How to Use The NOVA Solar Mounting Materials Calculator
This guide will walk you through using our materials calculator. It helps you quickly and accurately determine all the mounting components you’ll need for your solar panel installation.
Section 1: Project & General System Details
- Project Name: Start by giving your project a clear name. This could be the customer’s name, the job site address, or any other identifier that helps you recognise it later.
- Total Number of Panels: Enter the total number of solar panels for your entire project.
- Panel Length (mm): Enter the length of a single solar panel in millimetres (mm).
- Panel Width (mm): Next, enter the width of a single solar panel in millimetres (mm).
- Panel Wattage (W): Enter the wattage of a single solar panel in Watts (W) (e.g., 400W).
- Roof/Fixing Type: From the dropdown menu, select the type of roof fixing you’ll be using. This is crucial as different roof types require specific mounting solutions.
- System Type: Select how the solar panels will be mounted on the roof.
- Rail Length (mm): Choose your preferred rail length (mm) from our two available options to suit your project needs.
- Rail Finish: Choose the desired finish for your mounting components
- Number of Optimisers/Microinverters: If your solar system will use optimisers or microinverters, enter the total number you require. If you don’t need them, you can leave this blank or enter ‘0’.
- Number of Optimisers/Microinverters: If your solar system will use optimisers or microinverters, enter the total number you require. If you don’t need them, you can leave this blank or enter ‘0’.
- Do you need Rail End Caps?: Select Yes or No. These provide a neat finish and protect the rail ends.
- Do you need Cable Tray?: Select Yes or No
Section 2: Solar Array Layout - Defining Your Rows
This section helps the calculator understand the physical arrangement of your panels for each unique row configuration on the roof.
- Number of Panels: Enter how many solar panels will be placed side-by-side in this specific row configuration.
- Number of Rows: If you have multiple rows that are exactly the same (i.e., they have the same number of panels as you just entered), enter that quantity here. For example, if you have three separate rows, each with 10 panels, you would enter ‘3’.
- Number of Rails per Row: Enter the number of mounting rails used for each row in this configuration.
- Foot Spacing (mm): This is critical for structural stability. Enter the maximum allowable distance in millimetres (mm) between each mounting foot (the support point that attaches the rail to the roof).
Important Note for Different Row Configurations: If your solar installation includes rows with varying numbers of panels or different layouts, you must repeat the four steps above (Number of Panels, Number of Rows, Number of Rails per Row, Foot Spacing) for each unique row configuration.
Important Note for Landscape Layouts: If you are installing your panels in a landscape orientation (where the longer side of the panel is horizontal), imagine that your “rows” are arranged vertically on the roof, from the top edge to the bottom edge.
Section 3: Finalising Your Bill of Materials
Contingency Required: This is an essential step! Select the percentage of extra materials you want to add to your order as a buffer. It’s highly recommended to include a contingency (e.g., 3-5%) to account for unexpected issues, accidental damage, or minor adjustments during installation. This proactive step helps prevent delays and additional shipping costs.
Download PDF: Once you’ve entered all the necessary details, click the “Download PDF” button.
This PDF is your complete Bill of Materials. You can send it directly to your local NOVA stockist to request a quote or place your order.