Off Topic Solar Idea
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I have an idea for a portable solar array that's super fast and easy to set up anywhere and just as easy to pack up and move!!
I wanted to share the idea to see if anybody has suggestions to make it better...
If you hinge the panels, hopefully thin , light and optimally sized ones, the panel stack can fold up accordian style into a block that unfolds. All you have to is drive in some steel fence posts at the right angle and zip tie one end of the accordian stack, unfold it, attaching it with zip ties however far out it needs to go. Maybe drive a fence post in every 5 ft or so. If you're at a windy location, those panels will behave like a sail. If I was a sailing man, I'd want my sails to be solar power generators too!!
Any thoughts?? -
@upwinger
You would need panels with relatively strong frames that can handle vibration and twist when moved periodically (portable). Probably want to use stainless steel zip ties since plastic zip ties crack in the weather. You'll need to accommodate flip-out pads on which to put sandbags to hold it down. Poles won't be enough in a temporary installation.
Spend a few dollars on a structural engineer to determine how many and what size sandbags to use to weigh it down. And these in addition to a spec for how deep and what type of poles and at what angles to drive them in. We have to account for differences in holding power of the soil composition and density for each location, so the old school overengineering approach makes sense if this is to be used in a wide variety of soil types.
Then have them estimate the highest wind speed and gusts it is rated for based on proper bag weight and placements. In this type of assessment, the engineer takes into account the worst case wind direction since wind can come from any direction in the field.
Wind from the front might glance over the top of the panels, whereas wind from the rear may flip them over quickly.
A lot depends on what your expected use would be. -
@zDotEnergy I was thinking portable as in camping for a few days at a time. Set up camp and charge some 12v packs during the day, or charge my 50v mountain bike battery.
Just a simple set up is what I had in mind. A pop up tent with a solar panel roof was how I was evolving this idea into. -
@upwinger You ever heard of flexible solar panels? They're beginning to come to market next year. Though they only have a 10% efficiency compared to a conventional 25%. You rap these over many more surfaces. Quantity v.s. quality. The manufacturing should be cheaper to because it uses less heat and resources. This could be a good candidate for rapping them directly on the dome.
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@upwinger You have a 50V mountain bike? How many watts is the motor?
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@zDotEnergy I think its about a 1500 watt motor. Its not like a motorcycle, like the Sur Ron.... You still need to pedal it!
It just makes mountain biking /exercising much more fun, especially going up steep hills.
The 50v battery pack would work well with an ac inverter for off grid aircrete work. It may not be enough to power an air compressor,
but you could charge cordless drill batteries and run a Little Green Dragon no problem. It might work for paddle mixers.