Got the solar up and running today

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">It was a fun project...&nbsp; I also learned how much was really being saved by MPPT.&nbsp; I hit a hefty 43 percent!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Please check out the blog page below.&nbsp; I'm too worn out to post the thing here.&nbsp; It's been a lot of fun.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">The experts in here made it a super easy job to buy the right thing and put it up in short order...&nbsp; Thanks for all the advice!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><img border="0" hspace="0" alt="" align="baseline" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_MmrTNwNl...p8/_MkC8mf7Y5I/s320/Solar+view+from+above.jpg"></p>

 

[SoulRaven]

Well another satisfied customer... looks like a great job... Well done sir...<br>

 

[thinker]

re: your shadowbox.<div>i've often thought about mounting a pvc pipe on the sides of the rack. they provide storage AD would aid in stealth. between the tubes and the rack, it looks like a contracting van.</div><div>one of the articles on the cheaprvliving site has a similar setup, but the guy uses the pipe for his fishing gear. if i'm not mistaken, he doesn't use solar, in fact, it may be the windgen article.</div><div><br></div><div>it gave me the idea for shielding panels from view.</div>

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Great idea, Thinker!&nbsp; I will look into that ASAP.&nbsp; I lost two poles (one in the fall, one in the spring) by slamming them into the car door or stepping on them.&nbsp; I can just envision&nbsp;taking a #2/0 hook into the big toe one of these days!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I will definitely look at a couple of PVC tubes this morning&nbsp;- one on each side as you suggested.&nbsp; By not using overly large tubes, they shouldn't really cause a shading problem with the panels.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I've toyed with the idea of putting tubes up there just for the purpose of fishing poles or other storage, but the aspect of added stealth just made the decision!&nbsp; (My stealth magnets say "Farm and Home Handyman Service" along with a phone number.&nbsp; The tubes would be a natural fit!)</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Thanks again!&nbsp; When I get it done, I'll add a couple pictures and give you credit on my blog.&nbsp; Thanks a million!</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br>&nbsp;</p>

 

[akrvbob]

looks like a great job!! You are going to love all that free power!<br><br>Another use for the PVC pipe is hot water. Home Depot will have everything you need to plumb in a top fill cap on one end, and a faucet outlet on the bottom of the other.&nbsp; You would have hot water all summer. Buy the size of pipe that held about 5 gallons and that would only weigh 40 lbs. <br><br>I'm looking for a pair of roof racks, what brand did you get and where did you get them from? Bob<br><br>

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Hi Bob -</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I bought a Van Tech set... I can't even find the same one at Amazon now... Back then (last summer) I paid only $99, believe it or not!&nbsp; They are all running about 200 bucks now.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I saw they are now running aluminum racks!&nbsp; If they are strong enough, that would be cool... It would weigh a lot less and would not rust.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Thanks for the suggestion about the black piping for the roof - hot water.&nbsp; I'm not sure when, but that would be a good thing to implement.&nbsp; Just one tube would provide adequate hot water for a shower.&nbsp; Cool stuff.</p>