solar panels

ebsprintin

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
In other conversations, people have asked about how much electricity solar panels put out in real world applications. Here are a couple observations I've made so far. I'm using two 125 watt panels.

I did an experiment to see how much of a difference tilting the panel would make while charging. At the highest sun for the day last week I lined up with the sun and took a meter reading. I pulled the front two wheels up onto a curb to tilt the panels towards the sun and took another reading. Flat on the pavement the meter showed six amps or 47 watts. Up on the curb I got seven amps and 55 watts.

The photo attachment shows the level of the sun that produced one amp.

eb
 

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danthewolf00

Veteran Expediter
which model panels are you running and what model conntroller?

i wound up having my first controller burn up and don't know wny when my 2 panels never make enuff power:confused:
 

ebsprintin

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Mitsubishi PV-EE125MF5F for the panels and a Xantrex C35 for the charge controller. I have a second xantrex controller that I use for a low voltage cutoff, so it's harder for me to run the batteries down too far.

eb
 

Jack_Berry

Moderator Emeritus
googling the panel reveals they are, and this is for you ken, 13.0 kg, for the rest of us 28.7 lbs ea. xantrex c35 2.5 lbs, or 1.sumpin kg.
 
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OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
googling the panel reveals they are, and this is for you ken, 13.0 kg, for the rest of us 28.7 lbs ea. i am guessing 60-70 lbs for the entire install.

Including batteries?

I suppose if one were to get rid of the passenger seat it would be an equal trade-off

Thinking on further...I suppose the weight of my generator plus the gas can...the difference would be nominal.
 
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ebsprintin

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
60 lbs of panels
05 lbs of panel brackets
25 lbs for controller, cutoff switches, fuse boxes...
15 lbs of cables, and wire

200 lbs of agm batteries

About the only area that can be lightened is within the 25 lbs of fuse boxes and switches. The ones I have are rather industrial. Even then you would only gain about 10 lbs max.

This setup still requires careful management of power consumption and charging. It does allow me to run my electric cooler, computer, espar heater, and roof vent, but not all at once. The batteries are charged by both the solar panels and the alternator. The charging levels are automatic through the charge controller, the alternator switching is automatic through a battery separator.

eb
 

Freightdawg

Expert Expediter
Hey ebsprintin and danthewolf00, how are the panels working out for you two? Just curious if you can give us an update?
Thanks
 

truckpipes

Seasoned Expediter
I would love to know more about the solar panels on the trucks. That is such a great idea. How many people are using them nationwide??

Has anyone ever heard of another cool gadget that we are working on, its a small wafer like sleave that is placed over your Truck pipe to help charge your battery. It takes the heat from the exhaust and the cold air that is blown from driving and creates electricity.

I will reveal more when we get our Patent confirmed.

Thanks,
Dan
truckpipestore.com
 

danthewolf00

Veteran Expediter
update from me

so far i have had my roof vent run almost all summer while out on the road . lol i parked in the shade one weekend at home and forgot to turn off the vent came out to dead batterys on the the house bank took most of i think 2 to 3 days to get it back up to 14v on the 4 batterys.
 

greg334

Veteran Expediter
Patenting a device?

OK I don't want to sound like I am bashing you but there are a few companies that may have beat you to that, Hi-Z is one and another is BMW. It's not new and many have done a lot of work on this very subject, Hi-Z got a kilowatt out of the exhaust system but that was an expensive KW. The power produced at the price per watt on the front end is not cost effective using either a Peltier or Seebeck device. I have yet heard any big breakthrough that would reduce the device size while lowering the price per watt.

Maybe Turtle has something to add or tell me I'm wrong?
 

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
Maybe Turtle has something to add or tell me I'm wrong?
No, I don't think you're wrong at all. Every time this guy posts something, something else doesn't add up. Website says it's "The largest online DH Exhaust Aftermarket Company", yet I dunno.

Domain Name: TRUCKPIPESTORE.COM
Registrar: GODADDY.COM, INC.
Name Server: DNS1.GTA-TECH.COM
Name Server: DNS2.GTA-TECH.COM
Updated Date: 30-aug-2010
Creation Date: 23-aug-2010

E-mail is Comcast instead of their own domain server. They've been on eBay since March, 2208, tho.

And, they manufacture 25,000 truck pipes a day at their manufacturing facilities throughout North America, including being the OEM supplier for every major truck brand, and even John Deere, except that I've delivered too many tractor pipes from a specific OEM manufacturer to know who makes those, and it's a name that was mentioned in another thread as being NOT Truckpipes. So I dunno.

I think the Truckpipes Web site looks and reads like it was created and designed by the same guy who did the one for McClain Logisticss that made McClain Logistics appear to be one of the 10 largest trucking companies in the country when in reality it was one guy in a straight truck.

I think they've got a nice little retail and mail order aftermarket pipe thing going, and it's growing a bit, but that they're exaggerating a bit, too. Just because you obtain your parts from an OEM manufacturing supplier doesn't mean that you are an OEM manufacturing supplier, too. Just like obtaining and selling an electrical generating device, and it's a patented device, doesn't mean you own the patent. Plus, patents don't get confirmed, they get awarded. If you're waiting to get it "confirmed," then it's patent-pending, and there's no reason not to talk about it. Just the opposite, in fact. Maybe there's a NDA on it or something.

Oh, wait, what were we talking about?
 

greg334

Veteran Expediter
Well I meant the thermo electric generation thing, not the other stuff.

But seeing you brought it up, and as I said in the other thread - it is a bit hard to believe an NDA will be in place for exhaust parts.

I didn't even get as far as the domain name stuff, I just can't believe the address is a house.

With that said, if there is more info that can be confirmed by one of their customers, I can send at least one customer over to the guy with a few thousand to spend if he has the right turbo pipes. This will give him a boast while providing two idle trucks with parts.
 

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
Well I meant the thermo electric generation thing, not the other stuff.
Yeah, I know. :D

Exhaust pipe thermoelectric generation has a long way to go.

Remember as a kid when you had that headlight on your bike with the switch that flipped down a wheel that rubbed against your tires? As long as you were moving, you had a glowing headlight. They should be able to do something not all that different now for augmenting an alternator for charging batteries and other electrical usage. A long copper enclosure around a drive shaft could generate quite a bit. At least as much as solar panels.

But seeing you brought it up, and as I said in the other thread - it is a bit hard to believe an NDA will be in place for exhaust parts.
I've never even heard of a NDA for an OEM parts maker. I'm not sure it's even legal to have one, as that would present all kinds of problems relating to a recall.

I didn't even get as far as the domain name stuff, I just can't believe the address is a house.
At least it's one by the golf course. :D

Then again, Google maps have been known to be wrong every now and then, where searching Google Maps for the Lincoln Memorial was returning the location of the FDR Memorial instead. But that has since been fixed. Many people think that was a liberal plot to make Tea Partyers not be able to find Glen Beck.
 

greg334

Veteran Expediter
Off topic a bit (like I care). I saw a demonstration of a really interesting generator, it was a thermoacoustical generator which I think can be used for a number of things, including exhaust systems from Diesel and gas engines.
 

truckpipes

Seasoned Expediter
Patenting a device?

OK I don't want to sound like I am bashing you but there are a few companies that may have beat you to that, Hi-Z is one and another is BMW. It's not new and many have done a lot of work on this very subject, Hi-Z got a kilowatt out of the exhaust system but that was an expensive KW. The power produced at the price per watt on the front end is not cost effective using either a Peltier or Seebeck device. I have yet heard any big breakthrough that would reduce the device size while lowering the price per watt.

Greg, We are working on one of our own that we have been testing for quite some time. We know of the others and have spoken to a few about how to make this better and more cost effective. After searching for the right TEG, we found that we had to have one made special for us due to the heat produced. When we get closer to the end, I will let you know more. Thanks for your input.
 

truckpipes

Seasoned Expediter
No, I don't think you're wrong at all. Every time this guy posts something, something else doesn't add up. Website says it's "The largest online DH Exhaust Aftermarket Company", yet I dunno.

Domain Name: TRUCKPIPESTORE.COM
Registrar: GODADDY.COM, INC.
Name Server: DNS1.GTA-TECH.COM
Name Server: DNS2.GTA-TECH.COM
Updated Date: 30-aug-2010
Creation Date: 23-aug-2010


Wow, you guys do your homework on people. LOL. I am the real thing here. We did start up on ebay in 2008 with a store and have done ok with that. Problem with them is they charge way to much for transactions, then they hand it off to paypal and they take another cut of the pie. It sucks. We came up with the idea of the Truckpipestore.com because there really isnt a lot of manufacturers selling thier items direct to the public. We wanted to try and give them the upper hand. We also have to be careful not to **** off the OEM's repair business.

E-mail is Comcast instead of their own domain server. They've been on eBay since March, 2208, tho.

I used my personal comcast address to save money. There is no sense in ****ing money away in the wind when you can use the resources your already paying for. Do you feel it would be better to have a dedicated email address? Will that increase my sales? Probably not. I might look more professional to do that though.


And, they manufacture 25,000 truck pipes a day at their manufacturing facilities throughout North America, including being the OEM supplier for every major truck brand, and even John Deere, except that I've delivered too many tractor pipes from a specific OEM manufacturer to know who makes those, and it's a name that was mentioned in another thread as being NOT Truckpipes. So I dunno.

We have made plenty of Tractor Pipes in our facilities. Did you by chance go to Clinton, TN to pick these up?? Or Fort Wayne, IN???


I think the Truckpipes Web site looks and reads like it was created and designed by the same guy who did the one for McClain Logisticss that made McClain Logistics appear to be one of the 10 largest trucking companies in the country when in reality it was one guy in a straight truck.


I designed the webpage myself. I have been working really hard to make it look and feel good to the customer. You guys sure are picky.. But thats ok. You have an opinion and I dont mind clearing the air about who we are.
I think they've got a nice little retail and mail order aftermarket pipe thing going, and it's growing a bit, but that they're exaggerating a bit, too. Just because you obtain your parts from an OEM manufacturing supplier doesn't mean that you are an OEM manufacturing supplier, too.
We are the manufacturer, we do make our own pipes and we also sell some of the Grand Rock pipes. We have relationships with a lot of people in the business. We are the SOLE channel supplier of the parts we make. So when you say that we are not an OEM manufacturer supplier, We really are. No kidding.

Just like obtaining and selling an electrical generating device, and it's a patented device, doesn't mean you own the patent. Plus, patents don't get confirmed, they get awarded. If you're waiting to get it "confirmed," then it's patent-pending, and there's no reason not to talk about it. Just the opposite, in fact. Maybe there's a NDA on it or something.

Why are we picking apart each word for word that I say? Just wondering. I think you know what I mean when I say confirmed.
We are working on something similar to others out there, we just have a different spin on the idea.. thats all.. A NDA is used to not disclose ideas or drawings that someone owns. If you own a business and its big enough that you have to protect information, you use a NDA. Plain and Simple.

Here is the definition: An NDA is a legal contract between at least two parties that outlines confidential material, knowledge, or information that the parties wish to share with one another for certain purposes, but wish to restrict access to by third parties. It is a contract through which the parties agree not to disclose information covered by the agreement. An NDA creates a confidential relationship between the parties to protect any type of confidential and proprietary information or trade secrets. As such, an NDA protects non-public business information.

Oh, wait, what were we talking about?

Thanks.
Dan
 

xiggi

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
I used my personal comcast address to save money. There is no sense in ****ing money away in the wind when you can use the resources your already paying for. Do you feel it would be better to have a dedicated email address? Will that increase my sales? Probably not. I might look more professional to do that though.

If you have a domain and hosting you already have a free email address setting it up would not cost you anything extra. Something important to consider Comcast is one of the worst hosts out there for blocking mail. You will not even know it was blocked you'll just never see the email it won't be in your junk mail or anything. One lost sale from a blocked email could pay for a lot more than even a dedicated email. Having a email that goes with your domain will always put forward a more professional appearance than using that of something like Comcast or Hotmail.
 
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