Solar Contraptions-Twirlers and Floppies
Here are my latest version contraptions for 2014. Eat your hearts out!
Some may remember my previous attempts at both styles. This year I have repeated the 2012 floppy for the 130w panel except now on the ground instead of on the roof.
I have improved last year's twirler for the then two 100w panels by changing to a more sturdy pedestal, a 230w panel, and by adding some "notches" and a swing up hinged board, so it can have a variety of tilt angles as well as being twirled. I use the low tilt for when pointing South mid-day and the higher tilt for when pointing SE or SW when the sun is lower.
For further entertainment there is a photo of the two controllers (Eco-Worthy and Solar30) and a mess of wires, with four of the six batts showing (two Exide 6s are off to the right).
I can close and lock the front cargo bay door because the wires going outside go through that cable hatch I put in the door.
I added a wire across the top of the twirler so robins would not perch there and poop down the panel so much.
Here is the old way with the floppy on the roof. The same two inverters and charger are now farther in the cargo bay behind that board behind the batteries.
http://forums.trailerlife.com/Index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26237237.cfm
Anyway, that is how it is "done" so you are all playing catch-up, especially with my wiring job. :)
Some may remember my previous attempts at both styles. This year I have repeated the 2012 floppy for the 130w panel except now on the ground instead of on the roof.
I have improved last year's twirler for the then two 100w panels by changing to a more sturdy pedestal, a 230w panel, and by adding some "notches" and a swing up hinged board, so it can have a variety of tilt angles as well as being twirled. I use the low tilt for when pointing South mid-day and the higher tilt for when pointing SE or SW when the sun is lower.
For further entertainment there is a photo of the two controllers (Eco-Worthy and Solar30) and a mess of wires, with four of the six batts showing (two Exide 6s are off to the right).
I can close and lock the front cargo bay door because the wires going outside go through that cable hatch I put in the door.
I added a wire across the top of the twirler so robins would not perch there and poop down the panel so much.
Here is the old way with the floppy on the roof. The same two inverters and charger are now farther in the cargo bay behind that board behind the batteries.
http://forums.trailerlife.com/Index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26237237.cfm
Anyway, that is how it is "done" so you are all playing catch-up, especially with my wiring job. :)
