Solar panels from your big box stores - Page 3

Xringer · 03-16-10, 02:58 PM

That sounds like a very nice setup. I'm also interested in ground mounting racks.
Please post some pics of you rack system. I would like to see how you do the
seasonal adjustment.

Since our experience with 3 solar hotwater panels was a bit negative for my wife,
she does not want panels on the roof..

I think they would look fine.. Maybe not this color.

gasstingy · 03-16-10, 03:26 PM

Beauty being in the eye of the beholder:-). I look up and see solar panels (water or PV) and am drawn like a moth to a candle. I think a roof full of solar would look great! My wife does not feel the same way. She sees roof leaks and no reasonable way to clean them or adjust them. The ground mount rack was the concession to getting her blessing on the array. You know the saying, "If Momma isn't happy, ain't nobody happy." I'll try to get some pictures posted soon.

gasstingy · 03-23-10, 07:14 AM

I'm sorry that I won't be able to post pictures. I took pictures this weekend showing the rack and how to adjust it, but haven't outsmarted the camera to shrink the file size so that I could post them here.

Daox · 03-23-10, 07:23 AM

One way to resize pictures is to open them in paint and use image -> stretch/skew. This brings up a window that allows you to scale the image to a percentage of what it is now.

I'd also recommend saving the file you upload somewhere else on your computer so you keep the original large picture. I then delete these files once they are uploaded.

Xringer · 03-23-10, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gasstingy

I'm sorry that I won't be able to post pictures. I took pictures this weekend showing the rack and how to adjust it, but haven't outsmarted the camera to shrink the file size so that I could post them here.

I normally take big format pics and crop them and/or reduce the image size using a free picture utility found at IrfanView - Official Homepage - one of the most popular viewers worldwide

IrFanView is about the best freebee for pics, out there..

gasstingy · 03-23-10, 03:33 PM

I went out and took pictures of my ground mount adjustable PV rack this weekend. The first picture shows it in the winter position. It’ll hold six Sharp 175w panels, which was beyond my budget. Note that I had piers installed for a second rack

The second picture shows me removing a locking pin that holds the brace from the base of the front leg to the upper part of the rear leg. I have to remove a clip on both sides of the rack to unlock its position. With the pins removed and the braces laid on the ground, I can adjust the rack to the summer position.

In the third picture I am pulling the handle to adjust the rack. Comparing this to the first picture, you see that the handle rests on the front legs when it is tilted to the winter position.

In the forth (last) picture, I am putting the locking pins into the leg braces so it can’t move. The array is supported in the summer position by the chains you see. The brace just locks it in position.

You have no idea of the struggle I had getting this uploaded. Thanks Daox & Xringer for your help.

Chooch · 10-27-11, 09:32 AM

Hey, as far as mounting goes check out a company "spinray energy" ita a US company that has cool mounting for small systems.

Xringer · 10-27-11, 10:15 AM

Chooch,
do you have any connection to Spinray Energy?
I ask, because it seems like you are spamming this site..

Chooch · 10-27-11, 11:15 AM

Hey Xringer, I will not lie to you, I work for Spinray. And sorry to think I am spamming, just trying to inform the prople in this forum about this fairly new technology that is going to make solar a lot more DIY. There are so many advantages to this that I am overly excited. Sorry.

Xringer · 10-27-11, 12:05 PM

Okay Chooch,

I'm not sure how the Admin is going to feel about your posts,
(Thankfully, he routinely deletes a lot spam postings)
but maybe it would be better if you disclosed your employment status,
in any posts that related to products your company sells.?.

I hope anyone who reads my posts doesn't think I work for Sanyo!!

Cheers,
Rich

03-23-10, 07:23 AM	#24
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	One way to resize pictures is to open them in paint and use image -> stretch/skew. This brings up a window that allows you to scale the image to a percentage of what it is now. I'd also recommend saving the file you upload somewhere else on your computer so you keep the original large picture. I then delete these files once they are uploaded. Attached Thumbnails __________________ 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. Last edited by Daox; 03-23-10 at 07:26 AM..

03-23-10, 03:33 PM	#26
gasstingy Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Arab, AL Posts: 491 Thanks: 109 Thanked 49 Times in 43 Posts	Mark's PV Rack I went out and took pictures of my ground mount adjustable PV rack this weekend. The first picture shows it in the winter position. It’ll hold six Sharp 175w panels, which was beyond my budget. Note that I had piers installed for a second rack The second picture shows me removing a locking pin that holds the brace from the base of the front leg to the upper part of the rear leg. I have to remove a clip on both sides of the rack to unlock its position. With the pins removed and the braces laid on the ground, I can adjust the rack to the summer position. In the third picture I am pulling the handle to adjust the rack. Comparing this to the first picture, you see that the handle rests on the front legs when it is tilted to the winter position. In the forth (last) picture, I am putting the locking pins into the leg braces so it can’t move. The array is supported in the summer position by the chains you see. The brace just locks it in position. You have no idea of the struggle I had getting this uploaded. Thanks Daox & Xringer for your help. Attached Thumbnails

03-16-10, 02:58 PM	#21
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	That sounds like a very nice setup. I'm also interested in ground mounting racks. Please post some pics of you rack system. I would like to see how you do the seasonal adjustment. Since our experience with 3 solar hotwater panels was a bit negative for my wife, she does not want panels on the roof.. I think they would look fine.. Maybe not this color.

03-16-10, 03:26 PM	#22
gasstingy Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Arab, AL Posts: 491 Thanks: 109 Thanked 49 Times in 43 Posts	Beauty being in the eye of the beholder:-). I look up and see solar panels (water or PV) and am drawn like a moth to a candle. I think a roof full of solar would look great! My wife does not feel the same way. She sees roof leaks and no reasonable way to clean them or adjust them. The ground mount rack was the concession to getting her blessing on the array. You know the saying, "If Momma isn't happy, ain't nobody happy." I'll try to get some pictures posted soon.

03-23-10, 07:14 AM	#23
gasstingy Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Arab, AL Posts: 491 Thanks: 109 Thanked 49 Times in 43 Posts	I'm sorry that I won't be able to post pictures. I took pictures this weekend showing the rack and how to adjust it, but haven't outsmarted the camera to shrink the file size so that I could post them here.

10-27-11, 09:32 AM	#27
Chooch Lurking Renovator Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hey, as far as mounting goes check out a company "spinray energy" ita a US company that has cool mounting for small systems.

10-27-11, 10:15 AM	#28
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Chooch, do you have any connection to Spinray Energy? I ask, because it seems like you are spamming this site..

10-27-11, 11:15 AM	#29
Chooch Lurking Renovator Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hey Xringer, I will not lie to you, I work for Spinray. And sorry to think I am spamming, just trying to inform the prople in this forum about this fairly new technology that is going to make solar a lot more DIY. There are so many advantages to this that I am overly excited. Sorry.

10-27-11, 12:05 PM	#30
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Okay Chooch, I'm not sure how the Admin is going to feel about your posts, (Thankfully, he routinely deletes a lot spam postings) but maybe it would be better if you disclosed your employment status, in any posts that related to products your company sells.?. I hope anyone who reads my posts doesn't think I work for Sanyo!! Cheers, Rich