Groups > rec.crafts.metalworking > #543589

Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator?

From	Bob La Londe <none@none.com99>
Newsgroups	rec.crafts.metalworking
Subject	Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator?
Date	2026-07-31 16:30 -0700
Organization	A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID	<114jb72$3jgba$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References	<m18q6s8yow.fsf@void.com> <114ipdu$2vnba$1@dont-email.me> <114ius4$31knp$1@dont-email.me>

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On 7/31/2026 1:00 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
> "Bob La Londe"  wrote in message news:114ipdu$2vnba$1@dont-email.me...
> 
> Just bear in mind solar tends to be less efficient than you might think.
>   I ran that gamut some years back setting up burglar alarm systems
> models here there was no power, and in un-powered warehouses.  I found
> that if I didn't plan for 4 times the estimated max demand I was getting
> constant low battery communication from the cellular communicators.
> This is in SW Arizona where arguably it is among the best locations in
> the world for solar power.
> Bob La Londe
> CNC Molds N Stuff
> 
> ---------------------------------
> 
> Yes, I might get 50% of rated output at the meter panel due to shade and 
> suboptimal fixed angles and the resistance of 10 AWG (5.26mm^2) wire. 
> They only test around 100% of label wattage at the panel connectors on a 
> very clear and cool day with a variable resistive load adjusted to find 
> the peak, which varies in voltage between identical panels. Barely 
> noticeable haze or cirrus can drop them to 50%, overcast to 10% and rain 
> below 5%. Fixed mount panels lose power off-angle, you may get only 2 
> hours near max power and 5 total per day, unless you can move them. I am 
> not in a good location for solar power unless I move panels several 
> times a day.
> 

I have never done this, nor have I ever seen it first hand, but I heard 
described a very simple tracking system once.  Panels are mounted on a 
swivel axis.  A box with a slit is placed on either side of the panel. 
A small photovoltaic cell is used to trigger a circuit which moves the 
panel with an actuator depending on condition.  Sound complicated and 
fiddly, but the idea seems pretty simple.  Elevation is adjust every so 
often through out the year.  I don't recall hearing how it was rest to 
the sunrise horizon at the end of travel.  Maybe a timer.  No signal 
from either trigger for so many minutes and it trips a circuit that 
powers the panels back to a limit switch using something like a 
6060/6062 board.

Given today's abundance of advanced flexible processors it might be 
easier to program a small computer system with a 365 day timer, to just 
move the panel/s by dead reckoning every few minutes, and then swing 
back to the sunrise horizon at sunset.  Not at sunrise obviously because 
if all backup power is consumed overnight there would be no energy to 
restart the system when the sun rises.

-- 
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

Thread

off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Richard Smith <null@void.com> - 2026-07-30 13:11 +0100
  Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Carl <carl.ijamesXX@YYverizon.net> - 2026-07-30 10:25 -0400
    Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-07-30 14:37 -0400
      Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Carl <carl.ijamesXX@YYverizon.net> - 2026-07-30 16:17 -0400
        Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Richard Smith <null@void.com> - 2026-07-30 21:33 +0100
          Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-07-30 19:12 -0400
    Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-07-30 15:22 -0400
  Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? bp@www.zefox.net - 2026-07-30 15:45 +0000
  Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-07-30 13:56 -0400
    Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Richard Smith <null@void.com> - 2026-07-30 21:49 +0100
      Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-07-31 08:23 -0400
    Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-07-30 22:47 -0400
  Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> - 2026-07-31 11:27 -0700
    Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-07-31 16:00 -0400
      Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> - 2026-07-31 16:30 -0700
        Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Clare Snyder <clare@snyder.on.ca> - 2026-07-31 22:23 -0400
        Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-07-31 22:46 -0400
          Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-08-01 09:14 -0400
          Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> - 2026-08-01 11:18 -0700
            Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-08-01 16:07 -0400
            Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-08-02 21:45 -0400
            Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Richard Smith <null@void.com> - 2026-08-03 21:13 +0100
              Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> - 2026-08-03 14:03 -0700
                Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Richard Smith <null@void.com> - 2026-08-04 13:10 +0100
                Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-08-04 10:04 -0400
                Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> - 2026-08-04 13:08 -0700
                Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-08-04 18:24 -0400
                Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> - 2026-08-04 15:47 -0700
                Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> - 2026-08-04 16:16 -0700
                Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> - 2026-08-04 16:30 -0700
                Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? David Billington <djb@invalid.com> - 2026-08-05 00:35 +0100
                Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-08-04 23:02 -0400
                Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Richard Smith <null@void.com> - 2026-08-05 09:13 +0100
                Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-08-05 09:32 -0400
                Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-08-05 10:06 -0400
                Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-08-05 21:33 -0400
                Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Richard Smith <null@void.com> - 2026-08-06 05:34 +0100
                Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-08-06 09:39 -0400
              Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-08-03 18:23 -0400
    Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? Richard Smith <null@void.com> - 2026-08-03 19:47 +0100
      Re: off-grid - battery & winter 12V-generator? "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> - 2026-08-03 16:10 -0400

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