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Bimini mounted solar panels with twin backstays?

2034 Views 7 Replies 6 Participants Last post by redline, Apr 17, 2015

bhcva

Discussion Starter · Mar 10, 2015

I would like to mount a solar panel on the bimini, but am concerned that the one or the other of the twin backstays will cast a shadow on the panel most of the day. I'm hoping that there is some expertise or experience out there that might help me understand what I might expect in the way of panel output degradation from this shadowing.

The panel under consideration would be one of the semi-flexible ones such as the Solbian.

Thanks, Bruce

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bhcva

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 11, 2015

Sadly, Ron, the bimini is inboard of the stays....and no davits.

I read an article some time ago written by an 'off the grid' guy who did his own little study of shadowing by installing tall poles adjacent to his solar panel 'garden' and reported that the shadowing effect was quite minimal. So maybe there is hope that the shadowing of those tiny stays will be equally minimal??

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bhcva

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 11, 2015

Thanks Denver. I'll try to find that article.

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