Construction of a free-standing frame to hold my solar panels at a height and tilt angle suitable for the coming winter sunshine (or lack of it).
By Julian
Youtuber, shed dweller, solar charge controller aficionado
Good morning all…
Youtuber, shed dweller, solar charge controller aficionado
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I used the t25 2.5 screws with over size washers to clamp my panels to the wood frame works great just an idea for ya , great video by the way
For a "when I need it" sort of place you should try screwfix they tend to be better priced.
How are your solar panels doing now?
Wouldn't the wood rot? Was the wood also from B&Q. What size wood would you recommend for 2 full size 20 kilo panels?
Just one question: Why don't you just put all your solar panels up on your roof, like most people? Tadaa, "wife problem" solved. 😉
Time to build an active tracking system.
Love your Videos Julian, may I suggest Wilkinsons (Wilcos) for all your washers and bolts, they do a pick and mix and the prices are better than ordering online if you want a small selection. You can really get your moneys worth in a bag.
How much that all panels cost!? That is a lot of money!
Nice to know what your Mrs thinks of it, very relatable.
I wonder if you would eventially do an arduino controlled motorised tracking system to keep it pointing at the sun. How hard or expensive could it possibly be…
bit late now, but just put the panels on the roof (with angled stands), shorter wire run, and you don't need to clutter the backyard
Love the vids, trying to remember from way back ( collage days ) something about quite high % volt drop due to long cable runs of smallish csa cables when running dc voltage .someone must have the volt drops calculations for this. ie distance / watts/voltage/cable csa
Do you get a lot of snow? I'm wondering why you made it so tall… seems like it would be more sturdy if it was closer to the ground
Ha ha.
Stake it down so wind doesn't tip it.
You might have been better off throwing a few quick and dirty half lap joints for the frame. It would give much better overall strength and long term stability than butt joining with screws. Simply use two small timber braces per panel again with lap joints and the entire thing will be solid for years to come.
One thing I am wondering though is about the panels themselves. Obviously the easiest option is to buy a panel of that size, but is it worth it buying the the packs of cells you can get on ebay, then making them up into a larger panel to what ever size is needed? If you discount the argument of the time spent versus earnings per hour, are they a better cost effective method or do they generate such low amounts you have to spend more on larger panels than just buying a premade one?