Morning all.
Have gotten the EVA ordered and shipped to the USA to my Son. He will be sending a crate down, very soon, with electric Bicycle parts, large DC Generator for my 3 wheel Moto build, lots of small but essential items, and, I need to dig out my Vacuum Pump today, and see if it still works. Need to buy a gauge.
I have a sawmill, so, I am gathering large plastic feed sacks, and stuffing Planer chips into those bags. I have built a solar dry kiln for lumber drying, and insulated the walls with plastic bags of dry sawdust. Works a treat. I have a dismantled electric stove, and both heat loops from the oven-broiler area. I'm going to try to use the smaller one, and see if I can regulate the heat with the proper control switch. I have a meat and an oven thermometer for watching the temps. Of course, lumber for the frame is no problem.
I need to get into town and secure the frames and glass.
I'm thinking about laying a length of small diameter PVC pipe at the base of the strips of cells, and running all the insulated wires through that, to a plastic switch wall box. I already have all these things, so, no cost. I will also mount the Diodes in that box area, although on the outside on a metal bracket, to keep it in the open in case anything gets out of hand.
I have a roll of heavy plastic Contractors Trash bags, big enough to put a whole panel inside, so, I can re-use it, maybe, and just have one layer also glued to the back of the cells. They are damn tough to tear, so, should protect the underside very well.
Any other suggestions, I am all ears, before the crate ships.
Dave has added some great stuff to this thread, so, I see NO reason why someone could not put together great working panels, and get their friends/neighbors to cut their power consumption from the grid.
I just wish batteries were less expensive down here. A typical 220Ah Golf car 6V battery is ------------------------------------$210.00 each + 13% sales tax. I'm going to get a couple heavy equipment 12V batteries, and flush them, and experiment with converting them to Alkaline. Stuff that Acid crap. Then, I can make a nice cabinet and place them inside the house and vent the air outside, so I don't blow up the place.