Premium pitched-roof mounting
When you ask a child to draw a house, they will probably produce one with a pitched roof.
Pitched roofs are the most common roof type in South Africa (and in many countries worldwide). But did you know there is an optimal angle at which solar panels should be mounted on a roof?
In Southern Africa, the ideal pitched-roof solar installation would be on a sunny, north-facing roof with a 30-degree pitch.
So, what if your roof is pitched at an angle other than the ideal?
Thankfully, solar panel mounting manufacturers like Renusol have designed systems that mount panels to a pitched roof while ensuring they are angled optimally to generate maximum power.
How does pitched-roof mounting work?
When mounting panels to a tiled pitched roof, they will usually be attached to the roof so that they sit above the tiles. Not only is this the most cost-effective way of mounting panels, but also offers the best performance as it allows for maximum ventilation around the modules to keep them cool.
Typically, a solar installer will attach strong roof hooks to the roof’s rafters, apply a leak-proof water seal and attach rails to the hooks. The PV modules will then be clamped to the rails.
World-class mounting for tiled pitched roofs
When assembling and fastening PV modules to pitched roofs with tiles, we recommend the Renusol VS+ portfolio.
This universal solution is suitable for nearly all pitched roofs thanks to the immense variety of roof hooks, giving installers and end-users unmatched choice. The VS+ also comprises two mounting rails that cater to medium and high loads.
As a modular system, the VS+ can be assembled in various configurations to suit virtually any pitched roof. The beauty of the VS+ is its ease of assembly.
What’s more, only one clamp is required across the entire system! The Renusol RS1 is adjustable and works as both an end clamp and a middle clamp — simply rotate the head 90 degrees. The height of the RS1 is also adjustable to suit modules with a frame height between 30mm and 50mm. The clamp is robust and locks in place when the screw is tightened.
The Renusol LC1 clamp offers the same versatility as the RS1 except is suitable for glass-glass modules without a frame with thicknesses between 3.5mm to 9.5mm.
Metal-roof mounting made easy
But what if your pitched roof is made of metal?
As many commercial buildings have metal trapezoidal (KLIP-LOK) roof structures, they require a slightly different solution for panel mounting. On metal roofs, the rails are secured to the ridges using self-tapping screws (i.e. no need to pre-drill holes), and the panels are then clamped to the rails.
Presenting the Renusol MS+!
The compact design of the MS+ reduces transport costs, saves storage space and facilitates construction site management. Additionally, the simplicity of the system means mounting is fast and smooth.
All-encompassing design tools
Renusol’s unique PV-Configurator 3.0 is an online design tool that allows users to create an accurate mounting solution for all roof types. The software will ensure the correct system is used to fasten the panels to the roof securely, providing structural calculations, parameters documentation and a comprehensive parts list.
Renusol is also the default mounting manufacturer when you design a system using the SegenSolar Kit Builder tool. The correct mounting solution will come already included for each Kit — whether off-grid or grid-tied.
The SegenSolar experts recommend Renusol PV mounting solutions for all your renewable solar energy projects. If you are a solar installer, log in or register to the free customer portal to purchase Renusol as part of your next solar product order.