After much procrastinating we finally obtained a solar blanket to lessen the use of the generator in certain conditions.

Got a cheapie to see how it will go and will try out in the next couple of weeks.

Spent a day last week making up a portable stand for it and here is the results, no doubt some tweaking will be required but it should be OK as a starter.

Some pics

Packed in the front boot

 Finished Stand

Stand loaded with blanket

Cheers

RichardK

-- Edited by RichardK on Sunday 19th of December 2021 11:15:41 PM

Nice idea.

Your panel angle is far too high; see my recent thread on angles.

That is a good idea Richard, so thanks for that

I have seen Solar Blankets, tied to roof racks and left hanging down
Draped over chairs/bonnets
Tied to a branch of a tree/fence
Left flat on the ground, etc

I often thought that when/if my lightweight 160 watt, portable solar panel stopped working

I would buy a Solar Blanket, and make a collapsible frame for it

Here you go:

Solar panel angles

I suspect you'll be able to cut those legs in half.

Hi Ric,
This mat is to add to my fixed 350w on my camper in case of not so sunny weather, if I can get an extra 3-5 amps boost I will be happy.

The portables are too bulky for what I want.

Cheers

RichardK

RichardK wrote:

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Thanks Mike, so is there a way to calculate for the difference in latitude in WA?

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Certainly: the eastern cities I mentioned are simply a guide to where the lines of latitude fall, eg Port Macquarie is at 31 degrees south and so is Perth, Townsville is at 19d, Port Headland is at 20d. Type "latitude Geraldton" into Google and it will give you a number. You don't need to be exact as long as you are within +/- 2d all will be good.

Hi

I do like the idea of having a small post set at right angle to the frame for judging the sun angle. You just look at the shadow the post casts on the frame and adjust the position so it is minimised and the post is pointing direct at the sun. Easiest method I know to get it exactly right !

Jaahn

I bought a 200W blanket for ease of storage and only as backup to my portable panels, apart from the initial test I have never used it, each of my panels are on a 25mm PVC pipe frame that I just fold out and peg to the ground then adjust the frame so the shadow is square to the panel for the angle I just put a drink can on the panel and adjust the angle to remove the shade, takes a few minutes and done.

Well, we tried out the new stand last month at our secluded camp spot and I am quite happy with it, peak input we had was just over 20 amps with both systems inputting,we filled the 200AH lithium by 11 each day and considering we were in State Forest and full sun between 10.30 and 1pm we were happy with the results. As said previously I only want a system that does what I need and it does it well.
A pic of the setup.

The square hollow & corners is a product called Qubelok. It's been around at least half a century. 

It is 25.4 x 1.2mm in 6.5 metre lengths. You can get it from a lot of aluminium suppliers & cheaper than a big hardware store. If you can, get any anodised finish (clear or black) it will stop your hands getting black when handling it. Corners come in 2, 3 flat, 3 corner, 4 flat, 4 corner, 5 & 6 way.

File the ends of the aluminium a touch so the connectors push on easier. They will work a bit loose over time.

If bolting just though the aluminium, use a spacer (cut a leg off a connector & file bit) so the aluminium doesn't collapse when tightening as the 1.2mm wall thickness is too thin in this situation.

Hi OB, my apologies for the late reply, as there weren't any replies for some time I wasn't visiting this thread but did today and saw your questions.

The frame is made out of 25 x 25 anodised aluminium square tube, the joining pieces are probably ABS plastic, corner pieces 90deg elbows,
and tee pieces for the leg attaching. The bottom and top rail pull off the vertical tubes, the plastic tees and elbows have convex humps to maintain a tight fit where they fit into the tubes so where the tubes need to be pulled off I removed the hump with a file that way the frame can be dismantled easily. I also fitted end plugs to the legs.

The side legs are 20 x 20 aluminium tube and the improved version has those legs fitted at the frame attaching end with 65mm of 25 x 25 scrap over the 20 x 20 and with a 8mm SS bolt necessary washers and nyloc nut that the leg can swing and wedge into the ground at whatever angle you wish.

If you look at picture 2 it may help.

Hope I make sense...I know what I mean!!

Anyway takes about 3 minutes to assemble and for us works well.

If you need more info or pics PM me.

Cheers
RichardK