Renewable Energy Photo Thread

What makes you say that? Near flat is good as it gets sun all day around. My shed is near flat. Covered with 14*375wp. Never get that maximum but get most of it quite a lot

You may both be right. I think unkel suggests if you plug it into a calculator the gap between optimum angle and a small slope will be minimal?

7.5KW system facing 210 degress, annual totals as per https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/index.php

10degree slope 6441KW

35degree slope 6785KW

40degree slope 6682KW.

Given how completely different such setups are, the difference is small enough that most users would not notice, and factors seasonality and weather records.

That said, I would add a little more slope to my pergola too 😎

@poker--addict - thanks for the figures, you've proven that there is feck all in it. You should just work with the roofs you have, any money spent on making a different angle or even making it adjustable is just wasted really (unless you are extremely limited for space)

Also flat will give more in morning and evening than bigger angle, so it might even be possible that the 6441kWh will make you more money than the 6682kWh where you either lose more, push more through your battery (20% loss round trip on an AC side battery system), or have more FIT and less self use

I only recently found out that both Damien and myself used the same inverter roughly at the same time for both our first grid-tied PV systems, about 5 years ago 😁

This lad - I think I paid GBP50 for it on eBay 😂

You can see Damien's one in the video above.

Most of the stuff he is showing is DC off grid. There are no regulations for that.

Back in the summer when it was hot, someone posted a pic of their cooling system for their inverter. That got my interest and so over the previous couple of months I've gathered together the few bits to make up my version. I acquired 2 brand new Papst fans (about the same size as a computer cooling fan, but mains powered) that were being thrown out ! I had to BUY a thermostat which nearly broke the bank at 6EU. the bits of cable and the plywood frame came from the 'always handy' corner.

So here is the system ready to keep the inverter cool when the warm weather arrives. I've set the thermostat to come on at 35 deg. There is a 40mm gap behind the fans for natural convection from the inverter and the fans blow directly onto the air duct.

I did wonder about getting the fans to suck up air rather than blow. I'll see how it performs and change over if I think it necessary.

Roll on the warm weather an some decent generation. I don't like the cold and wet dark days.

Dave

That was my initial thought, but I wondered whether that would draw much hot air out of the inverter. There are no air ducts apart from the one on top. It will only take a few minutes to change the fans from blow to suck.

Dave

Mine is pushing air down too and is fine at dropping the temp.

Bono looks great well done..did you install the extra sockets, I'm just wondering could I do this action myself. Cheers Happy new year

Yeah I have 2 little fans on my AVR sucking up and out. Bit different maybe with the inverter as its just blowing the heat down through the heat sink and out the bottom rather than directly into the unit.

I'll switch mine around next time I'm up anyway. Its just sat on top rather than mounted on anything.