Another thought about having solar panels in the canopy top is the blocking of a considerable amount natural light...
Larry Sohn > Greg LittleFebruary 9, 2019 at 9:11pm
You are right Greg. Hmmm, let's think about the efficiency... We block out the natural light, by putting up solar panels to gather that light. Convert it into electricity, then convert that back into artificial light. Somehow I think we would have some energy loss :-)
BackBefore we were even thinking of solar panels my husband who was the photographer used to carry his light meter around at the airfares to test the light coming through different types of tents to determine which tent would be the best for the best natural light And therefore the best light on his photographs which for High key black-and-white.
Larry Sohn > Connie MettlerFebruary 10, 2019 at 12:10am
Great idea. What were his results? Trimeline with skylight? Lightdome?
Enquiring minds want to know :-)
Personally I illuminate my tent with my shinning countenance. ;-)
Solar panels alone will not function for the needs.
These solar panel are Photovoltaic. They convert the photons in daylight into electricity.
However the flow of electricity is not stable. Nor will they be producing electricity at the times when you most need it ie. Night or cloudy days. If you were to try and run a laptop, directly from solar panels, without regulating / stabilizing the output of the panels, you would ruin the laptop or many other devices used. Low voltage can be more damaging to electronics than high voltage.
Therefore you also need a storage unit to gather the electricity and hold it for proper distribution. = A battery system. Deep cycle NOT a starting type. About said battery, calculate the loads you are planning on using and get one that has a high enough AH (amphour) rating, so it can easily handle the draw. If it is a lead acid, AGM, GEL get one that has double the AH you need. This is due to damage inflicted upon the battery by continually drawing it down past 50%. Lithium batteries do not have as much problem with the drain down but are significantly more expensive.
To keep from destroying the battery system you need a charge controller.
Depending on the needs of the equipment you are trying to power up, you might need regulators and / or inverters.
Suggest all the equipment be UL listed and weather suitable.
Furthermore invest in very good equipment. The better quality equipment will be more efficient, thereby giving you more usable energy for your devices. Think of a car with a 300hp engine, that only gets 75 Nm (torque) to the wheels VS a car with a 200hp engine that gets 100Nm to the wheels.
Length, gauge, type of conductors, type of connectors for wiring etc, will greatly effect efficiency.
I'm not knocking the setup, just be cognizant of what is needed.
There are even paints that can be applied to create photovoltaic surfaces. Maybe you want to paint your Trimline?
I am all for using Solar panels. I belong to an organization that teaches and disseminates information on sustainable living.
Lynn McAleer > Larry SohnJanuary 24, 2019 at 10:18am
Thanks kindly for taking the time to explain the solar panels. I'll stay with my chargers that are working well for now.
Larry Sohn > Lynn McAleerJanuary 24, 2019 at 10:38am
I didn't want to scare you away from Solar panels. They are great. Just wanted people to look at the entire picture.
As more people adapt to them, companies will invest in the technology resulting in lower prices, more efficiency, better quality, greater convieniences.
Wow! Larry were you Mr. Wizard in a former life. Maybe you're not old enough to know Mr. Wizard. He was a Bill Nye guy long ago in another lifetime. Seriously, I'm impressed. Thanks for sharing your insight, cause in my case, it for darned sure wouldn't happen coming from me!
Larry Sohn > Kathleen J. ClausenFebruary 9, 2019 at 8:58pm
Kathleen, Yup, I'm ancient enough to remember Mr. Wizard. I don't remember exactly what the chant was, he used, when sending the guy back to his place. That was the cartoon version. Then we also had Don Herbert.
Funny thing is... My dad was also called Mr. Wizard...he was a magician.
Seems like the cartoon chant was something about "Be just what you is, not what you is not. Folks that do this is the happiest lot," said with a Germanish accent. But I was really thinking about Don Herbert. :)
Replies
Another thought about having solar panels in the canopy top is the blocking of a considerable amount natural light...
You are right Greg. Hmmm, let's think about the efficiency... We block out the natural light, by putting up solar panels to gather that light. Convert it into electricity, then convert that back into artificial light. Somehow I think we would have some energy loss :-)
BackBefore we were even thinking of solar panels my husband who was the photographer used to carry his light meter around at the airfares to test the light coming through different types of tents to determine which tent would be the best for the best natural light And therefore the best light on his photographs which for High key black-and-white.
Great idea. What were his results? Trimeline with skylight? Lightdome?
Enquiring minds want to know :-)
Personally I illuminate my tent with my shinning countenance. ;-)
Solar panels alone will not function for the needs.
These solar panel are Photovoltaic. They convert the photons in daylight into electricity.
However the flow of electricity is not stable. Nor will they be producing electricity at the times when you most need it ie. Night or cloudy days. If you were to try and run a laptop, directly from solar panels, without regulating / stabilizing the output of the panels, you would ruin the laptop or many other devices used. Low voltage can be more damaging to electronics than high voltage.
Therefore you also need a storage unit to gather the electricity and hold it for proper distribution. = A battery system. Deep cycle NOT a starting type. About said battery, calculate the loads you are planning on using and get one that has a high enough AH (amphour) rating, so it can easily handle the draw. If it is a lead acid, AGM, GEL get one that has double the AH you need. This is due to damage inflicted upon the battery by continually drawing it down past 50%. Lithium batteries do not have as much problem with the drain down but are significantly more expensive.
To keep from destroying the battery system you need a charge controller.
Depending on the needs of the equipment you are trying to power up, you might need regulators and / or inverters.
Suggest all the equipment be UL listed and weather suitable.
Furthermore invest in very good equipment. The better quality equipment will be more efficient, thereby giving you more usable energy for your devices. Think of a car with a 300hp engine, that only gets 75 Nm (torque) to the wheels VS a car with a 200hp engine that gets 100Nm to the wheels.
Length, gauge, type of conductors, type of connectors for wiring etc, will greatly effect efficiency.
I'm not knocking the setup, just be cognizant of what is needed.
There are even paints that can be applied to create photovoltaic surfaces. Maybe you want to paint your Trimline?
I am all for using Solar panels. I belong to an organization that teaches and disseminates information on sustainable living.
Thanks kindly for taking the time to explain the solar panels. I'll stay with my chargers that are working well for now.
I didn't want to scare you away from Solar panels. They are great. Just wanted people to look at the entire picture.
As more people adapt to them, companies will invest in the technology resulting in lower prices, more efficiency, better quality, greater convieniences.
Wow! Larry were you Mr. Wizard in a former life. Maybe you're not old enough to know Mr. Wizard. He was a Bill Nye guy long ago in another lifetime. Seriously, I'm impressed. Thanks for sharing your insight, cause in my case, it for darned sure wouldn't happen coming from me!
Kathleen, Yup, I'm ancient enough to remember Mr. Wizard. I don't remember exactly what the chant was, he used, when sending the guy back to his place. That was the cartoon version. Then we also had Don Herbert.
Funny thing is... My dad was also called Mr. Wizard...he was a magician.
Seems like the cartoon chant was something about "Be just what you is, not what you is not. Folks that do this is the happiest lot," said with a Germanish accent. But I was really thinking about Don Herbert. :)
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