nvreloader
Western Nevada
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Joined: 12/08/2006
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ChopperBill wrote:I use a 4 foot aluminum ladder. Follow the sun with it. One panel and I have stayed for 10 days using the TV with the inverter. Never fired up the gen.
CB,
You are one brave soul, that wouldn't last for a hour around here and then it would be lying on it's side, Busted UP because of the wind. .
Don
2010 F-350,6.4PSD, 6spd man trans,CC,SWB,SRW, Caravan camper shell,50 gal bed tank,17,000lb Husky WD hitch,2008 28KS Desert Fox TH,2005 Honda 500 Rubicon ATV w/rumble seat,2 Aussie's waiting,watching and ridin shotgun on the whole outfit.
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mike4947
N. Syracuse, NY
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Joined: 08/26/2002
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We've quite a few of our extenced camping family research tracking mounts.
All of the commercial systems are post mounted. And you ain't gonna find cheap or inexpensive.
backwoods solar
Solar electric
All the RV/road rated mounts are simple tilt with no rotate.
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sum1
So-Cal
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Joined: 11/07/2005
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When judging a state science fair a few years back, I evaluated a project submitted by a high school student that used differential output from two small sensor panels mounted on the main panel to trigger a tracking servo motor, IIRC. Rather than a smooth, continuous motion, its design suggested incremental adjustments as the sun "travelled" across the sky, increasingly exposing the westerly angled sensor panel as the the easterly angled received less direct light. Sharp kid.
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nina_70
On wheels, USA
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Joined: 07/06/2009
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I think part of the problem is that you need to have a mount that's sturdy enough to stick to a moving/bumping/back-road-loving RV, yet inexpensive and easy enough to use once stationary. There is really nothing like that on the market right now that makes sense for RVs (at least I haven't seen it yet).
I think it's actually cheaper to over-size your system slightly and go with a basic, manual single-angle mount than try to create something that's truly sun-tracking. At least that was the economic conclusion we came to, especially when looking at flux models.
In summer it almost makes no sense to tilt as long as you're getting good sun mid-day. In winter one angle of tilt will get you pretty close to optimal as long as you position your RV properly (i.e. east-west with panels facing due south). Have a play around with this flux model for more info: CLICKY
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BFL13
Victoria, BC
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Joined: 02/15/2006
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My own set-up planning is for summer only at 49N Lat, so it will not suit everybody in other seasons and locations.
The basic idea is to carry the panel and its stand (in parts) in the rig till arrival and then set it up on the roof, secure against the wind. (and theft) Parking angle will not matter, but the panel will be tilted up to the South. I did this last summer, but did not have a proper stand. Just propped it up on the a/c shroud and lashed it down with bungee cords. I did have a lattice (for ok air cooling) backing on the panel so it was safe to lean it on things. Worked quite well.
Tilting it sideways (in addition to tilting it up at some angle) to follow the sun does yield more amp hrs for summer at 49N than leaving it flat and tilted up, based on measurements taken last summer, enough to make the effort worth doing (for me)--perhaps a 30% increase in daily amp hr haul or a little more.
Right now I am making the stand to have the panel again tilted up South at some fixed angle that can be changed if needed, but now to have sideways rotation. Controlling that rotation is the difficult part.
If it is all too difficult, we will just do the same as last summer only maybe find a better (lower) tilt angle.
2003 Chev 2500HD ExtCab, LB, 2WD, 6.0/4.10 Gas
2003 Komfort 26FS 5er (28.5 Ft-RK-10,000lb GVWR)
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TechWriter
Green Bay, WI USA
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Joined: 12/22/2002
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Turntable
2001 Newmar Mountain Aire 4095 DP
Wisconsin, USA
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