It’s time for Solar panel adjustment for our Spring and Summer sun angles.
We’ve passed the Spring equinox, which means we have more daylight than dark. I thought it would be a great time to go ahead and change the solar panels for Spring and Summer.
I had made some adjustments to the solar panels when I changed their angles last, to hopefully make adjusting them from now on easier. I’m about to find out if that worked, or if I just wasted my time!
Original solar panel adjustment
Until recently, I had to adjust my solar panels by waiting for a sunny day, and then around the middle of the day, make the panels perpendicular to the sun.
Once I done, I added a set screw on both sides, and called it good.
And it’s worked! But I figured constantly pulling the screw and putting it back in twice a year would eventually eat the 4×4 and I’d have nothing to hold the panels in place.
And I’ve often been concerned during windy days that the screws might sheer off one day.
During the winter (later than I should have probably)
I adjusted my panels, but before I did, I took some 2×4’s, put in bolts on the solar panel frame, and then drilled holes in the 4×4’s and put lag bolts through them. This would give me my summer angle.
Solar panel adjustment plan
My plan then was to move the panels to the winter angle, and then drill a new hole in the 2×4 brace, and put the lag bolt through that, giving me my winter angle.
And if everything goes according to plan, I just have to backout the lag bolt just out of the 2×4 brace, adjust the angle, and put the bolt back in the summer hole. If this works, I wont have to wait for the perfect conditions. I’d know my settings and could move when desired.
Adjustment in action
It’s now time to see if the plan worked.
I loosened the nut from the bolt and backed out the lag bolt out of the 2×4 (thanks to a hammer).
Moving to the other side, I did the same. I had forgotten how heavy the panels were, so on sets 2 through 4, I got some clamps to help hold things.
Once that bolt was out, I moved it to the hole I had drilled for the summer angle, and tightened down the bolts.
It worked perfectly!
It was then just time to do the other 3 sets.
I did set 2 and 3 without a problem, and half of set 4.
While setting this up, I had made a mistake. One of the braces was going from the panel frame to the support between my panels. But when I had adjusted to winter, it didn’t work.
So I had to redo for winter, knowing I’d have to drill a new summer hole in the brace. But that just took a few minutes to fix and the summer angles were in place.
I’m excited about this improvement.
At the moment, I believe I’ll probably adjust my angles around the equinox. Not needing the sun and just a couple tools will make this so much easier and faster!