Installing the EG4 BrightMount Solar Panel Ground Mount Rack | 4 Panel Adjustable Angle ground mount

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BrightMount Solar panel racking kit

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Discount Coupon code ($50 off $500): SAVE50TGBATG BrightMount Solar panel racking kit: https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-brightmount-solar-panel-ground-mount-rack-kit-4-panel-ground-mount-adjustable-angle-pre-order/?ref=bkpkbxde -- above links are affiliate links to authorized retailer In this episode, we install the EG4 brightmount solar panel ground mount rack system from EG4. This system is designed to mount four panels to the solar ground mount rails, but if you are mounting panels about 44 to 45 inches wide then you will need to purchase a separate rail extension kit. We end up mounting for Heliene 490 W solar panels on this kit and the kit is mounted to raised post using cinderblocks. #eg4 #solarpanel #solarenergy #groundmountsolar #offgrid #energystoragesystem

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📝 Video Transcript

hey what's guys back to the channel to hey what's guys back to the channel to hey what's guys back to the channel to episode we're going to be talking about episode we're going to be talking about episode we're going to be talking about this eg4 ground Mount system this system this eg4 ground Mount system this system this eg4 ground Mount system this system is called the eg4 bright rack ground is called the eg4 bright rack ground is called the eg4 bright rack ground Mount system and currently on here there Mount system and currently on here there Mount system and currently on here there are four 500 W helium panels mounted to are four 500 W helium panels mounted to are four 500 W helium panels mounted to it and one just leaning on its side so it and one just leaning on its side so it and one just leaning on its side so let's get to it see she all right you guys so first things first all right you guys so first things first all right you guys so first things first quickly uh if you're wondering why the quickly uh if you're wondering why the quickly uh if you're wondering why the panels are not lined up perfectly panels are not lined up perfectly panels are not lined up perfectly there's a big reason for that there's a there's a big reason for that there's a there's a big reason for that there's a hump right there uh which making pushing hump right there uh which making pushing hump right there uh which making pushing this panel down a little bit and then this panel down a little bit and then this panel down a little bit and then this panel needs to be as far up to the this panel needs to be as far up to the this panel needs to be as far up to the house as possible mainly because via H house as possible mainly because via H house as possible mainly because via H courtesy of the HOA they cannot be courtesy of the HOA they cannot be courtesy of the HOA they cannot be visible from any part of the street so visible from any part of the street so visible from any part of the street so this is really the only area that I have this is really the only area that I have this is really the only area that I have to work with because from that side you to work with because from that side you to work with because from that side you can see pretty much almost everything can see pretty much almost everything can see pretty much almost everything too right so I can only work within this too right so I can only work within this too right so I can only work within this corner that's why it's it's pushed up as corner that's why it's it's pushed up as corner that's why it's it's pushed up as much as it is it would love to be out a much as it is it would love to be out a much as it is it would love to be out a little bit more to get some you know little bit more to get some you know little bit more to get some you know reverse shading and stuff like that or reverse shading and stuff like that or reverse shading and stuff like that or or light from the back and all kinds of or light from the back and all kinds of or light from the back and all kinds of fun stuff but in my situation you got to fun stuff but in my situation you got to fun stuff but in my situation you got to work with the constraints and this is work with the constraints and this is work with the constraints and this is what I have to work with all right so I what I have to work with all right so I what I have to work with all right so I would also love to put another panel would also love to put another panel would also love to put another panel right here but this line right here is right here but this line right here is right here but this line right here is where it really becomes visible um and where it really becomes visible um and where it really becomes visible um and you know can't really deal with that so you know can't really deal with that so you know can't really deal with that so anyways let's get to it real quick okay anyways let's get to it real quick okay anyways let's get to it real quick okay um the first things first there's a um the first things first there's a um the first things first there's a ground wire coming out of here you can ground wire coming out of here you can ground wire coming out of here you can see it's connected to a grounding rod see it's connected to a grounding rod see it's connected to a grounding rod over there um this actually connects to over there um this actually connects to over there um this actually connects to the the rack and we'll show you that in the the rack and we'll show you that in the the rack and we'll show you that in a little bit but right now these are 495 a little bit but right now these are 495 a little bit but right now these are 495 wat Helen panels and there's four of wat Helen panels and there's four of wat Helen panels and there's four of them mounted um on the bright R system them mounted um on the bright R system them mounted um on the bright R system so if you did want to mount panels that so if you did want to mount panels that so if you did want to mount panels that are of this size you do need to get the are of this size you do need to get the are of this size you do need to get the uh bright rack or bright Mount extension uh bright rack or bright Mount extension uh bright rack or bright Mount extension kit okay so just know that but if you do kit okay so just know that but if you do kit okay so just know that but if you do mount it this way right you can mount mount it this way right you can mount mount it this way right you can mount four and in theory you could squeeze four and in theory you could squeeze four and in theory you could squeeze another one at an angle right here too I another one at an angle right here too I another one at an angle right here too I technically can't but if you get some technically can't but if you get some technically can't but if you get some braces you can brace this panel to this braces you can brace this panel to this braces you can brace this panel to this panel and then make it you know pretty panel and then make it you know pretty panel and then make it you know pretty sturdy that way there's not a lot of sturdy that way there's not a lot of sturdy that way there's not a lot of uplift force and it can't really fly uplift force and it can't really fly uplift force and it can't really fly away during high winds right but you're away during high winds right but you're away during high winds right but you're going to need to secure the panel to the going to need to secure the panel to the going to need to secure the panel to the panel all right so U looking at it here panel all right so U looking at it here panel all right so U looking at it here real quick just in case you're wondering real quick just in case you're wondering real quick just in case you're wondering what panel it exactly is being used what panel it exactly is being used what panel it exactly is being used here's the helan panel 490 and as you here's the helan panel 490 and as you here's the helan panel 490 and as you can see nominal MPP power is 190 all can see nominal MPP power is 190 all can see nominal MPP power is 190 all right so with that being said I will go right so with that being said I will go right so with that being said I will go ahead and cover some of these real quick ahead and cover some of these real quick ahead and cover some of these real quick um these are the end Clips the end clips um these are the end Clips the end clips um these are the end Clips the end clips that I used I did have to reverse them that I used I did have to reverse them that I used I did have to reverse them and switch them out on each side you can and switch them out on each side you can and switch them out on each side you can see right here there is maybe about 3 in see right here there is maybe about 3 in see right here there is maybe about 3 in here that is left on the rail okay all here that is left on the rail okay all here that is left on the rail okay all of these end these middle Clips here I of these end these middle Clips here I of these end these middle Clips here I will say are a huge pain to get on will say are a huge pain to get on will say are a huge pain to get on especially if you're working by yourself especially if you're working by yourself especially if you're working by yourself so if you do want to get the middle so if you do want to get the middle so if you do want to get the middle Clips on I would highly recommend you Clips on I would highly recommend you Clips on I would highly recommend you work with two people technically it is work with two people technically it is work with two people technically it is possible to get the uh middle clamps in possible to get the uh middle clamps in possible to get the uh middle clamps in by yourself but you need another hand by yourself but you need another hand by yourself but you need another hand what I mean by that is um you need need what I mean by that is um you need need what I mean by that is um you need need to be able to get this grounding uh to be able to get this grounding uh to be able to get this grounding uh little plate inside of there and you're little plate inside of there and you're little plate inside of there and you're really holding the panel up at an angle really holding the panel up at an angle really holding the panel up at an angle and you need to fit it up between the and you need to fit it up between the and you need to fit it up between the rack and the grounding plate so what I rack and the grounding plate so what I rack and the grounding plate so what I did was I was just kind of using my leg did was I was just kind of using my leg did was I was just kind of using my leg to kind of hold it up as I slid the to kind of hold it up as I slid the to kind of hold it up as I slid the panel in there but I will say it's panel in there but I will say it's panel in there but I will say it's extremely difficult to do that by extremely difficult to do that by extremely difficult to do that by yourself so make sure you get some help yourself so make sure you get some help yourself so make sure you get some help if you are going to try to do that all if you are going to try to do that all if you are going to try to do that all right so moving around here real quick right so moving around here real quick right so moving around here real quick we'll go ahead and go through the back we'll go ahead and go through the back we'll go ahead and go through the back as you can see I do have all four as you can see I do have all four as you can see I do have all four mounted all four legs mounted um there's mounted all four legs mounted um there's mounted all four legs mounted um there's about 16 of these sleeve anchors that about 16 of these sleeve anchors that about 16 of these sleeve anchors that you need to mount um I would say out of you need to mount um I would say out of you need to mount um I would say out of the 16 that I got only one of them did the 16 that I got only one of them did the 16 that I got only one of them did not engage and because it didn't engage not engage and because it didn't engage not engage and because it didn't engage I had to use you know a set of tools to I had to use you know a set of tools to I had to use you know a set of tools to just pry it out and I'm going to go just pry it out and I'm going to go just pry it out and I'm going to go replace with another sleeve anchor later replace with another sleeve anchor later replace with another sleeve anchor later but I would say one and 16 I would say but I would say one and 16 I would say but I would say one and 16 I would say it's pretty good mainly because um in my it's pretty good mainly because um in my it's pretty good mainly because um in my experience I want to say maybe roughly experience I want to say maybe roughly experience I want to say maybe roughly 20ish per of the sleeve anchors just 20ish per of the sleeve anchors just 20ish per of the sleeve anchors just generally in construction I would say generally in construction I would say generally in construction I would say you usually just have a hard time you usually just have a hard time you usually just have a hard time engaging all right I will also point out engaging all right I will also point out engaging all right I will also point out um because the instructions tell you to um because the instructions tell you to um because the instructions tell you to use a half inch drill bit but the sleeve use a half inch drill bit but the sleeve use a half inch drill bit but the sleeve anchors were metric right so you need to anchors were metric right so you need to anchors were metric right so you need to really use the right metric uh Drillbit really use the right metric uh Drillbit really use the right metric uh Drillbit size to to get them that you know fit size to to get them that you know fit size to to get them that you know fit perfectly snugly and all of that but you perfectly snugly and all of that but you perfectly snugly and all of that but you know most of us people here in the US know most of us people here in the US know most of us people here in the US aren't going to be able to find easily aren't going to be able to find easily aren't going to be able to find easily metric SDS Dr bits right so just keep metric SDS Dr bits right so just keep metric SDS Dr bits right so just keep that in mind all right and if you're that in mind all right and if you're that in mind all right and if you're going to do this again or if you want to going to do this again or if you want to going to do this again or if you want to do this again I would recommend using do this again I would recommend using do this again I would recommend using you know a/ inch tapc and a/2 inch uh you know a/ inch tapc and a/2 inch uh you know a/ inch tapc and a/2 inch uh SDS bit but you know obviously that's SDS bit but you know obviously that's SDS bit but you know obviously that's going to increase your bill roughly going to increase your bill roughly going to increase your bill roughly maybe about 75 bucks for just the tap maybe about 75 bucks for just the tap maybe about 75 bucks for just the tap cons themselves okay so let's go back cons themselves okay so let's go back cons themselves okay so let's go back here I am back here and you will hear a here I am back here and you will hear a here I am back here and you will hear a little bit of an echo mainly because we little bit of an echo mainly because we little bit of an echo mainly because we are in an enclosed space as you can see are in an enclosed space as you can see are in an enclosed space as you can see right here the way I have it mounted is right here the way I have it mounted is right here the way I have it mounted is this grounding wire it's connected to this grounding wire it's connected to this grounding wire it's connected to this log here it's a grounding pin and this log here it's a grounding pin and this log here it's a grounding pin and if you look over there you will see if you look over there you will see if you look over there you will see another grounding pin right so the another grounding pin right so the another grounding pin right so the ground is actually connected across this ground is actually connected across this ground is actually connected across this long rack here and long rack here and long rack here and also this long rack up here okay um all also this long rack up here okay um all also this long rack up here okay um all of these like I said uh seem to be of these like I said uh seem to be of these like I said uh seem to be pretty sturdy no not too many issues pretty sturdy no not too many issues pretty sturdy no not too many issues with that all of these do need to be with that all of these do need to be with that all of these do need to be secure um there's an easy way to do that secure um there's an easy way to do that secure um there's an easy way to do that if you get a t I forgot what size bid it if you get a t I forgot what size bid it if you get a t I forgot what size bid it is but a torque bit and uh a wrench you is but a torque bit and uh a wrench you is but a torque bit and uh a wrench you can easily secure all of them pretty can easily secure all of them pretty can easily secure all of them pretty easily but as you do Mount these the easily but as you do Mount these the easily but as you do Mount these the middle clamps the mid clamps have this middle clamps the mid clamps have this middle clamps the mid clamps have this little uh grounding pin or a grounding little uh grounding pin or a grounding little uh grounding pin or a grounding kit that you need to put between the kit that you need to put between the kit that you need to put between the rail and the panel so if you look at it rail and the panel so if you look at it rail and the panel so if you look at it really closely what that really does is really closely what that really does is really closely what that really does is it really scratches the surface of the it really scratches the surface of the it really scratches the surface of the panel and the surface of this aluminum panel and the surface of this aluminum panel and the surface of this aluminum rail to make a bonded connection mainly rail to make a bonded connection mainly rail to make a bonded connection mainly because you need to bond the panels to because you need to bond the panels to because you need to bond the panels to the rail so that you can ground the rail the rail so that you can ground the rail the rail so that you can ground the rail right so technically I would say I right so technically I would say I right so technically I would say I actually really hate this design after actually really hate this design after actually really hate this design after using it what I would prefer is if they using it what I would prefer is if they using it what I would prefer is if they eventually gave you some kind of clip so eventually gave you some kind of clip so eventually gave you some kind of clip so you could either secure uh like a you could either secure uh like a you could either secure uh like a self-tapping scoop or something like self-tapping scoop or something like self-tapping scoop or something like that to secure the two together it would that to secure the two together it would that to secure the two together it would just seem like a much better idea to you just seem like a much better idea to you just seem like a much better idea to you know Bond them together and also to know Bond them together and also to know Bond them together and also to secure them but trying to get this clip secure them but trying to get this clip secure them but trying to get this clip in here during and or after getting the in here during and or after getting the in here during and or after getting the mid clamp in is a huge pain all right so mid clamp in is a huge pain all right so mid clamp in is a huge pain all right so if they found another way to improve if they found another way to improve if they found another way to improve upon that I think that would be good all upon that I think that would be good all upon that I think that would be good all right so uh my uh quick disconnect is right so uh my uh quick disconnect is right so uh my uh quick disconnect is here or the isolation switch is here here or the isolation switch is here here or the isolation switch is here mainly because uh this was originally mainly because uh this was originally mainly because uh this was originally installed with the older panels so I'll installed with the older panels so I'll installed with the older panels so I'll probably need to either move this out probably need to either move this out probably need to either move this out over there closer to the end or just put over there closer to the end or just put over there closer to the end or just put another one somewhere that's more easily another one somewhere that's more easily another one somewhere that's more easily accessible right and if you look here um accessible right and if you look here um accessible right and if you look here um this is the extension kit so the this is the extension kit so the this is the extension kit so the extension kit comes with two so here's extension kit comes with two so here's extension kit comes with two so here's one here and then the other one is down one here and then the other one is down one here and then the other one is down there and as you can see I did not use there and as you can see I did not use there and as you can see I did not use the self tiping screws that came with the self tiping screws that came with the self tiping screws that came with the kit mainly because I could not find the kit mainly because I could not find the kit mainly because I could not find a nut driver that fit them mainly a nut driver that fit them mainly a nut driver that fit them mainly because the heads on those nuts or those because the heads on those nuts or those because the heads on those nuts or those uh nut uh self tappers were some like uh nut uh self tappers were some like uh nut uh self tappers were some like metric size that I just could not find metric size that I just could not find metric size that I just could not find easily I'm sure I have like a few laying easily I'm sure I have like a few laying easily I'm sure I have like a few laying rounds somewhere I just couldn't find it rounds somewhere I just couldn't find it rounds somewhere I just couldn't find it so I just Ed the self typing screws that so I just Ed the self typing screws that so I just Ed the self typing screws that I had and I made sure to leave a pretty I had and I made sure to leave a pretty I had and I made sure to leave a pretty a decent size Gap here and here and you a decent size Gap here and here and you a decent size Gap here and here and you need to do that when you uh install this need to do that when you uh install this need to do that when you uh install this kit mainly because it's aluminum it's kit mainly because it's aluminum it's kit mainly because it's aluminum it's pretty long it will expand and contract pretty long it will expand and contract pretty long it will expand and contract there is a metal there is a metal there is a metal um splicing Rod that goes in this rail um splicing Rod that goes in this rail um splicing Rod that goes in this rail all the way across right that keeps it all the way across right that keeps it all the way across right that keeps it really secure or snug and then this uh really secure or snug and then this uh really secure or snug and then this uh self-tapping screw actually keeps the self-tapping screw actually keeps the self-tapping screw actually keeps the bar really well connected okay bar really well connected okay bar really well connected okay technically I would have used more but I technically I would have used more but I technically I would have used more but I wanted to see how was going to work for wanted to see how was going to work for wanted to see how was going to work for I just started drilling a bunch of holes I just started drilling a bunch of holes I just started drilling a bunch of holes in this aluminum rail so you know that's in this aluminum rail so you know that's in this aluminum rail so you know that's how that goes okay so as you can see how that goes okay so as you can see how that goes okay so as you can see here there's not really too much to it here there's not really too much to it here there's not really too much to it I'm sorry there's a bunch of kid stuff I'm sorry there's a bunch of kid stuff I'm sorry there's a bunch of kid stuff everywhere but as you can imagine everywhere but as you can imagine everywhere but as you can imagine all of the panels are mounted on this all of the panels are mounted on this all of the panels are mounted on this rail pretty easily uh what you could rail pretty easily uh what you could rail pretty easily uh what you could probably also want to do is come back probably also want to do is come back probably also want to do is come back around here and run some wire management around here and run some wire management around here and run some wire management with some cable ties but I did want to with some cable ties but I did want to with some cable ties but I did want to show you what it looks like under the show you what it looks like under the show you what it looks like under the rack when you have the rack mounted on rack when you have the rack mounted on rack when you have the rack mounted on uh three cinder blocks that are roughly uh three cinder blocks that are roughly uh three cinder blocks that are roughly about 8 in High um as you saw in the about 8 in High um as you saw in the about 8 in High um as you saw in the video and earlier these cinder blocks video and earlier these cinder blocks video and earlier these cinder blocks are epoxy anchored together right and are epoxy anchored together right and are epoxy anchored together right and they're also epoxied to the the ground they're also epoxied to the the ground they're also epoxied to the the ground here with a rebar or two rebars uh that here with a rebar or two rebars uh that here with a rebar or two rebars uh that are epoxy into uh the slab and coming are epoxy into uh the slab and coming are epoxy into uh the slab and coming all the way up so I'm pretty sure this all the way up so I'm pretty sure this all the way up so I'm pretty sure this is not going to be going anywhere is not going to be going anywhere is not going to be going anywhere anytime soon because of the rebar and anytime soon because of the rebar and anytime soon because of the rebar and the epoxy um so it's going to be super the epoxy um so it's going to be super the epoxy um so it's going to be super secure I did also wet cure them for secure I did also wet cure them for secure I did also wet cure them for about 30 something days um to make sure about 30 something days um to make sure about 30 something days um to make sure the concrete is really strong so if the concrete is really strong so if the concrete is really strong so if anything does happen this it's not going anything does happen this it's not going anything does happen this it's not going to be the base if you did have some to be the base if you did have some to be the base if you did have some concerns on you know the surface area of concerns on you know the surface area of concerns on you know the surface area of this uh Cube looking thing being uh this uh Cube looking thing being uh this uh Cube looking thing being uh pretty small you can see here uh there's pretty small you can see here uh there's pretty small you can see here uh there's a good enough size I could have mounted a good enough size I could have mounted a good enough size I could have mounted it you know a little bit more Centric it you know a little bit more Centric it you know a little bit more Centric but I did want to mount them as close to but I did want to mount them as close to but I did want to mount them as close to the house as possible and I did want to the house as possible and I did want to the house as possible and I did want to align all of them it's kind of why this align all of them it's kind of why this align all of them it's kind of why this chalk line is here I will have to come chalk line is here I will have to come chalk line is here I will have to come back around later one day and you know back around later one day and you know back around later one day and you know fix that one fix that secure uh Anchor fix that one fix that secure uh Anchor fix that one fix that secure uh Anchor Point in there as you can see here also Point in there as you can see here also Point in there as you can see here also I have mine extended all the way I think I have mine extended all the way I think I have mine extended all the way I think it's to me I think was like 23° I forgot it's to me I think was like 23° I forgot it's to me I think was like 23° I forgot what it was um mainly because I think what it was um mainly because I think what it was um mainly because I think for for my area that's probably the for for my area that's probably the for for my area that's probably the closest I could get and I would say for closest I could get and I would say for closest I could get and I would say for right now it's working mainly really right now it's working mainly really right now it's working mainly really good because I am able to good because I am able to good because I am able to get um I want to say very close to good get um I want to say very close to good get um I want to say very close to good efficiency out of all of these efficiency out of all of these efficiency out of all of these considering a lot of hot air technically considering a lot of hot air technically considering a lot of hot air technically is being trapped back here because it is being trapped back here because it is being trapped back here because it doesn't really have a good point to get doesn't really have a good point to get doesn't really have a good point to get out right that's another reason why we out right that's another reason why we out right that's another reason why we we move the uh panel all the way in the we move the uh panel all the way in the we move the uh panel all the way in the back back a little bit more forward so back back a little bit more forward so back back a little bit more forward so there is a little bit of Gap we left I there is a little bit of Gap we left I there is a little bit of Gap we left I want to say maybe about 2 or 3 in along want to say maybe about 2 or 3 in along want to say maybe about 2 or 3 in along that corner for air to flow out one that corner for air to flow out one that corner for air to flow out one thing we may eventually do is install a thing we may eventually do is install a thing we may eventually do is install a fan or something like that to help uh fan or something like that to help uh fan or something like that to help uh air flow but other than that you know air flow but other than that you know air flow but other than that you know that's what's really going on with this that's what's really going on with this that's what's really going on with this wreck oh