of ballast boxes to fill with rock. Instead we decided to mount them as a solar overhang. The frame was existing and very strong because it is tied into the interior rafters of the house. All we needed was aluminum stands that sell for about $40 a pair. I also bought extra stainless washers and bolts but they came with all the necessary hardware. I reinforced the front cross pieces on the overhand with 3” screws. They were originally nailed. Then we mounted the panels.
Our solar roof faces mostly north so we lose a lot of solar in the winter. We mounted the front panels at the steepest angle possible to collect better winter solar.
It took us about a month to get them all mounted. We only had room for ten but we used the remaining two to power a direct from solar mini split on the east side of the house.
Unfortunately the summer has flown by with Green Homes events and travel and visitors. So the wiring is not finished. But some decisions have been made for wiring and this fall we should complete this task. In the meantime the panels are helping with the fall sun as they now shade the overhang later into the hot season.
