Interlocking, Preassembled Solar Panel Module System and Installation Method

An array of two or more preassembled solar panel modules, each preassembled solar panel module comprising:

• a solar panel configured for receiving and converting solar radiation to produce electrical power;
• a plurality of panel rails coupled in preassembly to backside surfaces of said solar panels, including at least two panel rails disposed halfway or more along opposing longest edges of each solar panel;
• a plurality of snap connector components coupled to or integrated with the panel rails and protruding from proximate edges of adjacent preassembled solar panel modules at matching locations for snapping together said adjacent modules;
• a plurality of snap lock components that are each movable to a locked position to prevent decoupling of said adjacent modules after said snapping together of said adjacent modules;
• and
• one or more mounting feet each coupled both at a selected location to one of the at least two panel rails and at a selected location to a roof or other sunlight receiving surface upon which said array is installed,
• wherein 0.42<H/G<15, where H is a height of a preassembled solar panel module measured as a spacing of said backside surface of said preassembled solar panel module from said roof or other sunlight receiving surface, and where G is a gap spacing between nearest edges of adjacent preassembled solar panel modules.

An array of two or more preassembled solar panel modules, each preassembled solar panel module comprising:

• a solar panel configured for receiving and converting solar radiation to produce electrical power;
• a plurality of panel rails coupled in preassembly to backside surfaces of said solar panels, including at least two panel rails disposed halfway or more along opposing longest edges of each solar panel;
• a plurality of snap connector components coupled to or integrated with the panel rails and protruding from proximate edges of adjacent preassembled solar panel modules at matching locations for snapping together said adjacent modules;
• a plurality of snap lock components that are each movable to a locked position to prevent decoupling of said adjacent modules after said snapping together of said adjacent modules;
• one or more mounting feet each coupled both at a selected location to one of the at least two panel rails and at a selected location to a roof or other sunlight receiving surface upon which said array is installed;
• and
• bumpers at corners of said preassembled solar panel modules that extend normally from said backside surface further than any of said plurality of panel rails.

An array of two or more preassembled solar panel modules, each preassembled solar panel module comprising:

• a solar panel configured for receiving and converting solar radiation to produce electrical power;
• a plurality of panel rails coupled in preassembly to backside surfaces of said solar panels, including at least two panel rails disposed halfway or more along opposing longest edges of each solar panel;
• a plurality of snap connector components coupled to or integrated with the panel rails and protruding from proximate edges of adjacent preassembled solar panel modules at matching locations for snapping together said adjacent modules;
• a plurality of snap lock components that are each movable to a locked position to prevent decoupling of said adjacent modules after said snapping together of said adjacent modules;
• and
• one or more mounting feet each coupled both at a selected location to one of the at least two panel rails and at a selected location to a roof or other sunlight receiving surface upon which said array is installed;
• and
• one or more toggle anchors each comprising a rotatably-attached, elongated washer for piercing roof sheathing or other sunlight receiving surface material in a first position and rotating to a second position securing the toggle anchor after said piercing.