Best solar panels for the buck

[Faster]

Originally Posted by prroots

Having bought my panels and controller, I'm now turning my attention to the design of a mount to be placed on top of my existing dinghy davits. .....

I'm wondering if you wouldn't want some diagonal reinforcements or maybe gussets where your support 'inverted U' frame mounts to the davit tubing. That's a lot of inertia working on those single-point attachments in a seaway. A single diagonal on one side of each vertical 20" section, maybe 12-15 inches up would stiffen things tremendously, I'd expect, but anything the length of the davit tubes will allow will be helpful.

In fact I think the whole thing would 'look' better slightly raked like so:

[prroots]

Originally Posted by Faster

I'm wondering if you wouldn't want some diagonal reinforcements or maybe gussets where your support 'inverted U' frame mounts to the davit tubing. That's a lot of inertia working on those single-point attachments in a seaway. A single diagonal on one side of each vertical 20" section, maybe 12-15 inches up would stiffen things tremendously, I'd expect, but anything the length of the davit tubes will allow will be helpful.

In fact I think the whole thing would 'look' better slightly raked like so:

Thanks. We've incorporated a fore and aft brace into our latest concept (see attachment). Our davit is not raked as you have shown it, so we don't know if we should be raking the mount. We've also put some gussets into athwartship direction although don't know if they're necessary. I'm curious, what software are you using?
Pete

[aeventyr60]

I'd stick with an all stainless steel mount. I have a couple of aluminum bits in my set up and they don't look so great after 12 years. Luckily they can't be seen to well. Also it will give you something else to polish...

[Faster]

Originally Posted by prroots

Thanks. .... I'm curious, what software are you using?
Pete

Just using the "Draw/Shapes" in MS Word, then saving it as a 'picture'.

[Bene505]

Pete,

If it works, can you build an extra pair of those rotator gizmos? I may be upgrading to large panels on our davits. I'm following your progress with great interest.

Regards,
Brad

[prroots]

Originally Posted by Bene505

Pete,

If it works, can you build an extra pair of those rotator gizmos? I may be upgrading to large panels on our davits. I'm following your progress with great interest.

Regards,
Brad

LOL. Don't think so, but feel free to improve upon our ideas!
Pete

[prroots]

We're seriously considering rearranging the orientation of the two 39" X 58" panels such that they are side-by-side with long dimension of panels oriented fore and aft. This would make the combination 78" in the athwartship direction and 58" in the fore and aft direction. The positives are 1) the panels are much less vulnerable when docking and 2) they are better supported in the athwartship direction by the inverted-U mount. The negative are 1) they are more prone to shading from bimini when tilted forward, 2) the tilt lock has to work against more weight (ie, overhang), and 3) they extend the length of the boat. The shading issue will probably force us to raise the panels a bit more. With this orientation, they only overhang the ends of the inverted-U mount by 5-1/2" vs 24-1/2" which seems more reasonable. Comments welcome.
Pete

[Faster]

Originally Posted by prroots

We're seriously considering rearranging the orientation of the two 39" X 58" panels The negative are 1) they ..., 2) the tilt lock has to work against more weight (ie, overhang),

Actually seems to me if the tilt mount is centered each half counterbalances the other and there is no net 'greater weight' on the 'hinge'. I think you can take that off the balance sheet...

[prroots]

Originally Posted by Faster

Actually seems to me if the tilt mount is centered each half counterbalances the other and there is no net 'greater weight' on the 'hinge'. I think you can take that off the balance sheet...

Thanks. Yes, that's true. I should have said stress rather than weight to account for unbalanced wind loads, etc. For example, when tilted, the bimini and/or dodger might be shielding wind on lower half leaving the higher half exposed causing an imbalance.
Pete

[prroots]

We checked with the local metals outfit for the best type of aluminum to be used in the construction of the frame for solar panels. They recommended aluminum alloy 6463 bright dipped anodized. They said this is what the tuna towers are mostly built from. Has anyone experience with this or other aluminum alloys? With respect to angle it only comes in 2 X 2 X 1/4.
Pete