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Renewable Energy: Sourcing black frame for PV ground array

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorlinuss
    • CommentTimeNov 3rd 2011
     
    Hello all!

    I'm trying to source a black mounting frame for a ground based PV array for a National Park installation - can anyone recommend a manufacturer of these?
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeNov 3rd 2011
     
    U-Spray?
    •  
      CommentAuthorJSHarris
    • CommentTimeNov 3rd 2011
     
    I take it you need black to get it to blend in to the environment a bit better?

    One option might be to just get a normal frame powder coated. Could well be cheaper and easier than trying to source a manufacturer of black frames.

    Powder coat is pretty durable, especially if applied over a galvanised frame. Even if the coat gets scratched in places it will remain OK, and should adhere better to the galvanised finish than most paints. All the frame parts can be powder coated before assembly, then just bolted up as normal. The finish is much tougher than paint (it's the same technique that's often used to coat aluminium window frames). A look in yellow pages should find you a reasonably local powder coat company.
    • CommentAuthorowlman
    • CommentTimeNov 3rd 2011
     
    Sanyo HIT; also Mitsubishi, ( I think do one ); plus Romag, (UK made ); For starters.
    • CommentAuthorlinuss
    • CommentTimeNov 3rd 2011
     
    Yes, it is for reduced visual impact.

    Thanks Owlman, but I meant the mounting frame and not the panels - I'm already planning on the Mitsubishi PV-MLT250HC for the panel itself due to its black colour and black frame.
    • CommentAuthorowlman
    • CommentTimeNov 3rd 2011
     
    Sorry linuss, must stop speed reading. For the frames, short of hand painting perhps an alternative job would be to have them powder coated. But if you have to paint why not go for camoflage green, to a powder coater one colour is much the same as the next. The other route, if the frames are aluminium is to have them anodized. Both techniques are readily available.
    • CommentAuthorSteveZ
    • CommentTimeNov 3rd 2011
     
    Check out the SEN SOL 50 mounting system www.sen.eu. I think I saw black mounting frames in one of their illustrations. It's German, elegant and fairly expensive. It also has an anti-theft panel fixing option.
  8.  
    Powder coating would be my choice. I've used a powder coater to paint anything from a tractor wheel to a coat rack. Will probably be cheaper than buying the paint. So I'd buy the frame as galvanised steel or aluminium then take it to the powder coaters. I suspect if you ask the manufacturer to do that it will be too expensive!
    • CommentAuthorlinuss
    • CommentTimeNov 4th 2011
     
    Ok, Well, things have moved on, it seems that as long as I use black framed modules and a frame similar to the Schueco ones which can't really be seen from the front, I should be fine.

    However, I can't find a wholesaler to sell me one [Schueco] - any suggestions?
  10.  
    I have to say that it's a bit silly having to have black frames anyway as I don't suppose for one minute any colour would be more obvious than the panels themselves. Next you'll have to have the panel glass frosted!

    I once got asked by a Planning Dept to paint a landfill gas flare stack (10m chimney) black instead of the galvanised colour. Seems they thought black would be less obvious on the skyline than dull grey - at night maybe! It still remains grey 5 years on. I think they realised the error of their ways!!!!!
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeNov 8th 2011
     
    Posted By: linussHowever, I can't find a wholesaler to sell me one [Schueco] - any suggestions?

    You'll probably find it difficult to buy anything at all whilst the current FITS frenzy is on. Wait until mid-Dec (or perhaps January to be more realistic) and it should be easier to find things.

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