Considering scaffold tubes for a ground mount.... thoughts?

[TedM]

I want to add a new ground mount array of just 5 panels located on a spare bit of yard that has a concrete base.
I'm considering making the frame from scaffolding poles as I have a good source of very cheap/free poles and they could be secured using key clamps screwed down into the concrete.

Is there a better option that I'm missing?

[sgt_woulds]

Unistrut.   Mechano for big boys... 🙂 

 

Scaffold poles are harder to cut, not as easy to fit together, and you will still need a way of mounting the panels.

 

However, if the tubes and labour are free...

 

[Bramco]

We used key clamp. No concrete, just whacked some 1m poles into the ground, leaving enough to fasten on to.  But if you've got a concrete base, just use the base/wall mount flanges.  

 

To fasten the panels on, we created a couple of horizontals to give the angle we wanted and key clamp fasteners with  a flange with 2 holes. The panel fasteners were standard solar fasteners - you might need longer bolts but it was pretty easy to find parts and put it all together.

 

[TedM]

I was thinking about using these to clamp the panels to the poles:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/376886172656?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20240627101223%26meid%3D5cf7769367854ef8b06318011d31e8fa%26pid%3D102236%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D376638412709%26itm%3D376886172656%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4481478%26algv%3DDefaultOrganicWebV9BertRefreshRankerWithCassiniEmbRecall%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p4481478.c102236.m5337

[Bramco]

Those look great - ours were the standard aluminum ones, so we needed something with a hole in it on the key clamp poles.

 

When it comes to actually installing the panels, we made a couple of plywood jigs to support the panel in place. So a couple of pieces wider than the pole with a notch in and long enough for the top edge of the panel to rest on it. That way, you can lift the panel on, let it rest on the plywood while you fasten the brackets.