Frame Variations
All variations can be used as starter or add-on sections.
Y-Frame
T-Frame
L-Frame
A-Frame
Long-Span
Y-Frame Solar Carport
- Portrait or Landscape layouts.
- 48 Panels Per Section: 60, 72, and 96 cell panels.
Configurations
8 High Portrait
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 51-53’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Limited to modules less than 90″L
7 High Portrait
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 51-53’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Agnostic to any module
6 High Portrait
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 38’ – 42’’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Agnostic to any module
Truss Options
Deep Truss
Shallow Truss
T-Frame Solar Carport
- Portrait or Landscape layouts.
- 48 Panels Per Section: 60, 72, and 96 cell panels.
Configurations
3+1 T-Frame
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 26′-29’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Agnostic to any module
3+3 T-Frame
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 38′-42’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Agnostic to any module
3.5+3.5 T-Frame
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 44′-46’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Agnostic to any module
4+1 T-Frame
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 32′-35’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Agnostic to any module
4+3 T-Frame
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 44′-46’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Agnostic to any module
4+4 T-Frame
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 51′-53’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Limited to modules under 90″
Truss Options
Deep Truss
Shallow Truss
Kicker Truss
L-Frame Solar Carport
- Portrait or Landscape layouts.
- All below orientations are available in tilt Up or Down options
- 48 Panels Per Section: 60, 72, and 96 cell panels.
Configurations
3+0 L-Frame Lower Start
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 19′-21’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Agnostic to any module
3+1 L-Frame Upper Start
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 26′-29’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Agnostic to any module
4+0 L-Frame Lower Start
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 26′-29’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Limited to modules under 90″
4+1 L-Frame Lower Start
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 32′-35’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Agnostic to any module
Truss Options
Deep Truss
Shallow Truss
Kicker Truss
A-Frame Solar Carport
- Portrait or Landscape layouts.
- 48 Panels Per Section: 60, 72, and 96 cell panels.
Configurations
2+2 A-Frame
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 23′-30’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Agnostic to any module
4+4 A-Frame
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 48′-58’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Limited to modules under 90″
Truss Options
Deep Truss
Shallow Truss
Long Span Solar Carport
- Portrait or Landscape layouts.
- Options below are available in other orientations.
- 48 Panels Per Section: 60, 72, and 96 cell panels.
Configurations
8-High Long Span
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 52′-60’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Agnostic to any module
12-High Long Span
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 26′-29’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Agnostic to any module
16-High Long Span
- 27’ – 29’ E/W (Post to Post)
- 100′-120’ N/S (Span Cover)
- Agnostic to any module
Truss Options
Deep Truss
Carport Options
Customize the solar carport to meet your needs (Additional Costs May Apply).
Waterproofing
- Gutters & Down Spouts
- Metal Roofing
- EPDM Waterproof Gasket
Snow-Stopper / Ice Breaker
- Designed and Manufactured in-house
- Applicable to all SM shade structures
LED Under Lighting
- 1 Per Bay
- 76 Watts
- 8000 Lumens
Post/Truss Paint
- Powder Coat or Paint over Hot-Dip Galvanizing
- Structural Steel Only
- Any color from RAL Color Chart
Components
The parts that make up our solar carports.
Post
- Bolt to Design Mounts to foundation Cage
- 2″ Leveling Nuts for Post Plum Adjustment
- W8X16 – 1/2″ Galvanized Steel Multiple Clearance Heights Available
- Conduit hole on both sides of the base plate.
Truss
- Pre-punched holes for universal purlin brackets
- Compatible to all Solar Panels.
- 7° Standard, Up/Down Truss fit all carport designs.
Purlin
- C-Purlin with Pre Punched Mounting Holes.
- Common Part – fits to any panel mounting holes.
- Attachment includes UL 476 Certified Grounding.
- Attachment includes UL 2703 recognized Grounding.
- 50 KSI, G90 or G185 , 14 Gage Steel.
Bolted Panel Connection
Panel brackets allow purlins to bolt to any size module, industry wide.
L-Plate Purlin Connection
40” L-plate purlin connection over the truss ensures life long purlin connection.
Unlocking Efficiency
Effortless Installation, Common Components and Custom Foundations.
Easy Bolt Together System
Solar Mounts LLC Galactic Solar Carports eliminates the need for field welding and ensures a straightforward bolt-together installation. Our meticulously designed carport utilizes locking nuts and bolts, streamlining the process furthermore and minimizing components and complexity. An additional feature, each post features holes on both sides of the base plate, providing the electrical contractors with seamless access for conduit running. Solar Mounts LLC not only prioritizes efficiency in the construction phase but also considers the convenience of subsequent electrical work.
Industry Best Lead Times
Unmatched reliability and efficiency with our advanced solar carport systems, allows us to have a standard system that resists high wind and snow loads. The key to our industry best lead time lies within the overdesigning of our 4 main components, our universal adjustable purlin and module brackets, allowing us to mass produce and stock. Our post and trusses have minimal variation from project to project, allowing for very frequent adjustments within our fabrication line. The adaptability of our mounting brackets, north-south and east-west adds to the efficiency by eliminating the need to punch holes in our purlins, allowing for large scale stockpiling. All of our systems are also agnostic to any module, industry wide, no matter the size and weight.
Foundations
At Solar Mounts LLC, we prioritize avoiding change orders at all costs, and a crucial aspect of achieving this goal is embedded in our innovative approach to designing carport system foundations. Every one of our stamped drawing packages includes both pier and spread footings as a standard, recognizing that specific circumstances may necessitate only piers, only spreads, or a combination of both. This flexibility allows us to offer the most cost effective solution, tailored to each project. Furthermore, we bring the option of helical piles into our repertoire, serving as a last resort, or customer requirement, if the Geotech report rules out pier or spread footings. Solar Construction LLC specializes in foundation work and is fully equipped and prepared to handle any of these foundation solutions, ensuring seamless and efficient project execution, from design through construction.
FAQs
Yes, Solar Mounts LLC stocks high-efficiency LED canopy lights (100–240V, approximately 80W) that are ideal for solar carports. We also offer Buy American Act (BAA)-compliant lighting upon request. If your electrical contractor is providing the lighting, we recommend LED fixtures with a Color Rendering Index (CRI) above 70 and a color temperature between 3000K and 5000K for optimal visibility and performance.
Generally, solar carports are shade structures. Note: at Solar Mounts, ~40% of our customers order solar carports with standard commercial gutters. Additionally, Solar Mounts offers two unique waterproofing solutions, or we can install a complete standing seam roofing under-deck to protect from rain and snow. Each application is designed to perform in extreme heat and cold.
Method #1: Close the gaps between PV panels with an exterior-grade sealing tape (TPO). Installers apply the tape (from above) when the PV modules are clean and dry. The solution is flexible and repairable with little skill required. PV modules are removed by cutting the tape and removing the PV panel fasteners. Re-apply new tape over the old.
Method #2: Close the gaps between modules with a gasketed, solid aluminum rain cover that fits between PV modules, resting on the PV module frames. Individual aluminum rain cover pieces (typically 13.5’ long, 1.75” wide) have a silicone gasket and are placed on top of the array and attached from below with screws.
Method #3: Keep the gaps open and install a standing seam roof deck beneath the PV modules to capture rain and snow and route it toward perimeter gutters.
Yes, the vertical posts and trusses of our carport structures can be powder coated in a wide variety of colors (additional costs may apply). Our signature “Solar Mounts Blue” is the most popular, but many other solid colors are available upon request. Custom color selections can be specified when ordering the posts and struts. Please note: we do not powder coat the purlins located directly beneath the PV modules.
Solar Mounts LLC ground mount systems—available in both ballasted and post-driven configurations—are installed so the lowest edge of the PV array is a minimum of 2 feet above ground. Actual distance above ground depends on the array layout and tilt angle. Tilt angles can be adjusted from 0° (flat) to 40°. These systems are not designed to allow agricultural machinery to pass underneath. For safe and efficient performance, PV modules must remain at least 24 inches above ground level. Carport and solar shade structures provide 14 feet standard clear height, allowing comfortable clearance for vehicles and pedestrians and agriculture equipment. Most carports are installed with a 7° tilt, while our Long Span carports typically feature a 3° tilt.
Solar Mounts LLC offers two standard foundation options for our carport structures: Pier Footings and Spread Footings. For a detailed comparison, refer to our Solar Mounts Application Note on Foundations. While both options are effective, Spread Footings are often preferred for their superior load distribution and greater on-site flexibility, making them an ideal choice for most carport installations. Solar Mounts can also design and build hybrid foundations, made of spread footings with helical posts.
Solar Mounts LLC structures support PV modules that generate DC electricity from sunlight. An electrical contractor connects these modules to an inverter, which converts the DC power to AC. Inverters typically weigh between 30 and 120 lbs. and are rated NEMA 3R or NEMA 4X (IP65), making them suitable for outdoor installation in rain or snow. Installers usually mount the inverter under the solar carport, directly to a Solar Mounts LLC structural post using Uni-Strut (or equivalent). Since the post is anchored in concrete, it can easily support the inverter’s weight. Inverters are often mounted higher on the post to keep them safely out of reach beneath the carport, though some installers prefer a lower mounting height for easier access by a technician using a ladder—eliminating the need for a scissor lift.
Although I-Beams are used for Solar Mounts LLC Carports today, Solar Mounts LLC new standard design call for the use of C-channel Posts for ground mount systems. The C-channel post is versatile. It can be turned to the East or to the West allowing the contractor to set the tilt angle in 5°-degree increments, from 0°- 40° degrees. The C-channel post also allows the installer to fasten Solar Mounts LLC stabilizing struts to the C-channel post and truss. Any metal that is exposed to ground will be a minimum of G180, up to G235 galvanized.
The choice between a ballasted and post-driven ground mount typically depends on soil conditions and overall project cost (materials and labor). Post-driven systems are ideal for stable soils and are especially recommended in areas with clay, which expands and contracts—making driven posts more secure over time. Ballasted Ground Mount solutions are the best choice where you find unstable soils, e.g., Landfills, Brownfields, etc.. Ballasted systems are a better option when underground obstructions (6–12 feet deep) make driving posts difficult or impractical. In regions with higher labor & material costs, ballasted systems can offer cost advantages. They require less excavation, smaller cement forms, and less concrete per footing, resulting in quicker, more efficient installations.
- There are several ways to reduce the overall cost of a solar carport project. One option is to select more affordable PV modules to help lower material expenses.
- At Solar Mounts LLC, we use 100% U.S.-made steel, so our structural material costs are tied to the U.S. steel market. You might find foreign sourced steel; however the contractor may see that the FEOC (foreign entity of concern) or non-US steel will not be eligible for Federal or State financial (e.g., tax) incentives.
- From a foundation standpoint, spread footings are generally more cost-effective than deep pier footings as they’re not exposed to unaccounted for underground obstructions (“refusals”). Refusals cost time and money and can disrupt the construction schedule. However, typical pier footings are less expensive up front.
- For long-term savings, mounting the DC equipment and inverter in easily-accessible locations—such as at ladder height instead of requiring a scissor lift.
No. Solar Mounts LLC structures are designed for field assembly without any welding. All posts and trusses arrive pre-drilled and ready for installation using galvanized nuts, bolts, and washers. Our updated L-plates and overlap brackets provide enhanced flexibility for securing purlins and PV modules to the post and truss assemblies.
PV modules with frame thicknesses between 30 mm and 55 mm can be securely fastened to Solar Mounts’ Z-purlins or C-channel purlins using our proprietary End Clamps and Mid-Clamps. These clamps are designed to penetrate deep anodization (up to 25 microns) and provide a UL 2703-compliant ground bond. Each clamp set includes a top-of-module clamp, bolt, and threaded serrated bottom plate. Modules are attached at four points per panel, ensuring secure placement and resistance to wind loads up to 180 MPH.
While Solar Mounts has designed a few systems as small as 20 kW for high-end residential use, our focus is on commercial, industrial, and utility-scale markets. Typical project sizes range from 150 kW to 15 MW. However, utility-scale projects can be significantly larger—such as a 26 MW landfill installation currently under construction in New Jersey (2025).
A solar shade structure is a PV-supporting canopy designed to provide shade and partial weather protection. The most common configurations include covered walkways and solar carports. While these structures offer sun and weather protection, they are not fully waterproof. Solar shade structures are often installed at building entrances to enhance aesthetics and improve user comfort at ingress and egress points. Solar Mounts shade structures are also ideal for agrivoltaic applications where partial shading of the agricultural field can reduce photosynthetic depression on the middle of the day and reduce soil temperature at heat-stressed sites.
Solar Mounts structures are highly customizable. Our solar walkway designs provides a standard 8 feet of clear height (up to 14 feet) and can support up to six PV modules in width. This structure (Eclipse series) is highly effective for shading / soil cooling at agricultural sites that are drought- or heat-stressed and/or need shade for livestock.
Solar Mounts solar carports can be engineered for up to 17 feet of clear height to accommodate RVs, school buses, or large construction vehicles. Cantilevered designs can be configured in L-shapes, T-shapes, V-shapes, or Checkmark shapes to match project aesthetics and meet functionality, safety, and security requirements.
Although Solar Mounts LLC cantilevered designs are standard, Solar Mounts LLC can also build “Long-Span” Carports. These large solar structures use deep trusses span over parking lot drive aisles, providing total parking lot coverage. The Solar Mounts LLC Long-Span Carports span 27’-29’ feet East/West Post to Post. They cover 52’-60’ feet North/South and are PV module agnostic.
