| I got my frame welded up and my pads poured. I used 1x2" box and 2" angle to make the frame. My welding and my welder really suck but the steel is mostly stuck together and doesn't seem to be coming apart. I attached the frame to the pads yeaterday and hauled the first two panels out there today. Decided to mount the panels for optimum winter exposure, about 62 degrees from horizontal. I'd love to track these but they're just too dang big and heavy. From what I've read, They will put out 15% less in the summer at this angle, but I've got more power than I need then anyway.
So at about solar noon, I was getting almost 3A wired for 48V. Voc was about 68V, which worries me a little. I'm planning on sistering these to my BP SX170s and their VOC is more like 88V. I may end up just buying a C40 for this homebrew array and wiring it for 24V, but I think it will be interesting to see what happens connecting a fixed and a tracking array, through an MX60, with radically different Vocs. Exciting things happen at 68V and 3A when you try and connect meter leads. Little arc-welding was going on between the wires and the leads.
Here's a shot of the front with the my homebrew tracker in the background.
Here's a shot from the rear. A couple cells on one of my 36 cell strings broke about 1/3 off the edge. The difference in power is noticeable, both in current and voltage. I ain't breaking these open again to fix it though.
Hoping to get another 400W or so out of these panels this winter. I'm not out of power yet but these days ain't getting any longer for a few months and I'm about even on production vs. consumption as it is.
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