Building a DIY Solar Trailer: Part 1
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- Опубліковано 31 лип 2021
- I'm starting to build a SOLAR TRAILER! Let's see if I can build one with just the parts I already have around, starting with an old utility trailer and a few used solar panels! Please click SHOW MORE!
Please see the blog post at: 300mpg.org/2021/08/01/buildin...
Plenty of photos there along with a step-by-step of what I did!
See the whole video playlist at: • Solar Trailer: Part 12...
This is an old trailer, with a 2,000 LB rated axle. I like the idea of solar panels folding up for travel, and then out for use, so I'm mounting the panels on a 10 foot long piece of gas pipe with custom swivels on the end. For whatever materials that I DON'T have, I'm just trying to use affordable and easily-available parts.
The used solar panels are rated at 250 watts. The long-term plan is to have a 48V battery pack and inverter. I might even hook up an electric car charging station to it.
I plan to show off the trailer at educational events and use the trailer as a power source for remote outdoor events. It would also be nice to have a grid-tie component, so that I still get some power from it while the trailer is just parked in my back yard.
Tools and Materials I found helpful for this project:
30', 50A 240V extension cord (Good for welding and Electric Car Charging!) amzn.to/3lgmu11
3/4" Pillow Block Bearings: amzn.to/3BUSsWB
Transfer Punch Set: amzn.to/3C3Ruak
6" Metal Cut-Off Saw: amzn.to/3jb8dQm
Step Drill Bit Set: amzn.to/3zVOuep
Irwin Quick-Grip Clamps: amzn.to/3jb8ym6
If you like what I do you can support me at:
/ 300mpg
By shopping at Amazon anyways: www.amazon.com/shop/benjaminnelson
For more Information, visit:
300mpg.org
Most Popular Playlists:
Build Your Own Electric Car: bit.ly/2zMufmN
Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle: bit.ly/2AT7eOF
Solar Garage: bit.ly/2KgQpS5
Contact Ben Nelson:
Please just leave a comment for me at: 300mpg.org/about/
and I'll get right back to you.
Music by:
"Fireflies and Stardust" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
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Great job!
As the proverb goes, an angle grinder and some paint make me the welder I ain't!
Great idea Ben
Thanks for the video
Great project to put to use some of the materials you have laying around. One thing to consider that may be an issue in the future is the wall thickness of that black steel pipe. It is only about 1/8 inch thick maybe a bit more or less for wall thickness but where the threading is on the ends it is much thinner and maybe a point of failure when being pulled down a road with many different shear forces acting on the pipe. Just something to consider maybe having a removable rigid center brace to help support the weight when in the hauling position.
This is nice. I thought the bearings were overkill until I saw the final product. A pipe in pipe slider would not have the ease of use.
Wish I had the money to do that awesome you will never be without power Sgt z USA engineer
Nicely done! Please try to power your ev while you go!:)
Ha ha. I will certainly at least do some experiments with charging my car with the solar once I’ve gotten to a location!
Interesting project, thanks for sharing. It looks very heavy; will your Ford Ranger be able to tow this Solar trailer to a site? 🤔
I weighed the trailer. It's just over 1,000 lbs INCLUDING some steel weights I added to represent the weight of 3 additional solar panels. I have no problem towing it with a Mitsubishi iMiEV. I haven't tried towing it with the Volt yet, but expect that to be fine as well.
I'm a bit curious to see if you notice any increased electrical consumption from all the welding?
I'm pretty sure that welding is like useing a microwave oven. It uses high power, but only briefly.
I'd love to use a Kill-a-Watt type device to see exactly how much power and total energy it uses!
Why not just mount them (on vibration isolators) at a good angle for solar receiving?
This will have two rows of solar panels on it. If the panels were mounted at a proper angle for collecting the sunlight, the trailer would be too wide to legally tow on a public road.
i have a bad feeling about those caps. imagine the q-forces with the trailer bouncing.
great project!
The caps themselves are VERY strong. I'd be more concerned about my welding!
Part of this project is just learning a little engineering by doing. That's a big part of why you only see 3 panels mounted instead of 6! I want to learn what does and doesn't work on THIS side of the trailer, and then make any required improvements on the other side!
@@BenjaminNelsonX look, they might seem strong but if it's cast like it looks like, it's brittle, and i just wanna convey my view about metallurgy and engineering.
so i can reappear when all your solar-panels went flying - and you admit this in a video, I'll be there to say hi.
@@haugstule If you have some ideas on how to build a simple, inexpensive, and strong mount for the panels, please let me know, and I'll try it out on the other side.
Also, note that the panels themselves are INSIDE the trailer when folded in. In case of an extreme failure, the panels should fail INTO the trailer, rather than onto the road.
@@BenjaminNelsonX square tubing is better than round , get a friend with a lathe (or hire a machinist) to make caps, square on one side, turned round to fit the bearings you already bought on the other side, with threads on the axle, nyloc-nut and split-pin hole. I'm eager to see how this goes and to hear that conclusions you draw from this, don't get me wrong I'm rooting for you!
Did the panels swing too close to bed of trailer not allowing for batteries to go on bed?
The battery goes in a box in the middle of the trailer. I designed it so that the swing of the panels clears that box.
@@BenjaminNelsonX so cool did you have a video of completed trailer?
@@ryanbruh752 Check out the full playlist of the project!
ua-cam.com/video/qeuv2x_lE5Q/v-deo.html
He loves trimming the training period and laying pipe. Geo Metro transmission Kathleen Jenner still away from this guy he might trim your training