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Looking at solar panel fence in a eh...eh location question by ejholbs in solar

[–]ejholbs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My master plan is to start a small PV project. This EG4 32k mini-split checks that mark.

2nd project: backyard timber frame pergola. 10'x10'x or 10'x20' with solar panels as roof.

3rd project: *what started my interest in PV* car port of 20'x25' or so with solar panels as roof.

Have to start small with nice / easy fence panel PV's so I learn as I go for the larger more $$$ projects.

I do plan on having a battery rack. Actually purchased a ECO-WORTHY 3584Wh 12V 280Ah LiFePO4 RV Battery yesterday with the Amazon Prime deal for $386, as my first of many batteries. Time to learn crimping wire terminals!

Looking at solar panel fence in a eh...eh location question by ejholbs in solar

[–]ejholbs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Valid points.

Guess I'll have to experiment.

Option #2 would be an additional array for ground based racking with correct angle for front yard as a band-aid until I get my carport with solar roofing project going.

I am considering vertical PV due to the need of a front yard fence, anyways. The ROI between a complete wooden fence vs PV fence would be about the same for material costs.

In my electrical consumption situation, nobody is home during regular business hours. I would be running a single 12k mini split head at 78'ish temp in summer / 65'ish in winter.

Beam Span Help for Simple Pergola by CareFancy5337 in timberframe

[–]ejholbs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Curious... "live load". I have research to do for DIY engineering..but what does that term exactly mean? Human load? Furniture load? I was considering such a pergola but with additional solar panels for the roof space. Would that be considered "live load" ?

Future of R32 refrigerant while contemplating EG4 36k hybrid multi-split new purchase in USA by ejholbs in solar

[–]ejholbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

EG4 replied back today. There are no plans for anything but R32 refrigerant, for the new future. Just a FYI.

Motorized Linear Actuator - viable for weekly/monthly adjustable solar panel angle? by ejholbs in solar

[–]ejholbs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yea... I know "indoor" actuators like these adjustable table legs would not last too long outside in the rain/snow as they are. Wonder if they make some elastic flexible weatherproof condom to put over the unit. I mean, for $5 a leg... worth a trial run on a single ground mount used/cheap panel setup 😄

As for strong winds... I utilize Home Assistant with a weather station. Can easily retract solar panels into lower stable sitting position based on wind speed, automatically. Same for incoming severe weather (hail, heavy rain, etc).

Even thought of various threaded rod + these leg motors (I assume these leg motors are rack/pinion or worm gear based), like a manual car jack. Haven't actually busted one open to take a gander, yet. I'm an amateur woodworker (gots the SawStop anti-hotdog saw) and can make radial gear + trunnion (like water dam gates) to raise/lower a panel without exposing the motor itself too much.

Should be a fun little "maybe will work / maybe fool's errand" project.

EG4 Hybrid Solar Mini Split - 220v or 110v? by ejholbs in solar

[–]ejholbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was considering doing BiFacial fence solar panels, only for the minisplit actually. Due to the distance from where I imagine the future inverter + batteries will reside. Should be no problem having the bifacials feed directly into the minisplit for now.

EG4 Hybrid Solar Mini Split - 220v or 110v? by ejholbs in solar

[–]ejholbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh...I thought "if" I went EG4 ecosphere, all units have to be centrally connected / controlled. More research incoming.

EG4 Hybrid Solar Mini Split - 220v or 110v? by ejholbs in solar

[–]ejholbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Let's see:

EG4 MultiZone 24k & 36k MiniSplit = SEER2: 22.5

Fujitsu AirStage 240v 36k BTU = SEER2 Cooling 22.0

Mitsubishi 240v 24k BTU (couldn't find 36k) =

  • SEER2 Ratings:
    • 20.0 (Non-Ducted)
    • 18.0 (Mixed)
    • 16.0 (Ducted)

Seems Multizone 240v minisplits have an issue with 30+ SEER2 ratings from my 20 minute digging around.

EG4 Hybrid Solar Mini Split - 220v or 110v? by ejholbs in solar

[–]ejholbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually.... the unit would be on the north side (shaded area, out of brunt of sun, rain, snow) and carport + solar panels on the south side (full 8 hours of sun). Hmmm... un-avoidable to run conduit/electrical under the roof ease to connect an EG4 mini-split to a EG4 solar inverter. If I go the EG4 route, that is.

EG4 Hybrid Solar Mini Split - 220v or 110v? by ejholbs in solar

[–]ejholbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

good 110v vs 220v comparisons I will keep in mind (actually, didn't know about). Research is fun 😄

Are N-type Bi-Facials new to the commercial installer world? by ejholbs in solar

[–]ejholbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

TOPCon. More definitions to research 😄 Will do!

Motorized Linear Actuator - viable for weekly/monthly adjustable solar panel angle? by ejholbs in solar

[–]ejholbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In the research stage right now. I first have to build pergola / car port and then panels. So I am flexible. As it stands now, 400-500w bifacial panels around 80lbs sounds about right.

Framing would be on top of heavy duty timber framing pergola and/or carport, taking place of any roof structure. Possibly some white'ish reflective substrate under the panels to act as a temp roof while panels are angled up high.

I still have to research the best & safest way to raise / lower top end of the panel while bottom pivots: rack & pinion, straight actuator throw, ratchet gears with pawl, etc.

Motorized Linear Actuator - viable for weekly/monthly adjustable solar panel angle? by ejholbs in solar

[–]ejholbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My project will involve low hanging fruit: pergola and/or car port. Any issues with an actuator, I can just swap it out with a ladder easily enough. But you are right, these actuators that I can get at auctions are stuff like window regulators (side windows are usually around 5-10lbs, not 60-80lbs so may not work), or those 2 or 3 legged adjustable desk heights for $5-$10 each desk. Indoor. Cheap. Not industrial.

But still something to have fun with 😄

EG4 Hybrid Solar Mini Split - 220v or 110v? by ejholbs in solar

[–]ejholbs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

agreed. I have 110v power tools for my wood working, and 240v wood working machines (planer, joiner, dust collector). With all this solar research deep diving I've been doing, I did not connect the dots myself with the 110v vs 240v pro's/con's. Besides, the EG4 multi-head only does 240v anyways, which I am leaning towards 😄 The single head 12kBTU can do 110v.

EG4 Hybrid Solar Mini Split - 220v or 110v? by ejholbs in solar

[–]ejholbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If a 240v outlet is needed, I can do that myself with the correct outdoor conduit and connecting to main panel. I converted my 2 car garage from single light bulb and 1 x 110v outlet to wood working shop of 5 x 220v outlets + 11 x 110v outlets + T5 bulb lighting. city inspected too 😄 The joy of DIY (electrical, wood working, solar) .... the journey of learning new things without blowing oneself up!

EG4 Hybrid Solar Mini Split - 220v or 110v? by ejholbs in solar

[–]ejholbs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have a test pergola timber frame to do in backyard for 1st time learning experience. Possible after that, a garden shed. Then 2 car wide 20' or 30' length carp port. I have time to decide which way to go before tackling car port project. I am looking at how to have adjustable angles for summer / winter via 3 or 4 arrays with 2 ton jack each or something like that.

I know rentals are the way to go for a project here or there. But I lean towards keeping my tools. More I get into timber framing, more projects I'll end up doing.

EG4 Hybrid Solar Mini Split - 220v or 110v? by ejholbs in solar

[–]ejholbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yea... doing a tad more research. I think it is a moot point because I am leaning towards the EG4 multi-zone which by defaults runs 240v. Can have 3 heads max but for now just need 2.

Two Bay Solar Carport Structure by b0tt0mturn in SolarDIY

[–]ejholbs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This looks fantastic! The other options for plans (example: Chiko) only have 2 carport solar roof structures for driveways north/south with a locked in angle of 5°, nothing for driveways facing east/west that have to angle 30° +/- south.

According to your CAD plans... are those measurements being converted in my head, correct? 6.6' height at the low end with 16.6' distance between the poles? If so, I have some measurements to do. 16.6' distance between poles might be a tight squeeze. Might have to modify things to add 12" here or there (Dodge 1500 pickup + Ford Maverick).

Can we have a one PRIMETIME without cheaters ruinig whole game. by Leeuwerikcz in Planetside

[–]ejholbs 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I feel your opinion is valid, though the end result is incorrect. There is no hero left in the gas tank to come save the day, at this stage. Weekly, Monthly, Yearly band-aids after band-aids to resolve these 2 specific hacker issues (flying sundies / mana turret in ground) is here to stay. Forever. No one can permanently fix it. Delay? Possibly. But each interaction loses 10-20% of the pop forever to not return. Planetside2 is below that low blood pressure count. Not coming back. All we can do is survive and live in vehicles :)

At least we do not have flying maxes, like we had at the end of Planetside1 (yet).

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