Tilting solar panels.

i have posted a picture of the mechanism under another thread ‘electric winding mechanism’ it has a pair of hinged
A5C24621-50C5-49BC-A3CC-33479B846D71.jpeg
cranked levers on the end to turn lateral movement into vertical
 
rugbyken said:
i have posted a picture of the mechanism under another thread ‘electric winding mechanism’ it has a pair of hinged View attachment 95876cranked levers on the end to turn lateral movement into vertical
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Watched a couple of youtube's. Got to agree with Exwindsurfer, my panels sit to close to the van for an actuator to work. Unless you know better.

Meanwhile, been touring around Amazon. No, not the river. The place you spend the kid inheritance. Got loads of stuff in the basket, awaiting the, BUY ME button to be pressed. Give you a clue,

Another panel.😁
As I explained to Nik. I haven't spent any money on diesel this year, and you should match solar watts with battery amp hours. Probably nonsense, but ....
 
Trotter said:
Watched a couple of youtube's. Got to agree with Exwindsurfer, my panels sit to close to the van for an actuator to work. Unless you know better.

Meanwhile, been touring around Amazon. No, not the river. The place you spend the kid inheritance. Got loads of stuff in the basket, awaiting the, BUY ME button to be pressed. Give you a clue,

Another panel.😁
As I explained to Nik. I haven't spent any money on diesel this year, and you should match solar watts with battery amp hours. Probably nonsense, but ....
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Easy to solve, fit a link arm at 45d up at base of panel at one edge leaning in to panel, then a ram mounted at base but tilting arm up to bracket, when the ram runs it will push arm and lift panel, the arm will now be 45% the other way with panel now 45% up.
panel tilt.png
 
trevskoda said:
Easy to solve, fit a link arm at 45d up at base of panel at one edge leaning in to panel, then a ram mounted at base but tilting arm up to bracket, when the ram runs it will push arm and lift panel, the arm will now be 45% the other way with panel now 45% up.View attachment 95944
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There is a fault in your hypothesis Trev. Dammed if I can see it though.
I'm pretty sure it's where, the axis modular is extended to coincide on the hypotenuse. Not forgetting, there is an R in the month.
If I could see your working out in the margin, I'm sure that would help.
 
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Just had a thought. There are difficulties to mechanically lift panels that are close to the roof, but how about air? I've seen balloons that lift/level vans so why not use it to lift a panel, and when deflated it would be quite flat. Then there is only the need to limit the travel of the panel and lock it down.
 
xsilvergs said:
Just had a thought. There are difficulties to mechanically lift panels that are close to the roof, but how about air? I've seen balloons that lift/level vans so why not use it to lift a panel, and when deflated it would be quite flat. Then there is only the need to limit the travel of the panel and lock it down.
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All I'd have to worry about then, would be air lines,, a compressor or maybe an air tank, locating the air bag. Mmm. :):):censored:
 
Solar and a bit of exercise. Only need my 5 a day and I'm sorted. 😁

I'll see how things go with the set up I'm working on, then....... This might be worth a try.
 
I've made the executive decision on the new array I just fitted of NOT tilting.
I don't think I will see the benefit of the extra harvested power whilst being laid up with a broken leg, arm, head, etc after falling off the roof with the first half dozen climbs up to tilt.
 
wildebus said:
I've made the executive decision on the new array I just fitted of NOT tilting.
I don't think I will see the benefit of the extra harvested power whilst being laid up with a broken leg, arm, head, etc after falling off the roof with the first half dozen climbs up to tilt.
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Ha ha, I am the same Dave, it’s quite high getting on my roof and no fixed ladder or roof rack. Of course a remote system would solve that but I have other ideas. It would definitely help me for maybe five months of each year lol
 
Nabsim said:
Ha ha, I am the same Dave, it’s quite high getting on my roof and no fixed ladder or roof rack. Of course a remote system would solve that but I have other ideas. It would definitely help me for maybe five months of each year lol
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Yup, As mentioned to you via DM, I am getting a 100W portable folding kit to complement the roof panels. I reckon using that will give me more flexibility anyway and a lot less danger (When I was a youngster I used to have a Loyalty card at the local A&E and my mum had a reserved parking space :D )
 
I am doing the same as you, something I have been thinking about for some time but wasn’t sure on dimensions for storing 👍
 
Thomas Heaton, a landscape photographer, has converted an imported 4x4 Mitsubishi Delica in this video
he installs tilting solar panels
 
Nabsim said:
Ha ha, I am the same Dave, it’s quite high getting on my roof and no fixed ladder or roof rack. Of course a remote system would solve that but I have other ideas. It would definitely help me for maybe five months of each year lol
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I think you may be missing the simplicity of this, bag under panel, air tube passes down through roof just like/with wiring for solar. Pump connected to tube and you pump from inside van.

With a but of thought the air pressure could be used to release spring catches that hold the panel down, on retraction the weight of the panel passes catches and they are locked down. So simple.
 
xsilvergs said:
I think you may be missing the simplicity of this, bag under panel, air tube passes down through roof just like/with wiring for solar. Pump connected to tube and you pump from inside van.

With a but of thought the air pressure could be used to release spring catches that hold the panel down, on retraction the weight of the panel passes catches and they are locked down. So simple.
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How big a bag would you need though to create a worthwhile lift? and at what cost? Those jack bags maybe have 8" of lift only at the most
 
wildebus said:
How big a bag would you need though to create a worthwhile lift? and at what cost? Those jack bags maybe have 8" of lift only at the most
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The bags I looked at this morning were under £20, they can be used to lift furniture.
 
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