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Is that really the optimal arrangement for solar panels on a dish? Looks like 40% empty
by ambyra 3y ago
Is that really the optimal arrangement for solar panels on a dish? Looks like 40% empty
- ape4 3y agoOf course, the issue is fitting rectangular panels into a circle. Since, apparently, solar panels are cheap now - perhaps they could overlap panels to cover all of the circle.
- whiterock 3y agoOverlapping doesn‘t work due to the fact that individual small cells of a bigger panel - when shaded - greatly diminish the output of the entire solar panel.
- hinkley 3y agoAnd yet they left the focal point and its support poles there. No I agree with the people calling bullshit/publicity stunt. This array irritates me.
- ambyra 3y agoYeah when I read the title I thought they were covering the old dish with mirrors and putting a collector at the focal point. This is much less interesting :(
- hinkley 3y agoRight!?
- robocat 3y agoI presume they point the dish at the sun, so the shadow is in a fixed position. However the video shows during installation so not pointing at sun - but shadows that you see don't appear significant
- hinkley 3y agoSolar cells in shade act as diodes. They block the flow of electricity. It’s why we are doing inverters per panel now.
- robocat 3y agoThanks - I didn't realise shade losses could be so significant. I did find panels designed to avoid shade losses due to a single cell in a string being shaded but such panels appear to be uncommon or expensive.
- hinkley 3y agoWhat really bothers me most about this problem is that it makes you have to choose between solar panels and trees, and that’s a shitty bargain. Trees are good, and they lower your AC bill.
- sedatk 3y agoI’m more like a glass 60% full kind of person.
- turtlebits 3y agoConsidering it wasn't built to support solar panels, maybe that's all the mount/dish can support?
- akira2501 3y agoIt's leaving the feedhorn in I find the most baffling. Now you have a giant shadow generator right in the middle of your setup. Why?
- _carbyau_ 3y agoThe dish is meant to be actively pointed at the sun. What shadow?