A new 9.6KW PV static array, so our paper work in Quick.

[Joeboy]

Our Mayor has kindly sent this document through to us.

What it means is that both planning committes could not sort them selves out. So under the French rules, no objections withing a month period then the application is automatic approved.

Rather than me just wait until October 7th, and then start works if no objections, our Mayor has officially approved our 9.6KW static PV array that is modified for sheep grazing underneath.

This doucument was following a STOP WORK notice as the planning departments could not see eye to eye with each other. Long story.

So Its official approval, but as i say ny French friends think we are mad just going through this process, they would just do it and stick a finger up. As i constantly explain to them, "We are not French we have to tread very carefully around your officialdom."

Great you got the ! We are not Yanks and find your posts very informative and entertaining too. The world would be a boring place if we were all the same, including sheep.
Is this the 'full pallet' PV as shown swinging into action?

[ClockmanFRA]

Yes Joeboy, that pallet load, but 12 go to Dimitri in the next village 24 for the new ARRAY.

Very very busy at present with my projects. So wont start construction and welding up the metal farmes until early November.

Good to see you are keeping awake.

[Joeboy]

Yes Joeboy, that pallet load, but 12 go to Dimitri in the next village 24 for the new ARRAY.

Very very busy at present with my projects. So wont start construction and welding up the metal farmes until early November.

Good to see you are keeping awake.

I have my moments! Best of fortune with the build. The 'solar trees' look outstanding. Big fan of them.

[ClockmanFRA]

Joeboy,

The Large trackers are good, all producing, but since they were installed in 2012, modern panels for the same surface area are about 50% more effecient.

At the moment No1 tracker has a drive circuit from Dave in Cowa, Aus. Its one of his early designs and works very well over 10 years of service, and uses little power as it does its moving slowly and every 20 minutes or so, and does not constantly hunt, it uses a simple PIC with about 68k code, sadly Dave is very ill and no longer produces.

No 2 and No 3 trackers, have a small drive circuit from Duane at Redrock USA. But both have packed in after 3 years in operation, so both trackers are in defualt and facing due South. I will get another of his circuits and then modify his driver circuit and go to decent relays as at present his driver chip goes to drive FET's and then to the acutator motor, and i think thats pushing the circuit to far. But i do like his coding and his LED sensor circuit as it pulses avery 10 minutes or so, and does not spend its time constantly hunting for the sun.

I do get 'peed' off having to constantly take stuff and beef it up for the real world. Electronic guys build stuff in the workshop but dont think about the harsh enviormental conditions in the real World.

Duanes circuit.

[Joeboy]

Joeboy,

The Large trackers are good, all producing, but since they were installed in 2012, modern panels for the same surface area are about 50% more effecient.

At the moment No1 tracker has a drive circuit from Dave in Cowa, Aus. Its one of his early designs and works very well over 10 years of service, and uses little power as it does its moving slowly and every 20 minutes or so, and does not constantly hunt, it uses a simple PIC with about 68k code, sadly Dave is very ill and no longer produces.

No 2 and No 3 trackers, have a small drive circuit from Duane at Redrock USA. But both have packed in after 3 years in operation, so both trackers are in defualt and facing due South. I will get another of his circuits and then modify his driver circuit and go to decent relays as at present his driver chip goes to drive FET's and then to the acutator motor, and i think thats pushing the circuit to far. But i do like his coding and his LED sensor circuit as it pulses avery 10 minutes or so, and does not spend its time constantly hunting for the sun.

I do get 'peed' off having to constantly take stuff and beef it up for the real world. Electronic guys build stuff in the workshop but dont think about the harsh enviormental conditions in the real World.

Duanes circuit.

Are the boards 5V operating power? I'd be asking Dave for a drawing and producing my own beefed up version? That's quite an increase in production as the tech has improved for wafer efficiency! Do you have a rough idea of the difference in production between a fixed and tracker install? I'd have thought it would have to be up about 20% gain in daily take over fixed but in truth have no basis for that, just a rough hassle/cost thought. 10 minute tracking intervals sounds good to not reduce the actuator motor lifespan.

Is it just me or is that top board looking a little bit busy for airflow?

[Stinsy]

Back when panels were mega-expensive per Wp all this expensive and failure-prone engineering was needed to wring every last Wh out of your panels. Nowadays panels are super-cheap so static arrays are better.

I’m a bit disappointed because trackers are undeniably cool.

[Joeboy]

Back when panels were mega-expensive per Wp all this expensive and failure-prone engineering was needed to wring every last Wh out of your panels. Nowadays panels are super-cheap so static arrays are better.

I’m a bit disappointed because trackers are undeniably cool.

Agreed, incredibly cool, Clockman's are epic. Sculptural yet functional art that throws power to the hoose, what more could you want... Them to move you say? Not asking much eh?

[Mr Gus]

Bearing in mind we read about em from new at st elsewhere, I missed updatez, ..& Would love to see one remitted with modern panels for historical data comparison.

I'd also state that imho solar trackers ARE still relevant & ought be planned for example on many treeless, low shrub planted council roundabouts for led lighting purposes as additional energy & road planning flow & affordability measures.
(When travelling through Milton Keynes there are mobile phone masts on some newer roundabouts just beyond new-ish housing, so clearly infrastructure capable of planned to, "or taken off a spur" )

The "modern efficiency" of next generation panels should actually find more favour in terms of returns in spaces such as roundabout islands & other areas neglected & "forgotten" to date.

[ClockmanFRA]

Yes.
I no longer recommend PV solar Trackers.

My 2Kw design, with the latest panels fitted can now output 3.2KW.

Mrs onec awhile back asked me about increase against a static array, the figure we arrived at depended on the time of year, but in general a PV tracker will give you about 24% to 28% more.

[Joeboy]

Yes.
I no longer recommend PV solar Trackers.

My 2Kw design, with the latest panels fitted can now output 3.2KW.

Mrs onec awhile back asked me about increase against a static array, the figure we arrived at depended on the time of year, but in general a PV tracker will give you about 24% to 28% more.

Fair play on going static. Yet at least you had them as trackers and now sculpture.