This video is a rough version of a concept using broken mirrors to boost the power output of a regular PV panel. Monocrystalline Solar. The Mirrors covered this panel equalling about a 2x factor total. This method done correctly can increase PV output by up to 50% but you risk overheating the cells. I suggest using one mirror maximum and do it for fun. If you need more power, get more panels. Doubling the sunlight adds 25% more power. It is not a 1 to 1 ratio. CPV chips are totally different. They are more expensive per watt than regular PV after price factoring the tracking device, dish construction, cooling unit. This panel was $199 with Free Shipping. SOLD OUT FOR NOW. My experience. Panels deliver the power they claim in a perfect world. Real world, expect 20% loss in conversion, heat, batteries, wiring. So 80 watts = about 64 watts with perfect sun and perfect wiring.
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Tags: Conversion, Mirrors, Panel Solar, Perfect World, Pv Panel
@midairmark if you start using stuff like magnifying glasses with fresnel lenses problem is your going to generate alot of heat wich will likely fry your solar panels, like taking a magnifying glass to a solar panel.
Dan-
I really don’t understand what you are doing here. I have several kill-a-watt units and use them regularly. The measure the flow going thru (i.e. to measure how much power is being PULLED) – they are not meant to measure power generated- so i don’t at all understand how it has anything to do with your experiement with the mirrors. We recently had a 1.3 kw system plugged in and when the Kill-a-watt was plugged into the inverter, it would show 0 watts when nothing was plugged into it….
@SwindleFlu Hi,
Yes
Would Mylar film work also?
Dan,
I also have a 40 watt panel that I use for some outdoor lighting. I thought about using your mirror to to boost the panel but it seems to risky for broken glass. I am going to try a piece of polished aluminum instead.
I am looking for a low voltage timer to use with this 40 watt panel. I have it hooked up to a 100 ah marine battery and a photo sensor but don’t really need the lights on all night. Do you know of amy low voltage timers I could use with my system?
Ramsey
Dan,
Ive been watching your videos for a long time & love them. Thx for your efforts.
Ive a 3.8kw solar array on my house pointing SW & have a time of use meter with Los Angels DWP. Since the power peaks in the afternoon when DWP pays the most and we are away from home in the afternoons we end up sending power to the grid at peak time. This really seems to be working well as DWP pays high peal rates at that time.
Keep up the good videos.
Ramsey
Dude, that’s pitiful. I’d rather plug my TV & playstation into the electrical grid than spend that much time trying to milk miserable 60 watts of power out of each cell.
The solar panel design is inefficient, we need something better than the conventional solar panels.
My understanding has been solar cell efficiency drops as the temperature of the cell rises. Would be interesting to see how the panel performs with the mirrors towards the end of the period the sun shines on the panel for the day. Interesting experiment as it is, thanks for posting it Dan.
You boosted the power, but you also voided the warranty on your expensive solar arrays.
@midairmark Check the video response above.
Have you guys tried to boost power with the fresnel lens also? I thought magnifying might give more boost then just a mirror. Maybe yo can do a comparison, and then a combined boost %?
Great Video. So Mirror can increase PV Output. Have anyone try a prism so that only the related light (nm) hits the PV Panel. The other light can be use for other ie cooking & etc. Plus, lower the PV Panel temp.
Thanks for keepping the novice viewers thinking outside the box Dan! And thanks for using the K.I.S. (keep it simple) rule. Many of those who make their living off PV installation and maintenance who everyone to beleive that this is rocket science. Great video!
Thanks for this video. I had thought about trying this, but don’t yet have the meter. If we experience harder times AND can’t easily get more solar panels/supplies, this info may prove helpful.
You need to watch the temperature of the pv cells, higher temperatures decrease their life span and overall output. Temporary gain , long term loss. In colder climates this is a good idea up to a point obviously, In arizona, we see a decrease in our panels during the heigth of summer
Check out the video in the yellow box above the ratings. Also Search “CPV SOLAR”
I always wondered if putting a magnifying glass on a solar panel would help gain more energy so if you know could you tell me?
Thank you for the nice comment,
Thank you for the invite.
Great Job Dan, you throw good ideas in your videos. We are in the renewable energy lab at Berkeley. Visit our lab if you happened to be in the area.
Thank you for the great comment Gill
Nice work Dan… as always!
Peace
Gill
What up gps. I got a GTI for a solar club project and we cannot get near the 100 watts the panel is rated at. Is the drop a flat number or a scale. We are getting 71 watts out of a 100. Would 200 watts (2 panels @100) give 171 or 142. Keep up the good work solar guy;-)
@aeroscope bump
I see this effect in winter when we have a layer of nice white snow on a sunny winter day. The output can go up by as much as 30%.
You will reduce the life expectancy as well as the efficiency of the panel if you concentrate light onto it!