I know it doesn't seem like that big a deal, but it is for me. So glad I got this part of the project accomplished I still have more panels I'm adding to the roof and must make the frame and go through this process all over but this step was huge for me.
Steepshot
That’s awesome, great job!!!
Thanks @jmjury really appreciate it.
Very good man, coming right along!
Thanks @nateonsteemit, its a long road I can't wait for all the cooler weather haha. Its been rough outside in Bama.
Yeah, I feel you there. We've been lucky and had a cool couple weeks here where it didn't get about the mid 80s!
Did you see that you won the goji contest?
Ahh no!....just checked it out. Thank you so much brother, that's awesome! So you're gonna hold off for a little while on making the order. Maybe I'll figure out how to propagate mine and can send you one!
The one I'm actually looking at is a fella that claims to be a professional nurseryman that will send 30 cuttings for $15! I'm thinking 30 is a good number for goji berries. Has a 1 year guarantee too, which I've not seen anywhere else.
Oh wow! I'd love to buy from him too. That's a great deal dude. Will they be rooted cuttings?
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F282049213033
Description says they're fresh cuttings made the day you order, so not rooted. But they come with a rooting and propogation guide.
Ahh cool, You'll def have to write a post on that and let me know how it goes for you. I've always had trouble getting cuttings to root well.
I think so, but lemme check again. I'll bring the link.
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Nice!!! Looking Good makinstuff !!! I will stay tuned for updates!
Resteemed! :)
Thank you brother, many more to come!
It must have been lots of "fun" getting those big panels mounted on the side of the trailer...
Holy crap it was so much fun haha! Diving deep into my pioneering merit badge, I was able to rig the ratchet straps to hold the assembly, as I lifted and inched the panels into place. I was so tired today after getting that done. I tried to recruit help by offering beer but no takers :(
You know, that's pretty bad when you can't even get people to come and help for beer...
I know right! several of my good buddies were actually on travel this week and said they'd help, but I needed to include a plane ticket with my beer haha.
Looks great! Are you driving around with them on like that? Do you have some sort of cover to protect them from pebbles and gravel?
thanks @jacobpeacock good suggestion. I was definintley going to create something out of fiberglass to be a wind block at the front of the trailer. I'm going to add another piece of angle and pin the panel frame so it stays locked during transport. Yes I plan to travel around with the trailer. What type of cover would you suggest?
A few ideas come to mind @makinstuff here and both would have a hinged bottom (I am thinking a continuous piano hinge) below the panels on the side of the trailer and the cover could be lowered from the top to create a 'shelf' (workbench/countertop/table) when the trailer is stationary. The entire shelf could hang on two pieces of cable or telescoping armatures at either end. This 'shelf' would also minimize the potential of people bumping into the panels when walking or working near the trailer.
A PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipe frame with a sheet of thick PVC (polyvinyl chloride) attached to it or a sheet of Polypropylene attached to it. There are downsides to either because of wind and flexibility but given enough anchor points I think it would work well.
A 3/8" or 1/2" plywood panel with 2"X2" lumber attached at the edges of the entire panel. Then coat the entire frame/panel in fiberglass to make it one uniform piece. Much like what is done with plywood and lumber when boat building. This would be a bit heavier than the first option but it would be much more durable and would make an excellent 'shelf'.
Note: You could also add some sort of padding to the interior of the cover but I would be careful in doing that because the padding might break down over time and bond to the surface of the solar panels.
Very great description of this @jacobpeacock I was having a hard time visualizing this at first glance, but now I get how this would work and be quite functional for the system. Thank you for your detailed comment and suggestion brother! I really like your concept here.
Thanks @makinstuff It is tricky trying to describe things with words and often I have to re-write things like that multiple times and hope it makes sense to the reader. I often do all my design stuff by drawing things out but once I start doing that I get a bit over involved and wind up with a dozen versions of the same thing made from different materials and basically fall down the proverbial rabbit hole of designing.
If you ever have things you want input on feel free to tag me with a question (Note: I don't always see the tags) or chime in on one of my post and I will lend you my brain power. I avidly enjoy inventing things and advancing on the designs (ideas) of others. It is a hobby that I developed early in life and never let go of. Cheers and best of luck to you!
Dude that's awesome, I don't think I would have thought of the suggestion you made but it's super utility and I think it will be a great addition to this prototype. Thanks again brother, I will for sure make sure to tag you in other brainstorming operations. Love the input from everyone here. Another Steemian @smithlabs also gave a great suggestion of integrating some springs to keep the panels from rattling in transport. Love the feedback y'all are giving.
You are quite welcome! Yeah @smithlabs comes up with some interesting stuff! I really like the spring idea. That is pretty brilliant actually!
howdy sir makingstuff! oh so THAT'S how those panels mount on that trailer, I never could see how they were going up but that's a great design.
yeah that's a big deal!
Thanks @janton yeah! this was the idea. I'll have 4 more going on the roof which will also be hinged. I definitely learned some lessons here. For the roof panels I'm going to have to do a bit of brainstorming because it will be quite a bit of weight and will probably have to mount everything in place on top of the trailer.
If you put some on the other side, you could have it hinged so they flip all the way up. Might need some gas struts to make the flip easier though. Linear Actuators maybe.
Hey @jonnylay! welcome to Steemit! yeah It could balance the joker out but I'm planning to put some on the roof though.
even with them on the roof, leave them flat, while the ones on the other side are at angle.
If you wanted it really fancy...you would have linear actuators on both sides. Parked perpendicular to south in the summer. And your actuators would shift the panels throughout the day to match the sun's angle.
In the winter you probably just want all the panels pointed south without much shifting. So the trailer would be parallel to south.