Solar Tracker Project - Page 19

Xringer · 11-27-10, 11:03 AM

The 4' steel rods went in just fine. Got a buddy to help move the array back to the mount
and I jacked it up and bolted it back in place.. I think it must weigh about 160 pounds.

I've decided my old satellite mount has had enough. I'm not adding any more panels.

Today, it's cool and sunny.. Read 7.3 Amp at the 10 ohm load.
With a 10w line loss included, the panels were putting out about 543 watts!
Which is the best I've seen so far..

I think maybe I just saw some 'Cloud Edge Effect', because the amp meter displayed 7.6A !
577.6w + 10 lost in the cable.. 587.6 watts! Amazing for a cheap 500w array..

Daox · 11-29-10, 06:53 AM

Very nice!

I'm happy to hear you got it all taken care of and no harm was done.

AC_Hacker · 11-29-10, 10:00 AM

Xringer,

Very sorry to learn of the blow-down.

I know that it's been mentioned before, but the south facing slope of your house would make an ideal mounting platform for the panels you have (and many more panels, too).

Mounting them on a rack close to, and parallel to the roof-line would reduce the wind load tremendously.

It would also reduce the total solar gain per-panel, but I think that if you did the math, the reduction wouldn't be very large, especially considering that against the security from winter wind damage.

The visual impact of panels parallel to the roof would be minimal, something your wife could appreciate.

The panels mounted on the roof would shade the house from the summer sun, while they generated power, offering the promise of free summer cooling.

Here in Portland, which is very solar friendly, the parallel-to-the-roofline mounting is recommended by the city, wherever possible, for all of the above reasons.

-AC_Hacker

Xringer · 11-29-10, 11:38 AM

My dream roof..

Is my wife's nightmare roof. She remembers our old Hot water panels..
They never really grew on her..

I've faced the fact, that I'll never be able to install anything on the roof.
The only place I can put out some panels is the back yard.

OutbackAuzz · 11-29-10, 07:51 PM

That roof looks great, close to mine which is NNW more. Weird thinking the south for you guys. I get about four hours of Sun in the 20deg region east- West, so am loosing about four to five hours in the summer of good production without setting up a tracking system, they say 25-30% better, I will get round to a drawing soon.
With the stand falling My 2bobs worth would have two more bolts on each corner might have stopped the twisting of the legs. Sounds like you have it fixed now though. Tell the wife that a nice sunshade over those two windows at the front would look great. Just make it out of steel and panels.

Xringer · 11-29-10, 10:50 PM

I already looked into the sunshade idea.. It's a non-starter.

I used the existing holes in the base (to fasten the 4x4s), and skipped adding extra bolts.
Having flexible legs, made it much easier to move around.

Once I found the right location, I was going to tie-down the legs and add some lag-bolts.
While looking for hardware for the new panels, I found my lag-bolt stash..

I'm just a procrastinator..

Once I get the new panels installed, I'll get laggin.. The mount is more stable now,
but I think more bolts will make it really solid.

Cheers,
Rich

Xringer · 12-21-10, 12:04 PM

Took this last year when beginning this project.

I leaned out over the rail a little this year, so you could see the new 400w array.

The new array is dumping a little bit over 400w into the 10 ohm load this afternoon.
The 500w tracking array is charging the new battery bank up.
It's in float mode right now, not using much of the available power.

Over all, the project is going pretty well, considering how slow I work..

Happy Holidays,
Rich

OutbackAuzz · 12-22-10, 12:08 AM

Nice one Rich,
Thats a great angle to the sun for that time of year. Also thats what Christmas should look like, Snow not rain and wind like here in Auzz. Got our first 3mth power Bill since the 1.5kw panels went on. With little sun, a credit of $127.00 and pretty happy with that. I think we are having the weather you were. Happy Holidays to you and Mrs Rich.
Steve

Xringer · 12-22-10, 05:17 AM

The forecast says more snow today and tomorrow.. There goes my back!

Congrads Steve.. Before long, those panels are going to make you a rich man..

Whereas my panels are putting me in the poorhouse. Or maybe I should say doghouse.?

I was wheelin-n-dealing on Ebay late last night and got us a new 2.5kW STACKABLE 48V inverter..
It's going look like this: (I hope).

Cost me $219 Americano.. My wife isn't going to be happy this morning..
I better make breakfast..

50 amps at 48volts ??? No, that can't be!!

Happy Holidays to you Outbackers too!

Cheers,
Rich

danxro · 12-02-11, 06:24 AM

Hello
My name is Daniel and I'm from Europe Romania
Mr. Xringer Got a request for you if you can help me with two pictures of the solar tracking circuit
one front and one back circuit
please help me
If you do not mind
I try to build a solar tracker circuit I
the pictures help me
build one
Thanks look forward to your response

11-27-10, 11:03 AM	#181
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	The 4' steel rods went in just fine. Got a buddy to help move the array back to the mount and I jacked it up and bolted it back in place.. I think it must weigh about 160 pounds. I've decided my old satellite mount has had enough. I'm not adding any more panels. Today, it's cool and sunny.. Read 7.3 Amp at the 10 ohm load. With a 10w line loss included, the panels were putting out about 543 watts! Which is the best I've seen so far.. I think maybe I just saw some 'Cloud Edge Effect', because the amp meter displayed 7.6A ! 577.6w + 10 lost in the cable.. 587.6 watts! Amazing for a cheap 500w array.. Last edited by Xringer; 11-27-10 at 11:37 AM..

11-29-10, 06:53 AM	#182
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Very nice! I'm happy to hear you got it all taken care of and no harm was done. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

11-29-10, 10:00 AM	#183
AC_Hacker Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 4,004 Thanks: 303 Thanked 723 Times in 534 Posts	Very sorry to learn of the blow-down Xringer, Very sorry to learn of the blow-down. I know that it's been mentioned before, but the south facing slope of your house would make an ideal mounting platform for the panels you have (and many more panels, too). Mounting them on a rack close to, and parallel to the roof-line would reduce the wind load tremendously. It would also reduce the total solar gain per-panel, but I think that if you did the math, the reduction wouldn't be very large, especially considering that against the security from winter wind damage. The visual impact of panels parallel to the roof would be minimal, something your wife could appreciate. The panels mounted on the roof would shade the house from the summer sun, while they generated power, offering the promise of free summer cooling. Here in Portland, which is very solar friendly, the parallel-to-the-roofline mounting is recommended by the city, wherever possible, for all of the above reasons. -AC_Hacker

11-29-10, 11:38 AM	#184
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Go ahead, rub it in.. My dream roof.. Is my wife's nightmare roof. She remembers our old Hot water panels.. They never really grew on her.. I've faced the fact, that I'll never be able to install anything on the roof. The only place I can put out some panels is the back yard.

11-29-10, 07:51 PM	#185
OutbackAuzz Lurking Renovator Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 16 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Dream Roof That roof looks great, close to mine which is NNW more. Weird thinking the south for you guys. I get about four hours of Sun in the 20deg region east- West, so am loosing about four to five hours in the summer of good production without setting up a tracking system, they say 25-30% better, I will get round to a drawing soon. With the stand falling My 2bobs worth would have two more bolts on each corner might have stopped the twisting of the legs. Sounds like you have it fixed now though. Tell the wife that a nice sunshade over those two windows at the front would look great. Just make it out of steel and panels.

11-29-10, 10:50 PM	#186
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	I already looked into the sunshade idea.. It's a non-starter. I used the existing holes in the base (to fasten the 4x4s), and skipped adding extra bolts. Having flexible legs, made it much easier to move around. Once I found the right location, I was going to tie-down the legs and add some lag-bolts. While looking for hardware for the new panels, I found my lag-bolt stash.. I'm just a procrastinator.. Once I get the new panels installed, I'll get laggin.. The mount is more stable now, but I think more bolts will make it really solid. Cheers, Rich

12-21-10, 12:04 PM	#187
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	One year later Took this last year when beginning this project. I leaned out over the rail a little this year, so you could see the new 400w array. The new array is dumping a little bit over 400w into the 10 ohm load this afternoon. The 500w tracking array is charging the new battery bank up. It's in float mode right now, not using much of the available power. Over all, the project is going pretty well, considering how slow I work.. Happy Holidays, Rich

12-22-10, 12:08 AM	#188
OutbackAuzz Lurking Renovator Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 16 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nice one Rich, Thats a great angle to the sun for that time of year. Also thats what Christmas should look like, Snow not rain and wind like here in Auzz. Got our first 3mth power Bill since the 1.5kw panels went on. With little sun, a credit of $127.00 and pretty happy with that. I think we are having the weather you were. Happy Holidays to you and Mrs Rich. Steve

12-22-10, 05:17 AM	#189
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Snow stinks! The forecast says more snow today and tomorrow.. There goes my back! Congrads Steve.. Before long, those panels are going to make you a rich man.. Whereas my panels are putting me in the poorhouse. Or maybe I should say doghouse.? I was wheelin-n-dealing on Ebay late last night and got us a new 2.5kW STACKABLE 48V inverter.. It's going look like this: (I hope). Cost me $219 Americano.. My wife isn't going to be happy this morning.. I better make breakfast.. 50 amps at 48volts ??? No, that can't be!! Happy Holidays to you Outbackers too! Cheers, Rich Last edited by Xringer; 12-22-10 at 05:19 AM..

12-02-11, 06:24 AM	#190
danxro Dan_LASER Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Romania Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	hello Hello My name is Daniel and I'm from Europe Romania Mr. Xringer Got a request for you if you can help me with two pictures of the solar tracking circuit one front and one back circuit please help me If you do not mind I try to build a solar tracker circuit I the pictures help me build one Thanks look forward to your response