Hey everyone! I’m planning a small off-grid solar array in my backyard (around 12 panels) and I really want to avoid pouring concrete footings if possible. The soil here is mostly dense clay with some gravel, and digging deep holes sounds like a nightmare. I’ve seen people use ground screws instead of concrete, but doing it entirely by hand seems brutal. Has anyone here used a dedicated mechanical driver or portable machine for this? What equipment would you recommend for a small DIY or semi-pro setup?
Manual installation in clay is definitely going to break your back, so going mechanical is a smart call. For solar racking and timber platforms, portable electric or hydraulic screw drivers make a night-and-day difference. They give you the continuous torque needed to drive the anchor straight without wobbling. Take a look at the options here https://iron-mechanics.com/product-category/ground-screw-drivers/ they specialize in dedicated ground screw driving equipment that handles heavy soil without requiring a full-sized excavator.
@nataliaaa0706 Thanks a lot, that portable gear looks exactly like what I need for this project!
