Do you have an example of stealth solar?
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@smallsolar In some flats where balcony solar isn't allowed because the landlord is a bastard, people have been building solar tables, which is just a panel with four legs. There is no rule against having a table on your balcony and no rule what a table has to be made of. You'll probably find many pictures if you search for "solartisch".
They can be used as table as well (best use a table cloth to avoid scratching the glass, although it is pretty tough).
@yngmar that is such a clever idea! I'll do some research and see if I can find some pictures, definitely one for the website and I'm half tempted to make my own for fun!
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Do you have an example of stealth solar?
I've been thinking a lot about 'stealth solar' where people attach #solarpanels to places in a subtle way to capture the sun's energy. It might be stealth as there are strict rules or just want to keep it low key. #balconysolar is sort of stealth gone mainstream.
With cheaper MPPT devices you can now accept slightly poorer efficiency due to placement and with microinverters don't need to make long strings. I particularly think that there is no point having a solar panel in storage, best get it out there and generating even if it's in a temporary place!
So I thought I'd start a small website that documents different stealth setups, so if you have cheeky solar panels and would be willing to share a little info (but not too much if it would get you in trouble) get in touch.
@smallsolar I love this! I live in a 'conservation' area so it would be great to learn about the different ways people are doing stealth solar.
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Do you have an example of stealth solar?
I've been thinking a lot about 'stealth solar' where people attach #solarpanels to places in a subtle way to capture the sun's energy. It might be stealth as there are strict rules or just want to keep it low key. #balconysolar is sort of stealth gone mainstream.
With cheaper MPPT devices you can now accept slightly poorer efficiency due to placement and with microinverters don't need to make long strings. I particularly think that there is no point having a solar panel in storage, best get it out there and generating even if it's in a temporary place!
So I thought I'd start a small website that documents different stealth setups, so if you have cheeky solar panels and would be willing to share a little info (but not too much if it would get you in trouble) get in touch.
@smallsolar I have semi-stealth for my off-grid system with PV on the porch roof and garden walls, as well as the non-stealth grid-connected system!
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@smallsolar I have semi-stealth for my off-grid system with PV on the porch roof and garden walls, as well as the non-stealth grid-connected system!
@EarthOrgUK do you have any pictures or designs? I like that idea of a solar panel porch front
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@EarthOrgUK do you have any pictures or designs? I like that idea of a solar panel porch front
@smallsolar In here are some of the garden wall:
Expanding and Optimising Off-grid PV for Mid-winter (2016)
Read how I attempted to move 10% of our mid-winter home electricity demand off-grid... #microgen #storage
(www.earth.org.uk)
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I recently added an ecoflow stream battery to my house (properly with a fused spur and isolator as plug in isn't yet allowed) and it gives me 4x MPPT so I can position 4 panels in different positions even if they aren't optimum and generate some solar.
I suspect I'll end up putting 2 on my garage in a traditional setup and then 2 directly on an east facing wall of my house which can't be seen by anyone. I'll probably mount the wall ones myself, still debating the garage ones as it's a slate roof which is a bit tricky to work with.
@smallsolar I've got a Stream Ultra too.
Currently have a single panel lying out on my patio (not as a table, but it could be!) while I work out how I'm going to mount it and it's three friends on my shed roof.
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@smallsolar I've got a Stream Ultra too.
Currently have a single panel lying out on my patio (not as a table, but it could be!) while I work out how I'm going to mount it and it's three friends on my shed roof.
@sheddi how are you finding it? Have you just plugged in or is it wired in?
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@smallsolar In here are some of the garden wall:
Expanding and Optimising Off-grid PV for Mid-winter (2016)
Read how I attempted to move 10% of our mid-winter home electricity demand off-grid... #microgen #storage
(www.earth.org.uk)
@smallsolar and a newly-added pic of the stuff on the porch roof (you may need to force-reload the page):
Expanding and Optimising Off-grid PV for Mid-winter (2016)
Read how I attempted to move 10% of our mid-winter home electricity demand off-grid... #microgen #storage
(www.earth.org.uk)
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Do you have an example of stealth solar?
I've been thinking a lot about 'stealth solar' where people attach #solarpanels to places in a subtle way to capture the sun's energy. It might be stealth as there are strict rules or just want to keep it low key. #balconysolar is sort of stealth gone mainstream.
With cheaper MPPT devices you can now accept slightly poorer efficiency due to placement and with microinverters don't need to make long strings. I particularly think that there is no point having a solar panel in storage, best get it out there and generating even if it's in a temporary place!
So I thought I'd start a small website that documents different stealth setups, so if you have cheeky solar panels and would be willing to share a little info (but not too much if it would get you in trouble) get in touch.
@smallsolar
I had a large box trailer parked on my drive. It was becoming redundant and only used for storage, so I hung two solar panels on the side.
The trailer has been scrapped now, and the panels are back in storage as we are planning to move house.
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@sheddi how are you finding it? Have you just plugged in or is it wired in?
@smallsolar it's just plugged in, it's not in its final location yet and I wanted to check it wasn't DOA.
It does what it does well enough. The Ecoflow app has a few quirks and doesn't always report what you think it's reporting, but I'm getting used to them.
I don't have an Ecoflow-compatible energy monitor or smart plugs (my existing ZigBee kit isn't on their compatibility list AFAICT) but I've set up a manual demand profile and the Ultra follows it well enough.
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Do you have an example of stealth solar?
I've been thinking a lot about 'stealth solar' where people attach #solarpanels to places in a subtle way to capture the sun's energy. It might be stealth as there are strict rules or just want to keep it low key. #balconysolar is sort of stealth gone mainstream.
With cheaper MPPT devices you can now accept slightly poorer efficiency due to placement and with microinverters don't need to make long strings. I particularly think that there is no point having a solar panel in storage, best get it out there and generating even if it's in a temporary place!
So I thought I'd start a small website that documents different stealth setups, so if you have cheeky solar panels and would be willing to share a little info (but not too much if it would get you in trouble) get in touch.
@smallsolar I've a little 10W panel on the shed roof. It used to keep a Pi running, now it powers a humidity sensor to control a dehumidifier.
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@smallsolar
I had a large box trailer parked on my drive. It was becoming redundant and only used for storage, so I hung two solar panels on the side.
The trailer has been scrapped now, and the panels are back in storage as we are planning to move house.@Maker_of_Things thats a great idea and I'm sure there aren't any planning issues as it's theoretically temporary, could I include that image on the site?
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@smallsolar it's just plugged in, it's not in its final location yet and I wanted to check it wasn't DOA.
It does what it does well enough. The Ecoflow app has a few quirks and doesn't always report what you think it's reporting, but I'm getting used to them.
I don't have an Ecoflow-compatible energy monitor or smart plugs (my existing ZigBee kit isn't on their compatibility list AFAICT) but I've set up a manual demand profile and the Ultra follows it well enough.
@sheddi I found that the meter was key to avoid just losing lots of power to the grid. I've got it installed in the fusebox (had to have a bigger box to fit it in) but I saw online someone who just added a cable and plugged it into a nearby socket and put the clamp over the input line.
Doubt I'll be recouping my costs when I factor in the electrician installation but I'm enjoying having it setup.
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@smallsolar I've a little 10W panel on the shed roof. It used to keep a Pi running, now it powers a humidity sensor to control a dehumidifier.
@dtl I like the use of the string/rope to keep it in place. I'm a big fan of small panels for particular tasks, don't need a grid for lots of tasks
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@Maker_of_Things thats a great idea and I'm sure there aren't any planning issues as it's theoretically temporary, could I include that image on the site?
@smallsolar
Yes, temporary and mobile.I'm fine about the image being used, just include the credit as 'Alfred Chow - Maker of Things'.
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Do you have an example of stealth solar?
I've been thinking a lot about 'stealth solar' where people attach #solarpanels to places in a subtle way to capture the sun's energy. It might be stealth as there are strict rules or just want to keep it low key. #balconysolar is sort of stealth gone mainstream.
With cheaper MPPT devices you can now accept slightly poorer efficiency due to placement and with microinverters don't need to make long strings. I particularly think that there is no point having a solar panel in storage, best get it out there and generating even if it's in a temporary place!
So I thought I'd start a small website that documents different stealth setups, so if you have cheeky solar panels and would be willing to share a little info (but not too much if it would get you in trouble) get in touch.
@smallsolar unsure if this counts but I got 3 450wp panels sitting upright against my garden fencing. Main reason for it is that in the winter at noon the sun hits this spot basically exactly head-on, so I still get ~1-1.5kw of power out of this in the winter despite the dutch latitude
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@yngmar that is such a clever idea! I'll do some research and see if I can find some pictures, definitely one for the website and I'm half tempted to make my own for fun!
@yngmar wow had a look, seems like there are even some commercial versions, I like the ones with the ability to tilt, you probably only use your table for an hour or so a day even on a busy day so it could be then used to generate some power.
The biggest issue I see is the trailing cable, could put batteries into the legs
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@smallsolar unsure if this counts but I got 3 450wp panels sitting upright against my garden fencing. Main reason for it is that in the winter at noon the sun hits this spot basically exactly head-on, so I still get ~1-1.5kw of power out of this in the winter despite the dutch latitude
@anthropy that is absolutely stealth solar, also you've got plants growing around it so you get extra points for being #solarpunk
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@dtl I like the use of the string/rope to keep it in place. I'm a big fan of small panels for particular tasks, don't need a grid for lots of tasks
@smallsolar it was a temporary solution that has lasted 10 years so far.
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@smallsolar it was a temporary solution that has lasted 10 years so far.
@dtl could I included it on my list? Happy to credit the image
