Photovoltaic module manual: fixing solar panels

This article guides how to fix solar panels
Manual do módulo fotovoltaico: fixação de painéis solares
Find out how to fix a photovoltaic module

Few people know, but photovoltaic modules have manuals. The main ones market manufacturers provide documents which provide guidance on best practices for transporting, handling and fixing photovoltaic modules.

In this article, we will talk about fixation. The subject shouldn't be a secret, but in a market that still lacks training at all levels, from design to installation, it never hurts to remember.

Installation methods

There are basically two ways to fix a photovoltaic module:

  1. Through the frame fixing holes or;
  2. Fixing with staples or clips on the frames.

Method 1 is uncommon and used only for assembling modules in customized structures, requiring that the structure have holes in the same position as the existing holes in the modules. Method 2 is the best known of all. On roofs, in ground plants and in practically all existing photovoltaic systems, it is the preferred method due to the agility it offers in assembly. 

fixação de painéis solares
Figure 1 – Method 1: Screw with existing holes in the module frame. Source: adapted from “Installation and maintenance manual of mono-facial module products, Risen Solar Technology, 2020″

Method 2 is the best known of all. On roofs, in ground plants and in practically all existing photovoltaic systems, it is the preferred method due to the agility it offers in assembly. 

fixação de painéis solares
Figure 2 – Method 2: Using clamps on the module frames. It is the most used method in general. Source: Fotofix/reproduction

In this case, the modules are supported and pressed against metal support structures, which can be stringers (in a ground plant) or aluminum profiles (in rooftop installations). 

There are suppliers that offer fixing solutions for all types of roofs. There is a suitable solution for every need. Fastening solutions for special cases, which should be rare, can be studied and developed with many of the manufacturers and distributors currently on the market.

What all fixing solutions have in common, thinking about method 2, is the presence of rails or support profiles (in aluminum) or galvanized steel stringers (more common in soil plants). 

Almost all roof fixing systems use some type of rail or support profile, as shown in the following figure. What can change from one situation to another is the method of fixing the rails for each type of roof – something we will cover in another article.

fixação de painéis solares
Figure 3 – Modules are supported on rails and fixed using clips or clips attached to the frames. The rail installation method varies depending on the situation (slab or type of roof). Source: Fotofix/reproduction

The correct way to fix the module

Even experienced installers and designers ignore the fact that fixing clips cannot be secured in any position on the frame. The distances defined by the manufacturer must be followed, otherwise there is a risk of damage to the modules or loss of warranty. The following figures show two installation methods found in the document Installation and maintenance manual of mono-facial module products, from the Risen Solar

Two installation modes are possible: longitudinal or perpendicular. In the first case, the longitudinal axis of the module is parallel to the fixing rails. In the second case, the module axis is positioned perpendicularly. In both cases, the correct position of the fixing points must be observed, as shown in the following figures.

Figura 4: Instalação longitudinal. Para os modelos específicos desse fabricante a distância L1 deve ser menor do que 1/4 e maior do que 1/5 da dimensão B. Fonte: Installation and maintenance manual of mono-facial module products, Risen Solar Technology
Figure 4: Longitudinal installation. For specific models from this manufacturer, distance L1 must be less than 1/4 and greater than 1/5 of dimension B. Source: Installation and maintenance manual of mono-facial module products, Risen Solar Technology
Figura 5: Instalação perpendicular. Para os modelos específicos desse fabricante a distância L2 deve ser menor do que 1/4 e maior do que 1/5 da dimensão A. Fonte: Installation and maintenance manual of mono-facial module products, Risen Solar Technology
Figure 5: Perpendicular installation. For specific models from this manufacturer, distance L2 must be less than 1/4 and greater than 1/5 of dimension A. Source: Installation and maintenance manual of mono-facial module products, Risen Solar Technology

Picture of Equipe de Engenharia do Canal Solar
Solar Channel Engineering Team
Solar Channel Engineering Team

2 Responses

  1. It is also worth noting that figure 3 regarding fixing to metal tiles is not appropriate, as stated in manuals from many manufacturers (Canadian, JA SOLAR and others), since a minimum of 10 cm is required for correct ventilation of the modules. , which may compromise future guarantees.

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