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brucedownunder2
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Joined: 14/09/2005
Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548 |
| Posted: 08:39pm 13 Dec 2016 |
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I've a big wooden frame built with the house to serve as a pogoda /shade area on the northfacing side ,Say,7.5M x 3 M ,all 125mmx 50mm hardwood dressed timber and all bolted down to the house and deck..
I'm thinking of mounting my secondhand set of 6 175 watt panels on this frame -it's elevated , so easy to walk sit move around under it --used to have a grape vine growing all over it -too many possums shi--ing and too many carpet pythonds at grape time.
Anyhow flat is what I'm thinking of mounting ,, angled would be "not-so-nice a look from the street..
whats your thoughts -it gets sun all year round from about 9 to sundown ,no shade from trees,just not the direct facing to the sun as I would get if I elevated them..
Bruce
Bushboy |
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Grogster
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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New ZealandPosts: 9306 |
| Posted: 10:56pm 13 Dec 2016 |
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It was my understanding that the only real reason for elevating the panels if you are in a really sunny spot, is just to prevent water from pooling on the panels when it rains. Do you get much rain? If no, or practically never, I don't see that being a problem. I seem to remember that pooled water on the panels would cause a magnifying glass effect and possibly result in damage to the panel? Might be totally wrong on that, I just seem to remember reading that somewhere, but I am no solar expert by any interpretation of the words! 
Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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Madness
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Joined: 08/10/2011
Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
| Posted: 11:25pm 13 Dec 2016 |
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Flat panels give more power when you need it most when there is heavy cloud cover. I have one set of panels flat on a carport roof when the sun is shining brightly the ones at 26 degrees (my latitude) produce more power. But when you are struggling to get enough power the flat ones produce more power every time.
There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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Grogster
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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New ZealandPosts: 9306 |
| Posted: 11:30pm 13 Dec 2016 |
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Out of interest Madness, is there any truth in the water pooling idea I have heard about?
Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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Madness
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Joined: 08/10/2011
Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
| Posted: 11:45pm 13 Dec 2016 |
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Not that I am aware of, only issue I have seen is the dust collects on them and does not wash off as easily. With dew the dust collects in spots until you get some rain to wash it off.
There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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Grogster
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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New ZealandPosts: 9306 |
| Posted: 11:53pm 13 Dec 2016 |
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Okey dokey, thanks. 
Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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Warpspeed
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Joined: 09/08/2007
Location: AustraliaPosts: 4406 |
| Posted: 12:09pm 21 Dec 2016 |
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I have some panels mounted with 20 degree slope, and agree with Madness, they will work better than anything else in dull grey full cloud cover.
They are also pretty terrific in the summer months when the sun is really high in the sky.
As long as you have some small slope, and every roof has.... water should not collect.
Try and deliberately direct rainwater onto the panels from the main roof of the house, so when it rains, the horizontal panels get a really good sluice down with water.
That can be important for washing off stubborn baked hard bird crap, dead leaves or anything else nasty that might stick to your panels.
Cheers, Tony. |
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Madness
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Joined: 08/10/2011
Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
| Posted: 12:15pm 21 Dec 2016 |
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A bucket of water with a soft broom will get most stuff off if you do it in the morning while there is still dew on the panels.
There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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Warpspeed
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Joined: 09/08/2007
Location: AustraliaPosts: 4406 |
| Posted: 12:27pm 21 Dec 2016 |
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True, but its one less thing I would rather not have to do on a routine basis.
Cheers, Tony. |
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