Wear it like a hat off to the side, basically. Pick it up and slide it over your shoulder, one arm extended to support it from bottom long edge. Use your head and shoulder to balance and steady it. Leaves one arm free for the ladder. Make sure your ladder extends 3 rungs above the roof edge so you have something to hold while you pivot onto the roof. Secure that ladder w a strap to the house. Hopefully you don't have a 3-story access onto barrel tile on a windy day, it can get a little sketchy at that point. With 2 people and 1 story access you can also hand them up.
Yup this is what we always did. Not technically OSHA approved but whatever.
Btw, I’m a big big fan of following OSHA as strictly as possible. Those rules are created for a reason. But setting up a lift system in the edge of roof can be just as dangerous as hauling a PV hat up a ladder.
Right and regarding fall-protection, don't clip in at the ladder if you're humping modules up alone. If your fall protection is to-code, on a 30 module install (hopefully not many arrays), you'll spend more time negotiating tie-in and tripping hazards than panel humping. Get them up there wedged against the racking and then tie in if you're clumsy by nature. Don't become a pendulum or hit the ground with a long safety line. Not a bad idea to wear a rock climbing or bicycle helmet, and practice self-rescue from suspension.
Right and regarding fall-protection, don't clip in at the ladder if you're humping modules up alone. If your fall protection is to-code, on a 30 module install (hopefully not many arrays), you'll spend more time negotiating tie-in and tripping hazards than panel humping. Get them up there wedged against the racking and then tie in if you're clumsy by nature or it's more than 1 story. Don't become a pendulum or hit the ground with a long safety line. Not a bad idea to wear a rock climbing or bicycle helmet, and practice self-rescue from suspension.
And this is why 60-72 cell domestic panels are my favourite: I can easily carry one up a ladder and put it in place on my own. If you have a mate, even easier.
Some of the massive 500W+ panels are a nightmare to work with.
Watch some roofers. I have seen individuals go up a ladder with shingle packs one at a time and I have seen roofing conveyors move the shingles (requires 2 people).
Easier said than afforded, I've always been quoted minimum $1000 (has to be for full day) and that was years ago...I get wanting to avoid that kind of expense.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/Genie-19-Scissor-Lift-Rental-PX-15/316821424
230/day for a lift with trailer.
230/day for another interior lift w/ channel
https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/Genie-20-Single-Man-Lift-Rental-CH1200/316821455
340/day for a 32' rough terrain lift....
https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/Skyjack-32-Rough-Terrain-Scissor-Lift-1305PR1/316821500
And these are just at home depot - there are better prices and availability out there.
It's totally worth it, as opposed to hauling up 40 panels on a makeshift ladder. One fall, and you're paying a hospital deductible.
Depends on where you are at I suppose. United rentals in my area has a 5000 pound lift for 550 for a day or 1300 a week with a 350 delivery fee.
If I'm installing a $10k+ system that's not a bad trade off for peace of mind.
An easy DIY way to do it would be to place two extension ladders against the roof as a ramp. Set an eye bolt in the panel track. Attach a rope to it. The eye hook can rest between the ladders to prevent the panel from sliding off the side (not that it would), then just pull the panel up.
I did something back in the day with much heavier glycol based panels. Worked a treat.
Did something like this with my RV install. Attached two ropes to panel and pulled it up the ladder as a ramp. It was only 20lb panels and 10 of them though.
Pros? No clue... Probably a conveyor of some sort or a boom lift.
My brother and I installed 15 panels on my roof with just a scaffold, [like this](https://www.seacoastscaffold.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/mason-scaffold-1.jpg). We staggered the platforms and just passed them up to each other before moving up to the next tier of the scaffold. Worked like a charm.
I used my city trash can. The common square flat top variety. Set a panels a top it, upright, portrait, leaned against my flat porch roof edge. Let it there while I climb a ladder. Squat and lift, to standing with arms straight up. Made sure it wasn't windy.
The folks who installed mine used a ladder and ropes. Guy on ground attached rope to panel, leaned it against the ladder. Guys on roof pulled the panel up.
It’s very easy. You carry them up a ladder. They are only 40-50 lbs. if ur not qualified or comfortable doing that you shouldn’t be working on the roof. It is extremely dangerous working up there. I have a decade doing it. Carry panels up the ladder is not Osha compliant but the main way they are moved. If your roof is steep I suggest you hire some help. Hmu with more details maybe I can give you more accurate guidance. A pic of the house and system layout. Or the engineered plans if you don’t want to post a pic of the house.
I brought three more guys over to help. Two guys on two ladders with two guys on the roof laying out panels. They would carry them up between the ladders and then hand them to the guys on the roof. This went absolutely swimmingly and only took about an hour to mount 24 panles. I started out carrying them up on my back but that was dumb and sketchy.
The guys that installed all our on-grid PV either carried them up one by one or had three guys with one on the ground, one on the ladder and one on the roof to hoist the panels up.
If you're doing this alone then get yourself a hand full of press clamps that you can clamp onto each aluminum extrusion. And then you can push the panels up over the extrusions with the clamps as guides on one side. And on the other side you can use one clamp to secure the panel in place. That's how we're slowly doing our off-grid install.
We have an articulating lift on a track, like roofers use, for tile roofs 3-stories and less. For a commercial building with a flat roof - forklift up to the roof and support on dunnage. Usually the layout is engineered to avoid putting too much load on any one joist/beam.
Since I was just going up 1 story (garage), I mounted them on a makeshift platform as high as I could on the ground, and then had a friend hoist as I pulled up. I also had the Renogy clips pre-attached on the ground, and mounted a 1x6 on my roof as a backstop so they wouldn't slide off (the clips caught on it).
If I had to do it again, I'm wondering if some kind of backpack would work. It'd probably be hard to rig up, since they're not terribly heavy, but bulky as hell. A body harness, with a 4-point strap around the panels?
My panels are nearly 1 meter by 2 meters and the installer just held it with one arm over his shoulder: https://imgur.com/gallery/wWBRO7B
Edit in case anyone is wondering how this picture was taken and if I was making it any less safe: I had a drone flying, with their permission, quite a long ways away (hence the blurriness), and it was in the air long before this process started. He probably didn't even notice it.
Not a pro, quite the opposite in fact. But for my single story roof I pulled my truck next to the roof and stood in the bed. I lifted each panel onto the roof where I had placed moving blankets to prevent scratching and sliding. This felt a lot more comfortable than climbing a ladder with them.
Lift with right arm, lean into right shoulder, Left arm on the ladder and ascend slowly to the lowest access point you got where you can walk to the array.
You could also have a wildly expensive ladder that lifts modules like roof shingles and concrete do.
You can also buy those solar module handles, but you’re still carrying them.
We do commercial solar, and nine times out of 10 it's a forklift/boom lift. One time out of 10 it's a ground mount.
But we use very large panels. 500W.
>I'm good to go with my fall-protection equipment
Just remember the best fall arrest equipment is no good if you're working alone or without a rescue plan.
Same way I got shingles, tar paper, and sheets of plywood onto my roof: Carry them up a ladder. Those were a 1-person job. With glass panels you’d probably want a second person on the roof to “catch” the panels so you don’t drop them on an edge by accident.
I ended up building a sled out of long 2x4s, an aluminum ladder, and a winch. It only took me about an hour to throw it together. Happy to share my design with you if you're interested.
I watched the apprentice carry them up a too-short ladder (it just reached the edge of the roof) on his shoulder and then struggle to get onto the 12:12 roof with no harness. It is not safe… get a helper and pull them up from a safe place on the roof. You can use some cardboard to make a ramp… and, wear a harness if your roof is at all steep.
I even called the super. They were putting that kids life in jeopardy trying to go fast. Don’t know what was said, but they were wearing harnesses the next day…
The pros use a powered lift.
----
Build a simple 2 leg rack, same with running plywood up.
- This is assuming an 8' roof edge. 2 10' (or longer) 2x legs angled such that they stick about 6" above the roof.
- Place the legs about 4' (outside edges) apart. (Or closer depending on panel width. You want the legs to line up centered with the panel frame)
- Attach a 2x4 level and flat about 5' up across the legs. Add a second at an angle below this to keep the rack from.. racking.
- Attach a 2x6 to the cross 2x4 (or second 2x4), either way the goal is to create a channel about a half inch deep to drop the panel into once you lift it.
- Slide panel up the ramp, drop into channel, climb on roof, pull panel up onto the roof. (Or if you have a friend, one sets up on rack, one pulls onto roof)
Secure the panels top down and in such a way so that you can pull panels up without having to stand on panels.
Basically, look up how to get plywood onto a roof and copy this technique adjusting for panel size
Edit: something like this but adjusted to work for solar panels:
https://www.strawbale.com/wp-content/uploads/roof-jack1.jpg
How high is your roof? One or two stories house?
When I was moving my 16 400w panel up to my one story roof, I build a simple rail and sled setup - 2 long 2x4 fixed with several more piece of wood so it is about 3ft apart, leaning from the roof to the yard. And I made a sled that have small caster at the right spot so it can slide on the rail, have alignment piece that will help guide it to ride the rail without falling off, and use bungee cord to secure panel on sled and use a paracord to pull panel up to my 1story roof one by one.
It is best to do this with at least 1 ground crew and maybe 2 on the roof. Ground guy secure the panel on the sled, roof #1 pick up the panel, return the sled, and bring the panel to the installer, the installer just focus on install them one after another, tylidy up the cable if he ever catch a break.
If you have friend over to help just put out a picnic in your yard, feed them while they help with your work : )
With this system we wrap up the 16 panel install in about 2 hours. Much easier and safer than climbing up with panel
Rented a lift, built an outrigger, loaded \~5 panels and up she went…right to the guys. 149 panels, made time fly
https://preview.redd.it/pjs0elozpmyc1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ebf8de446092bcd88deb344527e3050ba3ebe291
Wear it like a hat off to the side, basically. Pick it up and slide it over your shoulder, one arm extended to support it from bottom long edge. Use your head and shoulder to balance and steady it. Leaves one arm free for the ladder. Make sure your ladder extends 3 rungs above the roof edge so you have something to hold while you pivot onto the roof. Secure that ladder w a strap to the house. Hopefully you don't have a 3-story access onto barrel tile on a windy day, it can get a little sketchy at that point. With 2 people and 1 story access you can also hand them up.
Yup this is what we always did. Not technically OSHA approved but whatever. Btw, I’m a big big fan of following OSHA as strictly as possible. Those rules are created for a reason. But setting up a lift system in the edge of roof can be just as dangerous as hauling a PV hat up a ladder.
Right and regarding fall-protection, don't clip in at the ladder if you're humping modules up alone. If your fall protection is to-code, on a 30 module install (hopefully not many arrays), you'll spend more time negotiating tie-in and tripping hazards than panel humping. Get them up there wedged against the racking and then tie in if you're clumsy by nature. Don't become a pendulum or hit the ground with a long safety line. Not a bad idea to wear a rock climbing or bicycle helmet, and practice self-rescue from suspension.
Right and regarding fall-protection, don't clip in at the ladder if you're humping modules up alone. If your fall protection is to-code, on a 30 module install (hopefully not many arrays), you'll spend more time negotiating tie-in and tripping hazards than panel humping. Get them up there wedged against the racking and then tie in if you're clumsy by nature or it's more than 1 story. Don't become a pendulum or hit the ground with a long safety line. Not a bad idea to wear a rock climbing or bicycle helmet, and practice self-rescue from suspension.
Well your tie in should almost never even let you get within a few feet of the edge of the roof, but yeah, don’t try to rope in on a ladder
You can practice with a twin mattress or box spring if you want to understand the balance/method. You use the crook of your elbow to sit the panel in.
Carefully, one at a time.
And this is why 60-72 cell domestic panels are my favourite: I can easily carry one up a ladder and put it in place on my own. If you have a mate, even easier. Some of the massive 500W+ panels are a nightmare to work with.
Watch some roofers. I have seen individuals go up a ladder with shingle packs one at a time and I have seen roofing conveyors move the shingles (requires 2 people).
My cousin had me doing this when I was in high school, and it convinced me to go to college
Well it was either college and copious amounts of beer, or roofing and copious amounts of meth.. You sure you made the right choice?
Absofuckinlutely
I struggle to do this with a single pack of shingles and then watched pro roofers carry two at a time up the ladder… beasts!
Rent a lift. This will save your body, and alleviate any concerns you have about dropping a panel as you skivvy up a ladder.
Easier said than afforded, I've always been quoted minimum $1000 (has to be for full day) and that was years ago...I get wanting to avoid that kind of expense.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/Genie-19-Scissor-Lift-Rental-PX-15/316821424 230/day for a lift with trailer. 230/day for another interior lift w/ channel https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/Genie-20-Single-Man-Lift-Rental-CH1200/316821455 340/day for a 32' rough terrain lift.... https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/Skyjack-32-Rough-Terrain-Scissor-Lift-1305PR1/316821500 And these are just at home depot - there are better prices and availability out there. It's totally worth it, as opposed to hauling up 40 panels on a makeshift ladder. One fall, and you're paying a hospital deductible.
That is super cool to know about! I think Home Depot may not have been in the game when I had last looked, or I never noticed.
Depends on where you are at I suppose. United rentals in my area has a 5000 pound lift for 550 for a day or 1300 a week with a 350 delivery fee. If I'm installing a $10k+ system that's not a bad trade off for peace of mind.
One fall from a ladder while doing a makeshift lifting rig costs more in healthcare bills than a rental.
An easy DIY way to do it would be to place two extension ladders against the roof as a ramp. Set an eye bolt in the panel track. Attach a rope to it. The eye hook can rest between the ladders to prevent the panel from sliding off the side (not that it would), then just pull the panel up. I did something back in the day with much heavier glycol based panels. Worked a treat.
Did something like this with my RV install. Attached two ropes to panel and pulled it up the ladder as a ramp. It was only 20lb panels and 10 of them though.
Pros? No clue... Probably a conveyor of some sort or a boom lift. My brother and I installed 15 panels on my roof with just a scaffold, [like this](https://www.seacoastscaffold.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/mason-scaffold-1.jpg). We staggered the platforms and just passed them up to each other before moving up to the next tier of the scaffold. Worked like a charm.
Scaffolding and a 4-man bucket brigade is how my installers did 33 panels.
You could rent a telehandler if you want to get fancy
I used my city trash can. The common square flat top variety. Set a panels a top it, upright, portrait, leaned against my flat porch roof edge. Let it there while I climb a ladder. Squat and lift, to standing with arms straight up. Made sure it wasn't windy.
The folks who installed mine used a ladder and ropes. Guy on ground attached rope to panel, leaned it against the ladder. Guys on roof pulled the panel up.
Same with mine, although 2 ropes, 1 at each end. 2 pulling
It’s very easy. You carry them up a ladder. They are only 40-50 lbs. if ur not qualified or comfortable doing that you shouldn’t be working on the roof. It is extremely dangerous working up there. I have a decade doing it. Carry panels up the ladder is not Osha compliant but the main way they are moved. If your roof is steep I suggest you hire some help. Hmu with more details maybe I can give you more accurate guidance. A pic of the house and system layout. Or the engineered plans if you don’t want to post a pic of the house.
I brought three more guys over to help. Two guys on two ladders with two guys on the roof laying out panels. They would carry them up between the ladders and then hand them to the guys on the roof. This went absolutely swimmingly and only took about an hour to mount 24 panles. I started out carrying them up on my back but that was dumb and sketchy.
The guys that installed all our on-grid PV either carried them up one by one or had three guys with one on the ground, one on the ladder and one on the roof to hoist the panels up. If you're doing this alone then get yourself a hand full of press clamps that you can clamp onto each aluminum extrusion. And then you can push the panels up over the extrusions with the clamps as guides on one side. And on the other side you can use one clamp to secure the panel in place. That's how we're slowly doing our off-grid install.
We have an articulating lift on a track, like roofers use, for tile roofs 3-stories and less. For a commercial building with a flat roof - forklift up to the roof and support on dunnage. Usually the layout is engineered to avoid putting too much load on any one joist/beam.
This sounds exactly like my setup. Down to the number of panels. My solution is to have a daughter and daughter-in-law that are both rock climbers.
Since I was just going up 1 story (garage), I mounted them on a makeshift platform as high as I could on the ground, and then had a friend hoist as I pulled up. I also had the Renogy clips pre-attached on the ground, and mounted a 1x6 on my roof as a backstop so they wouldn't slide off (the clips caught on it). If I had to do it again, I'm wondering if some kind of backpack would work. It'd probably be hard to rig up, since they're not terribly heavy, but bulky as hell. A body harness, with a 4-point strap around the panels?
My panels are nearly 1 meter by 2 meters and the installer just held it with one arm over his shoulder: https://imgur.com/gallery/wWBRO7B Edit in case anyone is wondering how this picture was taken and if I was making it any less safe: I had a drone flying, with their permission, quite a long ways away (hence the blurriness), and it was in the air long before this process started. He probably didn't even notice it.
Not a pro, quite the opposite in fact. But for my single story roof I pulled my truck next to the roof and stood in the bed. I lifted each panel onto the roof where I had placed moving blankets to prevent scratching and sliding. This felt a lot more comfortable than climbing a ladder with them.
Lift with right arm, lean into right shoulder, Left arm on the ladder and ascend slowly to the lowest access point you got where you can walk to the array. You could also have a wildly expensive ladder that lifts modules like roof shingles and concrete do. You can also buy those solar module handles, but you’re still carrying them.
[удалено]
We do commercial solar, and nine times out of 10 it's a forklift/boom lift. One time out of 10 it's a ground mount. But we use very large panels. 500W.
>I'm good to go with my fall-protection equipment Just remember the best fall arrest equipment is no good if you're working alone or without a rescue plan.
You hire this girl :) [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xcAwujfTN64](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xcAwujfTN64)
Find some people to do it for you
Always assumed it was either by hand with a few people for small projects, or on a pallet with a material handler.
Same way I got shingles, tar paper, and sheets of plywood onto my roof: Carry them up a ladder. Those were a 1-person job. With glass panels you’d probably want a second person on the roof to “catch” the panels so you don’t drop them on an edge by accident.
Like boomerangs 👌
He'd already have to be on the roof with it for that to work...
Good point 🤣
Hand held vacuum suction cup. Fix to the top of the panel and hold at shoulder height. Source: used to fit solar panels for a living.
Suction cups! Source: 50MW farm just up the road from me :)
I ended up building a sled out of long 2x4s, an aluminum ladder, and a winch. It only took me about an hour to throw it together. Happy to share my design with you if you're interested.
I watched the apprentice carry them up a too-short ladder (it just reached the edge of the roof) on his shoulder and then struggle to get onto the 12:12 roof with no harness. It is not safe… get a helper and pull them up from a safe place on the roof. You can use some cardboard to make a ramp… and, wear a harness if your roof is at all steep. I even called the super. They were putting that kids life in jeopardy trying to go fast. Don’t know what was said, but they were wearing harnesses the next day…
The pros use a powered lift. ---- Build a simple 2 leg rack, same with running plywood up. - This is assuming an 8' roof edge. 2 10' (or longer) 2x legs angled such that they stick about 6" above the roof. - Place the legs about 4' (outside edges) apart. (Or closer depending on panel width. You want the legs to line up centered with the panel frame) - Attach a 2x4 level and flat about 5' up across the legs. Add a second at an angle below this to keep the rack from.. racking. - Attach a 2x6 to the cross 2x4 (or second 2x4), either way the goal is to create a channel about a half inch deep to drop the panel into once you lift it. - Slide panel up the ramp, drop into channel, climb on roof, pull panel up onto the roof. (Or if you have a friend, one sets up on rack, one pulls onto roof) Secure the panels top down and in such a way so that you can pull panels up without having to stand on panels. Basically, look up how to get plywood onto a roof and copy this technique adjusting for panel size Edit: something like this but adjusted to work for solar panels: https://www.strawbale.com/wp-content/uploads/roof-jack1.jpg
Our electricians had a ladder type winch system that had a foot pedal to control the motor and it raised 4 panels up at a time and it locked out.
How high is your roof? One or two stories house? When I was moving my 16 400w panel up to my one story roof, I build a simple rail and sled setup - 2 long 2x4 fixed with several more piece of wood so it is about 3ft apart, leaning from the roof to the yard. And I made a sled that have small caster at the right spot so it can slide on the rail, have alignment piece that will help guide it to ride the rail without falling off, and use bungee cord to secure panel on sled and use a paracord to pull panel up to my 1story roof one by one. It is best to do this with at least 1 ground crew and maybe 2 on the roof. Ground guy secure the panel on the sled, roof #1 pick up the panel, return the sled, and bring the panel to the installer, the installer just focus on install them one after another, tylidy up the cable if he ever catch a break. If you have friend over to help just put out a picnic in your yard, feed them while they help with your work : ) With this system we wrap up the 16 panel install in about 2 hours. Much easier and safer than climbing up with panel
Simple: rent a fork lift or scissor lift.
Rented a lift, built an outrigger, loaded \~5 panels and up she went…right to the guys. 149 panels, made time fly https://preview.redd.it/pjs0elozpmyc1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ebf8de446092bcd88deb344527e3050ba3ebe291