Building a 3.8 kW solar Trailer Part 1 : Building frame and mounting panels

[@FarmCraft101]

Definitely be careful about the wind blowing that thing over. I had a trailer that we used for shelter and shade for the cattle in the summer, probably a similar roof area to your panels, but a much heavier overall trailer. I went out one day after a storm and it was upside down. Wasn't a big deal for me, because I didn't have a bunch of expensive solar panels on it. Very cool setup there, Jesse.

[@jmuller86]

yea I will probably use some mafia blocks to keep it anchored to the ground better. thanks for watching

[@wmweekendwarrior1166]

Hi John, good to see you over here.

[@denisnedelec1159]

Dont underestimate the force of the wind !!outrigger and some kind if anchor !

[@JavaRuud]

good point!!!!

[@FarmCraft101]

Agree.

[@tux1968]

Should attach a wind turbine to the trailer. That way, if it gets blown away, you're still generating power.

[@JeffMarsh-i4w]

@@FarmCraft101 shouldn't you be working on something..lol

[@benmac940]

Exactly what I was thinking at the moment it's looking like a recipe for disaster if it starts blowing hard

[@briancarter1629]

Jesse I'm 70 years old in November will I be still alive when you finish your garage ❤😂

[@jmuller86]

I will be starting on it next week. I have been waiting for a stretch of good weather to start

[@briancarter1629]

@@jmuller86 by the way I love your channel

[@genemartinelli5645]

One of the best channels on u tube. A no nonsence informative man. The best to you and your family Jesse, Gino

[@kennethney4260]

No

[@SciPunk215]

I'm 6 minutes in and I had to pause to say Thank You for doing this, Jesse. You are passing practical knowledge to people, and that makes the world a better place.

[@dogglas7996]

True. I can't understand his channel won't take off? He deserves way more than his 170K sus. Don't know what he does wrong to make it fly. 🤔

[@HobagShizzlemah]

@@dogglas7996 pretty sure, if he improved on his video-editing, it would take off. The content is great..

[@esiebert7625]

Next month: “I built a small nuclear power plant” 😂 Great work, power is always a good investment 😎

[@AnthonyAntTony]

I'm only 17 minutes in, but holy hell you're building this thing like it's going to war, twice.

[@GoSoHardAuto]

A mobile power station, that works off the sun, brilliant

[@Nodularguy1]

As someone who has had solar for years I would recommend locking it down both to the ground and more importantly the panels themselves on the trailer. Watching you move it there is way too much play on the pivot. The wind is stupid strong and you would be surprised at even a medium wind storm will do. Straps and ground anchors are a must. Even my inground mount gets knocked around with a severe storm. Not a criticism just don't want you to suffer for all that good work.

[@robertpeters9438]

Side rigors too.

[@robertpeters9438]

Side rigors too.

[@100M2B]

I have seen many off-grid solar setups on KZbin, but never seen and never thought of a large trailer 'mobile' setup. This is so great!

[@jmuller86]

The whole point is to not need permits for it

[@SuperJlonergan]

edison the company making hybrid logging trucks builds solar trailers for their main product....they are killing it selling them and probably very very expensive

[@rhondasweeney7271]

Awesome build! Thanks for sharing! I enjoyed seeing the boys. The little man, putting his clothes on backward, was a riot!😂

[@MrTheBigNoze]

Noah was making sure no one could sneak up on him with his clothes backwards 😂😂

[@donnal.oglesby4806]

Jesse, Thought I will never use half the stuff you have or do, and I will never build things like you, I so appreicate the learning of it all, and Love Pat's "Perfect" " Good". Like i miss it when I don;t hear it on ervery video,🙂. Noticed that even your dad uses the " good" in the last two videos now as well🙂. So admire the way you can just see things and think outside the box to make things work. This one is for Pat.... " SWEET!"..

[@willb3018]

Amazing to watch this guy. The variety of the things he tackles is unbelievable. I really like how he explains what he does and why.

[@karencary3312]

"Will it zap you?" Cautious boy. Great idea!!! ❤❤❤❤

[@thedelcodave]

Very cool setup. Anytime you want to make telescoping square tube weld the nuts (I use coupling nuts) on the corner at 45 degree angle pay attention to the weld seam. It will force the 2 right angles of the tubes together and you can skip the extra flat stock.

[@jmuller86]

Yea that does seem like a better idea

[@ESPSJ]

They're worth it just for the fact that if shit hits the fan you've got your own power and you're not reliant on the grid. I am a big fan of being completely self sufficient, solar is a great step in that process.

[@mendohomepower7492]

This makes good sense and it keeps the panels portable which keeps the bureaucracy interference at a minimum

[@rogerday6184]

Let’s check your shoes…. Golden moment

[@BigMacheteBM]

Happy to see you shaping your creation with solar panel, I really enjoyed your video. You are very inspirational for me, even if I am from EU, where driving a trailer like that would be illegal and governments want us to pay taxes when we use solar panels because it is considered an income. Please keep on sharing your work, your channel, Dan Wheeler and Andrew Camarata became my first option for tv entertainment! Thank you

[@SteveP-vm1uc]

Jesse, I am really happy to see you getting deep into solar. Channels like this will turn heads and finally get many to think about making clean power and being their OWN BOSS!!!!! now we gotta get Camerata into it!! ;)

[@jmuller86]

he is already on board with his new property. he pretty much has no choice, the nearest powerline is like miles away and he would have to run the power through neighbors property to get there. Solar just makes sense anyways with how low the prices are right now

[@how_to_hallagon1]

Here in California folks with solar panels will be expected to pay an extra $2,000 per year in electric bills and you cannot go off grid.

[@jmuller86]

@@how_to_hallagon1 yep. thats why everybody needs to either start fighting this or leave. if they expect you to pay then you should have the option of being off grid

[@how_to_hallagon1]

The other kicker is before that Jerry Brown mandated all new construction homes have panels. So the legislature gets you both ways.

[@michiganengineer8621]

@@how_to_hallagon1 Does the legislation say how MANY panels you need or if that solar has to be connected to the grid? If not, put up a single 200W panel with an enphase micro-inverter for the grid connection. Use other panels with a hybrid and batteries to power the house.

[@Andy-cw3kx]

YOUR A GOOD DAD Jesse.

[@MrPhotodoc]

Interesting project. Thanks for letting us tag along.

[@Rockport1911]

Nice flexible solar array. These new panels generate their rated power at a much larger range of the suns direction to them. Gotta watch out for shade tho. If just one of the panels wired in series has a few cells blocked it draws the whole array down to its lower output.

[@AdelinoGambiarras]

That's awesome Jesse what you doing is impressive just to be able to move that trailer with the panels around is a massive bonus in it self.

[@checktheskies5040]

You inspired me to go for it. My flame was low to my craft and you Sir have turned my gas up, I have a plan now. Thanks UK.❤

[@jmuller86]

You gonna make a solar trailer? This thing has performed very well. I saw 5kW the other day where it is only supposed to get 3.8. I am going to be building a solar tracker trailer next

[@briansheerin1436]

You are a genius Jesse. Amazing build!

[@Rockport1911]

Instantly thought about the DC Solar power scam. But yours is better and doesnt need a generator or trick the IRS :)

[@dwaynesimons-d2c]

Check back with you after the next big wind storm.

[@PaulRansonArt]

Totally brilliant use of solar Jesse. Like the trailer idea for movable power systems. Idea for work on jobsites which might still be off grid.

[@raeanker3078]

Here in Queensland Australia we get subsidised to have solar panels installed, then we get paid a tariff per kilowatt/h for feeding back to the grid, now battery’s with installation are subsidised as well. We have 24 panels on our five bedroom home with at least one air conditioner running 24/7, eight months a year, for our home we get paid roughly $ 1200 dollars per year. Homeowners can get this subsidy only once, we were lucky to get in at the beginning of the scheme with a fixed 44 cent per kilowatt/h rebate it’s now 13cents per kilowatt/h, Cheers.

[@Deutschehordenelite]

I love it, crazy how fast this will pay for itself for you! We only get 1/3 for the excess we put into the grid so it takes a lot longer for us, but it's still worth it. We have 9.3KWp on the house. It produces 50kwh+ on a perfect summer day in total.

[@DrLoveQc]

Solae trailer seems like a dream project to do. On mine I would keep it as a enclosed rectangle box. Solar panels on the roof. On the left side I would put solar panels vertical on a frame that swivel from top with actuator to tilt it from vertical to the desired angle ~45 degrees. Horizontal panel will likely get 20/30% less power but panels are cheap so I would not bother. If you bother you also can put them on a rack with actuators to get a tilt. But if kept horizontal, If more panels are needed, on the right side the same panels with top hinge, but with the panel going up to ~ 135 degrees to be also tilted to desired angle. This way you get a big enclosed trailer, space for the battery, inverter, even a gas/propane generator, toys hauler, camping trailer. Also the panels stored vertical and horizontal are very secure on the road.

[@yatidaum7980]

Love the design, I think Wind is your biggest enemy

[@koningbolo4700]

If you were to use a small gauge railroad system which curls around your circular pond and mount some train style undercarriages (bogeys) under that and maybe another trailer like it, you would end up with the coolest most tracking solar array on the planet...

[@jmuller86]

that would be kinda cool actually

[@kennethney4260]

Wouldn't it be a wee bit easier to have the trailer pivot around its center? 😂 Think Center Pivot Irrigation... 2 electric motors and wheels at the back 90 degrees to its length with the jack at the front as the pivot point.

[@bigbird2100]

Great video 👍 I would say pay back is instant because no more electric bills which that money can be used towards either business or other outward costs.

[@WHYTHISKOLAVERII]

Great ideas. Thanks for sharing them so well with us.

[@JimPeachley]

What a great project. Maybe tilt both banks all the way inward, lower the upper panels and raise the lower panels so they miss the inside frame by an inch or so. This puts the panel faces inside and makes everything vertical for transporting. For most situations I'd bet you wouldn't have to do much other than re-tilt them. Nice job.

[@jmuller86]

yea I think I can get the upper array to tilt in far enough, but the lower panels need to be raised a bit to tilt all the way in. I was 100% thinking they would both tilt in easily but once I started laying things out I kinda thought it might just be too dangerous to have them attached while driving so I didnt dive into it too much.

[@SurreyRoad]

I would love to see a solar island.

[@SciPunk215]

This is perfect. Don't change a thing. Now let's talk about all the changes that need to be made. 😆 My ONLY concern would be strong wind. Maybe an outrigger or kick stand?

[@HamburgerAmy]

the new spray paint can at the 1:00:30 mark was really cool.

[@sylviaprudhomme5417]

Constantly impressed by things you come up with to do. And how to do it❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@leonvdm]

tip for anyone else or next time: the round plates with holes in them. make one plate to have 10 holes equally spaced, and the other plate to have 9 or 11 (or any other combination where they have 1 hole more or less. that way you have a lot more available angles for the same amount of effort ;)

[@walterbrown8694]

Jesse - Great job and power generation/usage analysis. From a trailer mobility standpoint, if you modified the lower panel supports to include short telescoping struts, you could extend those struts vertically enough to rotate the lower panels "Backward" to "face" the upper panels while transporting the trailer, then on site just lower the shorter struts to minimum position for normal operation.

[@jerrygibs8120]

Thank you for sharing, Jesse. Appreciate your videos much and I always learn something. Many comments reflect that a lot of people watch Andrew Camarata and also your mom & dad. I'm no exception. Blessings to everyone. Stay safe, strong, healthy and successful in His Holy Name. ☝ ❤💪👍👊

[@josianrodriguez1249]

ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO AS ALWAYS. NICE JOB WELL DONE.

[@JLC24]

Excellent video Jessie tske a bow😊

[@Re5ist_ance]

Enjoying the solar work Jesse .. keep up the awesome videos!

[@fredhayball8553]

Another educational video that proves the lasting value of solar and geothermal tech. Well done again!! Amazing how much power that array puts out. Congrats to you and family :)

[@allentisthammer4763]

Nice job. Those boys bring lots of joy!

[@kangli2321]

You also need a car battery pack, I have a 43kw one, and while it's a bit complicated to get it going, it's safe, stable and cheap. You can use soft panels, so the shelf can be made to pull out, twice as much power.

[@cortcam664]

I have always had a front trailer hitch receiver on the front of my truck. Would make positioning that solar trailer REALLY easy....and boats...and small trailers. At the lake I pushed one boat and pulled another at the same time...a little ways.

[@bjrnhjjakobsen2174]

Success starts with dedication 👌👍🏻

[@tjhanlonjr]

That's actually a brilliant idea to have it mobile u can reposition at will. Good job Jesse.

[@DusanTodorovicDukeBgd]

Thank you for another great and detailed video. :) I'm sure over time you will improve trailer on your own... I trust your expirence and smartness. But here is my opinions... 1. It won't be practical and safe to drive trailer with panels on, you would have deasent area of sails behind you pushing you all over road... 2. When in usage you probably will need some balast, or beter yet anchor system, to keep it from fly of in high winds... 3. I would add gasets on posts (like on truck frame) that will rest on frame (creating 90° angle, shelf resting on trailer frame), maybe even add vertical bolt on to frame true tham... 4. I really wish you builded suport wall on that part of pond bank 😊

[@kennethlockhart6745]

I like it you are the man and your brother to❤

[@rhiantaylor3446]

The challenge and opportunity will be to maximise your generation in winter. reflective panels would be a cheap way to increase the area collecting the suns rays from the existing panels, as a short-term winter measure.

[@KarenL-qt7dy]

What a brilliant idea for this trailer!! Moveable....imagine that!! Looks really great, too.

[@LisaMedeiros-tr2lz]

For a mobile installation that can survive transport, I think you should use the KISS principle. What if you make the frames for the lower panel row attached to hinges on the trailer frame, and attach the upper panel row via hinge to the top of the lower panel row? Like a door hinge itself hinged on one of the edges. Fold the top row down to the lower row (panels face back to back) to stow. When you get to the job site, raise the lower row (that has the upper row folder onto it back to back), fold open (unfurl) the upper row, and deploy your supports to prop them up. Make the angle you prop them up adjustable by having the support tubes have holes along the length so you can pin them up. Who cares if you get the perfect optimal angle? With almost 4KW you could run a bunch of 120V tools simultaneously. You could periodically adjust the angle if you want to. Batteries to supplement for cloudy days. The panels will all transport flat. You need something to cushion them like rubber mats to protect them against road shocks. Maybe something like the horse stall mats they sell at Tractor Supply. You can't transport yours without a lot of setup and tear-down hassle and time not spent working. With the above kind of design, you just show up, fold out and plug in.

[@MySynthDungeon]

Morning coffees on!! Lov it! Full steam ahead! Here we go! Cheers!;-)!!

[@AW-Services]

Another brilliant build, Jesse. I'd be inclined to make an inter connecting pantograph link bar from the lower to upper panels to mitigate over rotation and strain on the angle end setting plate you may experience with wind. Also, incorporating a few ballast brackets for some concrete blocks or water tanks in case of wind & storms. This is so much better than those auction trailers mentioned before

[@jmuller86]

Yea those trailers were only good in the summer. In the winter the front panels would shade the rear panels

[@ThePropertyProject]

I’m going to install my own soon … though it’ll be muuuuch smaller. Thanks for going through this

[@donanything6816]

Nice work, Jesse. Thanks for the in depth information and video.

[@mikeunum]

@jmuller86 - Here some ideas. If you have questions please ask. 59:08 - You could use a servo motor like unit and control it always in 90 degrees to the sun with a bit of electronics. Sun follower is the name. Here in one axis only but gives you always 10...18% more output depending on the position of the sun. 01:09:19 - If you use an extra servo unit you could drive the most front wheel too. Then you have a two axis sun follower. But be aware you need space for it to turn it.

[@WhataTry]

Wind is the only unknown, sure u can make adjustments, superb idea.

[@TheKajunkat]

might want to think about slide out outriggers on the four corners with trailer jacks on them to help stabilize in winds. Maybe even some type of earth anchor for longer installs. It would be a first rate bummer to come outside after a storm and see that trailer tumble weeded into the neighbor's yard.

[@jrehtil1494]

Great job

[@carloskawasaki656]

Awesome, thank you for sharing 👍👍👍👍

[@criticalevent]

When you start using this to travel, you could set these up in a fixed a-frame configuration like the solar light tower trailer from Edison Motors. You just park it east to west instead of north to south.

[@criticalevent]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoDIpp-kjMmoodE

[@tonygriffiths2485]

The whole thing was excellent to watch. Most enjoyable, thanks :)

[@tylerbarrett6652]

This is such a cool idea! Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@ianmurray9201]

thank you for your efforts Jesse.

[@msnpassjan2004]

Always learning something from this channel. 7:30 Laser cutters are way cleaner than plasma cutters but ordering the finished material is so cheap might as well just order it.

[@TheKajunkat]

The laser cutters seem to be slowly taking over. They are just so much more expensive but make up for it with speed and accuracy. torch, plasma, water jet and laser will all have their niches but it seems like laser is becoming more common.

[@philrodger6445]

If you could make the short side telescope, it would make it so you could rotate both sides vertical toward the middle for transport. It may be beneficial to tear apart the square tube mast of a telescoping light tower and model any future projects after that design.

[@jmuller86]

Yea I may do something like that

[@koningbolo4700]

To sync the two arrays you could use two identical motorcycle sprockets and some chain.

[@glenjamindle]

Just an idea...have the lower array fold down for travel. Weld hinges on the backside of the uprights and pull the bolts out through the trailer frame. The array should fold and lay flat on the trailer deck.

[@ZenWithKen]

You could always use water for ballast as well.

[@Bob_Adkins]

I hope Jesse adds some serious anchors to the trailer in case of a T-storm. Those panels have some serious area.

[@robertpeters9438]

PROTECT FOR LIGHTNING AND HIGH VOLTAGE KICKBACK VOLTAGE ON SUDDEN TOOL STOPAGES!!! AND YOU MAY NEED SEVER ANGLE DETENTS FOR SLOPED TERRAIN! GREAT JOB.

[@ernieruss6044]

where I live that would need to be anchored down or it would blow over wind is strong here so consider that thanks for your videos never miss one

[@manabouthome]

Great videos. Thank you for all this helpful information.

[@paulhammond7489]

Good to hear you are going to go with a tracker for one of your solar arrays.

[@GMans-World]

great idea and concept.... you've got me thinking..... thanks

[@Poorehouse]

As someone who has a solar trailer and another 10KW of roof mounted solar, I think your insolation numbers are a bit optimistic as it assumes that you have the batteries to store everything captured. Also expect the panel efficiency to drop a couple percent a year in the first few years. My solar trailer lets you fold the panels to the inside for travel. No issues towing it hundreds of miles. Fold to the inside, pin them in place and go. I’d add either outriggers or ballest for stability. My trailer has heavy lead acid batteries (to be replaced with lithium like my house uses): a generator and extended diesel tank for stability. I only fold the panels up in high wind conditions.

[@jmuller86]

thats what net metering is for. but right now I can use enough during the day, along with my batteries to offset everything I produce. in the summer, I need that net metering

[@alanharriman23]

@@jmuller86My 20 Kw of battery is only there to run the house when the grid is off line. My total usage is about 24 Kw per day. The net metering allowed for storage last summer that carried me through the winter months. I am very anxious to get the last 2.5 Kw array up. It is still winter here in Maine, it will be a while before I can build the last frame.

[@the2060ish]

Great idea and work Jess..👍☀️

[@dmmaddex]

Well done. I love this trailer.

[@rondierckens6618]

Hey Jess you like try n new things to make stuff better .. what if you ceramic coated your panels real good ..that would help with keeping them clean all the time and snow may not stick at all ?!?!?!

[@andrewpowell6457]

Excellent idea Jesse

[@edwardseth1230]

for Solar ..its a good investment and the trailer battery bank system.... hope to see the completed home interior some day.. if your Mrs. allows.. Question on the other property.. the drive way you did.. a while ago... hope to see something done to that place. Regards from Singapore,.. Advance Happy Easter to you, your family and friends.

[@alanharriman23]

I have had most of my system for almost a year Currently 7500 watts. I am grid tied and have been using my batteries only for power outages. I learned from Signature Solar that I need to exercise my batteries. Only 7 discharge/charge cycles since the system was installed. I am amazed how much power there is in sunlight.

[@jmuller86]

Yea I learned that too in the last power outage. They dropped to 50% instantly. Since then i discharge my batteries daily

[@alanharriman23]

@@jmuller86I, like you, am impressed with the power generated on cloudy days. It was cloudy and raining today and the panels still produced 7 Kw. To accomplish the last discharge I had to run a 2 Kw electric heater to run them out. That is against my basic beliefs.

[@Harold-w9o]

Telescope the bottom tube steel so you can raise the bottom panels and tilt them towards the middle of the trailer.

[@letmelooktv]

Top quality long form content. Nice one :)

[@fnordist]

nstall several oil barrels horizontally in the space between the beams, fill them with water, and you'll have a balancing force if it gets windy.

[@1.5acrefarmer42]

Awesome design Jesse. May use it in the future…

[@CaptKirk1701]

Definitely need to anchor it from winds flipping it, looks great though!

[@aeros4me]

Great job Jesse!

[@rustymaxwell1725]

Cool idea

[@johnkranz4004]

Very nice work Jesse You should have moved the planks into the middle of the trailer as a Catwalk So you can mount the panels to and put fenders on the trail and Noah is a Blast

[@malcolmcheyne3803]

If you lowered your bottom panels (say one foot) you would then be able to fold them UP (inwards) for travel. great job Jesse. Townsville, Australia.

[@robertpeters9438]

SHEETHE THOSE PANNEL CABLES FROM VIBRATION!

[@SRTPCC]

Love the videos man! Always creative! Kids are funny