Cruising Outpost

In order not to hijack the solar panel topic I started this one.

This is a new concept of solar energy. Now this isn't geared to the marine market yet but it could go a long way in it. The roof is cone shaped and the sun hits thru it's arc of travel.

Now go one step further and make a round one that does this as the boat heels, and is less wind resistant than a cone shape. Kinda like a ball on a stick, mount it and forget it.



http://v3solar.com/

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www.sailblogs.com/member/sailingpapillon/

Arguing on the net is like teaching a dog to talk.

I checked out the website to look at the specs. The theory sounds and looks good, but I did not understand the rotation. How is this done? What powers it? How does the energy need for rotation affect total output? The rotation aspect also appeared to produce AC just as a wind generator does, however the implication was that the total output could be in either DC or AC without an invertor. I'm not sure how that is supposed to work and I couldn't find anything on the website to provide any clarification. Any ideas or further information?

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Capt Pat
Island Spirit 35 Cacique

Won't efficiency vary significantly with latitude? Will they sell versions with different angles to the cone?

That could be a problem for snowbirds that commute from Maine to the Caribbean.

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sail fast and eat well, dave S/V Auspicious
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Beware cut and paste sailors

My thought was that if you made a "Panel" in the shape of a ball and Stuck it on a stick type mount. Then as the boat heeled or swung on anchor enough of the "panel" was in the sun to make juice. How to make it work is beyond my pay grade.

Dan

Neon shrooms.....cool.