This has been a year of maintenance and repair projects. Some of it has been pretty routine, like repairing fencing and repainting the barn. Other things have been more challenging, such as building a new frame for our solar panel array.
Here's the original set-up.
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| Photo from 2019, when the system was first up and running. |
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The original panel frame was hinged at the top so we could adjust the angle of the array depending on the time of year. |
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| Close-up of hinges |
But. The posts were home-milled and not treated, so eventually they rotted
out. No surprise there. In replacing them, Dan decided to try something a
little different. One thing he wanted to address was how heavy the frame +
array was. So after installing sturdier posts, he made a lighter weight
frame.
Instead of hinges, the frame swivels on a metal pipe.
He also used a different configuration for the panels.
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| Front |
This puts more weight above the pivot point, so that it isn't so bottom heavy. This helps make the frame angle
easier to adjust.
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| Back |
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| To hold the frame in place, Dan used slotted strut channels and a steel dowel pounded into the frame. |
Here it is adjusted for July.
And of course, somebody had to claim it . . .
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| Katy |
