If I had had YOU as a science teacher in high school, my life would have been quite different. Luckily, I became a successful writer, but I never lost my love and wonder for science. After watching maybe 20 of your videos, I'm just astounded by how well you can do two things: 1. Explain complex ideas in terms accessible to non-specialists, but without losing critical information or "dumbing down." And 2. Making the entire enterprise so damned FUN without ever losing a bit of respect for the subject or for your audience. You, sir, are a very rare treasure. I hope you know that. Thank you.
Hey Alexander, looking at the positive side. We all have a great science teacher right here now. AND so many enthusiastic passionate people to interact with in the comments here. Learning is a lifetime activity
U just articulated my thoughts perfectly in the way I wanted to in a comment on a different video. If he's not a teacher he would have a fantastic side gig as a private tutor.
I don't comment often, but I truly love what you are doing. I've never had much interest in engineering, but you make it accessible to those who don't know much about it. Thanks for all that you do!
Even with no welding experience or even a welder you could use a gas burner and aluminium brazing rods to join them. With a pit of practice you can create joints that are stronger than the base material itself.
@@TechIngredients one could also miter cut most of the way through, but not all, so that the corner is finished by bending and is much less reliant on the method of attaching the frame elements.
@@TechIngredients Have to agree. People don't need to go TIG for this if they don't want. A spool gun on a MIG will do fine. The only thing I would say is aluminum is picky about cleanliness so clean it real well before welding, regardless of process. A stainless steel brush that has not been used for other things should first be used to remove oxides then hit it with some acetone. It's now ready for welding.
I like the epoxy or Mitre and bend options most. Welding alu was the trickiest metal I've had to weld so far. Much prefer stainless, but I get it's much more dense where this wants to be light weight.
If you're going to be making a few of these, they make saw blades rated for non-ferrous metals that will easily go into your "chop" saw (we call them miter saws).
It would be interesting to see a way of automating the reflection angle using an Arduino and light sensors or even based on time. Great content - thank you for all the videos you guys make!
Perhaps the reflectors' automation could go beyond aiming for max collection? Perhaps, in some circumstances, maximum intensity (reflection plus direct sunlight) could be too much for the panel to bare, or combined panels' output could be too much for the system to bare? In these cases the reflectors could have their aim adjusted to limit panel intensity during peak sun hours (normal panel operation instead of being enhanced by the reflectors) while also aiming to maximize intensity during the morning and late afternoon. This could make such a reflector system advantageous anywhere, not just in northern latitudes. Whatever a single panel can collect, a panel with automated reflectors can collect significantly more. The question is, can a user get more Watt hours per square meter per dollar than with using just traditional solar panels? 🤷. A panels with reflectors (single panel, or stacked vertically) would consume about 3 panels' worth of space per panel. But when you try to arrange them horizontally, they'll likely need more so they don't interfere with each other. So as long as the reflectors and automation don't cost too much, you'd want to get about 3x or 4x the Watt hours of a normal panel per panel to at least justify the space. Automation could also let the reflectors block the panels entirely in cases where it would be convenient for servicing the panels or the system, or for dangerous weather conditions.
If you used a gps chip you would get position and time broadcasted to you from satellites. Or even better, Gnss to use the Russian and Chinese satellites too.
extraordinary great content from the top to the bottom when touching such tiny details as in this video. You can not get lost. Great work, great progress and many, many good ideas that usually suprise and fascinate me.
Now a build an automated solar powered tracking system. Off the shelf parts and homemade ones are always a good mix. Clever design and tips for these reflectors.
It's not just saving the cost of buying more panels, it's all the supporting electronics that go with it. like the charge controllers, etc. This is making each of those more efficient too.
eh, if you're generating more power then your charge controller has to contend with that whether you're using more panels or just mirrors for more light.
@@chrismofer This is specifically not intended to over power the panel, just fully power it in less that ideal circumstances which is pretty much any time other than when it's perfectly aligned on the equator.
@@indusingh2013 They could if you use them on a day when the panel would receive more than 50% of their rating without the panels. So if you are in the tropics and you put these on a panel it would probably reduce the life of it. You could setup an alarm to go off if the panels produce more than their rated capacity so you could quickly go remove the reflectors.
You could "solder" the aluminum pieces together with Alumiweld rods from Harbor Freight and others. It produces a strong joint with a propane torch. I have made reasonable cuts with a hacksaw and a miter box. The Alumiweld can bridge minor imperfections to make a very attractive joint. Prep the surfaces to be joined with a stainless steel brush prior to welding. Thank you so much for all of the fantastic projects you feature.
Thanks for the detail. Look forward to more. I hope you all revisit any long-term data from your air conditioner with the desiccant you might have gathered and new ideas you might have come across.
I did cut a lot of miters on my chop saw, a quick tip if you cut small pieces: Tape the small cutoff to the saw! Either the fence, the table, or both. It works with just painters tape. When cutting, the first corner went to the moon somewhere, after the taping they stayed right where they were. It takes just seconds to set it up and don't tape it to the stock that remains on the saw, because you will of course cut the tape too. Hope it's clear what I mean.
I did the same when cutting wire shelving with my jigsaw (shelves were too long to replace the existing wooden boards in my closets). Ran tape accross the cut and went straight through the tape, no shrapnel or metal dust.
By far the best and most informative channel on RUclips! I love the deep explanation of every eventuality throughout your building/testing processes. Amazing content and expertly presented and filmed. You guys should be very proud. And family run too 👍
Thanks so much for the tips on aluminum framing! I'd like to use those techniques to build a 6U synthesizer case. Your video has more information on cutting aluminum than most others on RUclips. CHEERS!!!
Aluminium can also be cut in a manual miter saw. When you do it is a lot easier to control the small fragments from going everywhere. The fragment can short circuit electrical tools and other equipment.
Yeah, also: Aluminium is pretty soft. It's basically as easy to cut by hand as wood is. So you really don't need expensive power tools for this; and you won't jeopardize your power tools.
I know it's already been said, so I'll vouch for the aluminum brazing rods.. I've personally repaired radiators and even the power a steering bracket on my classic car. that was years ago and it's still holding.. .also I appreciate the video's you guys are making. thank you very much.
Happy New Year -- may this year bring you comfort, prosperity, and happiness. Truly enjoy this channel. Please make an automatic sun tracker so that during the day, the solar array follows the sun. Thanks
Brilliant. Thanks for figuring out such a great way to do this, and then sharing it freely. I especially like the pre-tension to make the surface super flat!
Nice video. The framing isn't stamped though, they are extruded aluminum. It's a standard design, the panel is slotted in the extrusion with silicone/adhesive to keep it in place, and corner keys are used to put the pieces together.
Being a fabricator that I am. I would use a square or boxed aluminum section at 1 inch square and fairly thin wall. It has more structural integrity and it cuts safer and easier and you dont need to back cut pieces. Its a no brainer really and the price may be cheaper. Maybe put in an intermediate piece for way more stability. It goes together quicker and dont weld the inside so it wont warp. More likely a lighter and stronger product. Bolts will be longer obviously to bolt the hinge and then just text screw the reflector with stainless 1/2 inch text screws. Only need number 8. I could build both in less than 2 hours to start and if the pieces wre cut, 30 mins a piece. You maybe able to get away with just epoxying or siliconing the reflector onto the frame instead of bolting altogether for a cleaner, more undisturbed look and you could clamp both frames together and glue at the same time. Make a 3 sided corner jig to put everything together to fisrt tack and possibly weld and for the glueing as well. Just sayin and thanks for all you do. Ive learned tons from you and applied certain things
I live in southern Ontario Canada. About 15 years ago a local farmer began erecting some free standing, tracker style arrays. These arrays were designed with vertical strips of solar pannels separated by reflective Periaktoi columns. The third side of the columns was reserved for attachment. Unfortunately these units suffered from wind damage…but I think he had a great idea!
I love your videos!!! But I like the pyrotechnics the best!!! I watch all of them though! You are doing fantastic!!! Thanks sooooo much for what you do!!!
glad you posted this. i do the same thing during the winter it makes a measurable difference. i just use cheap mirrors from the big box store i may try your method next though. ive taken apart some old big screens as well and have the mirrors and fresnel lens from those id like to do something with at some point. im thinking a solar cooker or maybe even a heater.
Awesome channel guys! I'd love to see you do some stuff with a concentrating parabolic mirror dish like making & running a stirling engine, making steam to generate electricity etc, also seeing what you could come up with for a tracker for a dish or PV panels would rock! Oh & what about making a super efficient solar oven, insulated box style with reflectors for an episode idea? Cheers
I am getting approximately 40% percent more power from my existing array after installing these constructed with mylar over fiberglass and I'm not finding any hot spots with a laser thermometer, I am very pleased with it and doesn't appear to be destroying the panels and I've added six additional 1000ah batteries to the system. great video as always!
Another Great video! I bought a couple of 65W mono panels for home use after watching your previous solar video. Now on to building the concentrator/reflectors. I can weld most kinds of ferrous metals & occasionally braze some cast iron too. Aluminium welding is a whole other story, I can never produce distortion free joints. Alternatively, riveted + epoxy bonded aluminium joints are much stronger, more reliable, distortion free & Safer. Just ask the Aircraft guys. Or high end car makers, especially Audi.
Loved the video! Have you considered making future videos with experiments on any of these things: Measuring the conversion efficiency difference of non cooled vs water cooled solar panels? How far you can increase the output of a water cooled solar panel with concentrators before it starts to degrade the long term (or short term even) life expectancy of the panel? If you can use the water heater panel you made to cool a bi-facial (or normal) solar panel and heat water at the same time? If the specialty coated aluminum sheet can be used as backing on a bi-facial solar panel to make a more space and cost efficient panel than equivelantly rated normal panels with concentrators in a winter climate? Or perhaps tangential topic a catch all video on questions like these that appear to be neat ideas, but either don't make for a good stand-alone video topic due to length, or just don't work out like you expect once you sit down and do the napkin math to find out how feasible they are? Honestly, there are a million ideas I would love to see made into videos on these and many other topics, but I will be more than happy with whatever videos you put out because of how interesting and in depth you make them. You dive deep into the science and it makes it fascinating to watch and learn because of how interested you are in the topics you are teaching us about.
I saw a squirrel cage, horizontal fan, that someone retrofitted as a wind generator. And then built a wind concentrator around it. Placed at the top of a building, taking advantage of the gusts that come from turbulent winds around buildings. I live where summer is short and winter is windy. But a 60' tower is not in the cards.
WD-40 on that saw blade will clean up the cuts and help keep the galding down. Also use the same angle and some pop rivets in the inside corners for a non weld fix.
The U shape tensioning of the frame is genius! You can probably even get rid of the fastener screw/bolts just by hooking the thing with fixed angled pegs and the tension. I also have this idea of using roller blinds (but with Mylar sheets inside), to make the reflectors even smaller!
i think a neat topic for you to explore since you've done refrigeration before is a more in-depth view of ammonia as a refrigerant and how efficient it is compared to man made fluorocarbon based ones
It would be really nice to see a version for permanent installations. Maybe a collaboration with some solar installation channels to come up with something that even solar installation professionals could get behind.
I'm not sure there would be much benefit on a permanent instalation. The problem is the space required. The side panels would end up blocking portions of light from the neighboring panels. A certain amount of distance between the panels would be required. Now in a permanent instalation, it would be much cheaper and efficient to just use more solar panels to compensate for the problem this solution addresses. This is because you would either need to manually adjust the reflectors several times a day or build in expensive and complicated mechanisms to automate the adjustment for them all. You would also need to consider times with high wind and be able to secure them. At that point, just adding a few more solar panels to make up the difference becomes much more practical and cost efficient. I think the main concept here is in portability. But from an investigative or curiosity concept, it might be interesting to see tied on a permanentor semi permanent instalation. I think mounting the reflection panels away from the solar panels might be a more productive approach but where you could permanently mount reflectors, you could also permanently mount more solar panels.
Another possible solution to make these portable and have a full frame to support the reflector, would be to use lift-off hinges so you can easily remove the reflectors to stack.
Make one barn door 3/8" larger than the panel. Make the other barn door 3/8" smaller than the panel. Then you can nest them. Maybe even make them both larger than the panel and they can act as a protective cover for transport.
Thank you for the build video. I like the new bent towards functional science. While cool, I don't have much need for a rocket but using science to improve upon something like solar, wind water power is fascinating to me. I see a lot of folks commented on sun tracking but imho, this falls in the 80/20 rule and I am not sure that the ROI is there. To me, just adding the panels in a fixed position provides additional solar flux. Your build was great and in line with how I would have approached it because I like to build things that last. I am planning on using this idea to improve the little 5 Watt panel that runs the security camera I set up at my daughter's house. So far we have been able to keep the internal battery above 50% daily but with the additional flux it would likely improve quite a bit. The location of the solar panel is not ideal as there are a lot of trees in the way. Thanks for the idea, I had not seen it before this. Last thing.. My Eastwood mig welder with spool gun and Al wire gets here in a couple of days and I cannot wait!
Hello Tech Ingredients! I am a huge fan of yours. I would LOVE to see you build an EFFICIENT and STRONG electric woodchipper that can match the performance of gas powered. I want to build one but you are the master creator sir. Thank you for all of your awesome videos.
Me watching tech ingredients: i haven't even watched the video yet but i'll like it first cus i know it's gonna be good Solid content, love this channel!
Aluminum subcontractor here. I fabricate pool cages here in Fl. The thickness and shape of the piece you’re cutting on the chop saw play a factor in how fast you can cut it. Pieces that aren’t closed boxes, particularly hook shapes, have a tendency to catch on the teeth. The piece will bend, dent, or get chewed up and spit it out lol. Stay safe and go slow if you’re inexperienced.
Thank you for going through the building process with us. Very helpful. I live in the Netherlands, with lots of cloud cover. Solar panels do not generate to their equator potential here. After watching your previous video I am seriously considering building your design for optimizing reflectors. I have an unused balcony with enough room for one or two 100 Watt panels with reflectors to try this out with. One thing I noticed that you insist on using welding of the aluminum frame. Why not use some brackets instead of the welds. Sure you may not be able to fold them on top of eachother, but in a fixed stationary location like mine it would not be required. I have no access to welding equipment, the bracket alternative I can implement.
Loved the video. As the project continues please tell us the full costing of your method so I can extrapolate my own (perhaps larger) project estimate for use in these higher latitudes that we share. Happy new year! All the best to you in the upcoming year.
![Gunna - one of wun [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/w_JtBYqMgk8/mqdefault.jpg)
If I had had YOU as a science teacher in high school, my life would have been quite different. Luckily, I became a successful writer, but I never lost my love and wonder for science. After watching maybe 20 of your videos, I'm just astounded by how well you can do two things: 1. Explain complex ideas in terms accessible to non-specialists, but without losing critical information or "dumbing down." And 2. Making the entire enterprise so damned FUN without ever losing a bit of respect for the subject or for your audience. You, sir, are a very rare treasure. I hope you know that. Thank you.
Hey Alexander, looking at the positive side. We all have a great science teacher right here now.
AND so many enthusiastic passionate people to interact with in the comments here.
Learning is a lifetime activity
U just articulated my thoughts perfectly in the way I wanted to in a comment on a different video. If he's not a teacher he would have a fantastic side gig as a private tutor.
I don't comment often, but I truly love what you are doing. I've never had much interest in engineering, but you make it accessible to those who don't know much about it. Thanks for all that you do!
Thank you. It can grow on you because you start to look at the world a bit differently.
Even with no welding experience or even a welder you could use a gas burner and aluminium brazing rods to join them. With a pit of practice you can create joints that are stronger than the base material itself.
or you can just use a glob of epoxy....
True.
Welding shouldn't be a bridge too far if introduced correctly.
@@TechIngredients one could also miter cut most of the way through, but not all, so that the corner is finished by bending and is much less reliant on the method of attaching the frame elements.
@@TechIngredients Have to agree. People don't need to go TIG for this if they don't want. A spool gun on a MIG will do fine. The only thing I would say is aluminum is picky about cleanliness so clean it real well before welding, regardless of process. A stainless steel brush that has not been used for other things should first be used to remove oxides then hit it with some acetone. It's now ready for welding.
I like the epoxy or Mitre and bend options most. Welding alu was the trickiest metal I've had to weld so far. Much prefer stainless, but I get it's much more dense where this wants to be light weight.
If you're going to be making a few of these, they make saw blades rated for non-ferrous metals that will easily go into your "chop" saw (we call them miter saws).
Something more like a hacksaw blade with many tiny teeth?
Non ferrous metal cutting blades have a negative rake. (The face of the tooth slops back)
It would be interesting to see a way of automating the reflection angle using an Arduino and light sensors or even based on time. Great content - thank you for all the videos you guys make!
Two photo resistors hooked to a electric motor. Way cheaper no computer no code.
There is a vídeo “the cheapest diy sun tracker” doing that with 2 very small solar panels and one DC motor
Perhaps the reflectors' automation could go beyond aiming for max collection?
Perhaps, in some circumstances, maximum intensity (reflection plus direct sunlight) could be too much for the panel to bare, or combined panels' output could be too much for the system to bare? In these cases the reflectors could have their aim adjusted to limit panel intensity during peak sun hours (normal panel operation instead of being enhanced by the reflectors) while also aiming to maximize intensity during the morning and late afternoon. This could make such a reflector system advantageous anywhere, not just in northern latitudes.
Whatever a single panel can collect, a panel with automated reflectors can collect significantly more. The question is, can a user get more Watt hours per square meter per dollar than with using just traditional solar panels? 🤷. A panels with reflectors (single panel, or stacked vertically) would consume about 3 panels' worth of space per panel. But when you try to arrange them horizontally, they'll likely need more so they don't interfere with each other. So as long as the reflectors and automation don't cost too much, you'd want to get about 3x or 4x the Watt hours of a normal panel per panel to at least justify the space.
Automation could also let the reflectors block the panels entirely in cases where it would be convenient for servicing the panels or the system, or for dangerous weather conditions.
If you used a gps chip you would get position and time broadcasted to you from satellites. Or even better, Gnss to use the Russian and Chinese satellites too.
@@Yosomy the world of mo3nkey
extraordinary great content from the top to the bottom when touching such tiny details as in this video.
You can not get lost. Great work, great progress and many, many good ideas that usually suprise and fascinate me.
Now a build an automated solar powered tracking system. Off the shelf parts and homemade ones are always a good mix. Clever design and tips for these reflectors.
An arduino with a few sensors an RTC and some stepper motors should make for a really nice sun tracker.
For the algorithm gods
Glad to be part of them
Don't call the demons who run goggle gods
For science
Algae rythm
I'll throw a stick into the fire
That's one hell of a garage/shop. So envious.
I love the camera work. I can see the details. Super helpful. AND, thank you so much for the ‘making’ video. Really appreciate it.
It's not just saving the cost of buying more panels, it's all the supporting electronics that go with it. like the charge controllers, etc. This is making each of those more efficient too.
Also, most of this can be reused for the next installation once you replace the old solar panels.
eh, if you're generating more power then your charge controller has to contend with that whether you're using more panels or just mirrors for more light.
@@chrismofer This is specifically not intended to over power the panel, just fully power it in less that ideal circumstances which is pretty much any time other than when it's perfectly aligned on the equator.
@@indusingh2013 They could if you use them on a day when the panel would receive more than 50% of their rating without the panels. So if you are in the tropics and you put these on a panel it would probably reduce the life of it. You could setup an alarm to go off if the panels produce more than their rated capacity so you could quickly go remove the reflectors.
You could "solder" the aluminum pieces together with Alumiweld rods from Harbor Freight and others. It produces a strong joint with a propane torch. I have made reasonable cuts with a hacksaw and a miter box. The Alumiweld can bridge minor imperfections to make a very attractive joint. Prep the surfaces to be joined with a stainless steel brush prior to welding.
Thank you so much for all of the fantastic projects you feature.
Thanks for the detail. Look forward to more.
I hope you all revisit any long-term data from your air conditioner with the desiccant you might have gathered and new ideas you might have come across.
These videos are always informative and easily digestible. Amazing job on teaching applicable engineering concepts in an entertaining way.
Agreed 💯
Great techniques for solid and inexpensive fabrication - very accessible for the home hobbyist.
I did cut a lot of miters on my chop saw, a quick tip if you cut small pieces: Tape the small cutoff to the saw! Either the fence, the table, or both. It works with just painters tape.
When cutting, the first corner went to the moon somewhere, after the taping they stayed right where they were. It takes just seconds to set it up and don't tape it to the stock that remains on the saw, because you will of course cut the tape too. Hope it's clear what I mean.
I did the same when cutting wire shelving with my jigsaw (shelves were too long to replace the existing wooden boards in my closets). Ran tape accross the cut and went straight through the tape, no shrapnel or metal dust.
I love this channel, been watching this channel for a very long time. Thank you thank you for everything you guys do.
Bravo again.....your on my patreon list, as soon as i find another job. Your workshop is a dream.
By far the best and most informative channel on RUclips! I love the deep explanation of every eventuality throughout your building/testing processes. Amazing content and expertly presented and filmed. You guys should be very proud. And family run too 👍
Thanks so much for the tips on aluminum framing! I'd like to use those techniques to build a 6U synthesizer case. Your video has more information on cutting aluminum than most others on RUclips. CHEERS!!!
Excellent detailed description of the side panel build. I greatly appreciate this video. Thanks.
I really appreciate your productions and expertise in explaining what you are doing. keep them coming.
Aluminium can also be cut in a manual miter saw. When you do it is a lot easier to control the small fragments from going everywhere. The fragment can short circuit electrical tools and other equipment.
Metal dust is banned from my lab bench for just that reason. A fault caused by a tiny metal fragment is extremely difficult to find in some instances.
Yeah, also: Aluminium is pretty soft. It's basically as easy to cut by hand as wood is. So you really don't need expensive power tools for this; and you won't jeopardize your power tools.
Or, if on a super tight budget, skip the miter saw purchase and just whip up a jig from wood scraps.
Always great to see a new video from you folks! Happy new year!
The quality, presentation, and variety on this channel never ceases to astound.
I know it's already been said, so I'll vouch for the aluminum brazing rods.. I've personally repaired radiators and even the power a steering bracket on my classic car. that was years ago and it's still holding.. .also I appreciate the video's you guys are making. thank you very much.
Happy New Year -- may this year bring you comfort, prosperity, and happiness.
Truly enjoy this channel.
Please make an automatic sun tracker so that during the day, the solar array follows the sun. Thanks
This is truly the best channel on YT.
Awesome stuff, I'd love to see these in action 🙌☀️
Brilliant. Thanks for figuring out such a great way to do this, and then sharing it freely. I especially like the pre-tension to make the surface super flat!
Get a couple cheap mirrors from the thrift store?
Nice video.
The framing isn't stamped though, they are extruded aluminum. It's a standard design, the panel is slotted in the extrusion with silicone/adhesive to keep it in place, and corner keys are used to put the pieces together.
I live in Karachi Pakistan I like your comments send 4 month ago
Being a fabricator that I am. I would use a square or boxed aluminum section at 1 inch square and fairly thin wall. It has more structural integrity and it cuts safer and easier and you dont need to back cut pieces. Its a no brainer really and the price may be cheaper. Maybe put in an intermediate piece for way more stability. It goes together quicker and dont weld the inside so it wont warp. More likely a lighter and stronger product. Bolts will be longer obviously to bolt the hinge and then just text screw the reflector with stainless 1/2 inch text screws. Only need number 8. I could build both in less than 2 hours to start and if the pieces wre cut, 30 mins a piece. You maybe able to get away with just epoxying or siliconing the reflector onto the frame instead of bolting altogether for a cleaner, more undisturbed look and you could clamp both frames together and glue at the same time. Make a 3 sided corner jig to put everything together to fisrt tack and possibly weld and for the glueing as well. Just sayin and thanks for all you do. Ive learned tons from you and applied certain things
Structurally, you're correct, but those won't nest as effeciently. It's a trade off.
I don't intend to build any of this stuff but enjoy watching for the clear explanations and end results! so cool
Thank you for the Video. Great as always and very informative. By far some of the best information on RUclips.
Great idea to show the fast action towards the end of the video. It kind of brings the project altogether in a more understandable fashion.
Very informative, as always. The pre-tensioning thing was brilliant!
I live in southern Ontario Canada. About 15 years ago a local farmer began erecting some free standing, tracker style arrays. These arrays were designed with vertical strips of solar pannels separated by reflective Periaktoi columns. The third side of the columns was reserved for attachment. Unfortunately these units suffered from wind damage…but I think he had a great idea!
Happy New Year!...and Thank You for the content over the course of my subscription. Always entertaining and enlightening.
One of my favorite channels.
I feel a fairly simple tracking system coming up. I so hope I am right! Thank you for all you do and provide.
Thank you for all the good tips and knowledge you share
This is an impressive design for both effectiveness & simplicity. Always looking forward to your videos.
Thank you for this follow up video. Very informative and helpful!
You have great ideas and are a very good teacher/ instructor. 😇 happy new year 🎉
“Even if you’re not building them, you might find some of the tricks useful” is the theme of your channel. Good stuff as usual.
Very good DYI instructions. Thanks.
Thanks for the tips, tricks, and advice. I enjoyed the video.
I love your videos!!!
But I like the pyrotechnics the best!!!
I watch all of them though!
You are doing fantastic!!!
Thanks sooooo much for what you do!!!
Good info guys! Thank you
Nice job!
Now let’s see a solar tracker for the concentrator! 💪
Love the pretensioning 👌
many thanks 🙏 may God reward your kindness
Excellent content, as always!
glad you posted this. i do the same thing during the winter it makes a measurable difference. i just use cheap mirrors from the big box store i may try your method next though. ive taken apart some old big screens as well and have the mirrors and fresnel lens from those id like to do something with at some point. im thinking a solar cooker or maybe even a heater.
I always learn sooooo much from you. Thank you for making these!!
i'd love more general machining/fabrication tips; you and dan gelbart make youtube worth a million bucks! edit: your tension trick is very clever!
First time seeing a video this early after release! Great vid!
Awesome channel guys! I'd love to see you do some stuff with a concentrating parabolic mirror dish like making & running a stirling engine, making steam to generate electricity etc, also seeing what you could come up with for a tracker for a dish or PV panels would rock! Oh & what about making a super efficient solar oven, insulated box style with reflectors for an episode idea? Cheers
great video thanks for all your work have a great 2022
You too.
I am getting approximately 40% percent more power from my existing array after installing these constructed with mylar over fiberglass and I'm not finding any hot spots with a laser thermometer, I am very pleased with it and doesn't appear to be destroying the panels and I've added six additional 1000ah batteries to the system. great video as always!
Great!
Thank you for the 2021
abt I hope you have a good 2022
Great TEC family team.
Another Great video! I bought a couple of 65W mono panels for home use after watching your previous solar video. Now on to building the concentrator/reflectors.
I can weld most kinds of ferrous metals & occasionally braze some cast iron too. Aluminium welding is a whole other story, I can never produce distortion free joints.
Alternatively, riveted + epoxy bonded aluminium joints are much stronger, more reliable, distortion free & Safer. Just ask the Aircraft guys. Or high end car makers, especially Audi.
Loved the video!
Have you considered making future videos with experiments on any of these things:
Measuring the conversion efficiency difference of non cooled vs water cooled solar panels?
How far you can increase the output of a water cooled solar panel with concentrators before it starts to degrade the long term (or short term even) life expectancy of the panel?
If you can use the water heater panel you made to cool a bi-facial (or normal) solar panel and heat water at the same time?
If the specialty coated aluminum sheet can be used as backing on a bi-facial solar panel to make a more space and cost efficient panel than equivelantly rated normal panels with concentrators in a winter climate?
Or perhaps tangential topic a catch all video on questions like these that appear to be neat ideas, but either don't make for a good stand-alone video topic due to length, or just don't work out like you expect once you sit down and do the napkin math to find out how feasible they are?
Honestly, there are a million ideas I would love to see made into videos on these and many other topics, but I will be more than happy with whatever videos you put out because of how interesting and in depth you make them. You dive deep into the science and it makes it fascinating to watch and learn because of how interested you are in the topics you are teaching us about.
I will be demonstrating the effect of cooling the panels. I like your suggestion about consolidating ideas that are probably not worth doing and why.
Extraordinary video! Will watch the other before asking questions.
It answered all my questions so I have got all praise no questions.
I'd like to see what you guys could do with wind turbines. Possible test a few in the market and/or build your own.
I saw a squirrel cage, horizontal fan, that someone retrofitted as a wind generator. And then built a wind concentrator around it. Placed at the top of a building, taking advantage of the gusts that come from turbulent winds around buildings. I live where summer is short and winter is windy. But a 60' tower is not in the cards.
Good job 👍
Thank you for sharing 🙂
Hi! Yours is on of the shortest introductions to your videos, I like that. Just "Hi!" and there you are. Great move.
WD-40 on that saw blade will clean up the cuts and help keep the galding down. Also use the same angle and some pop rivets in the inside corners for a non weld fix.
Good suggestion.
You'd need a doubler if you want a flush surface.
@@TechIngredients They also make a blade that will cut smooth as butter. I cut thousands of pieces on a miter saw.
Great show. Happy New Year.
The U shape tensioning of the frame is genius! You can probably even get rid of the fastener screw/bolts just by hooking the thing with fixed angled pegs and the tension.
I also have this idea of using roller blinds (but with Mylar sheets inside), to make the reflectors even smaller!
Very practical. Thank you!
Killer shop. The projects a man could do in there would be near limitless.
i think a neat topic for you to explore since you've done refrigeration before is a more in-depth view of ammonia as a refrigerant and how efficient it is compared to man made fluorocarbon based ones
Another amazing video. As usual. Thank you!
It would be really nice to see a version for permanent installations. Maybe a collaboration with some solar installation channels to come up with something that even solar installation professionals could get behind.
I would like to see something along this line for my system atop my house in Houston, Texas. I have 5 arrays, 30 panels in all.
I'm not sure there would be much benefit on a permanent instalation. The problem is the space required. The side panels would end up blocking portions of light from the neighboring panels. A certain amount of distance between the panels would be required.
Now in a permanent instalation, it would be much cheaper and efficient to just use more solar panels to compensate for the problem this solution addresses. This is because you would either need to manually adjust the reflectors several times a day or build in expensive and complicated mechanisms to automate the adjustment for them all. You would also need to consider times with high wind and be able to secure them. At that point, just adding a few more solar panels to make up the difference becomes much more practical and cost efficient.
I think the main concept here is in portability. But from an investigative or curiosity concept, it might be interesting to see tied on a permanentor semi permanent instalation. I think mounting the reflection panels away from the solar panels might be a more productive approach but where you could permanently mount reflectors, you could also permanently mount more solar panels.
Totally awesome
Love !!! Thanks and best for 2022 :)
Like your channel very much, keep up on doing excellent work, thank you.
Another possible solution to make these portable and have a full frame to support the reflector, would be to use lift-off hinges so you can easily remove the reflectors to stack.
Make one barn door 3/8" larger than the panel. Make the other barn door 3/8" smaller than the panel. Then you can nest them. Maybe even make them both larger than the panel and they can act as a protective cover for transport.
Love your videos
Excellent video as always. Very fun, thank you.
You are scary genius and extremely awesome to watch. For this, however, ants everywhere are shaking with fear.
What a cool place to do projects!
You had me at hello. I love the channel. Keep up the great work.
The pre-tensioned construction technique is quite clever (first time seeing it). Engineering is wonderful!
Indeed it is!
This is awesome
Thank you for the build video. I like the new bent towards functional science. While cool, I don't have much need for a rocket but using science to improve upon something like solar, wind water power is fascinating to me. I see a lot of folks commented on sun tracking but imho, this falls in the 80/20 rule and I am not sure that the ROI is there. To me, just adding the panels in a fixed position provides additional solar flux. Your build was great and in line with how I would have approached it because I like to build things that last. I am planning on using this idea to improve the little 5 Watt panel that runs the security camera I set up at my daughter's house. So far we have been able to keep the internal battery above 50% daily but with the additional flux it would likely improve quite a bit. The location of the solar panel is not ideal as there are a lot of trees in the way. Thanks for the idea, I had not seen it before this. Last thing.. My Eastwood mig welder with spool gun and Al wire gets here in a couple of days and I cannot wait!
Hello Tech Ingredients! I am a huge fan of yours. I would LOVE to see you build an EFFICIENT and STRONG electric woodchipper that can match the performance of gas powered. I want to build one but you are the master creator sir. Thank you for all of your awesome videos.
as always thank you for all of your efforts and the plethera of information sinceirly j
Great video
Me watching tech ingredients: i haven't even watched the video yet but i'll like it first cus i know it's gonna be good
Solid content, love this channel!
Amazing video! Hooked on this channel. Your freestyle speech is secondary be to none. Not a single break in your speech
Aluminum subcontractor here. I fabricate pool cages here in Fl. The thickness and shape of the piece you’re cutting on the chop saw play a factor in how fast you can cut it. Pieces that aren’t closed boxes, particularly hook shapes, have a tendency to catch on the teeth. The piece will bend, dent, or get chewed up and spit it out lol. Stay safe and go slow if you’re inexperienced.
Great video... great collectors
Nice!
Thanks for this.
Happy New Year!
I love this guy haha. Reminds me of my dad.
Thank you for going through the building process with us. Very helpful. I live in the Netherlands, with lots of cloud cover. Solar panels do not generate to their equator potential here. After watching your previous video I am seriously considering building your design for optimizing reflectors. I have an unused balcony with enough room for one or two 100 Watt panels with reflectors to try this out with. One thing I noticed that you insist on using welding of the aluminum frame. Why not use some brackets instead of the welds. Sure you may not be able to fold them on top of eachother, but in a fixed stationary location like mine it would not be required. I have no access to welding equipment, the bracket alternative I can implement.
Loved the video. As the project continues please tell us the full costing of your method so I can extrapolate my own (perhaps larger) project estimate for use in these higher latitudes that we share. Happy new year! All the best to you in the upcoming year.