Let's face it - the classic wooden carport that sheltered your grandfather's Model T wouldn't last a week against today's hailstorms or that neighbor kid's drone experiments. Enter the steel carport mounting system, the unsung hero keeping vehicles safe from everything except your teenager's first parallel parking attempt. These modern marvels combine aerospace-grade engineering with practicality, making them the go-to choice for homeowners and businesses alike.
Modern steel carports aren't just metal sheets slapped together. They're precision-engineered ecosystems featuring:
A 2023 National Shelter Association study revealed steel carport systems:
When Winter Storm Uri froze half of Houston in 2021, the steel carport mounting systems at Johnson Auto Plaza became accidental heroes. While competitors' structures collapsed under ice loads heavy enough to sink a Titanic sequel, these steel warriors:
Modern mounting systems have turned installation into something resembling adult Legos. The secret sauce includes:
Contractors swear by this simple formula:
The latest trend in steel carport mounting systems isn't just about protection - it's about evolution. We're seeing:
Pioneers like SolarCanopy Inc. have created hybrid systems that:
Contrary to popular belief, steel systems won't turn your weekends into endless painting marathons. Modern powder-coating technology means:
The true test came when Minnesota farmer Dave Carlson accidentally sprayed his steel carport with liquid fertilizer. Instead of corrosion, he got:
Gone are the days of "take it or leave it" designs. Today's steel mounting systems offer:
Solar panels are commonly damaged by natural objects like tree branches, hail, or branches. Other objects can be baseballs, golf balls, frisbees, kites, and other sports equipment and toys. Even animals such as squirrels and birds can cause damage to your panels. When people consider what types of projectiles can. . Micro-cracks occur to solar panels due to being hit, bent, or from snow sliding off. Micro-fractures won’t destroy your solar panels, but as you get more of them you’ll start to lose efficiency.. . Typically, if you have a single cell that is cracked the crack can be fixed by filling it with silicone. If more than one cell has been damaged and they are overlapping then you’ll need to replace. . A secondary impact-resistant system is a system that can be installed on solar panels to help protect them from impacts. This would not necessarily need to be added to every installation. These panels are built to withstand high impact, but they can crack the glass. Should a golf ball hit the panel at a right angle and with tremendous force, there could be minor cracks and breakage. [pdf]
Solar panels are likely to survive most golf ball strikes. All of this should give you some confidence that your solar panels would survive most golf ball strikes, but each ball that is hit in your solar panel’s direction will have a unique angle and speed, which ultimately contributes to the force of the ball’s impact.
A golf ball can potentially crack a solar panel if it strikes it in the wrong way. Therefore, it is essential to minimize the exposure of your solar panel system to possible golf ball hits when planning its installation.
The best way to protect your solar panels is by using a fence that won’t allow any golf balls or other objects near them. Another option would be creating natural barriers around your yard with landscaping and planting bushes, trees, etc., in the area where your solar cells are installed.
Baseballs – A baseball is definitely hard enough to start damaging your solar panels. Panels are designed to not shatter, but a baseball could cause some significant micro cracks. Golf Balls – This is more common than baseball since so many people live on golf courses and we triple-digit scorers are known to hit an errant shot or two.
In California and many other states where solar is prevalent, there are often golf courses and homes nearby. For people that own or live in homes on golf courses, one of the biggest concerns is whether or not a golf ball will fly into your yard and damage their solar panels or property.
Tempered glass is fit for purpose in solar panels and goes through extensive testing to ensure it can withstand high impact. Most good quality panels have been approved for heavy weather, including large, fast-moving hailstones. Your typical solar panels are tested for up to hail about the size of a golf ball moving at 50mph.
Visit our Blog to read more articles
We are deeply committed to excellence in all our endeavors.
Since we maintain control over our products, our customers can be assured of nothing but the best quality at all times.