Commercial Installation with Pictures

[FloridaSun]

Well thanks, wished I could take all the credit, but I cannot. My company can take full credit, but not me alone. The pole design itself was designed by my partner who is an Architect and the artist of the bunch. I did the electrical and was challenged because if you notice there are two different panel types being used rather than one.

A project like that takes group effort. I noticed the bare poles and shading issues and as a metal artist myself started thinking of changes.... hahaha, thenagin thought.. it's fine as is.

a few giant leaves could increase wind resistance even more!

[inetdog]

I'm sorry I wasn't talking about your paint job the three "branches" that go into space. Leaves me wondering is it still growing? The paint looks great perfect color to blend.

I think that there are more than just three, and they add to the sense of branching. It would be out of scale without them. Maybe they are intended for future sun "catchers" to be named later? (Sorry for the baseball reference.)

[FloridaSun]

I'm sorry I wasn't talking about your paint job the three "branches" that go into space. Leaves me wondering is it still growing? The paint looks great perfect color to blend.

Those unused 'branches' add much to the design, keep it from looking purely functional.

[Sunking]

Those unused 'branches' add much to the design, keep it from looking purely functional.

That is the thing about Art. It inspires all kinds of interpretations. My partner is reading this thread and is grinning ear-to-ear right now. Only thing that makes him happier than praise is a check with lots of Zeros.

Edit note:

Partner is nodding his head YES.

[FloridaSun]

That is the thing about Art. It inspires all kinds of interpretations. My partner is reading this thread and is grinning ear-to-ear right now. Only thing that makes him happier than praise is a check with lots of Zeros.

Edit note:

Partner is nodding his head YES.

I could send him a check with lots of 0s on it.... but there wouldn't be any other numbers on it.

[DBaldwin]

Those unused 'branches' add much to the design, keep it from looking purely functional.

Oh that's what they are for. How much design have you done. How much engineering. How much solar design if you think this is functional.
For the amount of solar vs the amount of shade is it really functional at all.
Look at a tree's branch layout vs this "branch layout". THen look at a trident lol the bottom are straight tridents.
Its an intermediate design that's all. Sorry if my .02 offends this is how a deign professional sees


Id love to see a pic from right below looking up.

Expansion makes sense and would "fill" the "tree" out. But wouldn't they be under the panels already there I think the POV angle is blowing my mind, I don't see any way to expand with out a total overhaul.
Oh wow I didn't even see you tied to the sign post for support. Good Luck
Hmm firing solid works now oh ill figure it out

[FloridaSun]

Oh that's what they are for. How much design have you done. How much engineering. How much solar design if you think this is functional.
For the amount of solar vs the amount of shade is it really functional at all.
Look at a tree's branch layout vs this "branch layout". THen look at a trident lol the bottom are straight tridents.
Its an intermediate design that's all. Sorry if my .02 offends this is how a deign professional sees


Id love to see a pic from right below looking up.

Expansion makes sense and would "fill" the "tree" out.

nah, you don't offend me at all. Tree? hmmm... I thought it looked more like flowers. Like it's been said, everyone has their own interpretation. No, I'm not an art professor like my aunt was but know what I like... creations like I used to make, functional sculpture as in my wrought iron lighting designs.

My design and 'engineering' background go back a ways. Artistically inclined (painting, sculpture, etc with some formal education) from 50 years ago, Been working with metal and manufacturing for almost that long, over 40 years. Started working learning electronics in mid 60's when transistors were rare. Learned to keep my fingers out of the power supply but couldn't resist or learning what all those colors meant on the lil tubey things, was shocked to learn how much energy a capacitor can hold.
My career as artist/blacksmith ended seven years ago when I closed down my biz in W. Palm Beach to return here and be primary caretaker for elderly mom who died last year.
haha, if that design wasn't functional Derek never would have approved it.

[Naptown]

Extraordinary piece

That is the best looking solar array I have ever seen.
All I ever get to do is square blocks or a sea of flat roof ballasted array's

[inetdog]

haha, if that design wasn't functional Derek never would have approved it.

Although, to shamelessly quote from another person's signature:
"I can build anything for you if you draw it out on the back of a big enough check."

I am sure that if the customer asks for something functional, that is what Dereck will deliver!

[Sunking]

Thanks guys for the comments and debate. My partner and I are loving it, even the negative comments. The greatest compliment anyone can give an artist is to provoke Emotion and Drama. That is why we do it. The worse insult to an artist is to ignore them and their work. Does not matter if the emotion is positive or negative, the more extreme to one side or the other the better as it lets the artist know they did their job.

This deign I will not say if it is suppose to look like a tree. What i will say it was to meet three objectives:

• Form
• Function
• Art

My input due to the trees out of the picture across the road was to use a pole mount design to get full horizon view. If it had been up to me I would have used a standard utility grade steel pole with racking. But that is why I have partners and juniors that are specialist in my company. My senior partner did the artistic conceptional design, structural engineer made it safe, I made it functional with my input. We spent a lot of time arguing and debating one day. I was being a jerk throwing a fit about using different size panels. Originally there was to be 4 different sizes. After getting pissed off one day when home and though about it. I realized I was being an idiot, the solution was so simple. So I sketched it out using two different sized panels in a geometric design you see now. Next morning showed it to my partner who liked it. Problem solved. The solution I came up with was very simple. Although you cannot tell from looking, there are only two parallel strings. Each string is made of like panels.

Rich you will like this part. I seriously considered using micro-inverters which would have worked at greater expense. In fact as a result of the sign would have been a better functional design. Problem though is the sign was after the fact. So there is a flaw which someone caught. Unfortunately the bank would not allow us to fix it the right way. So back to:

• Rule #1. Customer is always right.
• Rule #2. When customer is wrong, refer to Rule #1.

Sound familiar? Just like wives and AHJ huh?

[Naptown]

You could always add optimizers or use a 2 mppt inverter
Your response had me laughing

[DanS26]

The sign at the top must have really messed with the final design. I suppose that the three branches without panels equated to the wind load that was calculated on the vertical sign. It appears that the panels are fairly low tilt which would slice the wind versus the upright sign which catches the wind.

[DBaldwin]

[QUOTE=My design and 'engineering' background go back a ways... [/QUOTE]
Im sorry I was referring to the pictured array; However you sound like me when I was younger but now a daz we eat capacitors for lunch
I was just waiting for Derek to confirm my suspensions, that's a lot of expensive materiel not to mention weight to be solely for looks. To give it away more likely a mistake.
Believe me it just takes a stick of straw to break a camels back so plan on adding at least two.
I'm sure this was one of those projects that you thank God is over.
It's inspired me to make my own 3d model. Ah and no customer to please =Bliss
Could we maybe get the specs Sir Derek?

[green]

I especialy like the way from the view of the third pic how it blends in beautifully with the oak trees in the backround. A plain rectangular rack array would have blocked that view, this design IMO enhances and doesn't interfere with what is already there. I say again, well done.

[russ]

The silliest looking thing around - low output and expensive meaning a waste.