Installation of panels

[alshapton]

Is it straightforward to install pv panels on a flat garage roof ?

[Ian]

The simple answer is, YES, they are very straightforward to install. It is even easier on a flat roof.

Having said that, it is the tweaking to get the most out of the panels that starts to get interesting.

If you have not done it before, and as it is summer at the moment with the sun at its highest elevation, I recommend you start with just laying the panels down and stopping them moving around in the wind by the judicious application of bricks or other heavy low profile items (but not actually placed ON the panels!). Make sure that you elevate the panels off the roof by about 6 - 8 inches to allow for air circulation underneath them; if you do not, and you are talking about a felt roof, then after a sunny spell the panels will have melted the felt and sunk into them.

Once you have had time to play with them (electrical connections, etc) and you want to have some more fun trying to get the most out of them it is time to move into the tweaking phase...

Knock up a wooden stand - usually a triangular arrangement  that will allow you to present the panels more perpendicular to the sun. Many people suggest two angular settings - one for summer and one for winter but it depends on just how much fun you want to have and just how accessible your flat roof is as to how often you want to adjust them.

DO :
Make sure that the wind cannot carry the panels and any supporting structure away.
Allow spare cable during the installation to allow you to play with adjustment of the panels.
Make sure that any cable connections are waterproof; water can and will get into any connection you don't want it to ! I recommend the use of self amalgamating tape inside a weatherproof enclosure.
Allow for expansion and contraction
Plan for expansion
Provide air circulation behind the panel if laid flat


DONT :
Fix anything to the flat roof unless you are certain the fixing is 110% waterproof
Go onto the roof at all if you are at all unhappy with being there
Move the panels around when it is windy or gusty

Hope this helps

Regards
Ian

[alshapton]

Ian - thanks for these pointers -

I hadnt appreciated that there should be 2 angles (summer and winter), and the panels should be placed in a mount that would need adjusting. How that I know that, I can visualise what I need tobuild and how I can mounte them on my felt garage roof. I need to elevate them from the roof (another point that I hadnt appreciated - so thanks for that too!

Hopefully during July I'll be ordering the kit to instal the panels here - I'll report on the progress for other interested people here..


Andrew