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brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548
Posted: 02:39pm 17 Dec 2016
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I,ve got a fairly substantial hardwood frame built on the north facing side of the house --Around 7.5 M X 3 M ,that used to support a shady running vine thingo ,later a grapevine.
Anyhow , the top beams are around 2M spacing , so I thought I'd fix that "top-hat" galvanized iron purlin steel beams product . Then attach the solar panels --6X 175 panels to it flat (flat would be the easy way )
Question , anyone used that steel tophat purlin beam stuff ,she looks very strong to me ?
Thanks
BruceBushboy
KarlJ Guru Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178
Posted: 12:42am 03 Jan 2017
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You mean the IXL commercial framing product?
Looks good and i like it alot but as no-one wholesaling it makes it somewhat difficult to obtain - particularly in small QTys.
Current generation panels ie 265-270W and up, normal aluminium framing on a Tin roof is pretty inexpensive in the grand scheme of things and far more readily available.
KarlLuck favours the well prepared
KarlJ Guru Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178
Posted: 12:45am 03 Jan 2017
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disregards above .....
now i know the stuff you're talking about.
Will be very fiddly and it kinks pretty easily light as anything!
fo example we cannot eve get into a roof that has ceiling sheets attached to the stuff as its not structurally strong enough to support a mans weight.
Makes installing solar on new build steel frame houses a BITCH!
use proper solar mounting frames! as noted above they are CHEAP.