Genius idea for maxing out on solar

[GMLS]

Unashamedly lifted from another forum but too good not

to share.Great for adding capacity when you need it most

 

[Derek’soldvan]

Great for bbq in rain

 

[Steve and Denise]

Good idea maybe add a motor for convenience

 

[Guigsy]

If it's closed, I wonder if the output is half, or almost zero. It depends on how it's wired.

Also, any shadow cast by the runners will kill the output, even if it's only on the edge.

 

[Two on Tour]

Unashamedly lifted from another forum but too good notView attachment 688418 to share.Great for adding capacity when you need it most

There are a few along the same lines on YouTube, but this guy's setup I saw a while back is pretty neat.

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[Minxy]

If it's closed, I wonder if the output is half, or almost zero. It depends on how it's wired.

Also, any shadow cast by the runners will kill the output, even if it's only on the edge.

Not necessarily as it'll depend what type of panels they are, some are able to still produce a good amount with some shading.

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[DBK]

It's clever but I wonder how rustproof it is? They look like the things you support cupboard drawers on.

 

[Guigsy]

Not necessarily as it'll depend what type of panels they are, some are able to still produce a good amount with some shading.

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Maxeon scored highest against our rating factors for most efficient solar panels. See which other solar panels ranked well in efficiency and what to look for when choosing panels.

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My 185w panel is recent and nothing special. If I cover half of one if the 27 square cells, output drops by about three quarters.

 

[Minxy]

Just to add, if I was going to do the slide out version I'd have it so that the bottom panel pulled out that way the top panel wouldn't have any shading and the lower would wouldn't either if it was pulled out far enough.

 

[Minxy]

It's clever but I wonder how rustproof it is? They look like the things you support cupboard drawers on.

They look a bit bigger than ones used for drawers, you can get aluminium ones.

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[Lenny HB]

If it's closed, I wonder if the output is half, or almost zero. It depends on how it's wired.

Sensible thing to do would be to switch them so only the top ones are connected when slid in. Won't last long with kitchen draw runners.

 

[Two on Tour]

It's clever but I wonder how rustproof it is? They look like the things you support cupboard drawers on.

The ones in the video are stainless steel and rated at 45Kgs

 

[Lenny HB]

There are a few along the same lines on YouTube, but this guy's setup I saw a while back is pretty neat.

He has also used kitchen draw runners, not going to last long. The idea is good just needs refining.

 

[Two on Tour]

He has also used kitchen draw runners, not going to last long. The idea is good just needs refining.

He fitted them 4 years ago and they are still going working fine as per his last video a month ago.

 

[Lenny HB]

He fitted them 4 years ago and they are still going working fine as per his last video a month ago.

He is American if in California or somewhere with a similar climate probably OK, can see the runners lasting in the UK.

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[Two on Tour]

He is American if in California or somewhere with a similar climate probably OK, can see the runners lasting in the UK.

They have had the full gambit of weather having travelled down through Central America and are now in South America, why so dismissive?

 

[GMLS]

The ones in the video are stainless steel and rated at 45Kgs

Yup.Had a look around and there plenty of galvanised and ss options

 

[Brains]

My 185w panel is recent and nothing special. If I cover half of one if the 27 square cells, output drops by about three quarters.

I find that if I give my panel a wipe down with a damp cloth to clean off the dust I can double the output.

I now have a truck windscreen squeegee on a short pole so that I can poke my head out of the hatch and wipe it down every couple of days.

 

[Two on Tour]

I find that if I give my panel a wipe down with a damp cloth to clean off the dust I can double the output.

I now have a truck windscreen squeegee on a short pole so that I can poke my head out of the hatch and wipe it down every couple of days.

Ditto.

 

[Lenny HB]

They have had the full gambit of weather having travelled down through Central America and are now in South America, why so dismissive?

Not dismissive I just wouldn't expect standard draw runners to last outside.

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[Two on Tour]

Not dismissive I just wouldn't expect standard draw runners to last outside.

Logically I would not expect the panels to be extended and retracted much more than a handful of times in a week and even less if your parked up for a few days at a time.
I would have thought that grit and road detritus getting in the runners will be a bigger problem than rain and dampness

 

[Jim]

If it's closed, I wonder if the output is half, or almost zero. It depends on how it's wired.

Wouldn't a separate MPPT for upper and lower panels solve that?

 

[Guigsy]

Wouldn't a separate MPPT for upper and lower panels solve that?

Yes. Then it would only half.

 

[Boldly]

The top panel looks like it may tilt when extended giving even better output

Dennis

 

[Otter Spotter]

You could ditch your awning and use the panels instead, so an initial weight reduction.

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[Steve and Denise]

Yes. Then it would only half.

Not according to some firms that fit a separate controller for each panel fitted.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Good idea maybe add a motor for convenience

And a tilting mechanism.

 

[Steve and Denise]

And a tilting mechanism.

It’s all possible Jim with a bit of application.

 

[Northernraider]

I wouldn't trust the weight of 2 panels plus the runners on just those glued on plastic feet

 

[Two on Tour]

And a tilting mechanism.

Got one on our van .................. fitted by E&P

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