Solar panel, what a good idea
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pappajohn
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A good idea, but not a new idea.
Stealaway
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I would be worried about the weight. How capable is that motor to lift a solar panel?
Jaws
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Hate to think what the extra weight and wind pressure does to the worm drives and motors !
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Ivory55
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I wonder why they have never made the panels that you see in fields turn to face the sun to get maximum sun all day.
eddie
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They do we have one on the Van Bitz exhibition unit
The picture is of a Sammy Solar, made by Oyster, which was phased out about three years ago
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They have, but not on a domestic scale, afaik!
Some years ago, I visited a solar research lab in southern France. It was set at the foot of a natural basin, which faced south. The panels were motorized to track the sun all day, keeping the focus of the resultant beam on the collector from dawn to dusk!
By now, the computing power required to work out the movement of the panel could probably be reduced to a single chip and, in years to come, moving panels may we’ll have to happen!
Some years ago, I visited a solar research lab in southern France. It was set at the foot of a natural basin, which faced south. The panels were motorized to track the sun all day, keeping the focus of the resultant beam on the collector from dawn to dusk!
By now, the computing power required to work out the movement of the panel could probably be reduced to a single chip and, in years to come, moving panels may we’ll have to happen!
This is somewhat different to solar panels in that the panels are mirrors focussing the sun on the central collector, hence needing the dawn to dusk tracking.
They would put them on solar panels if it made any real difference. Solar panels work due to the light falling on them, not just the sun, and hence as the light is diffused tracking will not be cost effective. Tracking systems are also heavy and not suitable for many roofs. Typically they add 50% to the cost of the panels, and are more prone to failure within the life of the panels (25 years).
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Ivory55
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I was thinking of the rows and rows in farm fields that you see about now
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GPW
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Sorry, think I may be missing something here. Surely the best and most practical option is to have a flat panel on the roof? Our Bailey has this, so as long as the sun is in the sky, it'll be charging, no motors or tilting mechanisms required.
eddie
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No as your solar panel will only really reach its quoted output a few days a year, around Midday around the Summer solstice
This is because the panel works best when the sun is perpendicular to the solar panel. which rarely happens and is why panels are so useless in the UK end of Autumn through to beginning of Spring
With a tracking panel, certainly in the latter part of Spring, through the Summer into the first half of Autumn, the panel can be perpendicular to the Sun from early in the morning (Sunrise) to Sunset.
On average these systems are five times more efficient when tracking than when they are "parked" IE the same as a conventional panel
They are however, eye wateringly expensive, hence why we have one on the Van Bitz exhibition unit to demonstrate, but on my own camper I have fitted 450 watts of flat solar panels and use hook up in the Winter
Ours is a compromise somewhere in between. It props up but doesn't turn, it gives a big increase in charging amps when it's up in September 
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Quite simply .......cost. Fixed equal sited for best yield overall.
tracking type requires a huge amount of expenditure.
Ivory55
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Money sex or religion, had to be one of those. Haha
GPW
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As Eddie mentioned above, the angle is vital.
If you get a portable one like a semi-flexible 120W you can either tie it to the roof when camping or just lean it up facing the sun when you are on site.
I was amazed at the difference between laying one on the floor in sunlight and holding it up at the right angle - in the UK only a couple of weeks ago.
If you get a portable one like a semi-flexible 120W you can either tie it to the roof when camping or just lean it up facing the sun when you are on site.
I was amazed at the difference between laying one on the floor in sunlight and holding it up at the right angle - in the UK only a couple of weeks ago.
I can second what eddievanbitz says. We have an Alden Phenix tracking panel plus 2 100w flat panels. We are currently sited at lake Garda and as far as I can ascertain, the Phenix is currently producing just over twice the combined output of the flat panels.
Richard
Richard
GPW
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Of what power?
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When the sun is 30 degrees from directly overhead, your horizontal panels will only be getting 50% power (trigonometry: Sin 30 = 0.5). So in the height of summer when the sun is overhead at noon, you'll only be getting less than half power except in the 4 hours around solar noon.. and worse pretty much all of spring and autumn. Basically, if you can point your panels directly at the sun, you can massively increase the power output... or use a smaller panel to get the same output.
I think it's a really good idea... except I don't want a dish on my roof in the first place.
I think it's a really good idea... except I don't want a dish on my roof in the first place.
pappajohn
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It was designed like that so well capable.
It's not a home grown dish/panel hybrid.
It's not a home grown dish/panel hybrid.
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Flat, fixed 100 watt solar panel, van parked in barn for three weeks, out in daylight and both leisure and starter battery back to 100% within 2 hours. I appreciate the comment regarding peak performance at midday on summer solstice, but in reality, this is all that the majority of people would need. Why on earth would anyone spend a fortune on tracking panels unless they are on some Polar or Desert expedition? Don't think it's really required for three weeks in Italy.
Lenny HB
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The ones on the sat dishes have been about for years cost the wrong side of 3 grand, usually 40 watt panel reckoned to give a similar output to a flat 100 watt panel but that costs less than a 100 quid. Also you can't watch TV at the same time as collecting solar energy.
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No as your solar panel will only really reach its quoted output a few days a year, around Midday around the Summer solstice
This is because the panel works best when the sun is perpendicular to the solar panel. which rarely happens and is why panels are so useless in the UK end of Autumn through to beginning of Spring
With a tracking panel, certainly in the latter part of Spring, through the Summer into the first half of Autumn, the panel can be perpendicular to the Sun from early in the morning (Sunrise) to Sunset.
On average these systems are five times more efficient when tracking than when they are "parked" IE the same as a conventional panel
They are however, eye wateringly expensive, hence why we have one on the Van Bitz exhibition unit to demonstrate, but on my own camper I have fitted 450 watts of flat solar panels and use hook up in the Winter
Not strictly true. A considerable amount of light is diffused as it enters the atmosphere, which is why your shadow on a sunny day is always has a rather blurred outline. Solar panels are temperature sensitive. The colder the panel (within reason) the more efficient they are. Thus a panel in full sunlight will heat up and be less efficient. As for solar panels being "useless", again not true, they still generate 20% compared to mid summer.
Technically true. But when you have higher lighting (and probably entertainment) demands in the darker seasons, combine with the fact that your panel is only producing a fifth of what it was in the summer, they become pretty close to useless for anything more than keeping the battery maintenance charging.
eddie
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Tell someone sat in a field in December, with no lights, heating or TV that “they are wrong” as “technically” the solar panel is working, and you will have another post oh here about “rip off traders”
Tell the truth, and some is bound to come along, split hairs and try to prove you “wrong” on paper!
Solar is fine for maintenance in December, and utterly useless for use and replenish
On one of my motorhomes I have a £2,500 sun tracking solar array, and on my big van, I have 3 x 150w panels
Useless in the UK in the Winter
20% of nowt is nothing
Fact not opinion
Tell the truth, and some is bound to come along, split hairs and try to prove you “wrong” on paper!
Solar is fine for maintenance in December, and utterly useless for use and replenish
On one of my motorhomes I have a £2,500 sun tracking solar array, and on my big van, I have 3 x 150w panels
Useless in the UK in the Winter
20% of nowt is nothing
Fact not opinion
...and, of course we have to believe you. In reality you want to sell as many £2,500 arrays as possible.
Tracking panels are for the purist. It’d be cheaper to have, say, five times the area of flat panels if you have the space for them. They might be worth consideration if you’re going North, especially during Winter, but a genny might be a better option.
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