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I have two 4kw (8X500W panels) trackers on order from a Chinese supplier and I'll order in the panels, wire, boxes and breakers if/when they arrive in the Spring of 2024.
The trackers have a suggested foundation of 2mX2m reinforced concrete pad rising on a plinth to a 400mmX400mm mounting point 600mm above ground. In the USA, you can buy concrete plinths off the shelf but they seem sadly lacking in the UK and pouring such an edifice would require some intricate box work. So, I'm looking at alternative means be that screw piles or even a metal pipe drop into a hole backfilled with concrete. I have the groundwork equipment on hand of a 300mm auger and digger capable of digging 2m depth holes. So I could cut a 2m trench and bottom auger that another 1m dept and then drop a 3.6m pipe with top plate to mount the tracker post onto.
Does anyone have experience of using screw piles without a toque measuring head? The auger I have is fairly low torque, 2800Nm max, so I'm uncertain that would be grunt enough to drive a pile to a decent depth in clay soil of say 3m. Which is why I'm erring on the 2m deep trench dropped by the auger with a 300mm hole giving another 1m. I would then run a construction tube to the bottom of the trench and backfill the soil and fill the tube with concrete.
I have calculated the wind loads at 60mph would range from 3kn to 7kn dependent on the season and the tracker weighs in at 350kg including the panels. There is also self levelling wind protection at a pre-set wind speed so these loads are above what would be attained in actual use. The site also has some shelter with surrounding hedges and trees from the prevailing wind direction.
I was quoted £6k labour and £3k for equipment hire to have piles installed which doesn't make sense seeing I do have groundwork equipment on site. For me the only question is pile or pipe, but only pile if my digger and auger will do the job.
This will be a strictly DIY project so if anyone is interested in the project progress then I could post a thread on the install as and when it progresses. I'm hoping to start digging in the Spring and have it up and running by late summer of 2024.
The trackers have a suggested foundation of 2mX2m reinforced concrete pad rising on a plinth to a 400mmX400mm mounting point 600mm above ground. In the USA, you can buy concrete plinths off the shelf but they seem sadly lacking in the UK and pouring such an edifice would require some intricate box work. So, I'm looking at alternative means be that screw piles or even a metal pipe drop into a hole backfilled with concrete. I have the groundwork equipment on hand of a 300mm auger and digger capable of digging 2m depth holes. So I could cut a 2m trench and bottom auger that another 1m dept and then drop a 3.6m pipe with top plate to mount the tracker post onto.
Does anyone have experience of using screw piles without a toque measuring head? The auger I have is fairly low torque, 2800Nm max, so I'm uncertain that would be grunt enough to drive a pile to a decent depth in clay soil of say 3m. Which is why I'm erring on the 2m deep trench dropped by the auger with a 300mm hole giving another 1m. I would then run a construction tube to the bottom of the trench and backfill the soil and fill the tube with concrete.
I have calculated the wind loads at 60mph would range from 3kn to 7kn dependent on the season and the tracker weighs in at 350kg including the panels. There is also self levelling wind protection at a pre-set wind speed so these loads are above what would be attained in actual use. The site also has some shelter with surrounding hedges and trees from the prevailing wind direction.
I was quoted £6k labour and £3k for equipment hire to have piles installed which doesn't make sense seeing I do have groundwork equipment on site. For me the only question is pile or pipe, but only pile if my digger and auger will do the job.
This will be a strictly DIY project so if anyone is interested in the project progress then I could post a thread on the install as and when it progresses. I'm hoping to start digging in the Spring and have it up and running by late summer of 2024.
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