A solar tracker provides sun tracking to solar panels, and includes several gearboxes for one single motor. In an embodiment, the solar tracker includes a torsion beam. defining a longintudinal direction of rotation and rotating the solar panels; motor, with motor shaft; first gearbox, at torsion beam at first position, and connected to motor shaft for transmitting to torsion beam rotation of motor shaft; second (Tarbox, mounted to torsion beam at second position further from motor than first position; and primary shaft, coaxial to motor shaft, and connected to second gearbox, for transmitting to second gearbox rotation of the motor shaft. Gearboxes define embedments withstanding torsion moment caused by wind loads for restricting rotation of torsion beam. It provides higher resistance to wind loads and allows for longer solar trackers.

A foldable solar panel assembly is configured to support solar panels in a compact and folded, undeployed position, and in an unfolded, deployed position, and to fold and unfold between its deployed and undeployed position.

In an example, the system has a mechanical isolator comprising an elastic material configured to separate the panel rail from the torque tube cause destructive interference with a natural resonant frequency of the system without the mechanical isolator to reduce a mechanical vibration of the system.

A solar tracking system including a plurality of bases, a torque tube supported by the plurality of bases and configured to support a plurality of solar modules, and a drive device operably connected to the torque tube and arranged to translate the torque tube in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis. The solar tracking system also includes a plurality of helical guides operably connected to the torque tube, and a plurality of cam assemblies, wherein upon linear movement of the torque tube, interaction between the helical guides and cam assemblies causes the torque tube to rotate about its linear axis.

A solar tracker system includes a photovoltaic panel and an actuator coupled to the photovoltaic panel and configured to actuate to rotate the photovoltaic panel around a base. A controller communicatively coupled to the actuator is configured to detect a direction from which wind is incident on the photovoltaic panel. Based on the direction from which wind is incident on the photovoltaic panel, the controller adaptively controls the actuator to set a stow position of the photovoltaic panel.

A solar canopy has a solar panel assembly including a first solar panel coupled to a second solar panel and oriented non-parallel with respect to the second solar panel. A solar panel assembly support structure is coupled to the solar panel assembly. One or more components of the support structure are manufactured by cold rolling. The solar panel assembly has an effective solar-panel-assembly wind loading less than a sum of a first-solar-panel effective wind loading and a second-solar-panel effective wind loading determined individually. An actual load applied by the solar panel assembly to a solar-panel-assembly support structure coupled thereto when the solar panel assembly is subject to a wind loading is less than a design load for the solar panel assembly subject to the wind loading based on a sum of a first-solar-panel net pressure and a second-solar-panel net pressure determined independently.

In an example, the system has a mechanical isolator comprising an elastic material configured to separate the panel rail from the torque tube cause destructive interference with a natural resonant frequency of the system without the mechanical isolator to reduce a mechanical vibration of the system.

A solar canopy has a solar panel assembly including a first solar panel coupled to a second solar panel and oriented non-parallel with respect to the second solar panel. The solar panel assembly has an effective solar-panel-assembly wind loading less than a sum of a first-solar-panel effective wind loading and a second-solar-panel effective wind loading determined individually. An actual load applied by the solar panel assembly to a solar-panel-assembly support structure coupled thereto when the solar panel assembly is subject to a wind loading is less than a design load for the solar panel assembly subject to the wind loading based on a sum of a first-solar-panel net pressure and a second-solar-panel net pressure determined independently.

A hail strike recording device is operable to provide quantifiable information about a hail storm event experienced by a roof. The recording device is operable to be installed on a roof and includes a panel component and a mounting assembly. The panel component presents a hail impact zone to sense one or more hail strikes, with the recording device operable to provide recorded data associated with the sensed one or more hail strikes.

A solar panel mounting base and system for solar panel installation uses a mounting base that is injection molded to include different connection locations which provide flexibility when installing solar panels to the mounting bases. Attachment clamps are secured to the mounting base using carriage bolts which are secured to the mounting base in an attachment well and allow the installer to attach solar panels from the top which makes installation easy and fast. The attachment clamps have a horizontal and vertical portion that use grooves to adjustably secure the two together when in the desired location. Ballast blocks are used to provide a non-invasive installation. In an array, multiple bases are used to provide the structure to support the solar array. Installers may vary the angle the solar panels form 5 degrees to 10 degrees by selecting the appropriate connection location.