Wire management racking system for photovoltaic solar modules

A method for mounting a racking system for framed photovoltaic (PV) modules, comprising:

• providing a North-South oriented sub-assembly, comprising:
• a plurality of North-South (NS) mounting structures, oriented in a North-South direction, each of said NS mounting structures including an NS open-air channel;
• a plurality of NS secondary mounting structures, each of said NS secondary mounting structures coupled to and supporting one of said NS mounting structures;
• providing an East-West oriented sub-assembly, comprising:
• a plurality of East-West (EW) mounting structures, oriented in an East-West direction, each of said EW mounting structures including an EW open-air channel;
• interconnecting each of said NS mounting structures to each of said EW mounting structures with a key connector;
• wherein, the coupling of said NS mounting structures to said East-West mounting structures forms an integrated framework, wherein said NS oriented sub-assembly supports a plurality of framed photovoltaic (PV) modules, wherein said NS open-air channel and said EW open-air channel forms an interconnected electrical raceway with a plurality of intersections within a solar module array, and wherein at least one of the NS or EW open-air mounting structures includes a base member, and two spaced apart bent arm members extending substantially perpendicularly from the base member a first distance and thereafter extending inwardly a second distance, defining a substantially U-shaped cross-section in which the arm members terminate with an inwardly directed flange.

A framed photovoltaic (PV) module racking system, comprising:

• a North-South oriented sub-assembly, comprising:
• a plurality of North-South (NS) mounting structures, oriented in a North-South direction, each of said NS mounting structures including an NS open-air channel;
• a plurality of NS secondary mounting structures, each of said NS secondary mounting structures coupled to and supporting one of said NS mounting structures;
• an East-West oriented sub-assembly, comprising:
• a plurality of East-West (EW) mounting structures, oriented in an East-West direction, each of said EW mounting structures including an EW open-air channel;
• a key connector interconnecting each of said NS mounting structures to each of said EW mounting structures, said key connector including a base member, and a bent arm member extending substantially perpendicularly from the base member a first distance and thereafter extending outward a second distance;
• wherein, the coupling of said NS mounting structures to said East-West mounting structures forms an integrated framework, wherein said NS oriented sub-assembly supports a plurality of framed photovoltaic (PV) modules, and-wherein said NS open-air channel and said EW open-air channel forms an interconnected electrical raceway with a plurality of intersections within a solar module array.