Solar panel that tilts.

OldAgeTravellers said:
I know this an old thread but still a good idea. I recently discovered that the cable lead through for my panels had come unstuck, a bit worrying because the same Sikoflex was used for the panels. But it was under the panel so I had to drill out the pop rivets to lift the panel so as to re fasten the plastic units. I decided that as under the panels was full of leaves and filthy I would hinge it on the door side which we always face to the sun. So I could clean under there regularly and work out a tilting system. Unfortunately I only had steel hinges so have to source some stainless or brass ones. But when done the gain was amazing, late afternoon mid September in the South of France went from 5 amp to 12 amp that is reading the output from my Bluetooth Victron meter with the other two panels covered. All I have to do now is find a good fixing system when down and an adjustable prop system. @Richard and Ann where did you get your hinges?
Steve
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I wonder if you could use 1 or 2 car hatchback struts to pop the panel up. All you'd have to do then is take a bolt out and it pops up. Most would maybe be too powerfull so you'd need one for a small door or the ones that just open the rear glass would be weaker. Might look into it myself thinking about it :)
 
We saw Jasper a couple of years ago at the Lowery. Old, bald but he had the whole audience in stitches, a wonderful evening.
 
The home brew tracker worked a treat. The only problem has been that we never kept a van long enough to fit the damn thing. Its sitting in the attic awaiting fixing.
 
TinaL said:
Picture above found on internet from
At only £23.95
Or is that solution too easy or simplistic?
If mounted on roof near rear Heki roof light then one could reach out and raise/lower the panel without getting up on the roof from outside.
Les
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That looks great. Would it be safe and secure enough for driving? This website caters to houses, not necessarily for motorhomes.

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American bloggers Gone With The Wynns very thorough article with test results on tilting solar panels.

Highlights:

Winter – The sun sits low on the horizon and the days are short. Tilting can increase solar output by 40%
Fall & Spring – The sun is getting higher on the horizon and the days are getting longer. Tilting can increase solar output by 20%
Summer – The sun is high and the days are long. Tilting provides little to no benefit, in fact if you tilt you may get less solar power

IS IT REALLY WORTH IT TO TILT MY RV SOLAR PANELS?
Back to that original question! The answer is yes…and no. After tilting for nearly a year, here’s the debate from my perspective:

•Tilting is TOTALLY worth it:
Who doesn’t want to get the most bang for their buck? 40% more “free” power in winter is hard to say no to. (Granted it’s not free if you consider the cost of 6 tilting kits at $80 each. It’s almost the same price as adding another solar panel. Perhaps a DIY tilting kit from the hardware store would be cheaper?)


•Tilting is NOT worth it:

We have room on our roof for more panels. Current price for a 160 Watt expansion panel is $630. We could install two more panels for less than $1,500 effectively increasing our summer solar output by more than 30% and nearly matching our tilted winter solar output. I’d no longer have to climb on the roof each time we park, potentially scratch my RV while climbing the ladder with the tilting arms in hand, or worry about the extra stress on my roof or mounting brackets.
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Keep in mind they have a 10+ meter giant American RV. Those with smaller motorhomes will be limited by how much space they have on the roof, and therefore adding tilt will help maximize the amount of energy you can get.

Also Europe is at a higher latitude than the US and therefore tilting will have a bigger benefit in the winter.
 
Richard and Ann said:
Has anybody fitted a panel to their roof that can be tilted? I'll be fitting a 150w panel when we get back, and I want it to be of use in Spain during September and October when the sun starts getting lower. We usually park with the awning facing west so we get good afternoon sun therefore the back of the van usually faces south.
I'm thinking maybe put a piano hinge at the back of the panel so the front lifts up 45 degrees. The front of the panel would maybe sit on aluminum 20 x 40 'unistrut' and have 2 scallop knobs to release it.

Anybody got thoughts or experience on this?
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When we were in Germany we saw a van which had a solar panel attched to a TV arial which was raised and turnable. Thought it was interesting idea. Anyone else seen one?.
 
Antique said:
Yep
Works well for us(y), especially this time of year for that extra bit of oomph to the flat panels.
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Great! Does 40% extra oomph sound about right? Which tilting brackets did you use?

I'd love to find someone that can install them for me. The few solar installers I've gotten quotes from don't want to use tilting brackets.

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Two on Tour said:
Eddies Vanbitz selsl the Alden solar tracking system.




and Oyster do a combined satillite and solar system.



As for have you seen one, yes I saw that @Antique has one when we were at the Thetford meet.
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Would be cheaper to employ somebody to keep moving the panel :LOL:
 
Hi @Fulltiming Felines
We use the automatic Oyster system that Two on tour detailed on his previous post but Richard and Ann does have a fair point :LOL:.
All the best.
 
Just a thought guys - why mess with the panel, especially on a motorhome? Would anyone consider using a reflector or mirror surface to direct the sun to the panel instead? It could be removed and stored when done. :)
 
IanP127 said:
Just a thought guys - why mess with the panel, especially on a motorhome? Would anyone consider using a reflector or mirror surface to direct the sun to the panel instead? It could be removed and stored when done. :)
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Would probably overheat the panel at some point, you'd have to be careful. Our panel gets hot enough as it is 🤔

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IanP127 said:
Just a thought guys - why mess with the panel, especially on a motorhome? Would anyone consider using a reflector or mirror surface to direct the sun to the panel instead? It could be removed and stored when done. :)
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Yes, I've thought of that previously but never got round to actually trying it to see what difference it makes although I think it should help quite a bit. It would need to be 'safe' in that it couldn't move or be blown off the roof and hit someone/something, so using a lightweight material like the stiffer silver sided bubble insulation might do it with a basic framework so long as it can be securely fixed to the panel which shouldn't be difficult.
 
Richard and Ann said:
Would probably overheat the panel at some point, you'd have to be careful. Our panel gets hot enough as it is 🤔
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I'd only use it in the winter when the sun isn't as powerful and when every extra bit of oomph is appreciated.
 
Easier to use this
1602063919106.png


<Broken link removed>
 
IanP127 said:
Just a thought guys - why mess with the panel, especially on a motorhome? Would anyone consider using a reflector or mirror surface to direct the sun to the panel instead? It could be removed and stored when done. :)
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Great fun if your want to spend all day adjusting the reflector or mirror to keep the sun on the panel. ;)
 
Two on Tour said:
Great fun if your want to spend all day adjusting the reflector or mirror to keep the sun on the panel. ;)
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You'd just point it south in winter, the sun doesn't come up enough to be worth hourly adjustment. IMO

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Cheapest is to have a portable one that you can move into the sun and point at the optimum angle.
If you're worried about loss, alarm it or chain it to an immovable object.
 
Two on Tour said:
Great fun if your want to spend all day adjusting the reflector or mirror to keep the sun on the panel. ;)
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A curved reflector would mean less time having to be spent to move it though ...
 
Had to adapt these hinges myself, can't get removable pin stainless anywhere. The fixed pin came out OK, just had to grind the small bit off the end and they knocked out. Then bought stainless rod on amazon. They are quite had to get in or out but I've left the mini padlocks on for safety 👌

So 4 removable pin hinges mean the panel can tilt either way.

20220326_120843.jpg
 

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