Wind proof bin store

[Moxi]

It’s going to become a secure repository for the boys toys that otherwise have to go in the bunker when it’s windy here - which is often. Later it will become part of an ASHP base / weather standoff. I was hoping that the cold air exhaust from an ASHP under the panel might make the panel ever so slightly cooler and hence a gnats whatsit more efficient.

Next plant is to build a lean to over by the bunker facing south with 4 off 500 ish panels for the roof, very exposed to westerlies there though so anchoring that and making it weather tight will require some thought but it will be a useful 2kWp addition so well worth the effort. Might try some panels as vertical cladding too seeing as the price is really reasonable at the present time.

Moxi

[Joeboy]

Looks great, I love how external spaces can become shelters of one type or another (is there a defined scale of shelterness)? Then onwards to power generation, energy storage (wood), efficiency gain . Brilliant!

I wonder how you'll duct the prevailing airflows to the ashp intake to maximise the take? That's trippy.

[Moxi]

Just ordered 4 off 500W bifacial panels from city plumbing to form the roof of a shed/ store / greenhouse type affair that will back on to the concrete bunker, its a bit exposed to the Westerlies but I am hoping the use of unistrut anchored in gabions and enclosed sides will be up to the task of keeping everything in one place when the 80+mph winds next blow up here.

That will be a total of 7.6kWp of panels - hopefully this new array which is going to be south facing will provide us with a much flatter and longer generation curve. Hoping to have it in and operational by March/ April - depending on spare cash, spare time and how much of the current cold frame base area needs to be removed to get to stable ground.

Moxi

[nowty]

There is always a way Moxi.

[Moxi]

Just had a text to say the panels are on their way - that was a very quick order.

I noticed that the volume and range of panels available lately at City Plumbing had dramatically dropped, 6 months back you were looking at panels across 3 pages of the web site - yesterday it was 18 panels and only two options for the 500W+ panels.

Is the market for solar panels tightening back up ? Or is it just a case that the buyers at City Plumbing are carrying less stock / overhead?

Moxi

[Joeboy]

Great to hear Moxi. I like the blocking in of the sides idea. Will you leave a small vent hole on either side to allow some Airflow and prevent unwanted vac?

[Moxi]

I'm sure that it will be sufficiently leaky to ensure their isnt a depression pulled in the windy weather but it will be something to keep an eye on. I'm watching freecycle in my area for unwanted double glazing units to make the interior quite light as I think it could make a very useable potting shed for the FiL as well as a workshop area for me out of the growing season - plus obviously the more light I get inside the better the return on the underside of the panels - which leads me to asking a technical question.

On a standard panel the back of the panel radiates heat - does the panel radiate heat equally on the reverse side and the insolated side and we only notice the heat behind the panel due to the delta T with the shaded air or does the reverse side of a panel radiate more heat than the front? If its the latter rather than the former then how does that affect bi facial panels ?????

Moxi

[Joeboy]

I'm sure that it will be sufficiently leaky to ensure their isnt a depression pulled in the windy weather but it will be something to keep an eye on. I'm watching freecycle in my area for unwanted double glazing units to make the interior quite light as I think it could make a very useable potting shed for the FiL as well as a workshop area for me out of the growing season - plus obviously the more light I get inside the better the return on the underside of the panels - which leads me to asking a technical question.

On a standard panel the back of the panel radiates heat - does the panel radiate heat equally on the reverse side and the insolated side and we only notice the heat behind the panel due to the delta T with the shaded air or does the reverse side of a panel radiate more heat than the front? If its the latter rather than the former then how does that affect bi facial panels ?????

Moxi

Moxi, you can have every single unit out of our house in March. You'll need to overnight and drink beer though.

[Moxi]

ha ha I need to be building a much bigger lean to shed to use all that glass but that was a kind offer that I will have to decline. I get in to trouble turning up at home with freecycle stuff that I havent mentioned in triplicate to the wife before hand - but sometimes the freecycle gods are so generous !

I know that locally before too long there will be one or two frames on offer. I still have the sunny boy 1100 in the bunker that I got off freecycle, I need to get connected to some panels - the trouble I found there is that the modern larger panels don't seem to fit the voltage and amperage needs of the unit so I might need to get some second hand panels at some point.

Moxi