Easy, Simple, Cheap Trick To Improve The Power Output Of Your Solar

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[@maxchill308]

When you said an "Canadian guy" I immediately thought of Red Green. I was expecting duct tape and no mention but that's OK 'cause ideas started popping. 😁😃

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

this is the guy mate kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpC4fIl7d92MfK8

[@SamV1224]

Thanks for mentioning Red Green, turns out he's active on KZbin right now. It's Great Day.

[@burnroe6611]

A lot of older cell phones have micro versions of the defraction gradeing sheets

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

do they now - awesome - thanks for that mate

[@JesusSaves86AB]

Yup, old handheld systems I've pulled apart do as well. Probably anything or most LCD's I would imagine

[@christianeaton]

So do the new ones... anything with a backlight basically.

[@vincentrobinette1507]

You would also see a considerable gain in output, if the wire from the panel wasn't shadowing the panel. If you shade even one cell, the available current from the whole panel is only as much as the shaded cell.(s) reflecting light onto the panel increases current, but voltage decreases, as the cells heat up. Anything that will help cool the cells will increase the mean voltage of the panel, to multiply with the current, which is proportionate to the intensity of the light shining on the panel.

[@SinsBird]

I suggest you go grab a calculator now and calculate that 'considerable gain'.

[@vincentrobinette1507]

@@SinsBird Since the cells in a panel are in a series circuit, the whole panel only produces as much current as its weakest cell. The gain by moving the shadowing cord goes far beyond the percentage of area it's shading.

[@SinsBird]

@@vincentrobinette1507 It's been 16 hours, have you calculated it already?

[@piconano]

If your solar panels are inside and away from the elements! One gust of wind or a storm, and bye bye setup.

[@petrepisica9320]

Bravo Robert, you are doing something for which you deserve our appreciation from those who do not have the time, patience or courage to do what you do.

[@alibabaneue-welt9602]

Great vid 👍👍👍 , we have a company here that use cooling pipes from fridges on the backside of the PV Sheets , attached with a heat exchanger they feed the warm water boiler ( they alos use frensl lence to increase power )

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Very cool! - pun not intended lol

[@JesusSaves86AB]

That's an excellent idea.

[@rhalfik]

Are you sure these are designed for this kind of input? On a sunny day, they're probably overloaded and their life shortened. Would be nice to have mirors that hide when it gets sunny and only retract when the light is scarce. Just to even out their load throughout the year.

[@ahaaha5559]

"Thank you very much for watching", Mr. Murray. Shoot man! Thanks for sharing.

[@russellmoore1533]

This might work OK on a camping PV system, where you have small panels, and you can play around with angles etc, but on a roof top like mine you would need mirrors almost as large as the panels themselves and that would be huge in my case. Also most panels are not at a high angle such as they are in this video, but down around 25 degrees. Remember that if you don't get an even spread off light onto the panels, you can only get power from the panels equal to the spot on the panel receiving the least amount of light. As the sun moves through the sky the reflecting light will keep changing angles. All good in theory, not so good in practice. My 5kW system was installed just over ten years ago, and I have water cooled them with an oscillating sprinkler on a 20 times a day timer with a 3min on 15min off cycle starting around 9:30am. The water runs from a rainwater tank, and recycles bak into the tank. I can get up to a 10% increase in power most of the time. I replaced my Fronious IG40 recently with a new SMA Sunny Boy inverter which is a little more efficient, and allowing for that, my panels have lost about 0.4% per year of power output, not bad I say.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

you might want to watch this video mate kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpC4fIl7d92MfK8

[@russellmoore1533]

@@ThinkingandTinkering I looked at the suggested youtube clip, and here are my thoughts about that clip, the comments section is turned off, it is full of ads, all of his observations are with small scale experiments that haven't been taken to any real life sized situations. If I can't comment on that site it makes me wonder what is is trying to hide.

[@irishguy200007]

Why not take the heat from your panel back into the house?? Also why mot build a flame for your panels that tracks the sun and then place a secondary array of mirrors of equal area to double the intensity of light hitting those panels.

[@thornhedge9639]

Interesting stuff as always! By the by: I just pulled apart a broken laptop, the screen was broken but it still has the Fresnel and much reduced scale plastic layers. I do think however that the glass (what's left) is far to thin to prize apart. Has very small speakers, might prove useful for something...

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

certainly worth playing around with mate

[@whisthpo]

Now when I started watching this and heard the word 'Fresnel' (system used to amplify/focus light output in Lighthouses) my mind jumped to you putting a layer of the material Directly onto the panel.....But you didn't!

[@MakeTeachRepeat]

You lose a lot from the additional heat - you can do this as long as you have cooling on the cells, otherwise you'll lose a lot through electron leakage from the collector.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

You might also want to view this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2SXpnWubsR4pac

[@sarahhoward9081]

Isnt the fresnel lense also in the giant flat screen projection televisions from the 90s?

[@K9JT]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpC4fIl7d92MfK8 Posting the link as a main comment to the "Canadian guy" - Hyperstealth Corp, because it seems to be hidden unfortunately in your replies Rob. So not so easy to find while scrolling through the comments, unless you click on every reply thread.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

thank you for doing that mate - I didn't realised that happened - his name is Guy Cramer apparently

[@markirish7599]

This idea would be great with the bi facial solar panels .put it behind the bifacial panel and the sunlight passing through the panel will be redirected to the back of the panel

[@AntCooke]

Thanks for sharing this Rob. Those percentage increases are quite something!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

for sure mate

[@jeanlouisdarmangeat2833]

@@ThinkingandTinkering et on Lakota l'ap du O

[@TexMex421]

Yes, who knew that putting more light onto a solar panel would make more electricity. It's shocking really.

[@johnmcfadden9336]

Shawshank redemption was a prison film too 😀

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - and a good one!

[@cmarin5904]

Thank YOU! Such great ideas to formulate improvements from!

[@ronniepirtlejr2606]

Your average power for the day would also increase! Fantastic!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

for sure

[@MrRosey70]

Instead of the highlighter for fluorescent, use phosphorus for the catching capabilities and the "glow in the dark" turns into volts. Light guides in-between phosphorescent sheets in a vertical manner

[@SinsBird]

So I did some tests: Cooled the panel by pouring water on it: 1st try: went from 0.5A to 0.63A +26% (big improvement, might be an outlier). 2nd try: went from 0.55A to 0.6A +9%. Directed light with a mirror (kinda dirty): Went from 0.6A to 0.72A +20%. Mirror (kinda dirty) + prison film Went from 0.58A to 0.81A 40%. Prison film by itself performed pretty poorly.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

awesome mate - seems like it is prism film and mirror with cooling is the way forward?

[@SinsBird]

@@ThinkingandTinkering yup.

[@sofa-lofa4241]

Hi SinsBird, I would be interested if you could test again for total output power in watts, also could you setup the panel and take readings and then take readings after the panel has got to full temperature in midday sun, and note the panel temperature, This would take into account the fact that as the current increases the voltage is decreasing due to the temperature (0.45% per 1°C increase) I think this might give a better understanding of the full picture

[@SinsBird]

@@sofa-lofa4241 I would like to, but I don't have my infrared thermometer with me at the moment.

[@bazofiascbr]

@SinsBird Do you use an MPPT controller? As far as I know temperature decrease of solar cells will increase _tension_output_, an MPPT controller will look for the sweet-spot of the tension/current ratio. Could you try compare voltages too, with the different arrangements? This could demonstrate even higher output increases. Or try as @Sofa-Lofa suggested, measure actual power output? Good job doing that testing!

[@MikeGrayM70]

Not sure how feasible this would be for a larger system, but I think it would be great for something portable like a solar phone charger or a camping trailer. Maybe a heatsink in the back could help with the heat? I really want to go try this now! :)

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

well worth playing with for a bit I think mate

[@bazofiascbr]

I've seen concentrating mirrors on PV, I've seen fresnel lenses on PV, but had never seen a combination of both. Interesting idea! Thanks for sharing! I also remember something from some 20 years ago about prefering amorphous cells on high concentration systems, because although these cells are not as efficient at STC they will actually increase their output as they heat up.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Thanks for sharing mate - that is very very interesting

[@Nanocosm]

You really need an electronic/dummy load. You would get a lot of use out of it and have more practical power readings from all your inventions:)

[@joohop]

Also When PV Panels Heat Up They Lose Efficiency So It Would Be Smart If You Could Water Cool Them . What Did The Mrs Say When She Found The Mirror Missing From The Bathroom ?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I put It back before she found out lol

[@joohop]

@@ThinkingandTinkering That's A Smart Workshop Do You Live Close To It ?

[@Ilus-Mirror]

|> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> well ... what is on a saiilingboat is always speare is photovoltaic area which is eventually NOT shadfowed from any sails ... CIGS modules are broadband photovoltaic cells and there are also flexibel ... they work much much better by lowlight conditions ... so I think to give a strip from about 30 cm around the hull which should collect the reflecting from the water. You must be very carefull on sea to not catch a sunburn because the water reflect so much ... I think by CIGS modules must work this too ... problem is ... you need deffinied free areas for the fenders ... or you break them eventually. |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |>

[@TimeSurfer206]

That one trick was about a 15% increase in efficiency. Now add one on the wall behind it, angled a bit forward at the top. And as a proponent of Solar Steam Generation, I'm waiting for someone to make a LINEAR Fresnel Lens.

[@adriandragomir1544]

the maximum output power of a solar panel is obtainable at 1000W/m2 ( at equator ); on the 45* parallel , the solar irradiation is about 500W/m2 which will give you half the power and if you double the surface with a mirror you will gain 100% more power , but NOT the way you do it , you are transferring a lot of heat and lose some of good light do to angle of total reflection

[@geodeaholicm4889]

interesting, when you initially described it, i thought you meant lay the film directly on top of the solar. to the side the film can act like a combo of a mirror & a series of prisms. i wonder if the spacing or geometry of the slits in the film could be adjusted to focus the infrared component to either a different depth or different area (to reduce heat load) while the wavelengths we want focused on the solar cell. alternately, it might be a good addition to maximise power in morning & late afternoon, cover during the heat of the day.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I am sure they could mate - there is lots of room to find a good solution here I think

[@davidpotter9462]

I had somewhat of an idea how to do the same thing....I'll do it on the 3rd....I had already planned to get 3 more 100 watt panels so that lets me have 1000 watts out there...the amps will be around 30 coming in from the panels, using an Epever mppt controller 40 amps...this will be just until August, I will get two more batteries and that will make 14... I don't know if I will go to 16 later or not...I'm getting the 110 amp hours ones now, so the amps hours will be 635, at 24 volts, although it's almost always 25...I'm glad the battery buying stuff is about over, hope I am getting enough batteries to run my Aims inverter/charger...I figure it's better just to have the system and not need the grid plug anymore...the sun is plenty hot here in Oklahoma without a reflection and it's fixing to storm so I may have to bring my panels inside...they're too much money to let them get hailed on so I'm making frames out of small square pipe around each two panels so I can grab them in...I really like it now that I've been off grid, but it does cost at first and so it can't do as much for awhile, if you build a bit at a time like I'm doing it...but it's nice now...free energy...I can get 3 compact high output mono panels for around 200 bucks because of repeat customer discount so I'm going for it...they put out good amps...nobody tells you that it all runs on amps...lol

[@pellesomethingsomething]

I've watched the video 3 times to memorize it - now I can safely break my monitor!

[@SinsBird]

I think a prison cell would be a good name for the whole contraption.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - yes it would lol

[@geodeaholicm4889]

@@ThinkingandTinkering or PRISM cell.

[@MushookieMan]

There's no reason to expect a lenticular lens to improve the performance. You didn't do a control test with just the mirror.

[@alpaykasal2902]

I thought this is generally NOT done because the panels get hot quickly and become less efficient, a zero sum effort. Did you still see the same increase after the solar panels got toasty?

[@D-B-Cooper]

If you took the shadow from the wire away would greatly improve output.

[@catprog]

How does it compare in costs/energy with a second panel?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

very well as if you scavenged the fresnel lenses it cost nothing

[@Zellonous]

I was wondering what would happen if you stuck peltier modules on the back of a solar panel

[@thatcheapguy525]

first thing that comes to mind is a combined heat-solar panel to improve efficiency yet further

[@Slider2732]

This upcycling is great fun... am sure to try this idea too. Used to have tomato plants in the back garden, where there was partial shade. I put a full length mirror in the sun and directed it at the plants, they did great. Will try something similar with the plastic film on window ledge plants.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

That's a great idea mate

[@user-dr2pg8fk2i]

This is a cool project, but NOT what the cells are designed to be able to handle. The panel will burn out faster if not entirely.

[@myownwebsite0000]

Solarcells are fairly fragile like a potato chip. One possible way to help reduce heat effects reducing current is to put an air space behind each cell. thanks in advance

[@hecatonecles4334]

what about you cover the entire solarcell with a frensel-lens? how dos it it improve the output is it does?

[@nicholashuff4198]

Wouldn't a mirror be more effective? Oh, never mind, lol.

[@spencercash6920]

Concentrating the solar energy will increase the surface temperature on the panel. Could this be detrimental/damaging to the materials used to make the panel?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

yes - which is why I talk about it in the video

[@bobleponge1301]

if the panel is impragnated in resin (like the new ones) and are waterproof. Than you can drop it in an aquarium like or have water running over the surface. Temperature drops and efficiency goes up. Another way around woud be to concentrate at on point, install a prism to remove infrareds(and UV) and return the ''clean'' light to the solar panel. So you will have just light but no heat.

[@bobleponge1301]

@@lexiecrewther7038 Light is NOT ONLY heat. IR is heat, the rest of the visible spectrum is not heat. Heat drops output of solar panels. We are talking CONCENTRATING large amount of light on the solar panels. Would you prefer to loose a little on the output or fry your panel?

[@bfernb4388]

What if you ran a closed system of water pipe on the backside to collect thermal energy

[@zacharysimpson7353]

Test a solar panel from pulling it out of the freezer and see the difference.

[@TheTexGIBson]

ROBBERT I JUST HAD AN A LIGHT BULB MOMENT - WHY NOT USE SPRINGS AS POTENTIAL BATTERIES

[@irishguy200007]

Why not make a Dual solar panel and draw that heat or thermal energy away into the house??

[@joc1274]

try a board whitewashed (not emulsion)

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

or you can mate and then do a vid - cheers

[@joc1274]

@@ThinkingandTinkering books.google.co.uk/books?id=du_ADQAAQBAJ&pg=PA372&lpg=PA372&dq=the+reflection+of+whitewash+to+aluminium&source=bl&ots=hJULzInL-1&sig=ACfU3U194QzRwHSqb8a0qVHIQR-fpq6OyQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwir7biiwprqAhXHQhUIHZ0kCW0Q6AEwEnoECAYQAQ#v=onepage&q=the%20reflection%20of%20whitewash%20to%20aluminium&f=false Reflectivity Whitewash 70 to 90% Aluminium sheet 45 to 60%

[@Barskor1]

A solar water heater as a heat sink for your solar panels you get to use the heat and the increased electricity if you have set up a well-insulated water tank you can heat your house for days with just that.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

that is an awesome suggestion mate

[@SinsBird]

First of all solar panels don't get that hot to be effective water heaters. Secondly, why would you want to heat your house in summer?

[@EgonSorensen]

@@SinsBird Showering and doing dishes?

[@Barskor1]

@@SinsBird If you paid attention to the video you would know adding the reflectors and prism screens increased the heat significantly. Why would you want hot water during summer? Like EgonSorensen wrote showers dishwashing and if you live in a desert the nights are bitter cold there are plenty of uses for heat including generating more electricity with monotherms and Peltier devices.

[@Barskor1]

@@ThinkingandTinkering Thanks but it probably is not my idea as I watch thousands of videos and read lots of papers and keeping track of it all is damned near impossible.

[@ruthcormack1765]

Haha I KNEW my hoard of LCD inserts would come in handy one day. I for some reason thought they were just polarizing sheets. I'm hoping I can boost the uptake for my garden lights in the winter to see if they can actually not die completely. Funnily enough I went out & bought a similar Solar Panel from poor old Maplin's before they went under, I use it to keep a spare car battery charged up currently, but I have some other lead acid batteries that I may 'hook on' if I can revive them. One problem I have continually is the self-discharge of rechargeable batteries, I have quite a few that I like to have ready but keep them on a mains timer charger. I wonder if I could just trickle charge them thru the day to jeep 'em topped up? That should stop any memory effect/cycle life problems surely.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

hmmm - depends on the battery really - most of the new ones don't like to be tricked charged

[@rhoniandjeff7453]

Always great videos.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Glad you like them!

[@davidmintun]

RMS, i'm looking to simplify and increase the efficiency of Browne's gas (hydroxide) production by, inducing the harmonic resonance frequency of hydrogen, in combination with a classic electrolysis set up. Do you take requests? If so, you would be doing us all a great service if you could produce a video on the subject. Thank you for your past efforts, i like the way you think.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Great suggestion! - I'll. look into it - cheers

[@geoffreylohff3876]

I've had that thought about utilizing the resonance of the atoms (H or O) or the molucule (H2O) to attempt to improve H20 cracking. Haven't taken the time or resources to test anything yet.

[@mikeharrington5593]

What overheats and why is it a problem ?

[@Xeno_Bardock]

To prevent heat from decreasing the efficiency of solar panels, you can install CPU cooler aluminum heat sinks on the back of the solar panels, remove fans from aluminum heat sinks and weld copper pipes to the aluminum heat sinks and then put water through those copper pipes, water cooling solar panels. Nearby river can be the source of water to cool the solar panels.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice is a nice solution mate

[@UsenameTakenWasTaken]

So... Who is the Canadian guy?

[@darrinbunston5932]

I've never seen anything that I could scrap where I'm from to get a sheet of that foil where might I find some

[@tradersimon3413]

Check out RMA's other videos on scrapping LCD monitors. They generally contain these films.

[@brandonmcclain6575]

I'd really like to see this guy doing an Arduino solar system tracking video

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

why? that seems like over complicating the issue to me mate and I like to simplify if I can.The last I looked at that it raised the price by 50% and the output by only 25% - why not just buy a few more solar panels? It was cheaper and gave more power and a system less prone to failure - that seemed like an answer to me so I didn't look any more - but I could well be out of date - have things changed?

[@alibabaneue-welt9602]

Regarding cooling modules : www.solarchoice.net.au/blog/solimpeks-hybrid-pv-thermal-solar-panels-in-australia/

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@jeffdevine6387]

i will have to test this with mylar, easiest to carry

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice one mate

[@DrDooDah]

I wonder if those could be used to focus sunlight for a heat sink inside a greenhouse. (I would experiment myself, but I don't have a greenhouse - or indeed a garden - yet. But one day....

[@kuatumpoole3632]

You can also get power from heat. Have you tried including heat producer to your panels?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nope - but it is a good idea mate

[@SkipMichael]

Just found your channel... Love it.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

awesome mate - welcome

[@melodysouljahrootsdubpress5539]

Very useful for the double sided panels that are available now.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

for sure

[@jedidiah5131]

That Canadian guy is years too late...I've seen this somewhere before. Hmmm NASA maybe, I know they were using mirrors maybe not the lcd. I wonder how he's getting along with his patent? I also know companies were using this in the US....on a large scale /acres of panels and mirrors. Heat and dust were an issue but that was probably 20 years ago.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

yeah I think he is chasing down a blind alley myself too - but hey ho each to their own

[@flightofthejellyfish]

I'm not sure what the Fresnel lens is meant to be doing. If it was focussing the light shouldn't it be making a bright spot in the middle of the solar panel. In which case you'd be better off with just the mirror spreading the heat over the entire panel. Is the idea that the lens bends light from many angles onto the mirror/panel so that the mirror doesn't need to be solar tracking? In which case why would it give a higher output than just the well aligned mirror as Robert seemed to show in the video?

[@flightofthejellyfish]

Yeah okay answering myself, having now gone back and looked up "prism film" instead of imagining a Fresnel, it's the second one. The prism film bends the light to be more straight out from the mirror, giving a benefit without solar tracking. I guess the mirror was intentionally not aligned for the demonstration.

[@mteca5093]

You could mist the solar panel. The water droplets will act as a lens and cool it at same time

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

does that work?

[@mteca5093]

@@ThinkingandTinkering your already setup. TRY IT. Cooling panels with mist in the middle east is already being done.the colder the panel the more powerful it is

[@mikeguitar9769]

Yes but it would be awesome to find a way to use the heat to produce distilled/desalinated water rather that consuming it, particularly in arid/desert regions.

[@mteca5093]

@@ThinkingandTinkering mr Smith, I have an idea for you from watching your videos for 2 years. 😁 can you paint your conductive ink on a 1 meter square sheet of steel and put a 100 watt solar panel on it and see if it heats a room???? If I had your ink I could do it cause I have the panel but no ink 😭

[@tullgutten]

Better to 1. Buy one more 2. Get a proper mppt instead of straight to a resistor since it is at an sub optimal voltage loosing lots of power. 3. Cool the panel. Good way to early destroy your panels. 1. Use a fresnell lens on it 2. Use mirrors to get more sun and more heat on the panel.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

it really depends what you want to do as to what is better mate - if you want to experiment it is really not better to just buy one. If all you want is solar then by all means go right ahead - but what about if you haven't got the cash, but do have a sense of adventure? - there is never really a better to mate it all depends on you and what you want to do - well that's what I think lol

[@sdub300]

I scrolled down most of the comments, no one says who this Canadian guy is. Who's he learning from?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

yes they did mate and when they ask I post the link - here it is kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpC4fIl7d92MfK8

[@ArcanusLibero]

Bravo. I love this idea. Now....To come up with a system that works with my conditions, laws, covenants, and set-up.

[@claytonmccormick622]

solar cells over their 20 year life span develop like film your trick will speed this up but it will also up the overall output of the cells extending the time before they produce to little power to use effectively useful so if you have the room go for it win win.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

awesome mate

[@BushImports]

Thanks Rob, that's really cool.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@TheGreenPastures]

By doing that, it heat up the panel. will that reduce the life span of the solar panel?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

yep - do you have a solution?

[@tysonjbest]

I have 1 huge important question 🤓🙏🏻 Is there any way to use/combine the power of old /superseded solar cells to boost or be an efficient addition to a new array? Eg: use them just to boost voltage, for cooling with seperat fan anything at all? Or are they just junk that will drag the system down🧐

[@shaunemicheal7362]

Amazing! Finally, solar technology is making progress toward being a viable source of electricity.

[@sadaavedan]

For real systems already on the ground (roof!) and doing productivework, the issue will be the solar charge controller/inverter which may not be able to handle the increase in power.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

goo thought mate- cheers - still - try it and see is my motto lol

[@brandonmcclain6575]

If that's a concern you can always daisy chain charge controllers. I produce about 800 watts and have a 400 ah my Internet modem smart lights exterior lights all run off of the system. Wiring cost was not an issue for me so I went for straight 12 volts.

[@dixiethedog5796]

mppt controllers should be fine. I don't think you're increasing voltage here, just amperage.

[@JesusSaves86AB]

If your charge controller can't handle a 40%+/- increase in amperage than you're controller is probably inadequate to begin with if it's barely rated for your panels as is.

[@rzy2023]

It will work but it will cook your panels and you be buying new panels a lot sooner

[@SinsBird]

Cool the panels then.

[@MarioAbbruscato]

Wow! It is a pity that you cannot comment in the video you refer to. Unfortunately I don't have a prism to test the effect of individual colors on a small photovoltaic panel. But maybe that's what happens: only some frequencies reach the panel. And if this is true it means that other frequencies have a negative effect on the panel's energy conversion.

[@griffin3360]

When you focus the light on a cell that is manufactured for a certain amount of heat energy, you do not take advantage of the maximum lifespan, but still a great idea. Everything is a give and take. For the most part..

[@crawfish069]

If you didn't know how to spell "frennel" it's Fresnel lens. :) Now you can search for it on various sites.

[@crawfish069]

Hm. What if we had a parabolic reflector to focus sunlight on the solar cell? No matter how the sun moved, the focal point of the focused suns rays coming out of the parabolic reflector would not move and would always point at the solar panel, right?

[@nancysmith9487]

Sir, If possible please send me an address to receive a letter... been looking threw older comments and responses. Appreciate your time and effort to show everyone these experiments and tutorials...

[@thomasmoore4576]

That is slicker than snot on a doorknob that looks like it would probably work real good on a solar hot water heater

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

do you know mate - I think it would

[@B2Hives]

Solar PV and Thermal increase dramatically from the reflection on snow too. If the film was mounted directly on the surface of the PV in combination with the mirrors, would the effect increase the output?

[@petergambier]

Thanks for that and all nicely explained, in Bayerish you'd be the baumeister wunderkind Rob. Any chance you could do a film about hydroponics and how that works please? I once saw a film about how they doubled or even tripled the output of a wind turbine when they put a collar around the outer edge of the blade.

[@whatsthepoint202]

Would Mylar not work better than the mirror? as there is probably a loss through the glass on the mirror and foil reflects light in random directions. Probably negligible but if efficiency is the name of the game might be worth the effort.

[@auspicious113]

hi that current increase is what you sau the video shows nothing

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

it was bright - ah well

[@scout4locations]

I knew there was a reason why I have been collecting Fresnel lenses out of abandonded DLP televisions whenever I find them. That is, a reason other than using them to melt things like cars and railroad rails.

[@craywill]

A rectangular water tank attached to the back of the panel should help extend the life of the solar panel and give warm water for your tea.

[@kilokilos]

Awesome idea but for the effort involved and the obvious installation problems, would it not be an idea to rather spend the effort on a horizontal squirrel cage charger that goes on the nock of the roof to augment the sollar. It charges at night as well?

[@nancysmith9487]

Thank yous,really neat stuff... incredible once you put your mind to it. Fabulous

[@errolfoster1101]

mirrors and reflectors have been around for a long time but there is a cost for anything and the cost here is a shortened life of panels so I wounder whether there is an equal gain cost meaning all you get is panels that last less time

[@omsingharjit]

But the problem is sun isn't fixed in sky so i don't know if this setup will work or not on that condition !!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

see this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpC4fIl7d92MfK8

[@omsingharjit]

Solar tracking system are needed

[@TheJunkyardgenius]

I had a thought. If you put the 3 reflectors around the solar panel to generate more power, instead of using another one to cool it and lose a little bit of power, why not put water emitters or drippers along the top edge it can drip or be pumped to mist the solar panel surface, cool the panel down and at the same time heat the water which could be caught at the bottom in a gutter of sorts and get warm or hot water as a byproduct and keep the panels fro getti g too hot.

[@horizoninabucket]

The cable casting a shadow across the panel will HUGELY reduce its output. The mirror is filling in that shadowed area.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

watch this and stop guessing kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpC4fIl7d92MfK8

[@thornhedge9639]

@@ThinkingandTinkering Yup: Watched it! Shadows score: Zero! No guessing here! Really cool Robert. Really cool......

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

@@thornhedge9639 awesome mate - it is amazing to me how many folks watch a few seconds think they have it and make a comment I have already covered - quite a lot of folks seem to think this is just a mirror - amazing! - it's quite refreshing to hear from someone who has actually taken the trouble to think about it - cheers mate

[@JesusSaves86AB]

@@ThinkingandTinkering YT is full of know-it-alls and professional commenters that feel obligated to nit-pick and criticize without watching a second nor uploading any content of their own. Can't do much but pity them.

[@RyanStone143]

@@ThinkingandTinkering I've had a keen eye on Guy Cramer for years now. It started with his "passive negative-ion generator" patent (awesome work.) When he announced Hyperstealth years ago, I had no idea that it would take almost 10 years for it to be patented. I'm glad you looked at his work and thank you for all your awesome content!!

[@howards6638]

Great vid. Note having anything (the wire) in front of the panel will have a large negative effect.

[@oldcyclist5880]

The temp rise of solar concentrators can be quite high and would void any warranty.

[@AaronBrand]

This looks like the structure of a lighthouse light!

[@jonnyswalk4674]

Nice on Robert 👍 Thanks 😊 Jonathan Merthyr South Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@bentalley7277]

what does it erase the ambient temp too? high het is not good for panels

[@_John_Sean_Walker]

You increase the surface. So when you add an extra solar panel you improve the power by 100%

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

ok