From a single 100w panel, to our current 200w array,
we've come quite a ways in terms of power production! Yes, we still have plans for expansion of our system. Our current goal is to have 2kw of "hybrid" power from both solar panels and a wind generator. With daily "mountain breezes" sometimes reaching speeds in excess of 70 mph and 330 days of sunshine annually, we should have more than enough power to have all the comforts of home. Dubs found a reliable and affordable provider for the equipment we need to build our own personal power grid at Missouri Wind and Solar. They are knowledgeable, courteous, and have the best prices we've found on the products we need to accomplish our goals.
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| Dubs with our very first 100w photo-voltaic (PV) solar panel. |
Once Dubs had purchased and tested our first panel, to make sure it would meet our needs and fit our budget, we knew we had found our "source". We quickly added a second deep cycle battery, and purchased an additional solar panel and Solar Charge Controller. Due to the fact that our two solar panels generate 11-12 amperes (amps) of charging power any time the sun is shining on them, the charge controller was an absolute necessity in order to avoid potentially overcharging and ruining the batteries.
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| Our current (no pun intended) solar array. Two 100w panels putting out 11-12 amps of charging power, all day long! |
After doing some online research on YouTube, Mother Earth News, and other sites, Dubs proceeded to implement his next "invention", a "Sun-Tracking" solar panel mount. Using a 4"x4" post, that was left over from a previous fencing project, a section of 1 1/2" diameter pipe, some U-Bolts and the legs from a polo tent that was destroyed in one of those "mountain breezes" I mentioned earlier, Dubs bolted everything together and wired it all up. In order to protect our investment in the equipment, and prevent the solar panels from discharging the batteries at night, we also added a 20 amp fuse and 40 amp "blocking diode".
Although it's a bit difficult to read in the ambient light, the 3 kw (6kw peak) inverter, is showing 14.30 volts, a "happy" voltage for 12v batteries! The inverter readout in this picture indicates that, although we are using power, the batteries are still in a "full" state of charge. The purpose of an inverter is to convert power from our 12v DC batteries into 120v AC current, thereby allowing us to plug in household electronics and power tools.
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| MC4 connections with Y-adapters to "combine" the power from the panels. |
In the photograph below, we see the top of the solar panel mount, where the azimuth pole is attached with hinges. The azimuth pole is designed to rotate multi-dimensionally, taking into account the varying elevation of the sun (depending upon the time of year), in order to achieve maximum solar gain. This portion of the panel mount has to be exceptionally strong and reinforced, as it bears the largest portion of the load when the winds kick up.
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| Top of mounting post. |
The photograph below depicts the opposite end of the azimuth pole. It was constructed out of two poles that were salvaged from an old polo tent that had been decimated beyond recognition in one of our frequent "wind storms". Dubs salvaged what he thought he could use from the tent, and, the next thing I knew, the poles were accommodating the solar panels while simultaneously providing for elevation adjustments based upon summer, fall/spring, and winter sun elevation angles. The varying settings on the salvaged tent poles are nearly perfect for adjusting the elevation, given the fact that the sun is almost directly overhead during the long days of summer, and just above the horizon during the shorter winter days. During the spring and fall seasons, the trajectory of the sun falls somewhere in between these two extremes. When solar panels are aimed directly perpendicular to the sun's rays, it is possible to achieve up to 50% more solar gain. Consequently, we have placed a strong emphasis on solar tracking. This is like a "buy two, get one free" deal and is an obvious no-brainer when it comes to maximizing our power budget. The solar panels are adjusted multiple times throughout the day to properly align with the position of the sun. While to some people this would seem to be an inordinate amount of trouble, the fact is, we're outside for much of the day, feeding animals, building and repairing things, etc., so it's really no additional effort to adjust them as we pass by.
If you look at the above picture that shows our current solar array, on the panel that is on the top, in the lower-right corner of the panel, there is a 1 1/2" diameter pipe mounted to align with both edges of the panel. If the panel is out of alignment, the pipe will cast an oblong shadow. When the panels are in perfect alignment, the pipe casts a very vague, perfectly circular shadow. Another amazing Dubs invention!
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| The "legs" of the PV solar panel array. This allows us to adjust the elevation of the panels for the changing seasonal angle of the sun four times a year. |
Here's another toy we picked up at the new Tractor Supply Company that just opened in Alamosa. It's a digital thermometer, mounted on our north-facing kitchen window, that tracks the minimum and maximum daily temperature. On its first night in use, it recorded a low of 24 degrees. Thankfully, with the recent installation of our Propane Tank Wood Stove, we were toasty warm all night! Today's high was a balmy 71 which, combined with cloudless skies, provided a limitless, free supply of electricity!
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| The new thermometer |
Until next time, Horsey Dreams and Chardonnay Kisses! Love you my friends!
Thanks for posting all your experiences, it all looks very interesting!
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