Cheeky solar panels!!!! ️️️️️🥰

#CheekySolarPanels

I fully agree that for a larger system it makes sense to have a professional installation. I've already got a rooftop PV system (2012 vintage, relatively low efficiency but earning FIT money). My Ecoflow kit is a fun experiment that also fulfils an offer I made to my wife to make her art shed off-grid-capable (albeit only during the months she doesn't need heating).

• setup requires scaffolding
• every maintenance requires scaffolding
• the city may have something to say about the project (as in “lol no”)
• depending what the roof is made of, every time someone goes up there handling a heavy panel, tiles are going to need replacement
• might not have the best orientation
• etc.

But a structure made for them on the ground? Many of these points get solved by this

@smallsolar

I particularly like the idea of adding panels to things that are perhaps just sitting rusting as their previous role is now not required.

Not sure if it fits your theme, per se...

My first #Solar installation was with the panels mounted on an old chicken tractor that was no longer in use...

Eventually moved them onto some gate hinges hanging on a beam under the eaves on my #TinyHouse so I can angle them or put them down as needed, without having to invest in fancy roof mount hardware.

Building it on a "vehicle" rather than a "house" allows more flexibility for #DIY installations, not needing an inspection, etc.

I still have no good feeling how much weight can be put on it, especially in one small spot. Like I would not put a big heavy pot of food right in the middle of it. Or push myself up from it. Did some testing by putting some weights in the middle with a piece of wood as reference to check how far it bends and stopped at ~5kg as I noticed it bending. But a laptop and some light use will certainly be fine. Maybe I picked not the best module, but ~200W seems to be a sweet spot beteeen module size, sturdyness and cost. I thought about cutting down some old piece of multiplex to put on top in case it is used as a real table. Another downside is that it gets quite hot without some kind of cover (tablecloth etc.)

@yngmar

So I’m happy with my little experiments and I’ll try to improve as I can

https://mastodon.mit.edu/@keithdpatch/116468405579997997

@mu

I've got various other panels kicking around, but this is my 'main' system for which a better mount is on the list of projects.

#GarbageCanSolar

#solarinstance

So all in all I know this is not very relevant, compared to heating (and cooking to a lesser extent), but we do what we can ‍️

My view on this is, these systems at least allow us to avoid sudden, high, unpredictable loads from the grid, like for example washing machines and vacuuming.

The grid can’t predict that the population will likely vacuum their place at xyz time every day and therefore there’s an increased energy need at that time every day.

Of course, the conundrum is that they’ve been doing that regardless, and my changing habits now might be worse for them

@smallsolar

The 'green' revolution we all want isn't going to pay for itself but we've got to do something!

Payback would probably take 20 years at the rate I mentioned, but this battery is unlikely to survive that long; in fact, in one year it has already lost half its capacity

These branded batteries are not the way to financial savings, but they are easy to setup and they do provide a nice buffer for unpredictable energy loads that you don’t want the grid to take on

@smallsolar

It's not hugely profitable, but it's not the worst investment in the world.