Z-Brackets - Solar Panel Mounting Brackets with Screws, Pack of Four

Z-brackets are the simplest way to fix a framed solar panel to a flat surface: one bracket at each corner, bolted through the panel frame and screwed down to the roof. This is a pack of four, which is enough for one panel — if you are mounting two, order two packs. The brackets are anodised aluminium and come pre-assembled with bolts and washers.

Why these brackets

• Anodised aluminium throughout, so the bracket itself will not rust and holds up to weather and UV.
• Supplied pre-assembled with bolts and washers, so there is nothing to source separately for the panel-side connection.
• Three standoff heights and two finishes, so you can match both the airflow you want and the colour of the roof.
• Fits the bolt holes in the frame of any Rich Solar rigid panel, and most other framed panels use the same pattern.

Choosing a height

• 3/4 inch — the lowest profile and the least wind load. Best on a vehicle roof where clearance under a low bridge or garage door matters, and where the panel already sits in moving air.
• 1 1/4 inch — the middle option and the usual choice for a static roof. More airflow under the panel means it runs cooler, and a cooler panel produces slightly more power on a hot day.
• 2 inch — the most airflow and the most clearance for routing cable underneath. It also puts the most leverage on the roof fixing in a crosswind, so use it where the substrate is genuinely solid.

Silver and black are the same bracket in a different anodised finish. The choice is cosmetic; black simply disappears against a dark roof.

What these will not do, plainly

• Framed rigid panels only. Rich Solar describes these as compatible with all its panels. That is true of the rigid range, but flexible and CIGS panels have no frame and no bolt holes, so Z-brackets cannot be used on them. If your panel is flexible, this is not the mount.
• Every bracket is a roof penetration. Four brackets means eight or more screw holes through your roof. Rich Solar does not supply sealant and does not mention it. Bed each bracket on butyl tape or a compatible roof sealant and seal the screw heads as well — skipping this is the single most common cause of a leak after a solar install.
• The screws are the weak point in salt air. The bracket is anodised aluminium, but fasteners in a marine environment want to be stainless. Inspect them after the first season on a boat.
• No dimensions or weights are published. Rich Solar provides a drawing PDF but no stated bracket size, hole spacing or weight anywhere on the product page. We are not going to guess at numbers. Ask us if you need the drawing before ordering.

Installation

• Bolt the brackets to the panel frame first, on the ground, then offer the assembled panel up to the roof.
• Mark and pre-drill roof holes, apply sealant, then fix down. Do not use the panel itself as a drill guide under load.
• Leave the cable run with enough slack that the panel can be lifted a few inches for inspection without disconnecting anything.

Warranty and safety

• Covered by Rich Solar's published limited warranty; terms are on the manufacturer's warranty page.
• Carries a California Proposition 65 warning for cancer risk and reproductive harm.