EG4 Bright Mount: Is It the Best DIY Solar Ground Mount?

In this article, I’ll walk you through how I moved four Heliene 360-watt solar panels onto an EG4 Bright Mount solar ground mount system.

From unboxing to assembly to mounting, we’ll cover all the steps of installing the EG4 Bright Mount. Then, I’ll provide an honest review.

The EG4 Bright Mount offers an impressive design at a compelling price—but will it deliver?

Let’s open the box and find out!

Rather watch than read? Check out this 8-minute video.

Unboxing the EG4 Bright Mount: First Impressions

First off, we’ll unpack the box for the EG4 Bright Mount.

An image of Scott unboxing the EG4 Bright Mount solar ground mount, with the contents laying on the ground. — Here are the contents of the EG4 Bright Mount.

I was immediately impressed by its robust all-aluminum structure and high-quality stainless steel hardware.

Also, EG4 does a great job of batching the different hardware in separate bags. This makes assembly easier as you don’t have to rummage through a massive bag for each piece.

Assembling the Legs of the EG4 Bright Mount

Next, we’ll assemble the legs of the ground mount. You’ll find four legs in the kit, which involve the most hardware.

There’s a large and small U bracket for each leg. The fixed-distance piece goes into the larger bracket, and the adjustable piece fits into the smaller one. This allows you to change the tilt angle of each leg.

An image of Scott using an impact driver to assemble the legs of the EG4 Bright Mount. — Use an impact driver for easy leg assembly.

Pro Tip: Use an impact driver with a bit instead of just an Allen wrench. Remember to dial down the torque to avoid damaging the aluminum.

Once you have everything in place, use the impact driver to tighten and secure all the parts.

Adjusting the Legs for Solar Panel Tilt Angle

Before mounting, you’ll want to adjust the legs on the EG4 Bright Mount for the solar panel tilt angle.

The EG4 Bright Mount comes with an adjustable feature for each leg, allowing for optimal positioning for your location or changing seasons.

The EG4 instructions provide an end-to-end length on the adjustable piece, so you can adjust it to the corresponding length to get your desired tilt angle.

Or, you can use the measurement app on your smartphone to adjust the legs. I’m targeting a 28° tilt, which is nearly ideal for my location year-round.

An image of Scott using his phone to adjust the EG4 Bright Mount legs to the ideal tilt angle. — You can use the measurement app on your phone to adjust the legs to a certain tilt angle.

Mounting Strategy: Permanent vs. Temporary

Planning for a Permanent Setup

In a permanent installation, you’d probably use an 8 or 10-inch Sono tube for each of the brackets. These should be set below the frost line and filled with concrete (in my location I’d be digging down 36 inches).

To secure the mount to the concrete, you’d use the sleeve anchors provided by EG4 to ensure stability and longevity.

EG4 provides sleeve anchors to secure your mount to concrete.

My Temporary Mounting Approach

Since I’m setting up a temporary mount, I’m using 3/8-inch power lags to hold it into my 4×4 pressure-treated lumber, with 51 inches between each lag.

The flexibility of this system allows for easy repositioning, which is ideal for my ongoing projects.

Installing Rails and Solar Panels

Step 1: Secure the Legs

Now, I’ll secure the legs onto my DIY base. I used two power lags for each, adding 3/8-inch galvanized washers for better fitting in the slots.

An image of Scott securing the legs onto the base. — I’m using power lags and washers to secure the legs on my temporary setup.

I tighten them, but I don’t secure them down completely. This gives me wiggle room as I mount the rails and get everything aligned.

Step 2: Assemble the Rails

Next, put together both sides of the top rail using a splice with four bolts.

An image of Scott attaching both pieces of top rail with a splice. — A splice holds both pieces of the top rail together.

Please note: There are little grounding discs inside the splice—make sure they are in place for a secure electrical ground.

A close up image showing the grounding discs inside of the splice. — Here’s a closer look at the grounding discs inside the splice.

Repeat the same steps for the bottom rail. Once the rails are in place, we’ll transfer each of the 360-watt Heliene solar panels.

An image of Scott assembling the bottom rail of the EG4 Bright Mount. — Repeat the same steps for the bottom rail.

Step 3: Mount Solar Panels onto the EG4 Bright Mount

When installing the solar panels, you’ll use end clamps for the edges and mid clamps for the middle sections.

An image of Scott mounting his solar panels onto the EG4 Bright Mount. — End clamps secure the edges of the solar panels.

The mid clamps will be a bit harder to install than the end clamps, since the mid clamps have a grounding clip. This eliminates the need for additional grounding bolts.

A close-up image of a middle clamp on the EG4 Bright Mount. — Here’s a close-up of the middle clamp with the grounding clip underneath.

So, make sure those middle grounding clips are underneath your panels, because that’s what going to connect the ground wire to the top rail and bottom rail.

Step 4: Grounding the System

Next, you’ll install your two grounding lugs. These will ground both the top and bottom rail, and will tie together to your ground rod.

An image of Scott pointing to the grounding lugs on the top of the EG4 Ground Mount. — Here’s a look at the grounding lugs.

In my case, I need to move this setup around for other projects. But once I’m ready for a permanent setup, I’ll sink a ground rod through a hole drilled into the leg, which will help hold down the leg for extra security.

When you’re at the stage of installing a ground rod, check out this video. In the video, I share some effective techniques using a rotary hammer drill and a simple water bottle.

Pro Tip: Securing the Adjustment Leg

If you’re seeking extra stability, consider using a bolt through the pre-set holes in the adjustment leg. This provides a more secure hold than just set screws, especially over time.

An image of Scott pointing to pre-set holes on the adjustment leg of the EG4 Ground Mount. — Here are the pre-set holes on the adjustment leg.

Considering Solar for Your Home

Before we wrap up, if you’re considering a rooftop solar system for your home, a great place to start is SolarReviews. Just fill out a quick form for an estimate of your system’s size and cost.

If you decide to move forward, SolarReviews will also provide a list of trusted local installers, so you can have peace of mind during the warranty period.

Review: EG4 Bright Mount

So, after assembling and installing the EG4 Bright Mount, would I recommend it?

Absolutely.

Overall, I think it’s an awesome solar ground mount that’s great for DIY projects. You get a solid mount for four large panels, and it’s affordable. With a price range of $250 to $400, it’s accessible for most budgets.

An image of four solar panels mounted on an EG4 Bright Mount solar ground mount. — The EG4 Bright Mount is an affordable solar ground mount that can hold 4 large solar panels.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this article, we’ve walked through the installation of the EG4 Bright Mount. Here are the main takeaways:

First Impressions: The EG4 Bright Mount stands out with its durable all-aluminum structure and high-quality stainless steel hardware, plus well-organized packaging for easy assembly.
Assembly Process: Using an impact driver simplifies assembly, especially for the legs. It’s crucial to correctly attach U brackets for tilt angle adjustment and ensure all parts are securely tightened.
Adjusting the Tilt Angle: The mount’s adjustable feature allows for an optimal tilt angle, which you can find using EG4’s instructions or with your phone’s measurement app.
Mounting Strategy: We discussed both temporary and permanent mounting methods, highlighting the use of power lags for temporary setups and Sono tubes with concrete for permanent installations.
Installing Rails and Panels: Proper installation involves careful securing of legs and rails, and using the right clamps for panel mounting.
Grounding the System: Grounding lugs tied to a ground rod are essential for permanent setups.
Review: The EG4 Bright Mount is an excellent choice for DIY solar projects, offering a solid, affordable solution for mounting solar panels.

I hope this guide gives you a good insight into your solar ground mount project. Remember, a well-installed solar system not only saves energy but also adds value to your property.

Stay tuned for more updates and feel free to reach out with any questions or suggestions.