Modular ground mounts are becoming a really popular option for DIY solar projects. Not only are they affordable, they’re lightweight, scalable, and easy to transport to off-grid locations. Two of the cheapest and most-talked-about options are the PowerField PowerRack Solar Module Rack and the IntegraRack IR-30 Solar Module Rack.
We’ve tested each solar panel mount separately, but now we want to put them head-to-head to help you decide which one fits your project. So, let’s hop into the ring and find out which one you should spend your hard-earned money on.
Quick Verdict (Spoiler):
The IntegraRack is the better all-round solution for most homeowners and DIYers because it’s vastly more versatile and can be installed as a finished product. The PowerRack wins on raw price and portability for temporary setups, but it carries hidden costs and solar panel compatibility limitations you should know about.
Before we dive into this head-to-head comparison, we wanted to make sure that you had the chance to read the full reviews on these two popular solar panel mounts. They have a totally different design, so it’s worth familiarizing yourself with them ahead of time:
➡️ IntegraRack IR-30 Ground Mount Review
➡️ PowerField PowerRack Solar Panel Ground Mount Review
If you're already familiar with these two solar panel stands, let's jump into the first round.
Both of these solar panel mounting systems are extremely travel-friendly.
The PowerRack Mounts ship pre-built and they’re easily stackable, which is great for throwing them into a truck bed or on the back of an ATV. They also only weigh 17 lbs each, so if you need to mount solar panels in a remote location, they make it incredibly easy to do so.
The IntegraRack IR-30 parts are even smaller and lighter, so you could even backpack them to a remote cabin or tiny home. For getting gear to off-grid sites, it’s going to be easy with either option. Basically, if you can carry a solar panel to the location, you can just as easily transport either of these mounts.
They’re a totally different design, but they’re still very portable and they were shipped to us in lightweight packaging. We’ll call this round a tie and give both solar mounts a point.
When you’re talking about installation for the PowerRack, you literally just set the bin where you want it. After dropping it on the ground, you can either stake it in place, or fill it with a material to stop it blowing away. Once you have it where you want it, slide the panel in, clip it — done. No tools if you’re okay using sandbags or another fill material.
The IntegraRack is also very easy to install, but it requires a little more assembly that just plopping it on the ground. Still, all you need to do is drop the uprights into the base runner, tighten bolts, add solar panel clips and stakes. It takes minutes, but it's more hands-on steps than the PowerRack System.
Since the PowerRack is basically just a bin you drop on the ground, so it requires almost zero assembly, it takes this round.
Since they’re only $75 (before a discount code), the PowerRack solar mounts are very cheap at first glance; however, you might need to buy fill (sand, gravel, concrete, or rocks), as well as anchors, which aren’t included.
Unless you already have loose fill on site, your fill material or anchors are going to cost you extra money and effort. While buying a few bags of sand doesn’t seem expensive, it can add up if you plan on setting up a bunch of these solar mounts for a larger solar array.
On the other hand, the IntegraRack ships with everything you need: hardware, stakes, and even the wrench. The purchase price is more “what you see is what you pay.” Given they’re only $120 per segment, they aren’t even that much more expensive than the PowerRack Solar Panel Stands to begin with.
We’re going to give this round to the IR-30.
The PowerRack system is low to the ground, and panels must meet specific dimensions to fit. Basically, the bins accept panels of particular length and width ranges, rather than being compatible with panels of specific wattage ranges, which is the case with most solar panel mounts.
We have a huge variety of solar panels here at The Solar Lab, but not a single one we had available could properly clip into these mounts. You can use the extender clips, but you’ll need to match panel dimensions before buying.
It does offer 10° side-to-side tilt tolerance, which is nice if you’re planning on mounting solar panels on a hill or uneven ground, but the panel compatibility issue was pretty frustrating. We basically had to check the specifications on Signature Solar’s website and order new panels.
This round is a huge win for the IntegraRack, as it supports nearly any panel that’s long enough to reach the top-to-bottom rails. They even claim it can fit up to 800W panels!
On top of that, the footings aren’t fixed, so you can mix panel sizes in one segment and space footings however needed. Let's say you own a few 415W panels and some 100W panels, you can fit them all on the same solar panel mount, which is awesome. It's also pretty unique, as most panel stands are designed to fit one specific size of solar panel.
While the basic system has a fixed tilt, you can also pick up the optional angle adjuster, which bolts on for seasonal tilt changes. It’s a way more flexible system, which is going to be a major draw for people who already own solar panels.
According to the manufacturer specifications, the PowerRack bins are rated for 120 mph winds and 93 lb/ft² snow loads. Meanwhile, the IntegraRack is rated to withstand 150 mph winds and a 100 lb/ft² snow load.
Even though the PowerRacks look really solid, the IntegraRack system is more durable. We’ve tested it out in our own backyard, and it actually withstood a really intense storm that flipped most of our other solar panel mounts. Even the hugely popular EG4 BrightMount Solar Panel Stand didn't hold up as well, and it's a more expensive and well-known solar ground mount.
If you live somewhere with heavy snow or strong winds, the IntegraRack IR-30 has the edge.
Both brands now offer long warranties. Since it was released, the IntegraRack Ground Mount has shipped with a 25-year warranty. The PowerField PowerRacks were originally backed by a 10-year warranty, but they’ve since upgraded that to a 25-year warranty.
Since both panel mounts are really durable and have the same 25-year coverage, this round is a wash. Still, a 25-year warranty is incredibly impressive, so we’ll give each of them another point.
The IntegraRack Panel Stands are tidy, professional-looking, and they have a really solid appearance. Once they’re assembled and you have mounted your solar panels, they’re easily one of the best-looking solar panel mounts out there. We have a bunch of different solar panel mounts in our backyard, and there’s no question the IntegraRack System looks the best.
While the PowerField PowerRacks are functional and sit low to the ground, they pretty much just look like flipped over Rubbermaid bins. That really basic look is fine if appearance isn’t important to you, but we think it will matter for a lot of residential solar setups. If it matters to you, then the IntegraRack System is a no-brainer.
This is where the PowerRack shines and it’s going to earn it a bonus point. Empty the bins, stack them, and you can easily haul them in the back of a pickup truck for festivals, tradeshows, food trucks, jobsites, farms, or any other type of temporary setup where you just need short-term off-grid power in a remote location.
No other ground mount we’ve tested offers that level of portability and simplicity. It’s not going to be important for everyone, but those that just need a quick and easy solar panel setup for a relatively short period of time will really find these PowerRack bins very useful. It's not something we've ever considered when testing solar panel ground stands, but we're going to give the PowerRacks a bonus point for it.
The IntegraRack IR-30 is our recommendation for most DIYers, homeowners, and pretty much anyone who wants a clean-looking, flexible, long-term ground mount that accepts almost any panel size (even jumbo 800W panels).
It’s quick to assemble, and the wind/snow ratings and 25-year warranty make it feel like a really solid long-term solution. If you want to buy a pallet of cheap solar panels or mix and match panel wattages, the IntegraRack Solar Panel Mount is the safest choice.
With that said, the PowerRack can still be an excellent pick if you need the absolute cheapest temporary solution, or you already have loose fill on site and want to avoid concrete footings. Both options are still better than any of the cheap Amazon solar panel stands we’ve tested, but they're still super affordable. Honestly, you can't really go wrong with either option (as long as your panels are compatible with the PowerRacks).
Check Price at Signature Solar: www.SignatureSolar.com
Use Code: SOLARLABGET50 for $50 Off Your Order
Check Price at Shop Solar: www.ShopSolar.com
Check Price at Signature Solar: www.SignatureSolar.com
Use Code: SOLARLABGET50 for $50 Off Your Order
Check Price at Shop Solar: www.ShopSolar.com
We test solar products so you don’t have to. Check out our opinions and which units we think are worth your money and which ones aren't.
More Reviews >
