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-   -   Need help with sun simulator design (https://ecorenovator.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2056)

GaryGary 02-10-12 10:48 AM

Need help with sun simulator design
 
Hi,
I've been working on an indoor sun simulator so that I can do solar thermal collector testing indoors and without always having to having to do side by side tests with a baseline collector.

The sun simulator currently uses six 400 watt metal halide lamps to light up a collector that can be up to about 2 by 4 ft.

Its coming along pretty well, but I'm having some trouble getting to a reflector design that gets enough of the lamp light onto the collector. If you have a minute to look at the setup and make suggestions, I'd appreciate it.
All the details here:
A Sun Simulator for Solar Thermal Collector Testing

Its on the long side, but you can skip down to near the bottom and see the
problem.

Gary

Daox 02-12-12 06:58 PM

Perhaps you could check out craigslist or something for used industrial lamps to use the reflectors from them?

GaryGary 02-12-12 09:34 PM

Hi,
I've been keeping track of the Craig's list offerings for the last couple weeks. We are not in a really densely populated area, so it probably not as good as some places.

I've seen some metal halide lights for warehouse type lighting, and the prices are pretty good -- they come with a built in ballast. But, I think the reflector patterns are too wide for my use. Also a few grow lights -- Pot growing in MT went from semi-legal to not so much, and it looks like some folks are getting rid of the gear.

A few things have been suggested for making the reflectors better, and I'm going to try a couple of them tomorrow.

Gary


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