LibreSolarBox
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CollectiveOpenSourceHardware
integration of solarpanel holder
@case06 @DhavalGambhava just a thinking... extend the batteriebox frame with a holder system for solarpanels. also based on UniProKit.
Do you mean something for clipping panels on the rooftop or something like a standalone-holder ? The latter could be interesting by combining it with a tracking system that moves the panel around, following the sun path. This could give you about 30% more energy harvested plus maybe 10% from the MPPT.
But there is one drawback: on windy/stormy days there are enormous forces directed towards the holder mounting because the panels have a lot of surface area where the wind can hook on. Difficult to calculate the needed static (beyond my scope, this is engineers-stuff ;))
@mikelovic I updated older design that can hold solar panel. Have you finalize solar module? If yes please send me name and specifications.
@DhavalGambhava yeah looks good. would be the easiest way to fix the panel near the box. @case06 for a tracking system we would need some more parts (stepper, µC, ...). but yeah would be nice for sure. i think at the first step it would just be nice to have the opportunity to fix a panel.
btw. what type of inverter have you forseen ?
My recommendation for an entry-model is a Victron Phoenix 350/12V with 300W constant power (or the 800/12V version) and true sinus. I have already tested it in a productive environment and other projects like sunzilla uses it also, cause its known for its good quality.
link to datasheet: https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Datasheet-Phoenix-Inverter-180VA-1200VA-EN.pdf
link to dimensions (for freecad-modeling): https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Dimensions-Phoenix-Inverter-350.pdf
and/or
https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Dimensions-Phoenix-Inverter-800-1200.pdf
i have uploaded some pictures that show, how the junction of Dhajvals panelholder can be done in UniProKit. Each junction has two screws, which can be simply tightened by an Allen-key .
https://github.com/CollectiveOpenSourceHardware/LibreSolarBox/tree/master/boxframe/panelsupport
and i am working on a upklib-based boxframe , have also uploaded some recent pics and freecad-files (work in progress) , see
https://github.com/CollectiveOpenSourceHardware/LibreSolarBox/tree/master/boxframe/upkframe
@DhavalGambhava I have some 100W panels here, which have the outer dimensions 106 x 67 x 3.6 cm
@case06 I designed solar panel holder for 160 x 100 x 4 cm solar panel, and it can be also fit for smaller panel as well.
@mikelovic @case06 We have flexible solar panel, so Holder can't hold perfectly to solar panel. Better to not use solar panel holder.
since the holder is sort of "telescopic" it could be used to give the flexible panel some tension. ;)
i want to keep the solar panel holder as an optional module if someone wants to use not flexible solar panels.