How to choose the material of solar mounting system for your project?

In the previous post“How to choose the right solar mounting system”, we introduced the factors that need to be considered when choosing solar PV mounts, such as load bearing, location, whether it is adjustable and power generation efficiency, etc.Then in choosing the product material, how do we pick the one that best suits the situation of our project? 

Some customers may say, "I'm going to pick the most expensive! The one with the highest standard and the strongest hardness!" But the reality is not so, here are some important considerations:

Before choose the material,we can learn about the parts of a photovoltaic racking series: a common racking system is composed of columns, supports, beams, purlins, and accessories made of metal materials, as shown in the chart:

Solar racking material selection is affected by the installation location, climate, environment and other factors. According to the material distinction, the market mainstream material has the following categories: stainless steel, aluminum alloy, galvanized steel (hot-dip galvanized, zinc-aluminum-magnesium), different material for different use of the environment, different levels of anti-corrosion, and of course, different price.

First of all, the stability of the solar PV racking should be considered. As solar PV panels need to withstand natural forces such as wind or rain or snow after installation, the load-bearing capacity of the bracket must be strong enough to support the weight of the solar PV panels firmly. In some extreme environments, such as mountainous and plateau environments, steel brackets with greater strength are generally used. (Select carbon steel materials with different carbon content depending on the demand: Q355B has better stability, plasticity and hardness than Q235B, which is tougher and more abrasion-resistant, and is suitable for the manufacture of bridges, heavy machinery, etc.，And Q235B is mostly used for constructing pipelines, rails, etc..Q355B has better performance, so the price is also higher than Q235B) .And in general on the roofs of civil or small buildings, the aluminum alloy bracket can meet the demand very well.

Secondly, the anti-corrosion performance of the solar PV racking should be considered. Solar PV panels are usually installed in outdoor environments, which will be affected by sunlight, rain, wind and sand and other natural environments, so the racking must have good anti-corrosion performance and be able to remain stable for a long time. The surface of our bracket is usually processed by anti-corrosion coating, and the anti-corrosion ability is different according to the thickness of the coating and the material (hot-dip galvanized/zinc-aluminum-magnesium). Usually, due to the magnesium element added to the zinc aluminum magnesium material, makes the zinc aluminum magnesium bracket has a certain self-repair ability, more anti-corrosion.

In addition, other influencing factors such as installation, weight and price should also be considered. The bracket should be simple and easy to install, and can be quickly installed on the ground or roof. At the same time, the roof of the choice of aluminum alloy material bracket, compared with carbon steel is more lightweight and beautiful; due to more variety of cross-section, it is also more convenient to install. Due to the different coating thickness material, the price is also very different.You can consider its price, quality,performance and other factors to find the most cost-effective products.

Overall, there are many factors to consider when choosing solar PV mounting materials, including geographic environment, strength needs, anti-corrosion performance, installation and price, etc. Only by comprehensively considering these factors, you can choose the solar PV mounting that suits your needs.And of course, you can click "Contact Us" directly .We will have specialists to provide you with the most suitable for your application program and instructions, look forward to your consultation~!