Beach cabana's solar set up

[Mike90250]

too much shade there to put panels up. You need NO SHADOWS from 9am - 4pm if you want a reasonable harvest

[PalawanWolfe]

The whole property is old growth hardwood. Anyplace we put the panels will require chainsaw work, I would prefer on top of that cabana because it will take the least cutting. That brings me back to the previous question though.

[Mike90250]

Well, you have a problem. They are solar panels, not shade panels. Shade on a panel, even the shadow of a rope on a sailboat, will reduce the power from the Whole panel. A little shade on a spot of a panel, reduces the whole panel a lot, not just the 3% of the shaded area. So you will have to put the panels up, over panel 300% and hope you get enough that things work. You need full sun 9am - 4, but I said that already

[PalawanWolfe]

I have a chainsaw solution to the problem. As much as I hate to do it I will cut down whatever I need to. My plan was to put it on top of the cabana because that will require cutting down the fewest trees. I apologize if I wasn't clear about what I meant by 'cutting' and 'chainsaw work'.
Now, are the panels the aforementioned part that will need 'replaced every year'? Will placing them on top of the cabana help mitigate that? Do I need to carve out an inland opening instead? If so, how far away from the beach?

[Mike90250]

As you know, salt water mist corrodes stuff quickly. The frames and mounting gear for the panels will suffer from the salt, but should last 3-5 years. Don't forget that mid-day clouds will interfere with your harvest too.

[Sunking]

IMG-a35b21758f33de1de1ed01bdf2f6518b-V.jpg


Which parts will fail every year? If it is the panels, will mounting them to the roof of the pictured cabana help or should we have the panels some distance inshore?

It is the salt air and shade that will get you.