PV Module Mounting and Support Assembly and Installation
In some examples a PV module mounting and support assembly includes a base mountable to the deck, a deck-penetrating fastener for securing the base to the deck, and PV module mounting hardware. The PV module mounting hardware is used to secure an edge of a PV module on a PV module-support surface of the base with the edge of the PV module spaced apart from the deck. Flashing may be used between the lower surface and the deck. In some examples an internal PV mounting and support assembly is used to engage an internal lip of the PV module frame.
1 . A PV module mounting and support assembly, for use on a support structure of the type having a deck on which PV modules are to be mounted, comprising:
a base, having a lower surface, mountable to a deck;
a deck-penetrating fastener engageable with the base and extendable into the deck so to secure the base to the deck, the lower surface facing the deck;
the base comprising a PV module-support surface; and
PV module mounting hardware securable to the base, the PV module mounting hardware comprising a retaining element, whereby an edge of a PV module can be positioned on top of and be supported by the PV module-support surface with the edge of the PV module spaced apart from the deck and captured between the PV module-support surface and the retaining element.
2 . The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the elongated fastener comprises a threaded fastener.
3 . The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the deck-penetrating fastener comprises a self-tapping screw.
4 . The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the PV mounting hardware comprises an upwardly extending, elongated fastener.
5 . The assembly according to claim 4 wherein the retaining element comprises a mounting clip securable to the base with the elongated fastener.
6 . The assembly according to claim 5 wherein the retaining element is placeable against and separable from an edge of a PV module.
7 . The assembly according to claim 4 wherein the base comprises first and second raised portions on opposite sides of the elongated fastener, the first and second raised portions engageable with the same PV module.
8 . The assembly according to claim 4 wherein the PV module-support surface comprises first and second PV module-support surfaces, whereby adjacent edges of adjacent PV modules can be positioned on top of and be supported by the first and second PV module-support surfaces with the elongated fastener extending between said adjacent edges.
9 . The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a deck hole sealing element associated with the fastener.
10 . The assembly according to claim 9 wherein the deck hole sealing element comprises a sealing layer between the base and the lower surface.
11 . The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the deck-penetrating fastener comprises a plurality of screws and the base comprises a plurality of holes through which the screws pass.
12 . The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising flashing positionable between the lower surface and the deck.
13 . A PV module installation comprising:
a support structure of the type having a deck;
a PV module having a peripheral edge, the peripheral edge having upper and lower peripheral edge surfaces;
a plurality of PV mounting and support assemblies positioned along the peripheral edge and securing the PV module to the deck, each PV mounting and support assembly comprising:
a base having a lower base surface;
a deck-penetrating fastener engaging the base and extending into the deck so to secure the base to the deck, the lower base surface facing the deck;
the base comprising a PV module-support surface extending beneath and supporting the lower peripheral edge surface;
the PV module-support surface located a chosen distance above the lower base surface; and
PV module mounting hardware secured to the base, the PV module mounting hardware comprising a retaining element contacting the peripheral edge of the PV module so to secure the PV module to the deck with the peripheral edge of the PV module spaced apart from the deck.
14 . The installation according to claim 13 wherein the retaining element contacts the upper peripheral edge surface of the PV module.
15 . The installation according to claim 13 wherein the retaining element is placeable against and separable from the peripheral edge.
16 . The installation according to claim 13 wherein the support structure comprises spaced-apart deck support elements beneath the deck, the positions of the bases being independent of the positions of the deck support elements.
17 . The installation according to claim 13 wherein the PV module comprises first and second PV modules having adjacent peripheral edge portions positioned adjacent to one another.
18 . The installation according to claim 17 wherein the PV mounting hardware comprises an upwardly extending, elongated fastener.
19 . The installation according to claim 18 wherein the retaining element comprises a mounting clip secured to the base and biased against the upper peripheral edge surface by the elongated fastener.
20 . The installation according to claim 18 wherein the PV module-support surface of at least one of the PV mounting and support assemblies comprises first and second PV module-support surfaces located beneath the adjacent peripheral edge portions with the elongated fastener extending therebetween.
21 . The installation according to claim 13 wherein the support structure comprises upper and lower rows of shingles mounted on the deck, and further comprising:
flashing having upper and lower flashing surfaces and upper and lower flashing edges, the flashing supported on the lower row of shingles with the upper flashing edge positioned beneath the upper row of shingles, and wherein:
the base is mounted on the flashing.
22 . The installation according to claim 13 wherein the PV module comprises a frame along the peripheral edge.
23 . The installation according to claim 22 wherein the frame is an electrically conductive frame and the retaining element makes electrical contact with the electrically conductive frame.
24 . The installation according to claim 13 wherein the PV module is at least substantially frameless at the peripheral edge and the retaining element comprises a surface-cushioning member to reduce localized stresses in the PV module.
25 . A PV module installation comprising:
a support structure of the type having a deck;
a PV module comprising a PV panel, having a peripheral edge, and a peripheral frame extending about at least part of the peripheral edge, the peripheral frame having upper and lower peripheral surfaces;
the PV panel mounted at or towards the upper peripheral surface;
the peripheral frame comprising an internal lip extending to a position spaced apart from and below the PV panel;
an internal PV mounting and support assembly positioned along the peripheral edge and securing the PV module to the deck, the PV mounting and support assembly comprising:
a base having a lower base surface;
a deck-penetrating fastener engaging the base and extending into the deck so to secure the base to the deck, the lower base surface facing the deck;
the base comprising a PV module-support surface extending beneath and supporting the lower peripheral edge surface;
the PV module-support surface located a chosen distance above the lower base surface; and
PV module mounting hardware secured to the base, the PV module mounting hardware comprising a retaining element capturing the internal lip between the retaining element and the module support surface so to help secure the PV module to the deck with the peripheral edge of the PV module spaced apart from the deck.
26 . The installation according to claim 25 wherein the retaining element comprises a mounting clip secured to the base to define a gap between the mounting clip and the module support surface, the gap sized to permit the internal lip to slide into and out of the gap.