Installing a solar panel array on your property is an exciting and rewarding venture. If you're planning out your solar installation and have decided to go with ground-level installation for the panels, one of the things you may be thinking about is stability. After all, heavy winds and severe storms can bring all sorts of hazards that can blow your solar panels over, leading to broken panels. Here's a look at what you should know about solar panel ballast blocks for added stability and durability.

What Are Solar Panel Ballast Blocks?

Ballast blocks are pre-made blocks or forms crafted from concrete and weighted for structural stability and strength. They are frequently used for counterweights in solar panel installations where the soil isn't stable enough for an anchor system to be installed. Instead, the panels are secured to ballast blocks to keep them upright and properly positioned without suffering from wind damage or similar vulnerabilities.

Why Consider Solar Panel Ballast Blocks?

If you're wondering whether or not your solar panel array really needs something like ballast blocks, the fact is that you should prioritize structural stability at all times. If your solar panel installation technician has determined that your soil is too sandy, too loose, or otherwise too unstable for soil anchors, you should talk with them about ballast blocks.

Also, since ballast blocks are created from concrete and sealed to reduce weather damage risk, you'll find that the investment is one that will last you for many years. As far as solar panel anchoring options go, that makes ballast blocks a sound choice.

Which Solar Panel Ballast Blocks Do You Need?

If you've decided to opt for ballast blocks, the next step is determining which ballast blocks you actually need. You'll find that there are ballast blocks in a variety of ratings from as little as 20 or 30 pounds each to as much as ten thousand pounds or more. 

Talk with your ballast block supplier about the structure of your solar panel array and they can help you to determine the proper weight and distribution of your ballast blocks to keep your home's solar panels secure and stable. In most cases, blocks that weigh around 30 pounds are sufficient for the stability of a solar panel.

These are some of the most important things to think about when it comes to securing your solar panel array with ballast blocks. Talk with a local installation contractor, such as Ninsa Solar, LLC, about the blocks that might be right for your application.