Looking for something like a window stay - but not quite
 

I'm after some adjustable stays for varying the slope (manually on an as
needed basis, on a boat) of some solar panels.

I imagine them as two pieces of metal bar about 1ft long each with a
friction joint of some sort in the middle (wing nut to tighten maybe)
and some sort of rotating joint at each end.

Is there anything ready made that would remotely resemble this? For
example a window stay might possibly provide the two bars if not the
rotating ends.

Any/all ideas welcome, even if it's to say I need to make them myself.
It shouldn't be too difficult with some aluminium bar or similar but if
I can get something to take me some of the way that would be good.

--
Chris Green
·

Looking for something like a window stay - but not quite
 

On 29 Sep 2013 16:34:40 GMT, Huge wrote:

I imagine them as two pieces of metal bar about 1ft long ...

The extensible pole thingies they sell in DIY sheds for paint brushes?

Foot long? or are you suggesting just taking the bits of the pole and
twist lock mechanisum?

adjustable stay and google
produced:

http://www.blackcountrymetalworks.co...le-Casement-St
ay.htm

Solid brass (good for boat/exterior) might have to think about how
the stay can pass the panel. Pivoted end of bar attached to roof, the
adjuster/lock on a bracket of some sort projecting from back edge of
panel or on a bit of angle at the side?

--
Cheers
Dave.

Looking for something like a window stay - but not quite
 

wrote in message ...
I'm after some adjustable stays for varying the slope (manually on an as
needed basis, on a boat) of some solar panels.

I imagine them as two pieces of metal bar about 1ft long each with a
friction joint of some sort in the middle (wing nut to tighten maybe)
and some sort of rotating joint at each end.

Is there anything ready made that would remotely resemble this? For
example a window stay might possibly provide the two bars if not the
rotating ends.

Any/all ideas welcome, even if it's to say I need to make them myself.
It shouldn't be too difficult with some aluminium bar or similar but if
I can get something to take me some of the way that would be good.


It will need to be able to resist wind forces so something foolproof and
substantial is needed.
How about a rooflight (window) opening device?
http://www.lumenrooflight.co.uk/subc...category_id=32

Or a standard casement window stay modified with pins with a saftey pin in

Or something like this.
https://www.upvc-hardware.co.uk/lock...ear-mechanisms

Or maybe something out of an old office chair?
http://www.tcoffice.co.uk/mechanisms

Looking for something like a window stay - but not quite
 

On Sun, 29 Sep 2013 17:24:05 +0100, wrote:

I'm after some adjustable stays for varying the slope (manually on an as
needed basis, on a boat) of some solar panels.

Tweaking them for summer / winter makes some difference but not as much as you
might think and as panels are now dirt cheap why not simply oversize them say
1.5x and keep them fixed and flat?

See

http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis/apps4/pvest.php

and plug in a few variables

Fixed slope and azimuth for example in London, a 1kW panel produces 982 kWh per
annum
2 axis tracker 1260 kWh
Flat (0 deg) 832 kWh
Vertical (90 deg) 703 kWh

The database is reasonably accurate, certainly within +/- 10% and most of that
can be seen in the variations in Met Office reported regional sunshine figures.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/datasets/

On a standalone PV system in service for about 10 years now the output figures
have been logged and checked against the predictions and the met office sunshine
figures. The panels were originally adjustable for angle but have been fixed
now for at least five years, they were adjusted for maximum output around solar
noon on a sunny day sometime in iirc April, just because that was a day when I
had a spanner to hand So too steep for summer, too shallow for winter, output
is perfectly acceptable.

Since then a few Chinese produced panels bought off Ebay have been fitted
totally flat in another installation. Apart from problems with the extended
snow cover this past winter / spring they work just fine. Just size them
correctly for the midwinter load and irradiation


--

Looking for something like a window stay - but not quite
 

Dave Liquorice wrote:
On 29 Sep 2013 16:34:40 GMT, Huge wrote:

I imagine them as two pieces of metal bar about 1ft long ...

The extensible pole thingies they sell in DIY sheds for paint brushes?

Foot long? or are you suggesting just taking the bits of the pole and
twist lock mechanisum?

adjustable stay and google
produced:

http://www.blackcountrymetalworks.co...le-Casement-St
ay.htm

Solid brass (good for boat/exterior) might have to think about how
the stay can pass the panel. Pivoted end of bar attached to roof, the
adjuster/lock on a bracket of some sort projecting from back edge of
panel or on a bit of angle at the side?

Yes, that's getting to the right sort of place, thanks. I can dig
arouns 'adjustable stay' and things like that.

--
Chris Green
·

Looking for something like a window stay - but not quite
 

The Other Mike wrote:
On Sun, 29 Sep 2013 17:24:05 +0100, wrote:

I'm after some adjustable stays for varying the slope (manually on an as
needed basis, on a boat) of some solar panels.

Tweaking them for summer / winter makes some difference but not as much as you
might think and as panels are now dirt cheap why not simply oversize them say
1.5x and keep them fixed and flat?

Yes, I know, but the boat points in different directions according to
where it's moored so the panels need to be pointed accordingly. I'm not
aiming for optimum power, just a bit better than horizontal. In
addition they will get rinsed better with a slope on them.

--
Chris Green
·