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PV panels on the 5th Wheel. |
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Does tilting PV panels towards the sun make any significant difference in output? Last year the panels were mounted flat to the roof. Thought I�d test the �tilt� idea before heading north this summer. One catch - I had to use materials I already had on hand. I did buy more �Nylock� nuts - I don�t believe on skimping on safety.
Why door hinges? With hinges on both sides of the frames, and the ability to pivot on the end mounting bolts, the panels can be tilted in all four directions. Just one direction at a time? Stay tuned for next years version??
Tested: at about 34N 116W, March 22 and 23, 2003. The evening prior to each test: turn on 14 overhead lights (15W each) - 3 hours the first night, 1 � hours the second. Sun altitude at midday: 58 degrees (from �Sky Globe�, an astronomy program)(I�m not sure just where my sextant is right now). Actual tilt angle: 26 degrees. Not ideal, but I plan on using those struts this summer - at 38 degrees North. Panels: 2 x 35W and 2 x 22W. All purchased �used�.
Photos? Taken with a 320 x 240 digital camera. If I have time later, they will be replaced with scanned prints (from the 35mm camera) which will permit enlarging. |
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As seen from the south. |
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And then from the west. |
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The metal angles were attached to the roof last year. They were spaced to exactly the width of the panels, so the hinge on the other side was mounted on the outside of the angle to reduce/prevent undue stress on the panels. The hinge pins are retained with cotter (split)pins. |
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An "upper" hinge support. All bolts used are 1/4 - 20. The struts - 1x2's. |
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The 'climbing' curve is a running total of Amp/Hours throughout the day. The 'tilt' resulted in about a 15% increase in energy received. I think it's worth the effort. ("Click" to enlarge.) |
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On March 22, with the panels flat on the roof. The 'bell' shaped curve is a percentage of actual output compared to the nominal 114W possible maximum. ("Click" to enlarge.) |
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