More Solar Fricken Pavement - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 05:48:22 am
content: More Solar Fricken PavementAnkara Solar Energy, a Turkish module manufacturer, has launched PV Floor, a line of solar panel products that double as anti-slip glass flooring. It is targeted at residential projects and commercial applications, such as shopping centers, driveways, parking areas, terraces, decks, and pedestrian zones.https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/08/19/solar-pv-flooring-for-decks-driveways/

author: Marco
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 01:06:52 pm
content: On the website they only mention foot traffic. If you 100% know no cars/trucks/machinery will cross it and it's a country with no snow, it's really not that unrealistic. Just very niche, most pedestrian paths see the occasional heavy equipment.

author: f4eru
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2024, 09:06:20 pm
content: QuoteNope. It is still unrealistic B.S.Rainwater, erosion from sand and other particles rubbed by people onto glass, copper theft, and all the other long long list of issues still fully apply.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2024, 11:33:16 am
content: It's pretty stupid with todays glass/silicon solar technology.It's possible in the future we will have dirt cheap printable panels that are not made of glass and very robust.Perhaps then solar panels/sheeting will get slapped on practically any surface, but that isnt today.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2024, 12:00:30 pm
content: Only solar panel on the floor that is of any use is a solar road stud, which is a common item, with 6 LED's in it, to provide lighted lane and side markings. Small and almost all use NimH cells, typically 650mAh, to provide power for the night. Basically a rugged solar pathway light that you can drive over, and assorted types that have various load ratings, from light duty for parking lots, to ones that survive heavy trucks over them.

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2024, 01:44:25 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on August 26, 2024, 11:33:16 am"Normal" panels are currently dirt cheap so whenever you need anything with black(-ish) color and glass surface and which can sustain quite some loading (but not an actual human being jumping on it), you can use a solar panel. For example, roofs for sheds etc. A table for office, makes a great discussion starter. The price of panels is so hilariously low right now that sometimes it'scheaperto buy PV panels than something else (e.g. plywood + metal sheet). Then you can get the cheapest inverter and if you get any production out of it, it's only a plus. Or you can add a buck converter to 5V and maybe charge your phone at 5W with the 45€ 400W panel.But this does not work for pavements or roadways because even though the usual panels can take surprisingly lot of mechanical abuse, e.g. installer leaning half of their body weight on them during install, people running on them is just way too much. So special type of glass is needed. Which increases cost and kills the economy of scales.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2024, 01:50:55 pm
content: QuoteFrom where would one acquire such a panel?

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2024, 02:07:17 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on August 26, 2024, 01:50:55 pm44€ was the distributor price at Onninen, Finland, a few months ago. In pallets of 30 or so. This is VAT0%.I'm sure there must be even better deals if you know where to look at. I don't.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2024, 07:08:27 pm
content: QuoteThat's not really achievable for the average person wanting to charge a mobile, I would suggest. I'd be happy to pay £100 all in for 400W panel, but never found anywhere selling at that price.Edit: just looked again and Amazon have them at around that price now! Blimey, they got cheap quick.

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2024, 05:26:27 am
content: Quote from: PlainName on August 26, 2024, 07:08:27 pmThis is an extra condition you just added. Discussion was about professional large scale projects like solar fricken pavements. They are built by companies anyway.Although, I'm quite sure even an "average person" can find cheap panels if they have the will. You may need to look elsewhere than just Amazon, though.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2024, 07:51:01 am
content: Er, I hardly think a shed roof or 5V buck converter relates to a large scale project.