Solar Panel Use: Best use of solar panels I’ve seen yet. This is the parking lot of the VA clinic in Melbourne Florida, using it to shade the parking area and the cars. Finally, a good...

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Best use of solar panels I’ve seen yet. This is the parking lot of the VA clinic in Melbourne Florida, using it to shade the parking area and the cars. Finally, a good idea from the government…😎

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jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Blaster34 wrote:

Best use of solar panels I’ve seen yet. This is the parking lot of the VA clinic in Melbourne Florida, using it to shade the parking area and the cars. Finally, a good idea from the government…😎

A better idea would be to have them move as the sun moves across the sky. Of course, that would probably require using all the electricity that those panels generate.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

jerryc41 wrote:

A better idea would be to have them move as the sun moves across the sky. Of course, that would probably require using all the electricity that those panels generate.

I agree Jerry but with this being Florida and angled a little off vertical at this latitude, they get a good bit of sun time, especially in summer....Cheers

Ruthlessrider

I've installed 34 solar panels that, even though I'm in central Wisconsin, almost take me off the grid. I checked in to moving panels, and found that the movement is only marginally practical per the cost. The worst part is they need regular maintenance. My array requires almost no need for attention. Even after a big snow fall, all I typically have to do is uncover an area the size of my hand, and the warmth of the sun will take care of the rest.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Ruthlessrider wrote:

I've installed 34 solar panels that, even though I'm in central Wisconsin, almost take me off the grid. I checked in to moving panels, and found that the movement is only marginally practical per the cost. The worst part is they need regular maintenance. My array requires almost no need for attention. Even after a big snow fall, all I typically have to do is uncover an area the size of my hand, and the warmth of the sun will take care of the rest.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

There is one of these at a library in Muncie, Indiana. Theirs tilt with the sun. I imagine these do too.
Nice shot.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

I saw several of this type of solar panel installation while driving in Arizona. They were all in a business or commercial parking setting. Would a residential two car covered park provide enough power to justify the investment?

Stan

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

jaymatt wrote:

There is one of these at a library in Muncie, Indiana. heirs tilt with the sun. I imagine these do too.
Nice shot.

No John, there are fixed, no tilting....sun shines on these all the time given Florida's latitude (sans very early morning/evening.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

StanMac wrote:

I saw several of this type of solar panel installation while driving in Arizona. They were all in a business or commercial parking setting. Would a residential two car covered park provide enough power to justify the investment?

Stan

No sure Stan and I probably will never find out...

Ruthlessrider

jaymatt wrote:

There is one of these at a library in Muncie, Indiana. Theirs tilt with the sun. I imagine these do too.
Nice shot.

My experience and observation, when I pass a solar field with moving trays, is that more than a few are not tracking, which means they need maintenance. And, that is probably no little cost. Mine haven't moves in 11 years, and all work just fine.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Blaster34 wrote:

No John, there are fixed, no tilting....sun shines on these all the time given Florida's latitude (sans very early morning/evening.

campyboy1 Loc: vancouver Washington

Blaster34 wrote:

Best use of solar panels I’ve seen yet. This is the parking lot of the VA clinic in Melbourne Florida, using it to shade the parking area and the cars. Finally, a good idea from the government…😎

When I lived in California I worked at a local school district in the San Fransico Bay Area that had solar panels installed at all our schools and the district office too, most of them were installed in the parking lots, and it was nice during the summer time to get in a nice cool car. But there was a drawback they had to be pressure washed at least once a year to clean them and other maintenance costs to maintain them.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

campyboy1 wrote:

When I lived in California I worked at a local school district in the San Fransico Bay Area that had solar panels installed at all our schools and the district office too, most of them were installed in the parking lots, and it was nice during the summer time to get in a nice cool car. But there was a drawback they had to be pressure washed at least once a year to clean them and other maintenance costs to maintain them.

Like anything else that is exposed to the weather, maintenance is a must, including my regular air conditioning unit. I would the cost of using solar vs taking it from the grid would at least offset the overall cost....Cheers

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Looks like a good idea

Don

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

Ruthlessrider wrote:

I've installed 34 solar panels that, even though I'm in central Wisconsin, almost take me off the grid. I checked in to moving panels, and found that the movement is only marginally practical per the cost. The worst part is they need regular maintenance. My array requires almost no need for attention. Even after a big snow fall, all I typically have to do is uncover an area the size of my hand, and the warmth of the sun will take care of the rest.

Is you array on the ground?