Tilting solar panels

[Richard n Ann]

The shots suggest that you were getting around 30W from a 40W panel

Yes it was on my old pwm controller, I never saw it go above about 2.4 amps even in Spain. Maybe it would do better with the new Votronic mppt controller but I've fitted the 150w panel now.

The 150w panel goes from 2 amps flat to virtually full power tilted up which is about 8 amps. (October in Benidorm)
Well worth doing for the winter months, point south tilt it up and leave it to it

 

[Richard n Ann]

Any auto override fitted to prevent accidentally driving off with the panels up?

Strewth even I'm not that forgetful

 

[Drexxer]

Very interested to see your solution on this.

I've toyed with different designs myself in the past, then dropped the idea. But planning (another) refit later this year and may revisit the idea.

No big truck on the horizon?

 

[Raul]

That's a serious difference Raul

Out of interest, what size are those panels and how many Nm is the actuator?

Nice job

The panels are panasonic hit 295w, 1470x 1050mm, 18kg each. The actuator is a 450mm, 1500nm, 10mm/s. It lifts fully in about 45s. The angle is about 45-46 deg. I have planed for 50, but I had to change some of the geometry as it was to straight at the bottom, and struggle to initiate the lift. Now it lifts clean. Wire, about 7m 1,5mm2 with a 5a fuse. The remote picks it up from about 6-7m around the van, despite the controller being at the back in a box inside.

 

[Wissel]

The panels are panasonic hit 295w, 1470x 1050mm, 18kg each. The actuator is a 450mm, 1500nm, 10mm/s. It lifts fully in about 45s. The angle is about 45-46 deg. I have planed for 50, but I had to change some of the geometry as it was to straight at the bottom, and struggle to initiate the lift. Now it lifts clean. Wire, about 7m 1,5mm2 with a 5a fuse. The remote picks it up from about 6-7m around the van, despite the controller being at the back in a box inside.

Cheers for that

If I were to adapt my roof I think I'd need 2 x 1500Nm actuators (with a controller to keep them together) as the only place they would fit is the front and back:

I guess it would be easy enough to hinge the frame on the awning side and strengthen the mounts so they couldn't push away with the pressure of the actuator(s).

How have you stopped them moving in transit? I mean do they lock down or maybe slot into something?

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[Two on Tour]

How have you stopped them moving in transit? I mean do they lock down or maybe slot into something?

That should be easily done with a 12v solenoid door bolt, press the button for the bolt to withdraw from passing through the frame when locked down to release.

Amazon product ASIN B07XK1Z28D

 

[Raul]

I haven’t got to the bolting down in transit yet. As a immediate solution I can use a solar clamp that I have removed from them. Here I can’t get parts, but I would like the automated idea as Paul shows in his post. That’s quite neat, thanks.

 

[Raul]

Wiesel, your roof rack is quite up to the job, I agree you will need two actuators and a brace in the middle. The push is quite fears, and it will spread the side bars easily without enforcing it. The controller will need beefing up to feed two actuators. It’s only rated 3a, enough for one but not sure if it will carry two. Also, you will need a support under the panels, (front to back) so the actuators are pushing into that, and picking the middle with the sides.

 

[Bustup15]

Strewth even I'm not that forgetful

Famous last words

 

[the1andonly]

My approach to locking again manual (patio door lock). a few pickies follow that show the effect of changing mounting points for the gas struts. (I chose struts as a simple auto rise method and retract with my fiamma winding handle all done from shower skylight) Glad to see someone has had the gumption to try actuactors. Change of angle is done on a seasonal / pretrip method. Currently Not needed to employ tilt in summer (total of 550w of pannel)

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[the1andonly]

That should be easily done with a 12v solenoid door bolt, press the button for the bolt to withdraw from passing through the frame when locked down to release.

Amazon product ASIN B07XK1Z28D

Is there a version for outdoor use this could replace my patio door locks.

 

[Two on Tour]

Is there a version for outdoor use this could replace my patio door locks.

I would imagine so, I only picked that one as a quick example of a solenoid lock.
I was an alarm, CCTV, and access control engineer twenty-odd years ago, and we fitted various types of solenoid locks.

 

[the1andonly]

back to some numbers
From an old thread
For a very simple system of just tilting 3 positions i used the data available on the net and 2 apps to create this table
Ap used = solar tilt

Angle of Panel

Tables

latitude​	location​	Summer​	Spring/Autum​	Winter
50.3​	Plymouth​	21.7​	46.7​	68.5​
50.8​	Portsmouth​	21.7​	46.7​	68.5​
52.2​	Northampton​	23.5​	48.7​	70.5​
55​	Newcastle​	26.3​	51.6​	73​
57.1​	Aberdeen​	28.1​	53.6​	74.7​
58​	Stornaway​	29.1​	54.5​	75.6​
	Mainland Average​	24.9​	50.2​	71.675​
	UK​	24​	47​	70​
38.7​	Lisbon​	10​	34.0​	57​
43​	South france​	15.3​	39.8​	62.3​

The_Impact_of_Tilt_Angle_on_Photovoltaic_Panel_Output​

From the table and The_Impact_of_Tilt_Angle_on_Photovoltaic_Panel_Output showing for a given location
the output is only reduced by 2% for a 10% variation in angle we can pick one angle to cover mainland UK for each of the 3 seasons. Obviously more variation in time rather than location.

Ps for Richard n Ann latitude Benidorm =38.5 (see lisbon) angle today would be 38degrees

 

[two]

The output vs tilt graph above is very interesting. If I understand it correctly, it seems to be saying that you might only lose 15% if your panel is 45° off perpendicular. So 15% larger panels (or more) might be all you need to compensate?

 

[Raul]

That’s only valid for solar noon, not for the entire day. Morning and evenings the loss is massive.

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[two]

That’s only valid for solar noon, not for the entire day. Morning and evenings the loss is massive.

That makes sense!
Morning & evening could also be affected by the panel not facing E-W.

 

[Raul]

Little snip this morning, raising the panels.

 

[Raul]

 

[Raul]

I took a short video 30-32 seconds as I raised the panels and you can see the power increase. I can’t upload here it says file to large.

 

[Langtoftlad]

I took a short video 30-32 seconds as I raised the panels and you can see the power increase. I can’t upload here it says file to large.

Upload to YouTube first, it's then compressed and can be uploaded here.

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[jumar]

I'm a tilter..well not me my 200w panel is...harvesting at sunrise and sunset is taking advantage of whatever solar is available.... wouldn't be a successful autumn, winter and spring motorhomer without this...

 

[DerryW]

Phil (Gaston aires) has got a really smart set up. I believe it a proper manufactured Job.

 

[jumar]

Phil (Gaston aires) has got a really smart set up. I believe it a proper manufactured Job.

Mine too...it was fitted by gus-lopez and myself....

 

[GMLS]

Latest updated video from someone that looks to have a good solution

 

[tonyidle]

It's possible to use a pivoting link so the first part of actuator travel releases a hook and "cams" to start the lift. Some wind-up rooflights use that system.

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