Your video made a lot of sense. I've watched 10-15 videos and liked yours the most. I especially liked the changes you made as you went along to improve the final product. A couple of suggestions for you might be to build in a couple of safety's on the tall 4 x 4 in the back to minimize the heavy tension on the aircraft cable and the winch. Drilling holes for safety pegs would minimize the chance of catastrophic failure if the aircraft cable or the winch failed. these can be set at all three angles for winter, spring/fall and summer. Secondly, if you add counterweights in front of the short 4x4 it will act as a counterbalance and make it easier to raise and lower. Thank you for posting your build it will be helpful to me in planning my build. I am older and lazier than you so I will attempt to make mine with a 120 volt operated winch.
Two suggestions. Lower the front to give the proper rake in the winter. And put some pins in where you are going to leave it just in case the cable system gives up unexpectedly.
Yes, If I lower it in the front more it would give me more of the proper setting in winter. I don’t want to cut down any more trees so this will have to do. I have a total of 2500 watts of solar panels, the EcoFlo Delta Pro takes in a max of only 1600 watts. In my case it’s sufficient. The batteries stay charge. It’s a small cabin, only 160 Sq ft. I do have pins to secure it on top just in case the cable gives. I have also moved the three 4x4 to the center and now it goes up and down very easy. Thank you so much for your advice sir.
cool, I like to watch people come up with their own inventions. Nice work!! Get an electric winch that runs off of a battery. they have cheaply priced ones at Harbor Freight.
At the bottom of the panels add weight a pvc large pipe with water might do best to get the balance to help lift. For winter below freezing add antifreeze also cause wire is high price build battery box charge control out there and inverter then run wire to place. Insulation for the winter as well
Looks good. I think I may use a variation of it on mine. I would suggest drilling some holes in the beam that lifts it and the posts that it rides on so that you can put a pin through it. That way all the weight is not sitting on the cable.
Glad to help. I did move the first three 4x4 to the middle. This made really easy to move up and down with the winch. Then when I have it set to the proper degree setting, I secure it with screws. This secures it from heavy winds.
I like it. Many good suggestions too. Why couldn't you have instead of lifting/pivoting along the long axis , you pivoted on the short axis? Instead of tilting a five rows long and two wide, tilt two rows high and five wide. Like Rodney Hunt's mount.
You may want to add pins though the 4x4s so that if the winch fails it will not drop far. Like every few inches like the distance you move if every few weeks. I had a winch get away from me lifting a grain bin. It could have killed me. Still watching it. Putting in a double pulley in would help.
I ended up moving the last two post to the middle and it goes up and down with easy now. It does have pins on top to lock it in place for safety. I normally just put a couple of screws on each post after setting the right position. Thank You for the advice.
Good thing those shade trees will keep you panels cool. I believe your angles are incorrect. For Houston it would be 15deg for winter and 45deg for summer. These would be approximate numbers based on your latitude. Are you going to cut some trees down in front? They are too close on the side also.
2 comments 1) a 2 speed manual winch (like what is one some boat trailers) increases the ratios and would make it easier to raise the panels 2) the diagram of the panel angles about 1/3 the way thru the video shows Winter at 36 deg up from vertical, Spring and Fall 60 deg up from vertical and Summer 84 deg up from vertical. This equates to looking at a roof from the ground of a 54 deg pitch, 30 deg pitch and 6 deg pitch for those seasons. A 54 deg pitch to most people feels like nearly a vertical cliff. I think at the steepest, the most you got a 40 deg pitch, you would have had to have the front posts only about 1' tall to get near 54 deg. Still you will get better performance during winter, but those pine trees may shade the panels during the winter.
Yes, you are right, sometimes I do udjust it that way. I don’t want to cut down anymore trees. I’m pretty much in the middle of a forest. I have 2500 watts of solar panels and my EcoFlo Delta Pro can only take in 1600 watts, so this works for me. I don’t use all the electricity I collect. Thank you sir
Very interesting concept, but several aspects could have been done better without adding much cost. If you had put the pivot point at the top of the tallest beams you wouldn't have been lifting and lowering nearly as much weight. Lubrication, in the form of a heavy grease, would make your existing system much easier to lift. Finally, adding lead counter weights to the tails of each 2x6, on the lower end of your structure, would help it pivot more easily. The biggest mistake made in this design is you didn't take into account the parabolic nature of the arc you're attempting to scribe. Had you done so, especially with the pivot point at the top, the amount of effort needed to change the angle on the panels would have been far less.
Your video made a lot of sense. I've watched 10-15 videos and liked yours the most. I especially liked the changes you made as you went along to improve the final product.
A couple of suggestions for you might be to build in a couple of safety's on the tall 4 x 4 in the back to minimize the heavy tension on the aircraft cable and the winch. Drilling holes for safety pegs would minimize the chance of catastrophic failure if the aircraft cable or the winch failed. these can be set at all three angles for winter, spring/fall and summer. Secondly, if you add counterweights in front of the short 4x4 it will act as a counterbalance and make it easier to raise and lower. Thank you for posting your build it will be helpful to me in planning my build. I am older and lazier than you so I will attempt to make mine with a 120 volt operated winch.
My exact thoughts after watching this.
Two suggestions. Lower the front to give the proper rake in the winter. And put some pins in where you are going to leave it just in case the cable system gives up unexpectedly.
Yes, If I lower it in the front more it would give me more of the proper setting in winter. I don’t want to cut down any more trees so this will have to do.
I have a total of 2500 watts of solar panels, the EcoFlo Delta Pro takes in a max of only 1600 watts. In my case it’s sufficient. The batteries stay charge. It’s a small cabin, only 160 Sq ft.
I do have pins to secure it on top just in case the cable gives. I have also moved the three 4x4 to the center and now it goes up and down very easy. Thank you so much for your advice sir.
That looks Pretty Good Man. Nice set up Also
Thank you sir
cool, I like to watch people come up with their own inventions. Nice work!! Get an electric winch that runs off of a battery. they have cheaply priced ones at Harbor Freight.
great plan-idea/like it/thanks much
Thank you, Ron
At the bottom of the panels add weight a pvc large pipe with water might do best to get the balance to help lift. For winter below freezing add antifreeze also cause wire is high price build battery box charge control out there and inverter then run wire to place. Insulation for the winter as well
Thank you that is a great Idea!
Looks good. I think I may use a variation of it on mine. I would suggest drilling some holes in the beam that lifts it and the posts that it rides on so that you can put a pin through it. That way all the weight is not sitting on the cable.
Great work and thank you very much for sharing brother. Definitely helped out this ole boy 🙏🏼
Glad to help. I did move the first three 4x4 to the middle. This made really easy to move up and down with the winch. Then when I have it set to the proper degree setting, I secure it with screws. This secures it from heavy winds.
I like it. Many good suggestions too. Why couldn't you have instead of lifting/pivoting along the long axis , you pivoted on the short axis? Instead of tilting a five rows long and two wide, tilt two rows high and five wide. Like Rodney Hunt's mount.
GREAT INGENUITY!
Looks like you might need a heavy duty automotive winch 12volt d.c. to lift all that weight.
You may want to add pins though the 4x4s so that if the winch fails it will not drop far. Like every few inches like the distance you move if every few weeks. I had a winch get away from me lifting a grain bin. It could have killed me. Still watching it. Putting in a double pulley in would help.
I ended up moving the last two post to the middle and it goes up and down with easy now. It does have pins on top to lock it in place for safety. I normally just put a couple of screws on each post after setting the right position. Thank You for the advice.
Looks good brother. 🌞🌞🌞🌞
Good thing those shade trees will keep you panels cool. I believe your angles are incorrect. For Houston it would be 15deg for winter and 45deg for summer. These would be approximate numbers based on your latitude. Are you going to cut some trees down in front? They are too close on the side also.
Well done,simple and efective.
Thank you, I have also moved the three 4x4 post to the middle and now it moves up and down easy.
2 comments
1) a 2 speed manual winch (like what is one some boat trailers) increases the ratios and would make it easier to raise the panels
2) the diagram of the panel angles about 1/3 the way thru the video shows Winter at 36 deg up from vertical, Spring and Fall 60 deg up from vertical and Summer 84 deg up from vertical. This equates to looking at a roof from the ground of a 54 deg pitch, 30 deg pitch and 6 deg pitch for those seasons. A 54 deg pitch to most people feels like nearly a vertical cliff. I think at the steepest, the most you got a 40 deg pitch, you would have had to have the front posts only about 1' tall to get near 54 deg. Still you will get better performance during winter, but those pine trees may shade the panels during the winter.
Try adding 3 more pulleys to make it a compound pulley system. That will cut the cranking weight by half.
I would have adjusted it to above the tree line.
Yes, you are right, sometimes I do udjust it that way. I don’t want to cut down anymore trees. I’m pretty much in the middle of a forest. I have 2500 watts of solar panels and my EcoFlo Delta Pro can only take in 1600 watts, so this works for me. I don’t use all the electricity I collect.
Thank you sir
Very interesting concept, but several aspects could have been done better without adding much cost. If you had put the pivot point at the top of the tallest beams you wouldn't have been lifting and lowering nearly as much weight. Lubrication, in the form of a heavy grease, would make your existing system much easier to lift. Finally, adding lead counter weights to the tails of each 2x6, on the lower end of your structure, would help it pivot more easily. The biggest mistake made in this design is you didn't take into account the parabolic nature of the arc you're attempting to scribe. Had you done so, especially with the pivot point at the top, the amount of effort needed to change the angle on the panels would have been far less.
no way you'll get 80 degree angle. You're maxed out at the top and less than 45 degrees...
Yes, you are correct. It's adjustable but due to the height, I can only adjust to only certain angles.