$100 Solar Panel Ground Mount: Quick & Easy Assembly
Today at The Solar Lab, we’re diving into a budget-friendly option for solar panel ground mounts—the EcoWorthy Ground Mount. Available through a variety of online retailers, including some non-solar specialists, like Amazon, it’s a solar panel mount that you grab for around $100.
The affordable price point is certainly appealing, but let’s take a closer look at it and see if these low-cost stands actually hold up!
What is the EcoWorthy Ground Mount?
EcoWorthy advertises this as a galvanized steel solar panel stand that can fit between one and four panels. With an adjustable tilt between 30° and 60°, it seems like a fairly practical option that could even cost less than a DIY wood-constructed stand. But as always, we wanted to actually put them to the test.
We picked up our EcoWorthy panel stands for $118 on Amazon, but with a $20 coupon, they came in just under $100. Now, these stands might not be the prettiest, but we wanted to test their functionality, rather than just judge them on their aesthetic value.
When it comes to budget solar setups, every dollar counts, so why risk wasting even 100 bucks on some low-quality Amazon junk? Let’s see how it actually stood up to our real-world tests.
Unboxing and First Impressions
Right out of the box, we were actually pretty impressed. The instructions were clear and easy to follow—something you don't always get, especially with low-cost Amazon products. It actually seemed like a fairly solid product.
The Assembly Process
Assembly was also straightforward: attach the feet to the legs, the legs to the pivots, and you’re pretty much done.
Quick tip: skip the step where you attach the swivel feet to the rails, as you’ll only have to remove them later. Just save yourself some time and wait to do it at the end!
After tightening up all of the bolts (except for the leg bolts, since we weren’t sure about the exact placement), we started getting a bit nervous about how sturdy the thing would be.
The stands are advertised to hold up to four 200W solar panels as long as they’re no wider than 29.4 inches. The panels we were using are 28 inches wide, so they fit, but their height left us a bit skeptical. The stands are about half the length of the panels, which means a lot of the attached panel sticks out. We didn’t really like the idea of having a good chunk of the solar panels sitting unsupported.
Despite our initial concerns, we wanted to see how everything held up, so we continued with the assembly. We also added some locking rubber caster wheels to make the setup mobile. Our thinking was this would allow us to easily move the mount and solar panels to the garage or yard.
Testing the Assembled Mount
Mounting the panels was straightforward, but we quickly realized these stands are really close to the ground. Most of the high-end solar panel mounts really give a lot of clearance between the panels and the ground, which is definitely a good thing when you want to protect your solar panels from getting damaged.
We also felt that the stand was a little bit flimsy with the added weight of the solar panels. If we were planning on a more permanent installation, we would have considered bolting them to a concrete slab or just staking them into the ground to enhance the stability.
Since we were putting together more of a mobile setup, we just secured the stands to 4x4s with lag bolts and added some extra 2x4s for added support.
Testing Results
With everything set up, we tested the stands by wheeling them around.
When we did so, everything actually held up fairly well. The Grape Solar 200W Monocrystalline Solar Panels we were using actually fit snugly, and the whole setup felt stable enough. Sure, we would have liked it more if the top portion of the solar panels were supported, but the entire thing didn’t seem too bad for such a budget-friendly stand.
Our Thoughts: Pros & Cons
The Pros:
Easy Assembly: The stands took about an hour to put together, including breaks for coffee and filming purposes. To say it’s a one-time job, about an hour really isn't bad at all.
Affordability: The main thing these mounts have going for them is their low price point. At around $100, they're a great entry-level option. Sure, they’re not the highest quality mounts, but you can’t really argue with the price.
Versatility: The lightweight design allows for various installations—on the ground, on a flat roof, or even on a balcony.
Mobility: With added caster wheels, we could easily move the stands around. The whole thing is not overly heavy, but it still feels stable enough to be a worthwhile option
The Cons:
Sagging: The stands tend to sag in the middle portion, which might affect the panels’ efficiency over time. Adding a 2x4 in the middle could help, but it’s not something you should need to do with a brand-new product.
Too Close to the Ground: The low height means you might need to offset the panels, affecting balance and stability. If you’re setting it up in the backyard, having your panels sit so close to the ground isn’t great either. You don’t want to be worrying about stone chips if you’re just out mowing the lawn.
Noticeably Flimsy Components: Some parts, like the plastic end caps, just don’t feel solid enough to work in the long-term. We’d imagine they’d just end up blowing away in the wind. Simply put, the stands just don't feel very durable, but they’d probably get the job done.
Our Final Verdict: Would We Recommend Them?
For $100, these EcoWorthy solar panel stands are actually a pretty decent option, especially if you're on a tight budget. They’re not perfect, but they offer an affordable entry point into the world of solar panel mounts.
For more stability or support, you might want to invest in additional materials to reinforce them, or just consider higher quality alternatives. You also have to remember that lower quality mounts are never going to last as long as the higher quality options, so you can always think of the extra upfront cost as a longer term investment.
If you have a bit of extra room in your budget, we’d definitely recommend going with the EG4 BrightMount Solar Panel Rack Kit. It’s regularly available through Signature Solar for under $300, which is very reasonable given how durable it is in comparison to the EcoWorthy stand.
We’ve included links to these stands and other options in the description below.
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EG4 Ground Mount (Better Option): https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-bright...
We Recommend Shopping At:
Signature Solar: https://signaturesolar.com/?ref=theso...
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Shop Solar: https://shopsolarkits.com/?ref=TheSol...
Use Code: THESOLARLAB50 for $50 Off Your Order