Solar Tracker Project

Xringer · 05-16-10, 09:59 AM

I've been looking at 250 watts of PV for $2.64 per watt delivered.
WHOLESALE 125 Watt

But, I'm in a quandary about buying them, since the summer sun is so high now,
more and more blockage is showing up. (Especially with all the leaves coming out).

The hours of clear sun on the tracker don't seem to be much better
than the winter hours.

Anyways, I'm doing flood repairs in my basement (new flooring & some pumps),
so I disconnected the coax cable from the chargers on the two indoor car batteries.

The other end of the coax cable is from the little 5-10W PV on the mount.
So, to keep it from shorting out, I needed some kind of cap for the cable.
I was in a rush, so I just screwed on a 50 ohm RF load. (N-type).

Big mistake! Yesterday when the sun was bright, I was downstairs
cleaning and happened to pick up the cable. It was warm!
I touched the 50 ohm load, and Dang! It was about 200 degrees!!
The heat was being dissipated about 3 feet down the coax cable..
All from a tiny little PV panel...

So, I'm more encouraged now, that even with all the blockage, I could
harvest some pretty good wattage with a little 250 watt array..

I'm on the verge of buying some panels!! I just wish these repairs were
weren't so time-consuming! (and cash-consuming)!

Cheers,
Rich

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Threaded Mode

05-16-10, 09:59 AM	#11
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	I've been looking at 250 watts of PV for $2.64 per watt delivered. WHOLESALE 125 Watt But, I'm in a quandary about buying them, since the summer sun is so high now, more and more blockage is showing up. (Especially with all the leaves coming out). The hours of clear sun on the tracker don't seem to be much better than the winter hours. Anyways, I'm doing flood repairs in my basement (new flooring & some pumps), so I disconnected the coax cable from the chargers on the two indoor car batteries. The other end of the coax cable is from the little 5-10W PV on the mount. So, to keep it from shorting out, I needed some kind of cap for the cable. I was in a rush, so I just screwed on a 50 ohm RF load. (N-type). Big mistake! Yesterday when the sun was bright, I was downstairs cleaning and happened to pick up the cable. It was warm! I touched the 50 ohm load, and Dang! It was about 200 degrees!! The heat was being dissipated about 3 feet down the coax cable.. All from a tiny little PV panel... So, I'm more encouraged now, that even with all the blockage, I could harvest some pretty good wattage with a little 250 watt array.. I'm on the verge of buying some panels!! I just wish these repairs were weren't so time-consuming! (and cash-consuming)! Cheers, Rich