The neighbours have been doing some work. Can't help but watch since I can see them from my 'puter area. Best I can come up with is they're going solar. Is that what this contraption is going to be?
I'm so nosy...
Yes - it looks like a ground solar system.
Thanks Victor!
So the panels will go between the double layer of supports?
I believe so.
Thanks Victor! I wonder if it's gonna send some glare my way.
How's your system doing these days?
Glare would depend on the angle. Mine is working great. Wonder how efficient this system will be at your latitude.
Wondering the same thing, would it really be worth the cost up here?
Do they need actual sun to work? Can't remember the last time I saw the sun...
Yes - there will be some output without direct sun, but not much.
We get some nasty winds up here, that thing's going to be like a sail!!
I suppose it probably will tilt to follow the sun? It's facing East right now.
That's probably the only way to make it worth it. Probably computer controlled - expensive! Very strong support required for the wind.
Glad you got an answer. I did not have the faintest idea. Thought maybe a big transmitter for ET to phone home. How well do you know these people? LOL
I see that piston type thing in the middle - that will raise and lower. Don't see anything yet that will rotate it.
If it tilts east to west it wouldn't need to rotate(?) I hope or I'll have to wear shades in the house here...
They've lived next door to me since I moved here in '92. Every fall they do a major upgrade to the house. One year a new sunroom, then a new pool, then a 3 level deck, now this thing...
What allows it to tilt e-w??
I kind of figured that piston type thing you mentioned. Wouldn't it take it from its now East position up and over to the west or almost west?
That should only change the elevation.
you mean up and down? same facing just higher and lower?
Yes.
What would be the point?
The East sun sucks up here, would hardly be worth the money if it can't follow it.
It's attached to those 3 posts which are sunk about 6 feet down.
As the sun travels from sunrise to sunset, it moves from east to west AND from low to high, back to low. So for optimal performance, it should rotate e-w, and move up and down.
ahhhh...(light bulb comes on)
Can't wait 'til they get it finished and see what it's purpose is. Would be funny if it's just to heat their pool wouldn't it?
Appreciate your patience Victor!!
You're welcome! Please keep posting pics.
I will!!
Here's a basic, but informative, illustration of the path of the sun. Shows how it travels in the sky throughout the day and how the path changes through the seasons.
http://www.altestore.com/howto/images/article/solar_path.gif
I get it now!!
Thanks Victor!
Wow, nice set-up. Must cost some bucks.
Threegardeners, is their house in shade? Just wondering why they didn't go with the roof set-up.
The front of their hose is shaded and the east-ish facing part has some weird roof lines.
If you're going to do the tracking bit, it's much easier on the ground.
Solar is BIG here. We're always sunny. Most with panels have enough for their own use and sell back to the grid. When we replace the roof on our old house we're going solar. Interesting about the rotating thing. Here they are just flat stable panels pointed south or southwest depending on trees. I SO need to do more research on this. Thanks for all the info.
Does the gov offer tax incentives there?? Never would have done it without them here. Only paid about 1/3rd of the total.
O YA BABY! Federal and provincial!
I would so love to do this. I think I would have to take down a few trees, though, and I really don't want to do that - they keep my house cool in summer and I really love my shade. Not sure I can do it money-wise anyway, even with incentives.
And of course, I keep thinking that the minute I get it done, they will come out with newer/better/cheaper panels....
Well of course they had to put the panels on while I was in town shopping the other day...sigh.
It isn't at all like I had it pictured in my mind! I pictured it as one big panel facing East...the direction the main frame is pointing.
But no, it's a bunch of little ones strung together. And they're looking South. I tried to get a pic. of the nice shiny new black panels but the light has sucked up here since they did it and they just disappear into the background.
When I woke up this am after it has been snowing all night (and still is) I just had to take this shot of it. Shows the individual panls nicely.
Gathering lots of light I see...LOL
They're always a bunch of individual panels, LA. They're connected in a series-parallel fashion to get the proper voltage and current output. I have 32 panels which are about 4 X 2 1/2 feet.
Do you have to climb up and brush the snow off of them?
No - just wait for it to melt or blow off. There is not much output this time of year anyway. One thing I have to watch for though, is sometimes a huge mass of snow comes sliding off at once -l ike an avalanche!
I've been thinking about this and I just can't understand why.
My hydro bill is never more than $125/month. Seems this thing would cost more per month in payments. It's gotta be what? $50,000?
I suppose if one has electric heat, central air, etc. it might be cost effective....?
edited for some math:
50,000 divided by 125 is 400 months. Divide by 12 months in a year and it would be 33 years before I saw any return...is that about right?
This message was edited Jan 1, 2010 12:26 PM
That's where the gov tax incentives come in.
Victor? do they have to be charged before use? they're over there now with a generator hooked up to it...
No - they generate on their own. Maybe the generator is involved in turning it??