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Xringer · 03-08-10, 06:51 PM

I saw that Nonspillable, but only after I posted..

I'm not breaking any new ground with the HWPV idea. The gov has been testing the hardware for years.
And, it seems to be very reliable and low maintenance.
BFRL: Solar Photovoltaic Hot Water System

Their findings state it can be done (in homes) economically, if PV prices drop drastically..
And, that time is just about here. PV is getting cheaper very slowly..

Here's a blurb about HWPV from down Australia way..
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/solar-....html#post5374

~~~

Anyways, I had that used BUD (Big Ugly Dish) in the backyard for about 20 years it seems,
and my wife has never really liked it.

So, when I decided to take it down. I was wondering if it would make a good Solar tracker mount.

It's tracking ok right now, so I'm encouraged to get some real PV wattage up there.
Due to blockages both east and west, the direct sun light on the tracker
is limited to about 6 hours right now. I have some trees to remove,
but I don't see gaining very many more watt-hours.

I think Sun Tracking is the only way to make the best of a bad location.
Of course, it all else fails, the garage roof might become available..

Now, I'm considering wind loading and the extra weight of the 110 watt Kaneka Thin Film PV panel.
Kaneka Thin Film Solar Panel 110w

At 40 pounds, times 4.. 160 pounds of panel. That's a lot of weight,
considering the old dish antenna was only about 50 pounds.

However, a freak storm once filled it with about 500 pounds of wet snow. (It was in Bird-bath posistion).
The only damage was to the mesh. The mount was fine. The mechanism is very solid.

I think the wind-loading might be the main danger to the panels.
The post is not mounted into a block of concrete. It's bolted to a deck.
The deck has five 4x4 legs planted about 3 feet into the ground.
It would be hard to flip over, but it's possible with a strong enough wind.
So, some changes might be needed to the post..
Or, I could try to step up to a brand new post (in concrete) and do it right.
The main problem with a new post is the digging.. We have a very high water table.

DIYing is a pretty good way to spend your retirement days..

Cheers,
Rich

03-08-10, 06:51 PM	#25
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	I saw that Nonspillable, but only after I posted.. I'm not breaking any new ground with the HWPV idea. The gov has been testing the hardware for years. And, it seems to be very reliable and low maintenance. BFRL: Solar Photovoltaic Hot Water System Their findings state it can be done (in homes) economically, if PV prices drop drastically.. And, that time is just about here. PV is getting cheaper very slowly.. Here's a blurb about HWPV from down Australia way.. http://ecorenovator.org/forum/solar-....html#post5374 ~~~ Anyways, I had that used BUD (Big Ugly Dish) in the backyard for about 20 years it seems, and my wife has never really liked it. So, when I decided to take it down. I was wondering if it would make a good Solar tracker mount. It's tracking ok right now, so I'm encouraged to get some real PV wattage up there. Due to blockages both east and west, the direct sun light on the tracker is limited to about 6 hours right now. I have some trees to remove, but I don't see gaining very many more watt-hours. I think Sun Tracking is the only way to make the best of a bad location. Of course, it all else fails, the garage roof might become available.. Now, I'm considering wind loading and the extra weight of the 110 watt Kaneka Thin Film PV panel. Kaneka Thin Film Solar Panel 110w At 40 pounds, times 4.. 160 pounds of panel. That's a lot of weight, considering the old dish antenna was only about 50 pounds. However, a freak storm once filled it with about 500 pounds of wet snow. (It was in Bird-bath posistion). The only damage was to the mesh. The mount was fine. The mechanism is very solid. I think the wind-loading might be the main danger to the panels. The post is not mounted into a block of concrete. It's bolted to a deck. The deck has five 4x4 legs planted about 3 feet into the ground. It would be hard to flip over, but it's possible with a strong enough wind. So, some changes might be needed to the post.. Or, I could try to step up to a brand new post (in concrete) and do it right. The main problem with a new post is the digging.. We have a very high water table. DIYing is a pretty good way to spend your retirement days.. Cheers, Rich