If I replace the tin on the roof of my pole barn with a solar array how could I seal the joints of the solar panes?
Comments
This is a great question. The problem is that there aren't any good answers. If you were doing a new high end house, you could justify a fancy German solar roof with architectural sealing channels for the solar panels, but a pole barn is too functional to warrant that expense.
Your best bet is to fix the tin roof and then put the solar over it on EJOT fasteners (hanger bolts with custom washers). The solar panels will protect the old roof and make it last a lot longer, but they won't make it weather tight.
Also, pole barns usually have very light roof framing, so you make want to make sure the roof can carry another 3-4lbs per square foot in solar payload.
The other option is to go with Global Solar modules on a new standing seam roof. This should allow for complete coverage, and all the electrical connections would be at the ridge.
If you give me permission, I can have one of our account managers look at the size of your roof and make other suggestions.
If you want to go the inventing route, you could buy raw aluminum C-channel and H-channel to match the thickness of the modules, and then figure out how to seal them from the top. Then the backs of the modules would be visible from inside the structure.
Although I agree with SF, I also believe you could add new trusses or supports to the existing roof, and do quite well with a bipv set up. Or you could utilize the racking systems design option offered by level one solar. I use the app they provide to get the racking count and positioning for my clients.
Rich @ alternativeenergyproductsgroup.com
Richviers,Does Level One offer a racking system that provides a sealing surface between adjacent modules? I looked at their site but didn't find anything. I've seen a couple of companies start to offer such a system, but they don't seem to stick around. Would be a great product to find.
Level one does not offer that type of system, but my suggestion was to use their racking in a standard roofing configuration and only modify your pole barn roof slightly by adding trusses so you can get better coverage. It would be much cheaper in the long run for you to do it that way than to attempt to redesign the roof as a bipv site. I am sorry for any misconception my prior statement might have created.
Standard PV modules are not designed to to be roofing material so you have one of three choices. 1) Put the modules on a roof2) Put on BIPV modules designed to be roofing material. Due to the expense you will probably find it less expensive to go with option 1.3) There is a racking system out there that does not seal the modules together but puts gutters under the module seams to channel the rain away. It's not 100% waterproof. You can look at it here: http://solarenergydesign.com/rainframe/ Good luck
Rainframe looks like it could be an excellent choice for a pole barn since they are not usually fully waterproof anyway. The product is made (or designed) in Eugene, OR, so they understand rain pretty well. The gutter system may need a lot of maintenance if there are any trees or other sources of leaf litter to clog the gutters.
Personally I think that is an Awesome Idea.. I wanted to cut the top of my roof off and mount my solar panels on a boxed in enclosure and then make the ceiling in the liviing room into a skylight type of thing but that got nixed by my wife...LOL
Comments
This is a great question. The problem is that there aren't any good answers. If you were doing a new high end house, you could justify a fancy German solar roof with architectural sealing channels for the solar panels, but a pole barn is too functional to warrant that expense.
Your best bet is to fix the tin roof and then put the solar over it on EJOT fasteners (hanger bolts with custom washers). The solar panels will protect the old roof and make it last a lot longer, but they won't make it weather tight.
Also, pole barns usually have very light roof framing, so you make want to make sure the roof can carry another 3-4lbs per square foot in solar payload.
The other option is to go with Global Solar modules on a new standing seam roof. This should allow for complete coverage, and all the electrical connections would be at the ridge.
If you give me permission, I can have one of our account managers look at the size of your roof and make other suggestions.
If you want to go the inventing route, you could buy raw aluminum C-channel and H-channel to match the thickness of the modules, and then figure out how to seal them from the top. Then the backs of the modules would be visible from inside the structure.
Although I agree with SF, I also believe you could add new trusses or supports to the existing roof, and do quite well with a bipv set up. Or you could utilize the racking systems design option offered by level one solar. I use the app they provide to get the racking count and positioning for my clients.
Rich @ alternativeenergyproductsgroup.com
Level one does not offer that type of system, but my suggestion was to use their racking in a standard roofing configuration and only modify your pole barn roof slightly by adding trusses so you can get better coverage. It would be much cheaper in the long run for you to do it that way than to attempt to redesign the roof as a bipv site. I am sorry for any misconception my prior statement might have created.
Good luck
The gutter system may need a lot of maintenance if there are any trees or other sources of leaf litter to clog the gutters.
Personally I think that is an Awesome Idea.. I wanted to cut the top of my roof off and mount my solar panels on a boxed in enclosure and then make the ceiling in the liviing room into a skylight type of thing but that got nixed by my wife...LOL
she just didnt like the idea..