Following on from my post about the Arduino based Solar PV and Hot water monitoring the solar hot water kit has arrived from Navitron.
The photos below show the initial plumbing stages for installing the system. We are still waiting for quotes...
view full post...Comments
We are upgrading our DIY PV off grid system with extra panels and also a solar hot water system using a kit from http://navitron.org.uk/ with a 20 tube 58mm double wall evacuated tube solar collector on the roof and a new water cylinder and...
view full post...Comments
Putting it all together
Built the first of four panels today and got it installed on the roof. I am still waiting for the 12v 15amp cable roll for the other three panels, which I ordered over a week ago and the supplier isn't answering...
view full post...Comments
Soldering Cells
After purchasing a flux pen from Maplin, we started the long job of tinning all the cells, front and back and the fitting the tabbing wire between the cells to join 36 together for each solar panel.
The photo below shows...
view full post...Comments
Charging System Upgrades
The existing charging system used a single battery and this was connected via the charge converter to the inverter and a 12v relay which switched the mains supply between the solar inverter power and normal mains...
view full post...Comments
Using 6mm thick flat aluminum bar, we made four brackets which were attached to the chimneys either side of the house and between these, two lengths of 25mm x 4.2m square aluminum bar were fitted to act as supports for the solar panels.
The...
view full post...Comments
Using 35mm square aluminum bar, we machined a slot into the bar and cut it into 30mm wide brackets which where drilled and tapped to take M5 bolts. Four of these brackets will be bolted to the panel base boards and this will allow the easy...
view full post...Comments
Two coats today of Dulux Trade Weathershield Preservative Basecoat to seal the wood, this needs 48 hours to dry and then the panels will be painted with exterior gloss and the glass ordered.
The photo below shows the panels after bring...
view full post...Comments
After purchasing further solar cells from the USA via ebay, We are building four new weather proof outdoor solar panels which should supply around 320w which should be enough energy to run the household lighting circuit and all the low power...
view full post...Comments
The solar panel has has a pair of 60 amp wires which run from the apex of the roof to a first floor cupboard where the battery, charge converter / controller, inverter and relay switch box is situated.
The picture below shows the large...
view full post...Comments
After the sealant and paint had dried the mounting brackets were fitted to the back of the panel. The ridge tiles on the roof were then removed and the panel screwed to the main wooden beam across the middle of the roof. The panel initally...
view full post...Comments
After waiting a day for the painted baseboard to dry, I fitted the solar cells to the board today and soldered interconnecting wires to join them all together in series. Under artifical light the output from the panels was 13.5 volts and once...
view full post...Comments
After sourcing 50 solar cells from the USA via ebay, I am building a weather proof outdoor solar panel array which should supply enough energy to run the household lighting circuit.
Started work today on building the panel array using...
view full post...Comments