General Specialities UPM 3X User manual

Page 1of 4
www.generalspecialtiesmfg.com
208-265-5244
UPM 3X
A. ALUMINUM RAILS : 2” X 1-1/2” X 1/8” UNIVERSAL ALUMINUM T-SLOT EXTRUSION WITH
CHAMFERED ENDS
B. CROSS PIECES : 3" X 1-1/2" ALUMINUM ANGLE
C.
CENTER TUBE : 2" X 2" SQ. TUBE WITH 3" ROUND TUBE BUSHING
D.
TEE SOCKET : STEEL TEE SOCKET WITH SET BOLTS FOR
ADJUSTMENT
Note: Number of panels may vary, length of rail may vary.
UPM 3X
Standard stock Tee socket sized
for 4" schedule 40 or 80 Pipe
REVISION:
02.09.16

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Materials and Instructions
Part
UPM 3X
Tee Socket (1)
5" O.D. steel socket
with 3" O.D. pipe top
Center tube (1)
2" X 2" square tube with welded round tube in
center
Crosspiece (2)
3" X 1 1/2" X 3/16" aluminum angle
Rails (2)
T-Slot aluminum extrusion rails
Hardware Bags
Bag #1
4 - 3/8" X 1" bolts
8 - 3/8" stainless flat washers
4 - 3/4" nyloc nuts
all for attaching Crosspieces to Rails
2 - set bolts for tightening Tee Socket to post
4 - 3 3/4" bolts
4 - 3/8" nyloc nuts
(to be used with 4 - aluminum flat bars for
attaching Crosspieces to Center tube - not in Bag
#1)
Bag #2
Instructions, stainless bolts and flange nuts for
mounting Panels to Rails
Assembly Instructions
- Put Tee Socket on top of 4" schedule 40 or 80 post.
- Slide Center tube into top of Tee Socket with one of the flat square tube surfaces horizontal (level).
- Tighten down on 3 set bolts on Tee Socket. Make sure center tube faces east/west, then tighten 2
square head set bolts on Tee Socket.
- Loosely attach Crosspieces on Center tube using flat bars and bolts provided.
- Attach aluminum panel Rails to Crosspieces with 3/8" bolts.
- Lay first module on top of Rails and adjust distance between Rails to fit mounting holes on modules in a
landscape orientation.
- Attach modules to Rails by sliding mounting bolts in T-slot. Start at one end of the Rails and add modules
out from there, leaving approx. 1/4" space between modules. Make sure bolts are finger tight only.
- When all modules are attached and LOOSELY bolted, square up assembly by measuring diagonally from
corner to corner of array and then tighten all the mounting bolts and the rest of the assembly hardware.

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Recommendations for Dimensions of Post Hole for Standard Installation of
General Specialties Manufacturing Top of Pole Mounts
UPM Model
Depth of
Hole
Width of Square Hole /
Cubic Yards of concrete
needed
Diameter of Round Hole /
Cubic Yards of concrete
needed
All 3X
48”
16” / .26 CY
20" / .32 CY
Your building department may require the foundation for a PV array post mount to be designed by a
structural engineer licensed in the state where the PV array is to be erected. This is required because
failure of a post mount foundation may be a threat to the safety of people and property in its proximity.
At a minimum, failure will result in costly damage to the PV modules. The foundation described here is
suitable for most soil types, but no warranty of its suitability for your particular soil or wind conditions is
offered or implied.
If you are unable to dig holes of these dimensions because you encounter bed rock or if you have very
loamy or loose sandy soil, (get the recommendation of a soil engineer or building department), then you
may have to seek a design for an alternative foundation construction.
For type and size of pole to install in concrete foundation, refer to chart below.
General Specialties Recommendations for Pole Height and Dimension for
Top of Pole Mounts
We cannot guarantee a standard 1.67 safety factor if these recommendations are not observed. Since we
cannot assess each customer's individual site and conditions, a professional installer and the local building
department should be consulted for the safest and most effective installation.
UPM Model
Post Size
(sch = schedule, or
thickness of pipe
wall)
Max Pole
Height
above
concrete
Base
w/array
@ 45tilt
Clearance
between
top of
concrete
and
lowest
point on
array @
45tilt
Max Pole
Height
above
concrete
base
w/array
@ 60tilt
Clearance
between
top of
concrete
and
lowest
point on
array @
60tilt
Max Pole
Height
above
concrete
base
w/array
@ 90tilt
Clearance
between
top of
concrete
and
lowest
point on
array @
90tilt
UPM3X
Standard stock
tee socket size
4”
4” sch 40 4 ½” OD
4” sch 80 4 ½” OD
9’ 3”
12’ 6”
7’ 3”
10’ 6”
7’ 5”
10’
4’ 10”
7’ 5”
6’ 4”
8’ 6”
3’ 2”
5’ 4”

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Rail Configuration
A.
BLACK POWDER COATED TEE
B.
SQUARE GALVANIZED CENTER TUBE WITH ROUND TUBE BUSHING
C.
ALUMINUM ANGLE CROSS PIECE
D.
UNIVERSAL ALUMINUM T-SLOT EXTRUSTION RAILS
E.
ALUMINUM FLAT BAR WITH 2 HOLES
Note: Rails may toe in or toe out depending on panel mounting hole location. Number of
panels may vary.
Instructions for Attaching Solar Panel to Mounting Rails
Lay T-Slot rails across the short axis
of the panel as shown in Photo #1.
Slide stainless bolts into T-slot of
rail and position so they are
opposite to the mounting holes on
the frame
of the panel as shown in
Photo #2.
Then roll the rails over so the bolts
slip into the holes on the panel
frame. Place the flange nut on your
finger with the flange UP and thread
onto the bolt from underneath as
shown in Photo #3. Finger tighten.