I wonder if it would be best to mount the mirrors to tilt up from the bottom, in order to avoid blocking the Panel? Has anyone used tis method? I'd like to know how it would work.
Visit my channel-if you'd like other awesome ideas for other projects.
Mirrors increase the total sunlight onto the panel, including that which is converted into heat. Hot panels lose efficiency and have a shortened lifespan.
Build a cooling system into the array and it might well be worth the effort.
It would be cool to have a system that monitors the power out put of the panel and if the power output is less than max (cloudy day, winter etc) then it would move mirrors into place to boost the power to full.
That same monitoring system could also be monitoring the temperature as well and could enable a cooling system or move the mirrors away until it's cooled down.
I'm sure any Arduino geek could pull this off quite easily.
@Carlyn3676 Research the Arduino and the vast array of plug and play sensors you can get for it. I could see it being quite easy. Somehow you'd connect a voltage sensor to the Arduino that allows it to calculate the difference between what the solar panels max output is (say 100w) and if the wattage isn't max then have it adjust a servo which will adjust the pitch of the mirrors and reflectors to boost the power to max. When the max power is reached the servo would stop.
@Carlyn3676 You are welcome :D the quick response is because I happen to be online at the moment. The Arduino community is unbelievable! Very helpful, very smart and very geeky! They'll be stoked to help you out on your project. arduino dot cc
Nonono... this will roast the pannels way before their time... you must put the mirror in a bowl of water in order for the water to absorb the heat then place the panel over it!
Actually solar panels DO become permanently damaged from overheating - by a permanent drop in output and a shortened life. Hence the manufacturers do not allow for the use of mirrors to increase output.
But might be a good idea in a really cold climate or under some kind of liquid cooling.
You don't double the power with a mirror... You might increase it though.. But NOT double it... Better to mount the panel in a way for optimum cooling instead as klaustopher1 says...
@16vastraturbo That's right Chief! You get your best power output in the cooler parts of the year for that reason. If you have good weatherproof panels, a sprinkler system to cool them during the hottest hours of the day will help increase output.
I wonder if it would be best to mount the mirrors to tilt up from the bottom, in order to avoid blocking the Panel? Has anyone used tis method? I'd like to know how it would work.
Visit my channel-if you'd like other awesome ideas for other projects.
Carlyn3676 2 months ago
That is a very smart idea. Thanks.
Carlyn3676 2 months ago
That mirror will not double the power since is smaller than the panel.
electrodacus 3 months ago
Be careful.
Mirrors increase the total sunlight onto the panel, including that which is converted into heat. Hot panels lose efficiency and have a shortened lifespan.
Build a cooling system into the array and it might well be worth the effort.
loganv0410 3 months ago
@loganv0410
You are right there. Thanks I'll add one when I add the mirrors.
Carlyn3676 2 months ago
It would be cool to have a system that monitors the power out put of the panel and if the power output is less than max (cloudy day, winter etc) then it would move mirrors into place to boost the power to full.
That same monitoring system could also be monitoring the temperature as well and could enable a cooling system or move the mirrors away until it's cooled down.
I'm sure any Arduino geek could pull this off quite easily.
enticed2zeitgeist 3 months ago
@enticed2zeitgeist
I wonder how One would go about doing that? I have a sun-tacker on my system already.
Carlyn3676 2 months ago
@Carlyn3676 Research the Arduino and the vast array of plug and play sensors you can get for it. I could see it being quite easy. Somehow you'd connect a voltage sensor to the Arduino that allows it to calculate the difference between what the solar panels max output is (say 100w) and if the wattage isn't max then have it adjust a servo which will adjust the pitch of the mirrors and reflectors to boost the power to max. When the max power is reached the servo would stop.
enticed2zeitgeist 2 months ago
@enticed2zeitgeist ; Thank You for the quick response and information. I'll have to work it out as you suggest.
Carlyn3676 2 months ago
@Carlyn3676 You are welcome :D the quick response is because I happen to be online at the moment. The Arduino community is unbelievable! Very helpful, very smart and very geeky! They'll be stoked to help you out on your project. arduino dot cc
enticed2zeitgeist 2 months ago
Nonono... this will roast the pannels way before their time... you must put the mirror in a bowl of water in order for the water to absorb the heat then place the panel over it!
Beef1188 3 months ago
I WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT OF USING A MIRROW, THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
GIANFRANCO FRONZI
9493760 3 months ago
Actually solar panels DO become permanently damaged from overheating - by a permanent drop in output and a shortened life. Hence the manufacturers do not allow for the use of mirrors to increase output.
But might be a good idea in a really cold climate or under some kind of liquid cooling.
callmeshane303 4 months ago
LOL, it's like 5 watts
72fr250 6 months ago
lets see the switch to the blower when you do that. There is no way that the panel works like that....
MrBlaze001 7 months ago
You don't double the power with a mirror... You might increase it though.. But NOT double it... Better to mount the panel in a way for optimum cooling instead as klaustopher1 says...
taztaz79 7 months ago
What is the best way to mount the mirror?
b5kalad 7 months ago
How to quickly destroy your solar panel huh? Better off finding a way to cool them on hot days and increase current, than burn them out...
klaustopher1 8 months ago
@klaustopher1 so a cooler panel produces more power then a hotter panel??
16vastraturbo 4 months ago
@16vastraturbo That's right Chief! You get your best power output in the cooler parts of the year for that reason. If you have good weatherproof panels, a sprinkler system to cool them during the hottest hours of the day will help increase output.
klaustopher1 4 months ago
AWESOME VIDEO. THANKS FOR THE HOT TIP.
CrisYouSassyMedic 9 months ago
fail
DynamicVentures 11 months ago 2
by the looks of it the panel wasent in correct alignment to start with
1981dasimpson 1 year ago
Pictures are worth a thousand words!!!!
henleyish 1 year ago