[aprssig] Solar, then vs now

[Stephen H. Smith]

On 5/23/2011 8:11 PM, Bob Bruninga wrote:
>
>> [re snow] there's no way I'm cleaning off
>> any solar panels on a daily basis.  :-)
> If that is a concern, then ignore it.  Tilt your panels back to maximize spring/Fall/and Summer sun and the increase in power produced then will more than offset any loss of sun in the winter for a few days of snow on the panels.
>
> Bob, Wb4APR
>

How about a remote-control "snow-shaker-offer"?   I could envision some sort of 
setup with the panels mounted to hinges on their lower edges while the 
upper-edge is attached to spring-loaded telescoping poles (perhaps made from 
nested diameters of conduits or PVC pipe).   A small low-power 12-VDC gear 
motor (surplus power window regulator or satellite dish positioner?) could 
slowly compress the spring to make the panels lean back,  and then abuptly 
release to let the panels snap forward again,  flinging off the snow.  As a 
bonus, the same device could also adjust the optimum tilt for summer, winter or 
anywhere in-between.

Or maybe you only need to be able to tilt the panels to a full vertical 
position to dump the snow, and then slowly crank them back to the proper tilt 
without any violent snapping action.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--

Stephen H. Smith    wa8lmf (at) aol.com
EchoLink Node:      WA8LMF  or 14400    [Think bottom of the 2M band]
Skype:        WA8LMF
Home Page:          http://wa8lmf.net

=====  Vista & Win7 Install Issues for UI-View and Precision Mapping =====
     http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/UIview_Notes.htm#VistaWin7

*** HF APRS over PSK63 ***
    http://wa8lmf.net/APRS_PSK63/index.htm

"APRS 101"  Explanation of APRS Path Selection & Digipeating
   http://wa8lmf.net/DigiPaths