3 photovoltaic panels on tilesAfter a long break, with lots of valid excuses, we tackled the solar panel (photovoltaic panels) mounting, cabling and connection to the RCT hybrid inverter power unit.

Of course, just our luck that we choose one of the hottest days in Durban to do the installation – loads of sunscreen, lots of liquids, big hats and lots of determination we started the solar panel installation on the Marseille tile roof.

The mounting brackets for these tiled roofs can be bought from the solar panel suppliers for around R250 each and we needed 20. Instead of paying this absurd amount, we bought the metal, had it laser cut, bent, welded and galvanized as below:

  • Flat bar (5mm by 20mm) 2 x 6m lengths – R120
  • 2mm sheeting laser cut to accommodate the mounting holes – R790
  • Flat bar bending to shape – R150
  • Welding plate to flat bar – R525
  • Galvanising of 20 units – R150

Total for the brackets – R1735.00 (saving of about R3300).

Galvanised solar brackets ready for installation

Our DIY tiled roof solar panel brackets, the bent brackets were for the bottom of the panel, so that it increased the angle of the panels on the roof.

The aluminium extrusion solar mounting rails in 4m lengths would have cost us R700 each – we would have needed 5 lengths, instead we bought 25mm square aluminium tubing:

  • 3 x 25mm square tubing in 6m lengths – R420

Total for the aluminium rails R420 (saving of about R3000).

aluminium rails with galvanised truss brackets

You can see the aluminium rails connected to the galvanised brackets, this is just before we started mounting the panels on top of these rails.

The mounting brackets for the special mounting rails I did not get a price for, but we went for stainless steel bolts, washers and lock nuts:

  • Fasteners – R400

Total solar panel mounting cost – R2555.00.

mounting solar panels onto aluminium rail on tiles

Myself, Themba and Ndumiso fitting panel number one on the rails – it was rather hot up there and a touch hotter in the ceiling 😉

Total mounting cost per panel – R284 (Estimated cost quoted by installation suppliers R1000 per panel).

So as you can see, our DIY brackets and railings ended up being a fraction of the price compared with using the special purpose-made mountings – but it does take longer to install, as nothing is a “clip in and fasten” with mounting holes needing to be measured and drilled for each panel. My advice to the self-installer – do it the way we did, but there is no way a professional solar installer would want to spend extra time mounting the panels.

eyegagasi solar installers durban

Themba (left) and Ndumiso from Eyegagasi Cabling with the ArtSolar 255W panel

As each of these panels is securely attached to the railings, we grounded the railings to an earth spike 1m away from the side of the house using 8mm cable for each array of panels.

We used 6mm square twin and earth house cable to connect the solar panels to the hybrid inverter – about 30 metres in total and the connections were all done using the special MC4 connectors and Y splitters. The feed from the solar panels can be isolated using a DC isolator switch and instead of buying DC fuses at an estimated R200 each, we were advised to increase the amperage requirement and use a simple circuit breaker, as that would isolate any problems just like a fuse. They recommended we double the size of the amperage and use a AC circuit breaker which we did and save a little extra, one on each polarity:

  • 35m of 6mm Twin and earth cable from Voltex – R874.00
  • Solar MC4 connectors and splitters from Current Automation – R810.54
  • 63Amp circuit breakers from ACDC – R73.00
  • DC Isolator switch from Electronmachanica – R423.74
  • Switch box from A1 Radio – R 180.00

Total for the cabling of the solar panels to the hybrid inverter – R2361.28.

3 photovoltaic panels on tiled roof

One of the 3 sets of 3 panels – 3 in series connected in parallel to each other (3 parallel x 3 series sets)

6 photovoltaic panels on tiled roof

The 6 panels on the bigger roof – all panels face North-NorthWest (just a touch off North)

We are still building up a good record of the performance of the solar panels on the attached notebook and need to tweak the settings of the hybrid inverter, but we are using the solar panels during the day and batteries for the first 4 hours of nightfall, before the unit clicks back to the Escom grid.

The load has also been increased, which now includes the entire garage and bunk room behind the garage, as the system was ticking over with about 5% load.

RCT hybrid inverter connected to solar panels batteries and grid

The installation as it now stands with the big solar isolator and “fuse” circuit breakers

A big thank you to Eyegagasi Cabling for their patience and guidance in the whole DIY project, Themba Msani and his trusted assistant Ndumiso worked tirelessly to get this solution connected, not to mention the work on the original inverter and re-cabling project a few weeks ago.

RCT inverter running solar

You can see the solar icon indicating that it was running off the solar and charging the batteries

One cost we have yet to include is the labour costs from Eyegagasi. Excluding these labour costs, our backup solar power solution currently stands us at R53 000.00 including the re-wiring of circuits from and to the new sub DB board.

Some important things to consider:

  • We elevated our panels a little more than the 19 degree pitch – it helps to increase the efficiency of the panels and also allows the rain to clean them better as the run off angle is greater.
  • Only connect the solar array to the system once everything has been cabled – leave the first connection in the array disconnected at the MC4 splitters and complete the cabling at the inverter and switch, once you are ready connect that last piece of the puzzle – the high DC current is rather dangerous.
  • Expect to break files and battens.
  • I think grounding the solar panels is an absolute must.
  • Run as much cabling inside the roof in conduiting, it saves having to buy the expensive weatherproof solar cable.

solar isolator switch with circuit breakers as fuses

The solar isolator switch with the “fuses” on the right

Once we build up some stats on the performance of the system, we will publish a final report on the solar backup solution.

PS. I just about fell through the roof once, in total we broke about 10 tiles and 3 of those were right at the top copings, which meant we had to re-cement the replacements and coping. 

Related articles:
My hybrid solar power and backup solution – baby steps
My hybrid solar power and backup solution – Cabling
My hybrid solar power and backup solution – Link to Main Electrical Board
My hybrid solar power and backup solution – Solar Connection

2 COMMENTS

  1. Fantastic articles, as a novice I lapped up the information and experience of the author, I have a problem with the DC connect / Isolator, can I use a whopping great AC circuit breaker as an isolator switch ? ( obviously with the recommended standard fuses in between. )

  2. [quote name=”Paul Tew”]Fantastic articles, as a novice I lapped up the information and experience of the author, I have a problem with the DC connect / Isolator, can I use a whopping great AC circuit breaker as an isolator switch ? ( obviously with the recommended standard fuses in between. )[/quote]

    Hi Paul

    I am really not an expert, or qualified to give advice, just a home DIY type of guy. My isolator cost a fortune, as I imagine you have found out. You must check this with a qualified person, but I would imagine two large circuit breakers, one for live and one for neutral, should do the trick – but the isolators obviously are recommended.

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