Solar Concentrator Mirrors - How to attach?

cdig · 03-08-11, 09:32 AM

Ok, so I've found ~80 some 12" square mirror tiles for my solar concentrator project. I have a 10 ft satellite dish in the back yard that I plan to use as the concentrator once I refit it with new actuators.

I've been thinking for a bit on how to attach the mirrors to the dish, but haven't had that 'Eureeka!' moment yet... any ideas? I'm thinking I will have to glue the mirrors to some sort of base plate for strength, and to give me something to attach anchor bolts to.. but what? plexi-glass maybe? expensive tho... I thought about 1/2" plywood, but that will likely swell as soon as it gets wet. I was thinking about ceramic tile... but I wouldn't be able to drill into it for anchoring to the dish... ARg!

ideas from anyone that has done this? Ideally I want to be able to attach adjusting bolts at 3 of the 4 corners of each mirror tile in order to allow for alignment to the focal point.

03-08-11, 09:32 AM	#1
cdig Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 61 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Solar Concentrator Mirrors - How to attach? Ok, so I've found ~80 some 12" square mirror tiles for my solar concentrator project. I have a 10 ft satellite dish in the back yard that I plan to use as the concentrator once I refit it with new actuators. I've been thinking for a bit on how to attach the mirrors to the dish, but haven't had that 'Eureeka!' moment yet... any ideas? I'm thinking I will have to glue the mirrors to some sort of base plate for strength, and to give me something to attach anchor bolts to.. but what? plexi-glass maybe? expensive tho... I thought about 1/2" plywood, but that will likely swell as soon as it gets wet. I was thinking about ceramic tile... but I wouldn't be able to drill into it for anchoring to the dish... ARg! ideas from anyone that has done this? Ideally I want to be able to attach adjusting bolts at 3 of the 4 corners of each mirror tile in order to allow for alignment to the focal point.