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150 watt Solar Power System

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rossw:

--- Quote from: Cornelius on January 22, 2012, 10:23:51 am ---As those panels makes a decent sail (i've added one 120W panel since the pic was taken), i've mounted a soft metal strip (the kind with lots of holes) over each hinge as an extra safety and for some peace of mind.
Though, a severe enough storm would probably rip those off too, if the hinges get loose... ;)

--- End quote ---

Two thoughts spring immediately to mind.

1. Is a piano-hinge viable in this circumstance?
2. How about a couple of decent battery braids, solidly attached either side? (the woven, flexible, flat copper strips)

Rover:
Agreeing with Ross on the piano hing, or even a door hinge... they re meant for frequent use etc.

You could try a pipe in pipe sleeve, or even a gate hinge .. little more robust.

For the gate hinge look fo the ones for a metal fence.. typically a lower portion that is nothing more than a spike , and the upper is pipe reciever.

Rover

Cornelius:
I agree that a bigger hinges would be better; not because they're stronger, but because the fasten holes would get farther from the edges of the wood. Now i use hinges that are 1"x3" (folded), which makes the screws positioned only 1/2" from the edge of the wood, and the screw dimensions are limited on smaller hinges.
Using bigger hinges, and machine screws with large washers and nuts instead of wood screws would be good. :)

rossw:

--- Quote from: Cornelius on January 22, 2012, 03:59:03 pm --- because the fasten holes would get farther from the edges of the wood.

--- End quote ---

One of the few times I've done this, I used "strap hinges". They let you get quite a way from the edge.

I just posted on my "mini-solar" beginnings. Seems many of us start out with similar setups!

WooferHound:
I haven't been doing any RE projects lately, so I guess the news here is that everything is working perfectly according to design.
The Ghurd 2 stage dump controller is running exactly as intended
My new (december) batteries are kicking butt
the two T-105 batteries power lasts for many days without Sun
My 9 Harbor Freight Panels are still putting out about 7 amps
using the power all I can
I'm actually finding that it is hard to use this much power when you are using the 12 vdc straight off of the battery. Maybe I should get an inverter big enough to run my refrigerator in case I have another tornado induced power outage like last year.

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