The Solar Energy Upgrade that Will Change Everything! | S3 Ep3
In this episode, we’re embarking on the most ambitious solar project we’ve ever undertaken! We are future-proofing our energy needs for years to come. With cutting-edge features like snow-shedding and wind-resistance protocols, optimized energy production and more, this upgrade is set to transform our off grid living experience.
Table of Contents
- Setting Up the Solar Tracker
- Transporting the Solar Equipment
- Challenges in Setting Up
- Construction of the Solar Array
- Benefits of the Solar Upgrade
Setting Up the Solar Tracker
We’ve got it started! With this solar energy upgrade, we’ll be able to manage our energy needs more efficiently. The dual-axis solar tracker we’re installing will optimize energy production year-round. It will “wake up” with the sun in the morning, and actually spin up and around looking for it. Then it will follow the sun and track it across the sky all day – maintaining the perfect angle to maximize solar energy output. This will be totally coo!
Transporting the Solar Energy Upgrade Equipment
Back at the boat launch, we are picking up our big special package. Ryan says this could be the trickiest load we’ve had yet. We need to get the tracker on board with Pepper, and conditions are perfect for this lift. The challenge will be negotiating the hill down from the trailer to the barge. The tracker is very very heavy and is right at the limit of Pepper’s lifting ability. We need to be very careful not to tip over! Without Pepper, coordinating this solar energy upgrade would not be possible.
Challenges in Setting Up
Just like loading, unloading is also where the accidents happen. This first attempt was so sketchy that we actually had to pull it back out and try it again. Setting the barge at the right angle to the shore is critical. We need to ensure that all planes of travel are lined up as best as possible to avoid any accidents.
Construction of the Solar Array
Once we get everything unloaded, we will need to clear a site for the array and construct a gigantic foundation that will need 12 yards of reinforced concrete. This is the most epic load we’ve ever had on the barge! The foundation will be nearly 3 meters deep into the ground and reinforced with a massive steel rebar cage. Embedded into the concrete will be a humongous threaded anchor that looks like a giant fish-hook. The threaded bolts will stick out of the top of the foundation, and the tracker will be bolted to that.
Benefits of the Solar Energy Upgrade
We have six reasons for taking on this massive solar project. From future-proofing our energy needs to optimizing energy production with a dual-axis tracker, this upgrade is going to change everything! With this system, we will only require five hours of sun every three weeks to keep our batteries charged over the winter. During the spring, summer and fall, we will not be able to use all the power it will be able to provide for us.
Why did we get such a large system? So that we could “grow” into it. This power system has “headroom” baked into it so that when we add our main cabin and shop, we shouldn’t need any additional solar panels to sustain us. This is so exciting!
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