I'm currently weighing the pros and cons of mounting my 400W solar panel either on the ground or the roof of my cabin. After considering various factors, I initially favored a DIY ground mount, but now I'm leaning towards a roof mount since the angle is just right for solar efficiency during spring and fall. However, I'm now concerned about the downsides, like snow buildup and the lack of adjustability. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the best mounting method and if anyone has simple, affordable ground mount ideas that don't require heavy construction work, especially since we deal with a lot of wind here.
1 Answer
If you’re in a windy area, going for a ground mount means you’ll likely need to either pour footings or use something like sandbags to keep your setup stable. A 400W panel can really catch the wind, so having a solid base is essential. For a single panel, a few 50lb sandbags should do the trick—2 to 4 bags should keep it steady depending on how steep the angle is for your installation. You'll want to be careful with wind issues for sure!
So it sounds like roof mounting might be simpler then?