PV carports

SD_DRACULA

You think the council would have something to say if you drop one of these bad boys in your front garden/drive way?

Think of all the S facing panels I could in 50 sqm 🤤

bullit_dodger

Dunno - I mean it is a FORD......they'd have a point! :-)

SD_DRACULA

Ofc without that car 😁

Some pretty sweet numbers on 8kwp with 5 degree angle.

Or put a linear actuator or two under and raise them to 45 degrees for the four nasty months

Yes I think 15kwp will do me just fine, one can dream eh?

slave1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058239692/pv-carports

They would unfortunately as front of your house so full planning required, been there (not with PV roof though)

randombar

Might be a stupid question but closer to 0 degrees is better than closer to 90 degrees in Ireland?

SD_DRACULA

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118862136#Comment_118862136

I would suspect so, the people working for the council are still stuck in the 1900s, this will be way above their stations.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118862191#Comment_118862191

Nope, you want to be closer to 90 degrees in winter and close to 30 in summer, or thereabouts.

fael

Also depends if you measure from vertical or horizontal. Can be annoying sometimes when people use a different reference.

Mr Q

I have no real need for a garage so I have put in a carport of sorts. Mainly to have somewhere to cover the car when charging and to mount the solar panels.

East/West orientation for the panels at about 15 degrees each (75 degrees if you based it on SD_DRACULA's drawing). 4kW of panels each direction.

Considering filling the sides with vertically mounted panels at some stage, especially the south facing part.

SD_DRACULA

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118866180#Comment_118866180

Nice one, put up some pics 😄

Mr Q

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118866330#Comment_118866330

I'll get around to it at some stage. It's basically a steel framed garage with no walls. But carport sounds better

bullit_dodger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118866330#Comment_118866330

+1

Mr Q

Not a great picture. The right hand side is South facing

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118869423#Comment_118869423

So its an E/W split?

Mr Q

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118869482#Comment_118869482

Yeah it is East/West. 4kW each side

harderthanf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118869423#Comment_118869423

This looks great. Is the EV charger out of picture somewhere but reachable when the car is "docked"? I could easily get a few of these up around my place, something I have never really thought of!

Mr Q

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118873860#Comment_118873860

The charger or inverter are not fitted yet. I have everything but need to get it finished

randombar

This one has inspired me on to add to my roof for a few more panels.

I've a 4.3m span here that I'd like to close and put panels up.

Think is I'd prefer not to have a support column in the middle.

Any options besides a giant iBar? I know everyone here is a qualified structural engineer and can provide amazing advice.

Ideally I'd keep the timber joists and polycarbonate and have the panels on top.

https://capture.dropbox.com/ZcykfezsNMuypxeL

mjp

Seen this crew at the SEAI energy expo in RDS at weekend. Based in Galway and seem to be doing similar carports but more aimed at commercial market with charging points etc. Also do a pergola/patio model for domestic use which looks neat and tidy.

https://solarstructures.ie/

slave1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118877943#Comment_118877943

Just be aware that's a shallow angle so great from height of Summer but less so for remainder of the year

randombar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118889060#Comment_118889060

I was thinking of increasing the angle of the panels with some extensions or something to get a better angle all right. Not sure what's possible there.

SD_DRACULA

Quite easily doable if you're handy.

Put hinges at the bottom of the panels and at the top rest them on some linear actuators that can push/pull them.

And if you're going for total nerd points, hook that up to home assistant and automate it so that it raises/lowers automatically based on the sun angle.