Solar Panel Mount

[mikeschn]

That's my plan too, until I can figure out the mounting thingie...



Mike...

[GPW]

Portable has my vote , a hard mount would only make it easier for the looters...What's that???... New Orleans "culture"...(gotta' have something to power that big screen TV that they looted ) Sorry , True ,but not funny !!!

Where can I buy one of these , and how much , and do I need a regulator of some sorts ...???Any solar info would be greatly appreciated...

Disclaimer: ... Sorry if I sound a bit paranoid , it just comes with the turf after what we've all been through down here, what with the looting , not only by the "culture" but by FEMA and the Government , paying all their pals (campaign contributors) excess profits ,instead of helping the people directly ... what a waste !!!! and GREED !!! and how about those oil companies ???...our experiences have taught us (the smart ones ) to be prepared...I'm usually a happy guy under better circumstances...TD's make me HAPPY !!!!

[bdosborn]

It only has the tilt function, no swivel. I thought about making it removable for awhile, it would be nice to be able to detach it in case the trailer is in shade, but I hard mounted it. I'm trying to keep it as easy to get-in-and-go as possible so I didn't want to have to mess with stowing the panel. I was also afraid that the panel would walk away if I left it on the ground while camping. Someone could get it off the trailer but it would take awhile. I'll try it like this a couple of times and then see how I like it. I can always change the mount if it turns out I need something different. (I know its right, I did it twice).

I got the panel from here
https://secure.westhost.com/secure/rvso ... erform.htm
I got the charge controller from here:
http://store.solar-electric.com/ss-10.html

There's a world wide shortage of panels right now so the prices have gone up quite a bit in the last year. The 85W panel seems to be real popular so they're hard to find.
Bruce
P.S. I'm glad I only roughed in for a roof vent. I don't think both of them would fit up there.

[GPW]

I guess I'll have to sell one of my guitar collection to buy one of these .... just not in the budget , but SURE MAKES SENSE!!!!!!

[savano]

I saw this at Dead Horse Ranch in Arizona a few weeks ago.



When I get my solar panels, I want to make them portable so I can set them so they get best sun without having to move the TT.

[ARKPAT]

Mike it looks like you have the same size solar panels that I do.

I also planed to use a panels in the tear. My idea is to use a P.V.C. adjustable stand for the panel collection and store the panels away ( storage box in the Tear's floor storage ) when not in use while moving. That way you can place them where and tilt the as needed on the adjustable rack.
The P.V.C. rack can be enlarged or repaired as needed to fit the occasion and will not rust or conduct electric current.



P.S. I also use solar at home also. It really came in handy a few years back when we had an "ice storm" and the power was out for three weeks at home. A big run on generator and fuel followed. I ran the radios, t.v., lights from the panels and batteries. Also theft of generator was a great problem. They would hear them running and when you where not looking it was gone.

Pat

[mikeschn]

Pat,

I'd like to see the PVC stand you come up with. Is it going to look a bit like an easel?

A bit like this perhaps?

http://www.nuxx.net/gallery/v/stuffivem ... 9.jpg.html

Mike...

[ARKPAT]

Mike that is along the same idea that I was going with; but a little different in the hinge area. Use a blank rod and thread the ends; after exiting thru holes in the end capsat the top. The support ( tilt frame legs )structure ( square frame also ) will be on the outside; so that it will fold flat with the other part of the panel frame. The P.V.C. pipes can be filled with water to make them stable in wind ( also can use tent stakes in the ground ). As for the adjustment tilt use a drop-down door hinge ( or same as ) with a tightening wing-nut?? The aluminum frame at the first post looks good just ground mounted or velco to the Tear top( or some simple mount <Unisolar flex panels with pin stand-off's mounts on the Tear top>) ????
The key is removable and expandable ( cheap ) for more than one or two panels.


Pat

[GPW]

Why not just inset it into the roof say , behind the roof vent , leaving some space around it for ventilation ...roof panel /hatch / covering could be hinged and with a reflective surface on the bottom /inside surface , would form a reflector to even increase the efficiency of the panel .... Yes ??? No???

[bdosborn]

I'd be worried about heat build up if it was recessed into the roof. The hotter a panel gets the lower the output. I'd also worry about water accumulating in the recess. It sure would look nicer though.
Bruce

[critter]

hey all,
just wundering is it possible to build your own solar panel cheap?
has anyone tryed to do this or is it to involved.i may just not know,for example i didnt know i could build a teardrop either!

[Chip]

Critter,, are you wanting to build one for pulling heat or make electricity,,,

building one to heat a space is pretty simple,,, or it can get as complicated as you want depending on the bells and whissles you put on it,,,

if you building one to generate elect, then thats a whole different thing,,,

chipper

p/s critter hows the tear coming are you gonna make it to Racoon Hollar

[bdosborn]

There was a guy on ebay selling bits of PV arrays for pretty cheap. He said you could wire them together to make a functioning panel. I don't know how hard it would be or what it would take to build a panel with enough output to charge the trailer battery.
Bruce

[emiller]

I believe I heard that you would need a 50 watt per battery. I have a 33 watt that does pretty well keeps it charged.

[critter]

hey all,
i wuz thinkin the electric one, om i didnt know they made heat too.as far as the weekender goes the farther i go the simpler the thing is getting and the less i find out i know about wood splinterin.im glad they make gorilla glue cause i got joints in my joints.if its to short i just screw it and glue it and cut another and screw it and glue right beside the first one.i think itll take anothe month to finish it but i hope not!