Ground mounted solar module integration system

Abstract

Embodiments of the present inventions are directed to systems, devices for use with systems, and method of mounting and retaining solar panels. A solar module mounting system may include: a support mechanism including a support post pivotably attached to a support base, and an attachment module for attaching a solar panel to the support mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar panel module mounting system comprising:
 a support base;   a support post;   a pivot coupling the support post to the support base; and   a support frame coupled to the support post to support a solar panel module above a surface, the support frame comprising:
 a first elongated member coupled at a right angle to the support post and extending from a front end to a rear end of the support frame; and 
 a first facility for adjusting a height of the first elongated member relative to the support base to a selected one of a plurality of heights. 
   
     
     
         2 . The solar panel module mounting system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second elongated member extending at an angle to the first elongated member from the front end to the rear end of the support frame. 
     
     
         3 . The solar panel module mounting system of  claim 2 , further comprising a second facility for adjusting the angle of the second elongated member to the first elongated member to a selected one of a plurality of angles. 
     
     
         4 . The solar panel module mounting system of  claim 2 , wherein an angular orientation of the first elongated member relative to the second elongated member is adjusted to compensate for a variation in a slope of the surface underlying the solar panel module mounting system. 
     
     
         5 . The solar panel module mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot is configured to allow the support post to pivot about at least two transverse axes. 
     
     
         6 . The solar panel module mounting system of  claim 5 , wherein the pivot is configured to allow the support post to pivot at a range angles from about 0 to at least about 5 degrees from perpendicular to the support base. 
     
     
         7 . The solar panel module mounting system of  claim 5 , wherein the pivot is configured to allow the support post to pivot at a range angles from 0 to at least about 10 degrees from perpendicular to the support base. 
     
     
         8 . The solar panel module mounting system of  claim 5 , wherein the pivot is configured to allow the support post to pivot at a range angles from 0 to at least about 30 degrees from normal to the support base. 
     
     
         9 . The solar panel module mounting system of  claim 5 , wherein the support base comprises a base pan for receiving and bearing the weight of a ballast, the base pan configured and arranged to receive the ballast in a position such that the ballast does not interfere with a pivoting motion of the support post. 
     
     
         10 . The solar panel module mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the front end of the first elongated member comprises a third facility for attachment to an adjacent solar panel module mounting system component. 
     
     
         11 . The solar panel module mounting system of  claim 10 , wherein the third facility for attachment of the first elongated member to an adjacent second solar panel module mounting system component is configured to allow adjustment of at least one of an attachment angle and a spacing between the component and the adjacent second solar panel module mounting system component. 
     
     
         12 . The solar panel module mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein, when deployed on a surface, substantially no portion of the solar panel module mounting system extends through the surface. 
     
     
         13 . The solar panel module mounting system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more nails extending through the solar panel module mounting system and the surface to secure the solar panel module mounting system to the surface. 
     
     
         14 . A method of installing a solar panel array, the method comprising:
 obtaining a first support mechanism comprising:   
       a support post pivotably attached to a support base and multiple attachment points on the support post configured for attaching a solar panel at different heights above the support base;
 a support frame coupled to the support post, the support frame comprising a first elongated member coupled to the support post and extending from a front end to a rear end along a direction substantially perpendicular to the support post, and a first facility for adjusting the height of the first elongated member relative to the support base to a selected one of a plurality of heights; 
 selecting an angular orientation of the support post with respect to the support base; 
 setting the selected angular orientation of the support post; 
 selecting a height of the first elongated member relative to the support base; 
 setting the height of the first elongated member relative to the support base to the selected height; 
 selecting one of the multiple attachment points at a selected height on the first support mechanism for attaching a first solar panel; and 
 
       attaching the first solar panel to the first support mechanism at the selected height using the selected one of the multiple attachment points. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first support mechanism further comprises a second elongated member extending at an angle to the first elongated member between a front end of the second elongated member coupled to the front end of the first elongated member and a rear end of the second elongated member, the second elongated member including a second facility adapted to receive an attachment module to couple the first solar panel to the support frame. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 selecting a mounting angle of the first solar panel;   setting the angle of the second elongated member relative to the first elongated member to correspond to the mounting angle of the first solar panel.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising selecting the angular orientation of the support post to compensate for a local undulation in a surface on which the first support mechanism is located. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising selecting the height on the first support mechanism for attaching the to compensate for the local undulation in the surface on which the first support mechanism is located. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein attaching the first panel to the first support mechanism comprises:
 coupling an attachment module to the first solar panel; and   coupling the attachment module to the first support mechanism.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 attaching a second solar panel to the first support mechanism by coupling an attachment module to the second solar panel; and   
       coupling the attachment module to the first support mechanism.