Modular Solar Panel Racking System

A modular racking system for solar panels comprising:

• at least one end unit, each end unit comprising:
• at least one discrete ballast holder;
• and
• at least one panel support member having two upright portions, a transverse portion contiguously connected between the two upright portions, and a retainer attached to the transverse portion and configured to retain a solar panel, wherein the at least one discrete ballast holder is removably connected to one of the upright portions in a perpendicular arrangement;
• and
• at least one center unit, each center unit comprising:
• at least one discrete ballast holder;
• and
• a pair of panel support members, wherein the at least one discrete ballast holder is connected to one of the upright portions of each panel support member in a substantially perpendicular arrangement such that the panel support members are in spaced parallel relationship to each other, with the discrete ballast holder sized to span the spaced pair.

An array for removably positioning a plurality of solar panels comprising:

• a plurality of discrete ballast holders configured to rest in overlying relationship to a planar support surface and configured in spaced relationship to one another;
• a plurality of panel support members, each support member having two upright portions, a transverse portion contiguously connected between the two upright portions, and a retainer attached to the transverse portion and configured to retain a solar panel;
• ballast material removably positioned in more than one of the discrete ballast holders;
• and
• at least two solar panels, each solar panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two opposed side edges, each solar panel attached to two of the plurality of panel support members with the retainer, wherein each of the plurality of discrete ballast holders is connected to no more than four of the panel support members.

A method of positioning two or more solar panels in an array comprising:

• orienting at least three panel supports in linear relationship to one another on a support substrate, wherein each panel support comprises:
• at least one transverse portion contiguously connected between opposed upright portions;
• a retainer attached to the at least one transverse portion and configured to retain a solar panel;
• at least one ballast holder connected to a respective upright;
• and discrete ballast members in each discrete ballast holder;
• positioning at least two solar panels in overlying relationship to two of the at least three panel supports and in abutting relationship to one another such that the abutting solar panels form an abutment junction seam, the solar panels positioned such that the abutment junction seam is located medial between and parallel to two transverse portions connected to the same discrete ballast holder;
• and
• retaining the positioned solar panels in affixed relationship to the panel support.