Did someone mention winter?

[Rolfe]

That's interesting.

 

[T1 Terry]

I have measured close to 100°C on the underside of solar panels over here in the full summer sun.
It was a common complaint over here regarding solar not working during the day between about 10am and 4pm in mid-summer and became an accepted fact for caravans and motorhomes. The problem was, the Vmp (Voltage Maximum Power) would drop below battery voltage using 12 V nom. panels to charge a 12 V lead acid battery.

Early MPPT controllers were very inefficient, unless you paid mega $$ for the likes of a MidNite solar controller, but they also have a function that can boost battery power to the solar array voltage and turn the panels into heaters to remove a snow load .... there is every possibility MPPT controllers for grid tie systems have adopted the same idea .....

There was a company that developed wet backed solar panels to stabilise the panel and double as a solar water heater .... the cost and complexity of connecting them was quite possibly their downfall, I haven't heard mention of them for quite some time ....

T1 Terry

 

[Everest]

To the mods... Can we block Australians talking about temperatures at this time of the year?

 

[Rolfe]

I have measured close to 100°C on the underside of solar panels over here in the full summer sun.
It was a common complaint over here regarding solar not working during the day between about 10am and 4pm in mid-summer and became an accepted fact for caravans and motorhomes. The problem was, the Vmp (Voltage Maximum Power) would drop below battery voltage using 12 V nom. panels to charge a 12 V lead acid battery.

Early MPPT controllers were very inefficient, unless you paid mega $$ for the likes of a MidNite solar controller, but they also have a function that can boost battery power to the solar array voltage and turn the panels into heaters to remove a snow load .... there is every possibility MPPT controllers for grid tie systems have adopted the same idea .....

There was a company that developed wet backed solar panels to stabilise the panel and double as a solar water heater .... the cost and complexity of connecting them was quite possibly their downfall, I haven't heard mention of them for quite some time ....

T1 Terry

My panels shed their snow quite early yesterday but still didn't do so well as they did the previous day. Maybe a bit more hazy? Today they went great guns again but output is now plummeting as it always does at this time in winter. I had thought the sun was going behind a neighbour's house but it's not that. It's a row of tall trees on the edge of a hill (a moraine) which is doing it, even though they're leafless now and to me the sunshine is still blinding.

Nearly noon, -1°C.

 

[T1 Terry]

-1°C at mid day .... do people even go outside during late Autumn to mid Spring .... if we see a minus anything C in the early hrs as the sun is about to make an appearance, going outside is about the last thing on the list ..... fortunately, it's only 2 or 3 mornings a yr .... but we still complain about the cold if it drops below 10°C and everyone is rugged up in their winter woolies and scarves and beanie's pulled down over their ears ........ We have changed govts if they turned the temp down too low too often

T1 Terry

 

[Rolfe]

It's my birthday today so I'm off to meet a friend for a movie and dinner. Car charged, all-seasons tyres on, good to go. Fortunately it hasn't snowed since Tuesday night / Wednesday morning so the main roads should be fine. I can see someone slithering up our cul-de-sac on summer tyres though, that's still covered in ice.

Now 1°C, but forecast for -7°C tonight.

 

[MG Clive]

Happy birthday @Rolfe

 

[Rolfe]

Thank you!

 

[Rolfe]

-1°C at mid day .... do people even go outside during late Autumn to mid Spring .... if we see a minus anything C in the early hrs as the sun is about to make an appearance, going outside is about the last thing on the list ..... fortunately, it's only 2 or 3 mornings a yr .... but we still complain about the cold if it drops below 10°C and everyone is rugged up in their winter woolies and scarves and beanie's pulled down over their ears ........ We have changed govts if they turned the temp down too low too often

T1 Terry

Try delivering lambs out on the hill before Easter.

 

[Everest]

I had thought the sun was going behind a neighbour's house but it's not that. It's a row of tall trees on the edge of a hill (a moraine) which is doing it, even though they're leafless now and to me the sunshine is still blinding.

On a solar forum I frequent, whenever a discussion about panel position, angle or number of panels comes up in order to improve solar production, the best solution is often a chainsaw!

 

[Rolfe]

I remember @QLeo showing me his solar panels (ooh, Matron!) and him pointing out that they were at a very steep angle to make the most of the winter sun.

 

[Archev]

It's my birthday today so I'm off to meet a friend for a movie and dinner. Car charged, all-seasons tyres on, good to go. Fortunately it hasn't snowed since Tuesday night / Wednesday morning so the main roads should be fine. I can see someone slithering up our cul-de-sac on summer tyres though, that's still covered in ice.

Now 1°C, but forecast for -7°C tonight.

Wishing you a very happy birthday Rolfe.

 

[Archev]

On a solar forum I frequent, whenever a discussion about panel position, angle or number of panels comes up in order to improve solar production, the best solution is often a chainsaw!

They tried that in Cumbria and look at the furore that caused