I don't comment often, but I truly love what you are doing. I've never had much interest in engineering, but you make it accessible to those who don't know much about it. Thanks for all that you do!
Now a build an automated solar powered tracking system. Off the shelf parts and homemade ones are always a good mix. Clever design and tips for these reflectors.
Even with no welding experience or even a welder you could use a gas burner and aluminium brazing rods to join them. With a pit of practice you can create joints that are stronger than the base material itself.
@@TechIngredients one could also miter cut most of the way through, but not all, so that the corner is finished by bending and is much less reliant on the method of attaching the frame elements.
@@TechIngredients Have to agree. People don't need to go TIG for this if they don't want. A spool gun on a MIG will do fine. The only thing I would say is aluminum is picky about cleanliness so clean it real well before welding, regardless of process. A stainless steel brush that has not been used for other things should first be used to remove oxides then hit it with some acetone. It's now ready for welding.
I like the epoxy or Mitre and bend options most. Welding alu was the trickiest metal I've had to weld so far. Much prefer stainless, but I get it's much more dense where this wants to be light weight.
You are a genius. I'd love to see you do some experiments on heat storage and heating a house in the winter. I bet you could design something that basically runs itself for free.
You could "solder" the aluminum pieces together with Alumiweld rods from Harbor Freight and others. It produces a strong joint with a propane torch. I have made reasonable cuts with a hacksaw and a miter box. The Alumiweld can bridge minor imperfections to make a very attractive joint. Prep the surfaces to be joined with a stainless steel brush prior to welding. Thank you so much for all of the fantastic projects you feature.
If you're going to be making a few of these, they make saw blades rated for non-ferrous metals that will easily go into your "chop" saw (we call them miter saws).
Brilliant. Thanks for figuring out such a great way to do this, and then sharing it freely. I especially like the pre-tension to make the surface super flat!
I am getting approximately 40% percent more power from my existing array after installing these constructed with mylar over fiberglass and I'm not finding any hot spots with a laser thermometer, I am very pleased with it and doesn't appear to be destroying the panels and I've added six additional 1000ah batteries to the system. great video as always!
It's not just saving the cost of buying more panels, it's all the supporting electronics that go with it. like the charge controllers, etc. This is making each of those more efficient too.
eh, if you're generating more power then your charge controller has to contend with that whether you're using more panels or just mirrors for more light.
@@chrismofer This is specifically not intended to over power the panel, just fully power it in less that ideal circumstances which is pretty much any time other than when it's perfectly aligned on the equator.
@@indusingh2013 They could if you use them on a day when the panel would receive more than 50% of their rating without the panels. So if you are in the tropics and you put these on a panel it would probably reduce the life of it. You could setup an alarm to go off if the panels produce more than their rated capacity so you could quickly go remove the reflectors.
I did cut a lot of miters on my chop saw, a quick tip if you cut small pieces: Tape the small cutoff to the saw! Either the fence, the table, or both. It works with just painters tape. When cutting, the first corner went to the moon somewhere, after the taping they stayed right where they were. It takes just seconds to set it up and don't tape it to the stock that remains on the saw, because you will of course cut the tape too. Hope it's clear what I mean.
I did the same when cutting wire shelving with my jigsaw (shelves were too long to replace the existing wooden boards in my closets). Ran tape accross the cut and went straight through the tape, no shrapnel or metal dust.
It would be interesting to see a way of automating the reflection angle using an Arduino and light sensors or even based on time. Great content - thank you for all the videos you guys make!
Perhaps the reflectors' automation could go beyond aiming for max collection? Perhaps, in some circumstances, maximum intensity (reflection plus direct sunlight) could be too much for the panel to bare, or combined panels' output could be too much for the system to bare? In these cases the reflectors could have their aim adjusted to limit panel intensity during peak sun hours (normal panel operation instead of being enhanced by the reflectors) while also aiming to maximize intensity during the morning and late afternoon. This could make such a reflector system advantageous anywhere, not just in northern latitudes. Whatever a single panel can collect, a panel with automated reflectors can collect significantly more. The question is, can a user get more Watt hours per square meter per dollar than with using just traditional solar panels? 🤷. A panels with reflectors (single panel, or stacked vertically) would consume about 3 panels' worth of space per panel. But when you try to arrange them horizontally, they'll likely need more so they don't interfere with each other. So as long as the reflectors and automation don't cost too much, you'd want to get about 3x or 4x the Watt hours of a normal panel per panel to at least justify the space. Automation could also let the reflectors block the panels entirely in cases where it would be convenient for servicing the panels or the system, or for dangerous weather conditions.
If you used a gps chip you would get position and time broadcasted to you from satellites. Or even better, Gnss to use the Russian and Chinese satellites too.
I live in southern Ontario Canada. About 15 years ago a local farmer began erecting some free standing, tracker style arrays. These arrays were designed with vertical strips of solar pannels separated by reflective Periaktoi columns. The third side of the columns was reserved for attachment. Unfortunately these units suffered from wind damage…but I think he had a great idea!
Another Great video! I bought a couple of 65W mono panels for home use after watching your previous solar video. Now on to building the concentrator/reflectors. I can weld most kinds of ferrous metals & occasionally braze some cast iron too. Aluminium welding is a whole other story, I can never produce distortion free joints. Alternatively, riveted + epoxy bonded aluminium joints are much stronger, more reliable, distortion free & Safer. Just ask the Aircraft guys. Or high end car makers, especially Audi.
Thanks so much for the tips on aluminum framing! I'd like to use those techniques to build a 6U synthesizer case. Your video has more information on cutting aluminum than most others on TH-cam. CHEERS!!!
I know it's already been said, so I'll vouch for the aluminum brazing rods.. I've personally repaired radiators and even the power a steering bracket on my classic car. that was years ago and it's still holding.. .also I appreciate the video's you guys are making. thank you very much.
Being a fabricator that I am. I would use a square or boxed aluminum section at 1 inch square and fairly thin wall. It has more structural integrity and it cuts safer and easier and you dont need to back cut pieces. Its a no brainer really and the price may be cheaper. Maybe put in an intermediate piece for way more stability. It goes together quicker and dont weld the inside so it wont warp. More likely a lighter and stronger product. Bolts will be longer obviously to bolt the hinge and then just text screw the reflector with stainless 1/2 inch text screws. Only need number 8. I could build both in less than 2 hours to start and if the pieces wre cut, 30 mins a piece. You maybe able to get away with just epoxying or siliconing the reflector onto the frame instead of bolting altogether for a cleaner, more undisturbed look and you could clamp both frames together and glue at the same time. Make a 3 sided corner jig to put everything together to fisrt tack and possibly weld and for the glueing as well. Just sayin and thanks for all you do. Ive learned tons from you and applied certain things
Aluminium can also be cut in a manual miter saw. When you do it is a lot easier to control the small fragments from going everywhere. The fragment can short circuit electrical tools and other equipment.
Yeah, also: Aluminium is pretty soft. It's basically as easy to cut by hand as wood is. So you really don't need expensive power tools for this; and you won't jeopardize your power tools.
extraordinary great content from the top to the bottom when touching such tiny details as in this video. You can not get lost. Great work, great progress and many, many good ideas that usually suprise and fascinate me.
Nice video. The framing isn't stamped though, they are extruded aluminum. It's a standard design, the panel is slotted in the extrusion with silicone/adhesive to keep it in place, and corner keys are used to put the pieces together.
WD-40 on that saw blade will clean up the cuts and help keep the galding down. Also use the same angle and some pop rivets in the inside corners for a non weld fix.
I saw a squirrel cage, horizontal fan, that someone retrofitted as a wind generator. And then built a wind concentrator around it. Placed at the top of a building, taking advantage of the gusts that come from turbulent winds around buildings. I live where summer is short and winter is windy. But a 60' tower is not in the cards.
I will try this application for my RV. Need to design a controller that will articulate the reflectors safely. Using this in combination with active cooling would also be helpful. Happy to share my results with you
Aluminum subcontractor here. I fabricate pool cages here in Fl. The thickness and shape of the piece you’re cutting on the chop saw play a factor in how fast you can cut it. Pieces that aren’t closed boxes, particularly hook shapes, have a tendency to catch on the teeth. The piece will bend, dent, or get chewed up and spit it out lol. Stay safe and go slow if you’re inexperienced.
It would be really nice to see a version for permanent installations. Maybe a collaboration with some solar installation channels to come up with something that even solar installation professionals could get behind.
I'm not sure there would be much benefit on a permanent instalation. The problem is the space required. The side panels would end up blocking portions of light from the neighboring panels. A certain amount of distance between the panels would be required. Now in a permanent instalation, it would be much cheaper and efficient to just use more solar panels to compensate for the problem this solution addresses. This is because you would either need to manually adjust the reflectors several times a day or build in expensive and complicated mechanisms to automate the adjustment for them all. You would also need to consider times with high wind and be able to secure them. At that point, just adding a few more solar panels to make up the difference becomes much more practical and cost efficient. I think the main concept here is in portability. But from an investigative or curiosity concept, it might be interesting to see tied on a permanentor semi permanent instalation. I think mounting the reflection panels away from the solar panels might be a more productive approach but where you could permanently mount reflectors, you could also permanently mount more solar panels.
I have a small portable radio, sitting on my kitchen window sill, that charges by a built-in solar panel on top of it . It would not charge even on a sunny day. Inspired by your previous video I mounted a small reflector on it made from cardboard, metal strips, double stick foam tape, and chrome reflective vinyl sheeting used to wrap custom cars. The radio now charges nicely on sunny days!
You could mount reflectors on a tracking system to direct the maximum amount of sunlight throughout the day to a fixed panel. With more reflectors you could mount the panels ‘upside down’ (or even inside) to keep them cleaner and safer from hail damage.
Another possible solution to make these portable and have a full frame to support the reflector, would be to use lift-off hinges so you can easily remove the reflectors to stack.
Make one barn door 3/8" larger than the panel. Make the other barn door 3/8" smaller than the panel. Then you can nest them. Maybe even make them both larger than the panel and they can act as a protective cover for transport.
Thanks for the detail. Look forward to more. I hope you all revisit any long-term data from your air conditioner with the desiccant you might have gathered and new ideas you might have come across.
I love your videos!!! But I like the pyrotechnics the best!!! I watch all of them though! You are doing fantastic!!! Thanks sooooo much for what you do!!!
By far the best and most informative channel on TH-cam! I love the deep explanation of every eventuality throughout your building/testing processes. Amazing content and expertly presented and filmed. You guys should be very proud. And family run too 👍
Considering how cheap solar panels are these days, is it cost-effective to build these reflectors? Every time I have built solar reflectors, I realized that buying a second or third panel cost less money and produced more energy over time. How much is the total cost of materials for these reflectors? Even if you are pulling 60% of STC output from your panel during winter (what my system is currently outputting at my latitude), having 2X 100W solar panels would still produce more than a single panel with reflectors. If those reflectors are cheaper than a single panel (sometimes you can find them for $65!), they should be cost-effective. This is also true when you are far from the equator. We have folks on our forum who are near the Arctic circle, and they over panel their systems, but do not bother with reflectors. We do have some large solar installations out here in the desert that have mechanisms for tilting the panels, but I have not seen a single solar farm use reflectors on crystalline silicon based solar cells. There must be a reason for this. That reflective material looks great! Super shiny. Well done video as always!!
I should also add that you can buy used solar panels at a fantastic price. 250W panels for $70. These produce a ton of power, and some of my viewers use them as an alternative building material because they are so cheap!
You should check out bifacial solar panels. You would love them!! Their output will blow you away! Some are well over 450W if you have a nice reflective surface behind them.
Have you built solar reflectors before? PV panels will never be less expensive than a sheet of aluminum and if you can assemble these without too much effort then these can save money and a substantial amount of weight.
@@TechIngredients Oh yes, I have! I lived off grid for 10 years. I build them with aluminum, PVC and many other materials. I have multiple videos of my tests, and I also test with bifacial panels and reflectors. What is the total cost of your reflectors? I would love to see a cost analysis versus output over time. That would be very cool! I would have to disagree about the cost of reflectors. Not only does it need to reflect, but it needs to handle high winds where I live. They must be strong enough to handle this, and for me, would cost more than a solar panel. Solar panels are quite durable. Also, the time it takes to build the reflectors. I have built many over the years, and having more panels always worked better for me at my latitude. These days, I just throw my panels on the ground. I have 27,000 Watts STC at my main house right now. I use it to mine crypto and charge my electric cars.
@@TechIngredients The weight savings can vary depending on what panel you are using. If you are using sunpower cell flex panel, it would be much lighter than your reflectors. I personally dislike flex panels for quite a few reasons, but for portability and output for the weight, you cannot beat them. CIG panels are the latest flex panels (used to be much more expensive!). Lower output efficiency, but extremely durable. You could build roll up reflectors for those, and it would work great!
Got the correct formula. Even the smallest generators are heavy for e bikes . And batteries are taxed to their limit for long trips .lead acid are impossible they drop voltage rapidly and don’t have density. All things considered your spot on .
The U shape tensioning of the frame is genius! You can probably even get rid of the fastener screw/bolts just by hooking the thing with fixed angled pegs and the tension. I also have this idea of using roller blinds (but with Mylar sheets inside), to make the reflectors even smaller!
Just discovered you via solar concentrator video - extremely impressed & hope to construct similar reflectors to improve winter solar capture on my eleven y/o DIY off grid system. Thank you!
Tip: Install a zero clearance insert and attach a zero clearance fence on your saw. Pretty much eliminates the off cut getting flung. Also, use fresh sandpaper. Using sanding or grinding disks/paper that have been used on steel can contaminate your alum. and mess up your weld. :) Also, wax your blade to help prevent the alum smearing on your blade.
sometimes i make 600 cuts of extruded aluminium beams in a few hours a specific angle and with a precision of 0.015". one trick to make sure no leftover go flying out is to make the cut in one fell swoop, slowly but surely and then stop the blade before lifting back up. instead of clamping the alu piece to the saw table i clamp a piece of metal 0,060" above it so i can move it yet be protected if i make a mistake and the saw kicks back.
I used to work for a company. Carlson Products. They make all of the pans Pizza Hut uses. I made doors and their doors are used a lot of places. We cut aluminum extrusion with a chop saw like that. It was never clamped down and when making pet doors, I was cutting extrusion with my finger holding the extrusion no more than 2 and a half inches from the blade. Yeah, if OSHA came in, they wouldn't have been happy. Also, we didn't cut a bit and back off. We cut straight through and then shut the chop saw motor off before bringing the blade back up. And out doors that used aluminum extrusion. The pet doors, the aluminum was only held in place with VHB tape. In full size doors, the extrusion was held in place with pop rivets or crush rivets.
Me watching tech ingredients: i haven't even watched the video yet but i'll like it first cus i know it's gonna be good Solid content, love this channel!
Loved the video! Have you considered making future videos with experiments on any of these things: Measuring the conversion efficiency difference of non cooled vs water cooled solar panels? How far you can increase the output of a water cooled solar panel with concentrators before it starts to degrade the long term (or short term even) life expectancy of the panel? If you can use the water heater panel you made to cool a bi-facial (or normal) solar panel and heat water at the same time? If the specialty coated aluminum sheet can be used as backing on a bi-facial solar panel to make a more space and cost efficient panel than equivelantly rated normal panels with concentrators in a winter climate? Or perhaps tangential topic a catch all video on questions like these that appear to be neat ideas, but either don't make for a good stand-alone video topic due to length, or just don't work out like you expect once you sit down and do the napkin math to find out how feasible they are? Honestly, there are a million ideas I would love to see made into videos on these and many other topics, but I will be more than happy with whatever videos you put out because of how interesting and in depth you make them. You dive deep into the science and it makes it fascinating to watch and learn because of how interested you are in the topics you are teaching us about.
At almost $80 US for a 2' x 4' sheet of MIRO-Silver, those are two fairly expensive reflectors. Alternatively, Coroplast (a 4' x 8' piece is only $30) can be covered with heavy-duty aluminum foil using contact cement, and for roughly half the price of one of the MIRO panels you can make four panels with a surface only about 6% less reflective. (The shiny side of Aluminum foil is about 88% reflective, vs. MIRO's 94%.) Yes, it's surface won't be perfectly flat, and it possibly won't be as durable, but at the distances involved in this project it won't lose much output compared to the MIRO version.
Especially considering a whole new solar panel can be had for under $100 and be far less finicky. I think using exotic materials for this reduces the usefulness a lot. I'd like to see a comparison in performance between the cheapest possible option vs. the miro-silver.
i think a neat topic for you to explore since you've done refrigeration before is a more in-depth view of ammonia as a refrigerant and how efficient it is compared to man made fluorocarbon based ones
Thank you for going through the building process with us. Very helpful. I live in the Netherlands, with lots of cloud cover. Solar panels do not generate to their equator potential here. After watching your previous video I am seriously considering building your design for optimizing reflectors. I have an unused balcony with enough room for one or two 100 Watt panels with reflectors to try this out with. One thing I noticed that you insist on using welding of the aluminum frame. Why not use some brackets instead of the welds. Sure you may not be able to fold them on top of eachother, but in a fixed stationary location like mine it would not be required. I have no access to welding equipment, the bracket alternative I can implement.
Happy new year !The frames are extruded aluminium ,not a stamping. at least on the ones I got on Amazon .Made by Renogy .I made a set of 2 100 watt panels with a stainless piano hinge and locking clasp so it can be put away and used less space for camping and hunting and fishing .it has a handle so you can carry it like a briefcase/luggage
Happy New Year -- may this year bring you comfort, prosperity, and happiness. Truly enjoy this channel. Please make an automatic sun tracker so that during the day, the solar array follows the sun. Thanks
glad you posted this. i do the same thing during the winter it makes a measurable difference. i just use cheap mirrors from the big box store i may try your method next though. ive taken apart some old big screens as well and have the mirrors and fresnel lens from those id like to do something with at some point. im thinking a solar cooker or maybe even a heater.
Constructive recommendations... Make an Amazon affiliate link to the equipment for build. Please have build (Ingredient) sheet. I've tried a couple things you have made, but spent time hunting for parts. Having a build sheet would help, especially for finding things that are not on amazon. You might be able to negotiate a kick back from non amazon sellers also. Include time stamps, especially for builds. I would like to see show notes in pdf form so i could read what I watched. I'm not an engineer but having show notes could help on reading and looking up the important concepts that I dont understand. I would love to see a collaboration between you and Dustin @ Smarter Everyday. I absolutely love and appreciate the thoughtfulness of your videos. TI Team, please keep up the great work.
Just a couple of ideas: You can get cut off wheels for chop saws for about 25 bucks for a 5 pack on Amazon. You could use pipe clamps to pre-load the frame. You can get those for about 15 bucks on Amazon, supply your own pipe. No need to drill tensioning holes, get the all-thread, etc. Plus those are MOST useful for future projects.
Hello Tech Ingredients! I am a huge fan of yours. I would LOVE to see you build an EFFICIENT and STRONG electric woodchipper that can match the performance of gas powered. I want to build one but you are the master creator sir. Thank you for all of your awesome videos.
Recommend a negative rake, carbide blade for cutting non-ferrous metals. Been doing this for many years in my miter saw - works great, gives a great finish.
Rivets on the frame instead of screws would be lighter, frame could be made with 90 degree angle brackets and screws if one can’t weld, and the pivoting joints are called heim joints for those looking to create this.
If humanity devised an economic system that poured resources into people like these guys instead of greedy leeches, we would be living in Utopia in no time..
@@TechIngredients It has, unfortunately, failed us.. Meritocracy implies winners and losers, the losers resent the winners, the winners resent the losers.. it's just cruel. In our current system merits are translated to fiat money therefore leeches are able to jump wire themselves to the top. But that's my take on things, I am not an engineer entity like yourselves I work with health care a looot down south of you guys so I might be biased by my line of work :) By pour resources I was thinking the full on take. Billions of fiat of today's money + battalions of scientist + incentives + security to do science and innovation. A bit out of the box huehue; but your work inspires me, and I thank you all Merry Christmas and happy holidays!
I don't comment often, but I truly love what you are doing. I've never had much interest in engineering, but you make it accessible to those who don't know much about it. Thanks for all that you do!
Thank you. It can grow on you because you start to look at the world a bit differently.
Now a build an automated solar powered tracking system. Off the shelf parts and homemade ones are always a good mix. Clever design and tips for these reflectors.
An arduino with a few sensors an RTC and some stepper motors should make for a really nice sun tracker.
Even with no welding experience or even a welder you could use a gas burner and aluminium brazing rods to join them. With a pit of practice you can create joints that are stronger than the base material itself.
or you can just use a glob of epoxy....
True.
Welding shouldn't be a bridge too far if introduced correctly.
@@TechIngredients one could also miter cut most of the way through, but not all, so that the corner is finished by bending and is much less reliant on the method of attaching the frame elements.
@@TechIngredients Have to agree. People don't need to go TIG for this if they don't want. A spool gun on a MIG will do fine. The only thing I would say is aluminum is picky about cleanliness so clean it real well before welding, regardless of process. A stainless steel brush that has not been used for other things should first be used to remove oxides then hit it with some acetone. It's now ready for welding.
I like the epoxy or Mitre and bend options most. Welding alu was the trickiest metal I've had to weld so far. Much prefer stainless, but I get it's much more dense where this wants to be light weight.
You are a genius. I'd love to see you do some experiments on heat storage and heating a house in the winter. I bet you could design something that basically runs itself for free.
You could "solder" the aluminum pieces together with Alumiweld rods from Harbor Freight and others. It produces a strong joint with a propane torch. I have made reasonable cuts with a hacksaw and a miter box. The Alumiweld can bridge minor imperfections to make a very attractive joint. Prep the surfaces to be joined with a stainless steel brush prior to welding.
Thank you so much for all of the fantastic projects you feature.
If you're going to be making a few of these, they make saw blades rated for non-ferrous metals that will easily go into your "chop" saw (we call them miter saws).
Something more like a hacksaw blade with many tiny teeth?
Non ferrous metal cutting blades have a negative rake. (The face of the tooth slops back)
Great idea to show the fast action towards the end of the video. It kind of brings the project altogether in a more understandable fashion.
Brilliant. Thanks for figuring out such a great way to do this, and then sharing it freely. I especially like the pre-tension to make the surface super flat!
Get a couple cheap mirrors from the thrift store?
I am getting approximately 40% percent more power from my existing array after installing these constructed with mylar over fiberglass and I'm not finding any hot spots with a laser thermometer, I am very pleased with it and doesn't appear to be destroying the panels and I've added six additional 1000ah batteries to the system. great video as always!
Great!
That's one hell of a garage/shop. So envious.
This is truly the best channel on YT.
Dude... I think you're better at engineering than some engineers... Mad respect...
It's not just saving the cost of buying more panels, it's all the supporting electronics that go with it. like the charge controllers, etc. This is making each of those more efficient too.
Also, most of this can be reused for the next installation once you replace the old solar panels.
eh, if you're generating more power then your charge controller has to contend with that whether you're using more panels or just mirrors for more light.
@@chrismofer This is specifically not intended to over power the panel, just fully power it in less that ideal circumstances which is pretty much any time other than when it's perfectly aligned on the equator.
@@indusingh2013 They could if you use them on a day when the panel would receive more than 50% of their rating without the panels. So if you are in the tropics and you put these on a panel it would probably reduce the life of it. You could setup an alarm to go off if the panels produce more than their rated capacity so you could quickly go remove the reflectors.
I did cut a lot of miters on my chop saw, a quick tip if you cut small pieces: Tape the small cutoff to the saw! Either the fence, the table, or both. It works with just painters tape.
When cutting, the first corner went to the moon somewhere, after the taping they stayed right where they were. It takes just seconds to set it up and don't tape it to the stock that remains on the saw, because you will of course cut the tape too. Hope it's clear what I mean.
I did the same when cutting wire shelving with my jigsaw (shelves were too long to replace the existing wooden boards in my closets). Ran tape accross the cut and went straight through the tape, no shrapnel or metal dust.
Bravo again.....your on my patreon list, as soon as i find another job. Your workshop is a dream.
It would be interesting to see a way of automating the reflection angle using an Arduino and light sensors or even based on time. Great content - thank you for all the videos you guys make!
Two photo resistors hooked to a electric motor. Way cheaper no computer no code.
There is a vídeo “the cheapest diy sun tracker” doing that with 2 very small solar panels and one DC motor
Perhaps the reflectors' automation could go beyond aiming for max collection?
Perhaps, in some circumstances, maximum intensity (reflection plus direct sunlight) could be too much for the panel to bare, or combined panels' output could be too much for the system to bare? In these cases the reflectors could have their aim adjusted to limit panel intensity during peak sun hours (normal panel operation instead of being enhanced by the reflectors) while also aiming to maximize intensity during the morning and late afternoon. This could make such a reflector system advantageous anywhere, not just in northern latitudes.
Whatever a single panel can collect, a panel with automated reflectors can collect significantly more. The question is, can a user get more Watt hours per square meter per dollar than with using just traditional solar panels? 🤷. A panels with reflectors (single panel, or stacked vertically) would consume about 3 panels' worth of space per panel. But when you try to arrange them horizontally, they'll likely need more so they don't interfere with each other. So as long as the reflectors and automation don't cost too much, you'd want to get about 3x or 4x the Watt hours of a normal panel per panel to at least justify the space.
Automation could also let the reflectors block the panels entirely in cases where it would be convenient for servicing the panels or the system, or for dangerous weather conditions.
If you used a gps chip you would get position and time broadcasted to you from satellites. Or even better, Gnss to use the Russian and Chinese satellites too.
@@Yosomy the world of mo3nkey
I live in southern Ontario Canada. About 15 years ago a local farmer began erecting some free standing, tracker style arrays. These arrays were designed with vertical strips of solar pannels separated by reflective Periaktoi columns. The third side of the columns was reserved for attachment. Unfortunately these units suffered from wind damage…but I think he had a great idea!
The quality, presentation, and variety on this channel never ceases to astound.
many thanks 🙏 may God reward your kindness
Another Great video! I bought a couple of 65W mono panels for home use after watching your previous solar video. Now on to building the concentrator/reflectors.
I can weld most kinds of ferrous metals & occasionally braze some cast iron too. Aluminium welding is a whole other story, I can never produce distortion free joints.
Alternatively, riveted + epoxy bonded aluminium joints are much stronger, more reliable, distortion free & Safer. Just ask the Aircraft guys. Or high end car makers, especially Audi.
The explanations and presentation are great, as usually. Thank you.
You're very welcome!
The pre-tensioned construction technique is quite clever (first time seeing it). Engineering is wonderful!
Indeed it is!
Thanks so much for the tips on aluminum framing! I'd like to use those techniques to build a 6U synthesizer case. Your video has more information on cutting aluminum than most others on TH-cam. CHEERS!!!
Killer shop. The projects a man could do in there would be near limitless.
Hi! Yours is on of the shortest introductions to your videos, I like that. Just "Hi!" and there you are. Great move.
Nice job!
Now let’s see a solar tracker for the concentrator! 💪
I know it's already been said, so I'll vouch for the aluminum brazing rods.. I've personally repaired radiators and even the power a steering bracket on my classic car. that was years ago and it's still holding.. .also I appreciate the video's you guys are making. thank you very much.
Great techniques for solid and inexpensive fabrication - very accessible for the home hobbyist.
“Even if you’re not building them, you might find some of the tricks useful” is the theme of your channel. Good stuff as usual.
Being a fabricator that I am. I would use a square or boxed aluminum section at 1 inch square and fairly thin wall. It has more structural integrity and it cuts safer and easier and you dont need to back cut pieces. Its a no brainer really and the price may be cheaper. Maybe put in an intermediate piece for way more stability. It goes together quicker and dont weld the inside so it wont warp. More likely a lighter and stronger product. Bolts will be longer obviously to bolt the hinge and then just text screw the reflector with stainless 1/2 inch text screws. Only need number 8. I could build both in less than 2 hours to start and if the pieces wre cut, 30 mins a piece. You maybe able to get away with just epoxying or siliconing the reflector onto the frame instead of bolting altogether for a cleaner, more undisturbed look and you could clamp both frames together and glue at the same time. Make a 3 sided corner jig to put everything together to fisrt tack and possibly weld and for the glueing as well. Just sayin and thanks for all you do. Ive learned tons from you and applied certain things
Structurally, you're correct, but those won't nest as effeciently. It's a trade off.
Aluminium can also be cut in a manual miter saw. When you do it is a lot easier to control the small fragments from going everywhere. The fragment can short circuit electrical tools and other equipment.
Metal dust is banned from my lab bench for just that reason. A fault caused by a tiny metal fragment is extremely difficult to find in some instances.
Yeah, also: Aluminium is pretty soft. It's basically as easy to cut by hand as wood is. So you really don't need expensive power tools for this; and you won't jeopardize your power tools.
Or, if on a super tight budget, skip the miter saw purchase and just whip up a jig from wood scraps.
Amazing video! Hooked on this channel. Your freestyle speech is secondary be to none. Not a single break in your speech
For the algorithm gods
Glad to be part of them
Don't call the demons who run goggle gods
For science
Algae rythm
I'll throw a stick into the fire
extraordinary great content from the top to the bottom when touching such tiny details as in this video.
You can not get lost. Great work, great progress and many, many good ideas that usually suprise and fascinate me.
Nice video.
The framing isn't stamped though, they are extruded aluminum. It's a standard design, the panel is slotted in the extrusion with silicone/adhesive to keep it in place, and corner keys are used to put the pieces together.
I live in Karachi Pakistan I like your comments send 4 month ago
WD-40 on that saw blade will clean up the cuts and help keep the galding down. Also use the same angle and some pop rivets in the inside corners for a non weld fix.
Good suggestion.
You'd need a doubler if you want a flush surface.
@@TechIngredients They also make a blade that will cut smooth as butter. I cut thousands of pieces on a miter saw.
I'd like to see what you guys could do with wind turbines. Possible test a few in the market and/or build your own.
I saw a squirrel cage, horizontal fan, that someone retrofitted as a wind generator. And then built a wind concentrator around it. Placed at the top of a building, taking advantage of the gusts that come from turbulent winds around buildings. I live where summer is short and winter is windy. But a 60' tower is not in the cards.
I love the camera work. I can see the details. Super helpful. AND, thank you so much for the ‘making’ video. Really appreciate it.
I love this guy haha. Reminds me of my dad.
I will try this application for my RV. Need to design a controller that will articulate the reflectors safely. Using this in combination with active cooling would also be helpful. Happy to share my results with you
What is this new enormous workshop? It looks great!
It's part of my son's warehouse and we'll be using it for some of our larger projects.
Thank you for the Video. Great as always and very informative. By far some of the best information on TH-cam.
This channel is what shop class would be, if shop class were taught by Dr Emmett Brown.
Aluminum subcontractor here. I fabricate pool cages here in Fl. The thickness and shape of the piece you’re cutting on the chop saw play a factor in how fast you can cut it. Pieces that aren’t closed boxes, particularly hook shapes, have a tendency to catch on the teeth. The piece will bend, dent, or get chewed up and spit it out lol. Stay safe and go slow if you’re inexperienced.
I don't intend to build any of this stuff but enjoy watching for the clear explanations and end results! so cool
It would be really nice to see a version for permanent installations. Maybe a collaboration with some solar installation channels to come up with something that even solar installation professionals could get behind.
I would like to see something along this line for my system atop my house in Houston, Texas. I have 5 arrays, 30 panels in all.
I'm not sure there would be much benefit on a permanent instalation. The problem is the space required. The side panels would end up blocking portions of light from the neighboring panels. A certain amount of distance between the panels would be required.
Now in a permanent instalation, it would be much cheaper and efficient to just use more solar panels to compensate for the problem this solution addresses. This is because you would either need to manually adjust the reflectors several times a day or build in expensive and complicated mechanisms to automate the adjustment for them all. You would also need to consider times with high wind and be able to secure them. At that point, just adding a few more solar panels to make up the difference becomes much more practical and cost efficient.
I think the main concept here is in portability. But from an investigative or curiosity concept, it might be interesting to see tied on a permanentor semi permanent instalation. I think mounting the reflection panels away from the solar panels might be a more productive approach but where you could permanently mount reflectors, you could also permanently mount more solar panels.
I have a small portable radio, sitting on my kitchen window sill, that charges by a built-in solar panel on top of it . It would not charge even on a sunny day. Inspired by your previous video I mounted a small reflector on it made from cardboard, metal strips, double stick foam tape, and chrome reflective vinyl sheeting used to wrap custom cars. The radio now charges nicely on sunny days!
You can do the same things for wifi, just hang a CD off them.
You could mount reflectors on a tracking system to direct the maximum amount of sunlight throughout the day to a fixed panel. With more reflectors you could mount the panels ‘upside down’ (or even inside) to keep them cleaner and safer from hail damage.
That's true.
Another possible solution to make these portable and have a full frame to support the reflector, would be to use lift-off hinges so you can easily remove the reflectors to stack.
Make one barn door 3/8" larger than the panel. Make the other barn door 3/8" smaller than the panel. Then you can nest them. Maybe even make them both larger than the panel and they can act as a protective cover for transport.
Thanks for the detail. Look forward to more.
I hope you all revisit any long-term data from your air conditioner with the desiccant you might have gathered and new ideas you might have come across.
Very good DYI instructions. Thanks.
I love your videos!!!
But I like the pyrotechnics the best!!!
I watch all of them though!
You are doing fantastic!!!
Thanks sooooo much for what you do!!!
I feel a fairly simple tracking system coming up. I so hope I am right! Thank you for all you do and provide.
These videos are always informative and easily digestible. Amazing job on teaching applicable engineering concepts in an entertaining way.
Agreed 💯
You are scary genius and extremely awesome to watch. For this, however, ants everywhere are shaking with fear.
By far the best and most informative channel on TH-cam! I love the deep explanation of every eventuality throughout your building/testing processes. Amazing content and expertly presented and filmed. You guys should be very proud. And family run too 👍
i'd love more general machining/fabrication tips; you and dan gelbart make youtube worth a million bucks! edit: your tension trick is very clever!
Ahhh that threaded rod technique is pretty nifty!
Excellent detailed description of the side panel build. I greatly appreciate this video. Thanks.
Considering how cheap solar panels are these days, is it cost-effective to build these reflectors? Every time I have built solar reflectors, I realized that buying a second or third panel cost less money and produced more energy over time.
How much is the total cost of materials for these reflectors?
Even if you are pulling 60% of STC output from your panel during winter (what my system is currently outputting at my latitude), having 2X 100W solar panels would still produce more than a single panel with reflectors. If those reflectors are cheaper than a single panel (sometimes you can find them for $65!), they should be cost-effective.
This is also true when you are far from the equator. We have folks on our forum who are near the Arctic circle, and they over panel their systems, but do not bother with reflectors.
We do have some large solar installations out here in the desert that have mechanisms for tilting the panels, but I have not seen a single solar farm use reflectors on crystalline silicon based solar cells. There must be a reason for this.
That reflective material looks great! Super shiny. Well done video as always!!
I should also add that you can buy used solar panels at a fantastic price. 250W panels for $70. These produce a ton of power, and some of my viewers use them as an alternative building material because they are so cheap!
You should check out bifacial solar panels. You would love them!! Their output will blow you away! Some are well over 450W if you have a nice reflective surface behind them.
Have you built solar reflectors before?
PV panels will never be less expensive than a sheet of aluminum and if you can assemble these without too much effort then these can save money and a substantial amount of weight.
@@TechIngredients Oh yes, I have! I lived off grid for 10 years. I build them with aluminum, PVC and many other materials. I have multiple videos of my tests, and I also test with bifacial panels and reflectors. What is the total cost of your reflectors? I would love to see a cost analysis versus output over time. That would be very cool!
I would have to disagree about the cost of reflectors. Not only does it need to reflect, but it needs to handle high winds where I live. They must be strong enough to handle this, and for me, would cost more than a solar panel. Solar panels are quite durable. Also, the time it takes to build the reflectors. I have built many over the years, and having more panels always worked better for me at my latitude. These days, I just throw my panels on the ground. I have 27,000 Watts STC at my main house right now. I use it to mine crypto and charge my electric cars.
@@TechIngredients The weight savings can vary depending on what panel you are using. If you are using sunpower cell flex panel, it would be much lighter than your reflectors. I personally dislike flex panels for quite a few reasons, but for portability and output for the weight, you cannot beat them. CIG panels are the latest flex panels (used to be much more expensive!). Lower output efficiency, but extremely durable. You could build roll up reflectors for those, and it would work great!
Got the correct formula.
Even the smallest generators are heavy for e bikes .
And batteries are taxed to their limit for long trips .lead acid are impossible they drop voltage rapidly and don’t have density.
All things considered your spot on .
The U shape tensioning of the frame is genius! You can probably even get rid of the fastener screw/bolts just by hooking the thing with fixed angled pegs and the tension.
I also have this idea of using roller blinds (but with Mylar sheets inside), to make the reflectors even smaller!
Just discovered you via solar concentrator video - extremely impressed & hope to construct similar reflectors to improve winter solar capture on my eleven y/o DIY off grid system. Thank you!
Awesome, thank you!
Tip: Install a zero clearance insert and attach a zero clearance fence on your saw. Pretty much eliminates the off cut getting flung. Also, use fresh sandpaper. Using sanding or grinding disks/paper that have been used on steel can contaminate your alum. and mess up your weld. :)
Also, wax your blade to help prevent the alum smearing on your blade.
All good suggestions.
sometimes i make 600 cuts of extruded aluminium beams in a few hours a specific angle and with a precision of 0.015". one trick to make sure no leftover go flying out is to make the cut in one fell swoop, slowly but surely and then stop the blade before lifting back up. instead of clamping the alu piece to the saw table i clamp a piece of metal 0,060" above it so i can move it yet be protected if i make a mistake and the saw kicks back.
Or you could just use a zero clearance fence so both pieces are full supported.
@@st170ish yes it certainly would help.
I used to work for a company. Carlson Products. They make all of the pans Pizza Hut uses. I made doors and their doors are used a lot of places. We cut aluminum extrusion with a chop saw like that. It was never clamped down and when making pet doors, I was cutting extrusion with my finger holding the extrusion no more than 2 and a half inches from the blade. Yeah, if OSHA came in, they wouldn't have been happy. Also, we didn't cut a bit and back off. We cut straight through and then shut the chop saw motor off before bringing the blade back up.
And out doors that used aluminum extrusion. The pet doors, the aluminum was only held in place with VHB tape. In full size doors, the extrusion was held in place with pop rivets or crush rivets.
This is an impressive design for both effectiveness & simplicity. Always looking forward to your videos.
Love the idea of pre-stressing the frame to get a flat surface.mirror.
With those miters cuts, it's super easy to connect the aluminum angle sections with hardware store corner brackets and some bolts, instead of welding.
Sure
For ali. as thin as that, you could probably cut it by scoring with a knife and then bending until it snaps
Could probably just tear it like a creased piece of paper after scoring it.
Could probably just tear it with your hands
Could probably just tear it with your teeth.
Me watching tech ingredients: i haven't even watched the video yet but i'll like it first cus i know it's gonna be good
Solid content, love this channel!
Extraordinary video! Will watch the other before asking questions.
It answered all my questions so I have got all praise no questions.
Loved the video!
Have you considered making future videos with experiments on any of these things:
Measuring the conversion efficiency difference of non cooled vs water cooled solar panels?
How far you can increase the output of a water cooled solar panel with concentrators before it starts to degrade the long term (or short term even) life expectancy of the panel?
If you can use the water heater panel you made to cool a bi-facial (or normal) solar panel and heat water at the same time?
If the specialty coated aluminum sheet can be used as backing on a bi-facial solar panel to make a more space and cost efficient panel than equivelantly rated normal panels with concentrators in a winter climate?
Or perhaps tangential topic a catch all video on questions like these that appear to be neat ideas, but either don't make for a good stand-alone video topic due to length, or just don't work out like you expect once you sit down and do the napkin math to find out how feasible they are?
Honestly, there are a million ideas I would love to see made into videos on these and many other topics, but I will be more than happy with whatever videos you put out because of how interesting and in depth you make them. You dive deep into the science and it makes it fascinating to watch and learn because of how interested you are in the topics you are teaching us about.
I will be demonstrating the effect of cooling the panels. I like your suggestion about consolidating ideas that are probably not worth doing and why.
At almost $80 US for a 2' x 4' sheet of MIRO-Silver, those are two fairly expensive reflectors. Alternatively, Coroplast (a 4' x 8' piece is only $30) can be covered with heavy-duty aluminum foil using contact cement, and for roughly half the price of one of the MIRO panels you can make four panels with a surface only about 6% less reflective. (The shiny side of Aluminum foil is about 88% reflective, vs. MIRO's 94%.) Yes, it's surface won't be perfectly flat, and it possibly won't be as durable, but at the distances involved in this project it won't lose much output compared to the MIRO version.
Especially considering a whole new solar panel can be had for under $100 and be far less finicky. I think using exotic materials for this reduces the usefulness a lot. I'd like to see a comparison in performance between the cheapest possible option vs. the miro-silver.
@@bradley3549 Me too!
Love the pretensioning 👌
You had me at hello. I love the channel. Keep up the great work.
Very informative, as always. The pre-tensioning thing was brilliant!
i think a neat topic for you to explore since you've done refrigeration before is a more in-depth view of ammonia as a refrigerant and how efficient it is compared to man made fluorocarbon based ones
Thank you for going through the building process with us. Very helpful. I live in the Netherlands, with lots of cloud cover. Solar panels do not generate to their equator potential here. After watching your previous video I am seriously considering building your design for optimizing reflectors. I have an unused balcony with enough room for one or two 100 Watt panels with reflectors to try this out with. One thing I noticed that you insist on using welding of the aluminum frame. Why not use some brackets instead of the welds. Sure you may not be able to fold them on top of eachother, but in a fixed stationary location like mine it would not be required. I have no access to welding equipment, the bracket alternative I can implement.
Happy new year !The frames are extruded aluminium ,not a stamping. at least on the ones I got on Amazon .Made by Renogy .I made a set of 2 100 watt panels with a stainless piano hinge and locking clasp so it can be put away and used less space for camping and hunting and fishing .it has a handle so you can carry it like a briefcase/luggage
Happy New Year -- may this year bring you comfort, prosperity, and happiness.
Truly enjoy this channel.
Please make an automatic sun tracker so that during the day, the solar array follows the sun. Thanks
glad you posted this. i do the same thing during the winter it makes a measurable difference. i just use cheap mirrors from the big box store i may try your method next though. ive taken apart some old big screens as well and have the mirrors and fresnel lens from those id like to do something with at some point. im thinking a solar cooker or maybe even a heater.
A video on a solar (potentially rotating) desalination unit would be a cool addition to this series.
Pretty good welding job there.
Constructive recommendations... Make an Amazon affiliate link to the equipment for build. Please have build (Ingredient) sheet. I've tried a couple things you have made, but spent time hunting for parts. Having a build sheet would help, especially for finding things that are not on amazon. You might be able to negotiate a kick back from non amazon sellers also. Include time stamps, especially for builds. I would like to see show notes in pdf form so i could read what I watched. I'm not an engineer but having show notes could help on reading and looking up the important concepts that I dont understand.
I would love to see a collaboration between you and Dustin @ Smarter Everyday.
I absolutely love and appreciate the thoughtfulness of your videos. TI Team, please keep up the great work.
I love this channel, been watching this channel for a very long time. Thank you thank you for everything you guys do.
New shop? Congrats guys!
Great TEC family team.
I really appreciate your productions and expertise in explaining what you are doing. keep them coming.
Thanks for the tips, tricks, and advice. I enjoyed the video.
Just a couple of ideas:
You can get cut off wheels for chop saws for about 25 bucks for a 5 pack on Amazon.
You could use pipe clamps to pre-load the frame. You can get those for about 15 bucks on Amazon, supply your own pipe. No need to drill tensioning holes, get the all-thread, etc. Plus those are MOST useful for future projects.
If you're talking abrasive wheels there is no point. A carbide saw blade is FAR better for aluminum.
Thank you for all the good tips and knowledge you share
Hello Tech Ingredients! I am a huge fan of yours. I would LOVE to see you build an EFFICIENT and STRONG electric woodchipper that can match the performance of gas powered. I want to build one but you are the master creator sir. Thank you for all of your awesome videos.
Recommend a negative rake, carbide blade for cutting non-ferrous metals. Been doing this for many years in my miter saw - works great, gives a great finish.
First time seeing a video this early after release! Great vid!
Thank you! I want to play with mini versions of this idea with a few credit-card sized solar cells :)
Do it!
great video thanks for all your work have a great 2022
You too.
Rivets on the frame instead of screws would be lighter, frame could be made with 90 degree angle brackets and screws if one can’t weld, and the pivoting joints are called heim joints for those looking to create this.
Awesome stuff, I'd love to see these in action 🙌☀️
If humanity devised an economic system that poured resources into people like these guys instead of greedy leeches, we would be living in Utopia in no time..
We did and it's constantly under attack. A meritocracy is hard to control.
@@TechIngredients It has, unfortunately, failed us..
Meritocracy implies winners and losers, the losers resent the winners, the winners resent the losers.. it's just cruel. In our current system merits are translated to fiat money therefore leeches are able to jump wire themselves to the top. But that's my take on things, I am not an engineer entity like yourselves I work with health care a looot down south of you guys so I might be biased by my line of work :)
By pour resources I was thinking the full on take. Billions of fiat of today's money + battalions of scientist + incentives + security to do science and innovation.
A bit out of the box huehue; but your work inspires me, and I thank you all
Merry Christmas and happy holidays!