How I installed the SOLAR PV system on a zinc roof.

One of the most challenging areas when installing PV on a Zinc roof is the preparation and minimising long term damage to the roof. There are a number of challenges on a standing seam roof.

I tried two mounting systems -rail mounted and the S-5-S mounts with the PVKIT . The S-5-S system can be seen here –https://www.s-5.com/products/roof-clamps/

Tools

Special tools required are :

A calibrated torque wrench

Zinc roof clamps that are designed for the exact type of standing seam on the zinc roof or rail system , Shown above is the S5 single screw mount for 0.7 mm zinc.

Cable routes that do not puncture the zinc.

The advantages of the S-5-S system is that the panels sit on the zinc seam and allows one to have a very low profile.

Above and Below is an example on the mounting of the S-5 sytem with two new panels using Enphase IQ8 microinvertors.

Rail Mounted System below

If one uses PV rails they need expansion joints perpendicular to the standing seam and the rail supporting the solar panels must not be longer than approximately 3 meters. This is to ensure that the zinc roof as it expands does not continously bend the seam over time and cause a crack on the seam.