solar sail cloth

[pianotuna]

Hi all,

Well my dream of having an awning that is a solar panel may have finally arrived!

http://www.solarclothsystem.com/single-post/2016/08/27/Shine-a-light

[brulaz]

And they seem rather lightweight, so you could easily move it around on a lightweight frame, putting it in a sunny spot and adjusting the angles.

When moving on, just roll it up and stuff it somewhere. Easier to store than heavier panels.

[time2roll]

RSD559 wrote:
I think it's a wonderful idea. But, it wouldn't work for me. I'd rather eat worms than park in the full sun. I must have shade. Not conducive to solar of any sort.

I think the idea is to have a full canopy open above the RV to both provide shade and air conditioning.

[RSD559]

I think it's a wonderful idea. But, it wouldn't work for me. I'd rather eat worms than park in the full sun. I must have shade. Not conducive to solar of any sort.

[profdant139]

Go ahead and laugh. But someday, deploying portable solar will be like spreading out a tarp. And with economies of scale due to mass production, the price could be within reason.

This would be huge not only for RVers but for small isolated communities everywhere. If those Tesla storage units also drop a lot in price, the two products together will change everything.

[time2roll]

That sail should also improve fuel economy 😉

[Gjac]

Would it be more practical to use the widow awnings? Also you use a fixed solar panel that would lay flat against the MH in transit and be held into place with a rod when in camp. Just thinking.

[JiminDenver]

I think it would be great as a add on to the roof system. My thought is they would be starting at the bottom of the efficiency range again when more mature technologies are producing more in one ridged panel than your whole roof top. How long before we start seeing 500 or 600w per panel.

[jplante4]

I guess Mylar, Kevlar and carbon fiber didn't make sails cost enough.

[SCVJeff]

Or rebuilding the generator bracket.. 🙂

[GordonThree]

Almot wrote:
Don, not sure about Saskatchewan prairies but in Mexican Baja I can't even use my awning. If I do - on some calm day, there is 50% chance that I'll wake up in the night with awning all rattling, shaking and trying to lift off, and will have to fumble in the dark with this badly engineered thing.

Of all the times I went camping last year, very few was I able to keep the awning open "all day". Either it was directly windy, or forecast being windy.

Don, have you considered a fold-out or slide-out framework, allowing panels to be layered on the roof and then opened up location and conditions permitting?

[Almot]

Don, not sure about Saskatchewan prairies but in Mexican Baja I can't even use my awning. If I do - on some calm day, there is 50% chance that I'll wake up in the night with awning all rattling, shaking and trying to lift off, and will have to fumble in the dark with this badly engineered thing.

I would imagine solar sail on a spacecraft but wouldn't want to have it on my little sail on the water. Most common sail material - Dacron - stretches. Not much, but still does. Now add the layer of solar microfilm on it and try sailing, hoisting/lowering, furling/unfurling, subjecting it to abrasion while on the passage and while taking it off and stowing.

The most relevant info for you is contained in the last paragraph of the article where they are talking about the prototype that "could be" used for furling sail systems and awnings.

[pianotuna]

Hi dewey02,

Thanks for that link.

[dewey02]

I recall that a few years ago, a European company came out with solar panels embedded in a roll-up RV canopy. I've googled for it now, but can't find it, so perhaps they are out of business.

Also, there is Power Film solar, which puts solar film on tarps and tents, etc.
Link here

[westend]

GordonThree wrote:
Our power needs will soon be solved as MIT had invented perpetual motion, in the form of time crystals.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space-time_crystal

Unfortunately, these time crystals still obey or operate with a few rules---"A time crystal is a driven (i.e. open) quantum system that is in perpetual motion, it does not violate the laws of thermodynamics:[45]

A time crystal does not produce work as it rotates in its ground state; energy is conserved so that the first law of thermodynamics is not violated. (Otherwise such a device would be a perpetuum mobile of the first kind.)
A time crystal does not spontaneously convert thermal energy into mechanical work so that the second law of thermodynamics is not violated. (Otherwise such a device would be a perpetuum mobile of the second kind.)
A time crystal cannot serve as a perpetual store of work, so that the third law of thermodynamics is not violated (Otherwise the device would be a perpetuum mobile of the third kind.)
A time crystal has been said to be a perpetuum mobile of the fourth kind: it does not produce work and it cannot serve as a perpetual energy storage. But it rotates perpetually.[46]"

Pianotuna's photovoltaic sail cloth has a better outlook than the time crystals for energy production, lol. :B