What Preps are you doing this week? Part 13

[Yorkshire Andy]

bought a 450w solar panel as the Chinese gov have pulled the rebated export tax on solar panels prices expected to jump 30% just as the UK is thinking of legalising balcony solar ......

That gives me max input for each ecoflow if shtf and I need to use them I can charge them all at the same time plan is this one is off in a home made fence panel to keep it semi discreet and away from damage ... Priced up 2x concrete slotted posts and a gravel board s about 70 quid plus a small fence panel or rail to put above will need to cut the gravel board down a out 60mm but no drama..

Solar as fence panels sounds good. Are they the right size? 6ft? What do they present on the other side?

Just be a bit wary of stone chips when you mow.

Does anyone know much about these 'bifacial' panels? I bought some cheaply. Apart from difficulty illuminating both sides, what proportion of the rated power depends on both side being illuminated.... which won't be happening.

Everything is the correct size when you've got a angry spanner

In my case from the local builders merchants details and the tech sheet download for the panel I need to whip 60mm off the gravel board then it'll be a good fit.. as for taking the rattle out the panel in the posts they sell stainless steel anti rattle spring clips for about 30p each

[GeraldTheBonzai]

bought a 450w solar panel as the Chinese gov have pulled the rebated export tax on solar panels prices expected to jump 30% just as the UK is thinking of legalising balcony solar ......

That gives me max input for each ecoflow if shtf and I need to use them I can charge them all at the same time plan is this one is off in a home made fence panel to keep it semi discreet and away from damage ... Priced up 2x concrete slotted posts and a gravel board s about 70 quid plus a small fence panel or rail to put above will need to cut the gravel board down a out 60mm but no drama..

Solar as fence panels sounds good. Are they the right size? 6ft? What do they present on the other side?

Just be a bit wary of stone chips when you mow.

Does anyone know much about these 'bifacial' panels? I bought some cheaply. Apart from difficulty illuminating both sides, what proportion of the rated power depends on both side being illuminated.... which won't be happening.

Bifacials are interesting. In a bifacial, both sides of the panel can produce electricity but it depends on how it is illuminated and the bifaciality factor. If a panel is speced as 200W with a bifaciality of 50%, then the "front" side can generate a max of 200W. If the panel is sitting flush on a black surface, then that's it. But suppose the panel is mounted say a foot away from a white surface. That surface reflects light onto the "back" of the panel, so the panel now produces maybe 215W.

Under ideal conditions, where the panel is illuminated on both sides, with bifaciality of 50%, one side would generate 200W and the other 100W, giving 300W.

So the key to bifacials is how you mount them. I've seen some setups, when the panels are positioned vertically, like a fence, but facing East/west, rather than South. You get peak generation in the morning and afternoon, but a drop at noon. Another solution is to have two strings, shaped like a T with normal panels forming the top of the T and bifacials the upright of the T.

[jennyjj01]

Does anyone know much about these 'bifacial' panels?

Bifacials are interesting. In a bifacial, both sides of the panel can produce electricity but it depends on how it is illuminated and the bifaciality factor. If a panel is speced as 200W with a bifaciality of 50%, then the "front" side can generate a max of 200W. If the panel is sitting flush on a black surface, then that's it. But suppose the panel is mounted say a foot away from a white surface. That surface reflects light onto the "back" of the panel, so the panel now produces maybe 215W.

So you sort of confirm that energy from the rear face is above and beyond the rated value. I.e. If it's rated at 500W, then in peak sunlight just on the main face, I get that 500W, and any I can get by reflection onto the back is extra and I might get 700+ Watts in total ??? !!!

[GeraldTheBonzai]

Does anyone know much about these 'bifacial' panels?

Bifacials are interesting. In a bifacial, both sides of the panel can produce electricity but it depends on how it is illuminated and the bifaciality factor. If a panel is speced as 200W with a bifaciality of 50%, then the "front" side can generate a max of 200W. If the panel is sitting flush on a black surface, then that's it. But suppose the panel is mounted say a foot away from a white surface. That surface reflects light onto the "back" of the panel, so the panel now produces maybe 215W.

So you sort of confirm that energy from the rear face is above and beyond the rated value. I.e. If it's rated at 500W, then in peak sunlight just on the main face, I get that 500W, and any I can get by reflection onto the back is extra and I might get 700+ Watts in total ??? !!!

Correct. it's the albedo of the rear reflective surface that give the additional "boost". BUT. Some retailers cheat. They will quote the wattage as the max theoretical wattage. So a "300W" panel might only be 200W.

[jennyjj01]

Correct. it's the albedo of the rear reflective surface that give the additional "boost"

Wow. Cool new word for my vocabulary. Thanks. Because of how I'm mounting these, I COULD install mirrors to give them much bonus light in early morning and evening

[Frnc]

Correct. it's the albedo of the rear reflective surface that give the additional "boost"

Wow. Cool new word for my vocabulary. Thanks. Because of how I'm mounting these, I COULD install mirrors to give them much bonus light in early morning and evening

Albedo means how reflective a surface is. The scale is 0 to 1.
0 = no light reflected. 1 = all light reflected. 0 is also known as black body.
Very important concept in geology (ice ages and climate). For example the Antarctic has a high albedo, which of course is part of the reason it's so cold.

[Frnc]

Speaking of heat, 22° in my room, despite the window open all day. Had to dig out a different duvet!

Got a bit of gardening done. Had ants on my acer, but couldn't see any today, fingers crossed. I sprayed it with soapy water, but some vaseline round the trunk (on plastic), and cinnamon near. And squashed a few by hand. Think they were farming aphids, but couldn't see many. Will spray it a few more times, few days in between. That's mainly for the aphids, though I did sqirt the trunk, and a few ants running up and down it.

Cancelled my cleaners. I don't really need them. It''s a big chunk of my pension. Trying to build my savings back up. To be honest, I found a load of crumbs behind my kettle and toaster, and that clinched it (they were here earlier, cost £72, going up to £75 I think this month). Also a few crumbs at the edge of the kitchen floor.

[grenfell]

At the other end of that I'm putting in an increase of price with so.e of my customers. So far I'm finding they are all going along with the rises many of which haven't risen for a few years.

[nightowl]

Ordered some freestanding shelving units for the outbuilding so will be able to get stuff more organised rather than being crammed here, there and everywhere around the house. Have also been looking at some vegetable planter tubs to put out back.

[GeraldTheBonzai]

Put the woodburner to bed for the year. Hoping it's not too early but we are getting low on wood. Just have to get some jumpers out if there is a cold snap,

Now to find a chimney sweep. It's overdue and normal sweep has retired.