Our Solar Array

What started as an ambitious dream became an incredible reality when we decided to tackle building our own massive solar structure from the ground up.

The structure stands over 20 feet high at it's tallest point and spans 54 feet wide. The array consists of 48 solar panels - 3 rows of 16 portrait oriented panels supported by a custom designed steel-trussed structure which represents a month of sweat, determination, and problem-solving that pushed us to our limits.

Every bolt we tightened, every panel we positioned, and every structural challenge we conquered brought us closer to energy independence while proving that with enough grit even the most daunting DIY projects are possible. Now, watching the sun hit those panels each morning fills us with an incredible sense of accomplishment - not just because we're generating our own independent source of energy, but because we built something truly substantial with our own hands that will serve us for decades to come.

You might notice the bottom row is wider than the top two rows. This is not a mistake! The top 2 rows is a complete pallet of panels. The bottom row is utilizing left over panels from a previous project (Fred the Bus).

For you nerdy folks that must know, there are 5 strings feeding 2 buildings.

• String 1 is 8s2p (house MPPT 1)

• String 2 & 3 are 8s each (house MPPT 2 & 3)

• String 4 & 5 are 8s each (bottom row - barn MPPT 1 & 2)

• Slope is approx. 26.5 degrees (6/12 +/- pitch)