Where to find mount topic?

[robroy]

Hello,

New here,

I am looking for information on DIY mounts. Specifically I want a rotating sleeve mount that terminates the top of my pole. I will be using a 3" or 4" pole. My panels are 3x5' and I want to mount two of them using a fixed mount on top of a rotating joint that connects the mount to the top of the pole. For this discussion the method or driving the rotation has been left aside while I look at the rotating joint.

I think normally I would want a combination of thrust and sleeve bearings to support the lateral (wind) and weight of the pole mount + panels. This would mean I have overlapping poles the way I imagine this. I looked at TV antenna rotators but they do not specify the wind load and it seems to me that the several rotators I have used would not stand the wind load of one or more large panels. They were designed for fishbone antennas that do not develop much wind load.

 I want to build and document the simplest rotating mechanism using off the shelf parts (if possible) and keep the welding and custom machining to a minimum.

The reason for a rotating joint.... 4" pipe coming up from ground, capped with mount with integral rotator. I could use the standard pole mounts and just rotate the top pole(/mount)  to track the sun. So the reliability of a fixed mount with a single rotating point. I hope that is clear and not a stupid idea?

Rob

[Mary B]

Linear actuators like the ones used on satellite dishes are a good choice for moving the panels side to side and up and down for the change of seasons.

[birdhouse]

pipe over pipe.  with a delrin set of bushings.  its how many make their yaw bearings for wind turbines.  simple, very robust, and just a bit of welding ect. 

if i did a solar mount as you describe, that's how i'd do it.  6' x 5' total right?  not big enough for me to really think anything more complex would be needed. 

adam