Get MAXIMUM POWER From Your SOLAR PANELS By Using This Free Tech Hack | Photographer's Ephemeris!

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  • čas přidán 2. 08. 2024
  • This Hobo Tech Tip will show you how to maximize your existing solar power this winter just in time for the 2020 RTR.
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Komentáře • 118

  • @felixrivero8420
    @felixrivero8420 Před 4 lety +8

    This is the best video on Solar I have seen on you tube. Your pointers on the field use benefits of the Suitcase / Portable Solar Panels are priceless. I am a retired engineer customizing a Van to go temporarily Homeless ( no offense intended) in the National Forests/ Parks of our Great Country. Your videos, Bob Wells videos and the Canadian Van Weirdo videos (love his dog Cruz...) have been the source of my inspiration and learning curve. Keep up the good work and may the Force be with You and Heidi always...

  • @will_ren
    @will_ren Před 4 lety +25

    I've had good luck with placing an empty (used) tp tube on the glass of the panel. Move the panel and when there is no shadow from the tube you are pointed directly at the sun.

    • @allengrant
      @allengrant Před 2 lety

      Yep. I use the same method, but use my beer can instead .(Tall 16oz work best! 😎 )

  • @waitaminute-vw9hf
    @waitaminute-vw9hf Před 4 lety +5

    The simple way I learned it was; solar panel facing south. The angle of the panel is the latitude you are at plus 10 degrees in the winter and minus 10 degrees in the summer.
    But your method is alot more accurate for getting the most solar benefit.

  • @bdv861
    @bdv861 Před 4 lety +4

    Would like to see a video with a meter to measure the difference in power output between the optimal angle as measured by these devices, and panels that are simply guestimated.

  • @drjandtex
    @drjandtex Před 4 lety +2

    Exceptional information! Thank you! Hobotech is the gift of information that keeps on giving!

  • @carolynnunes3922
    @carolynnunes3922 Před 4 lety +2

    Great video content! I loved it!
    Your comment section was also informative to read!
    Happy new year, Tom!

  • @karinhart489
    @karinhart489 Před 4 lety +1

    I try to use a tip I got from you a few years back when selecting a campsite to point the nose of my vehicle south so as to maximize my windshield’s sun exposure to place folding panels at an angle. Plus, there is always shade on one side or the other of vehicle. Will give the sighting compass & app/website info a try.

  • @dg9905
    @dg9905 Před rokem

    Thanks! I have learned so much from your videos and luv the humor too!

  • @cliffdavis5244
    @cliffdavis5244 Před 4 lety

    Good stuff! Thank you! And happy new year to you and yours!🎉👍👌

  • @plutobeliever
    @plutobeliever Před 4 lety +1

    I live in a house, but that app will be invaluable during power outages when I have to use my portable solar system. thank you....Happy New Year!

  • @subuer
    @subuer Před 4 lety +3

    Though I know the mechanics of it I never new about the great app, so thanks for the share! Am still old school with the accurate sighting compass! Happy New Year!!!

  • @over50andfantabulous59
    @over50andfantabulous59 Před 4 lety +2

    May you and your entire family & friends be continually blessed this New Year and always.
    ~ Sis Lynn

  • @tinepick6175
    @tinepick6175 Před 4 lety

    This was the most helpful video to date. Thanks.

  • @oldgoat8861
    @oldgoat8861 Před 3 lety +1

    Taught me something for sure. IDK half of what you told me. Just higher & lower sun in the summer and winter. Sure I knew it was off a few degrees from east and west BUT NOT THAT MUCH. Also angle setting, I figured flat or 30° settings was more than sufficent. Thank you.

  • @adassociates8235
    @adassociates8235 Před 4 lety

    Very informative Hobotech Professor Man. Happy 2020👍👌✌️

  • @djpotts2554
    @djpotts2554 Před 4 lety

    Great tips Tom, Happy New Year.

  • @marybachmann
    @marybachmann Před 4 lety +3

    Ha! Just when I think I know it all... ephemeris! (Spell check didn't know it either, so now I feel better.) Happy New Year!

  • @dg9905
    @dg9905 Před rokem

    Excellent video Hobotech!!!!!

  • @davidgodley521
    @davidgodley521 Před 2 lety

    I'm in Majic Circle Arizona. I drove here from Charleston SC 3 weeks ago. I'm set!

  • @kimfauth9542
    @kimfauth9542 Před 3 lety

    Just watching this and learned so much!!! Thank you!

  • @larrylucas5731
    @larrylucas5731 Před 4 lety

    Very helpful. Thanks, Hobo!

  • @ldpiazza
    @ldpiazza Před 2 lety

    Thanks so much. While we're waiting for our solar panels to arrive for our new Bluetti, I'm going to use my solar oven to practice using this app, seeing how hot I can crank the temperature up.

  • @dross24MA
    @dross24MA Před rokem

    *L-O-V-E* the blooper/out-takes!
    Oh, yeah, and the content was good, too.
    Thanks!!!

  • @Sewspcl
    @Sewspcl Před 4 lety

    Great information on tilting! Great timing on the video! I'm in gloomy Arizona too! Thanks for the info!

  • @53goforit
    @53goforit Před 4 lety

    Thanks Hobo that was great info

  • @jazzman5598
    @jazzman5598 Před 4 lety

    Thanks Tom! Hope to meet you @ the RTR!

  • @DianaSFNg
    @DianaSFNg Před 4 lety

    Wishing you and yours good health, safety, and a Happy New Year! 👍😊🇨🇦

  • @cynforrest
    @cynforrest Před 4 lety

    Happy New Year!

  • @lawrencewilliams3100
    @lawrencewilliams3100 Před rokem

    Very enjoyable. Thank you

  • @russsherwood5978
    @russsherwood5978 Před 4 lety +1

    this woud werk fer gardeners also ai,m thinkin,,,HAPPY NEW YEAR an a safe one,,,,,,,, thank ya fer the video

  • @perfectlylonely
    @perfectlylonely Před 4 lety

    Thanks, another use for my Photo Pills app.

  • @brushbum7508
    @brushbum7508 Před 3 lety

    THANKS TOM ! TAKE CARE..

  • @zfoxfire
    @zfoxfire Před 4 lety

    Ephemeris! So that's what that thing is called.
    Thanks for the info on the site and app. I need to learn more about lighting conditions if I am to be a better amateur photographer.

  • @danielone06
    @danielone06 Před 4 lety

    Great video Tom, Thanks !!!

  • @homebuiltcamperdave5226

    Good video. I think back to when you made the early videos of buying your rv and leaving your apartment. Hope you are still loving the life on the road.

  • @offdagrid877
    @offdagrid877 Před 4 lety +1

    I use simply solar a free iOS app for iPhone. Gives your location, the position and the angle for your panels.
    It shows you where to point them you then use the phone on the panel to get the correct angle..
    Really quick and easy.

  • @CruzReviews_Opinions
    @CruzReviews_Opinions Před 3 lety +1

    All I need is a can of whatever. U place the can on ur grid. Position the grid so the the can has no shawdow from the sun . That’s ur maximum position to achieve the most power. Thank you

  • @nynn6475
    @nynn6475 Před 3 lety

    I use a water bottle as a sun dial. I can follow the sun . its low tech and cheap. Just use the shadow of the bottle to help you position the panels.

  • @willlockler9433
    @willlockler9433 Před 4 lety

    Sun Position Map is an ephemeris and is similar and free. I use the Android version. Don't know about iOS. Good video.

  • @daveh9907
    @daveh9907 Před rokem

    Heck, in Michigan that looks pretty Good!

  • @cr112784
    @cr112784 Před 4 lety

    Holy shit! I didn’t even know I needed to learn this. Very useful detailed info. Thanks! Loved the example of what we were learning to drive the concept home!

    • @bentnickel7487
      @bentnickel7487 Před 4 lety

      You don't know, what you don't know. You know? I rely on CZcams to teach me. I'm going before the board in a week to be licensed for Brain Surgery !! :-) ;-) :-D

  • @sromo522
    @sromo522 Před 4 lety

    Great information

  • @eugenebreindel
    @eugenebreindel Před 4 lety

    Bloopers are always cool! LOL 😎😁

  • @willarddevoe5893
    @willarddevoe5893 Před 2 lety

    Howdy. One more factor emerges when you have a solar homestead. How does your site work? Panels are so much cheaper than batteries. I use lead. Navajos get up with the sun, and so does my recharge. You sacrifice an awful lot of ultraviolet charge by aiming largely sunup and sundown. You also get an earlybird charge on your batteries and sun only power for fans and fridge right till sundown. Longer charge. Less charge. Less batteries. Run the vacuum at noon. That's how I like it.

  • @Urallrobots7313
    @Urallrobots7313 Před 3 lety

    I love the name hobo tech 😁😁

  • @byronbrasher8118
    @byronbrasher8118 Před 4 lety +1

    I was a victim of identity theft last month, since then my credit rating has gone up-- awesome!

    • @MustyBastard
      @MustyBastard Před 4 lety

      Some one stole my credit cards a while back, but I never called it in because the thief still spends less than my wife .

  • @MrMarkAMartin
    @MrMarkAMartin Před 4 lety

    good info-

  • @brucestarr4438
    @brucestarr4438 Před 4 lety +6

    Is the app showing the degrees in "true north"? You need to know the "magnetic declination" for your location. Also be aware a large metallic object can affect your compass.

    • @HOBOTECH
      @HOBOTECH  Před 4 lety +2

      I couldn't find any information if the app uses magnetic or true north but since it syncs with the compass in the phone I'm assuming is magnetic.

  • @axmarr8132
    @axmarr8132 Před 4 lety

    Perfect weather to compare mono/poly (Renogy?HQST) vs amorphous (Harbor Freight 100w kit) solar panel output. Amorphous produces under any cloud cover conditions.

    • @HOBOTECH
      @HOBOTECH  Před 4 lety +1

      Amorphous are more efficient in partial shading conditions but in heavy overcast no solar panel technology is going to provide much power.

  • @mtsonic
    @mtsonic Před 4 lety +1

    The 3D View of an app called Sun Seeker will let you lay your phone on the solar panel and point it where you want on the suns track line. You will need to flip the screen by pressing the 1X circle in the upper left corner and then the third option which flips the screen. There is a Moon Seeker app as well if you can get solar power from the moon. I laugh but question if that is actually possible.

  • @vicO1323
    @vicO1323 Před 4 lety +1

    See you next year.

  • @jacksummers1736
    @jacksummers1736 Před 4 lety

    Now that was greatly informative! Question, are you using the app in magnetic mode and trusting them to do the ever evolving magnetic deviation or set to true north and doing the addition (west of the Mississippi) yourself?

    • @HOBOTECH
      @HOBOTECH  Před 4 lety

      I couldn't find any information if the app uses magnetic or true north but since it syncs with the compass in the phone I'm assuming is magnetic.

  • @gregorymann9185
    @gregorymann9185 Před 4 lety +1

    Maybe do another video on how to aim them if you are around to change the angles about once an hour...it should be a much shorter video!

  • @rusty1850
    @rusty1850 Před 4 lety

    Thank You for your video. I look forward to your next video.
    Like the comments in this video.

  • @jjcoolaus
    @jjcoolaus Před 4 lety +1

    The only thing I can't work out is how to determine how many degrees my panels are angled now, how do I know how much 30 degrees is?

  • @BarbinAZ
    @BarbinAZ Před 4 lety

    cool info, found a deal in Idaho for surplus un-used 210W Solyandra panels - round tubes instead of flat glass- well under a hundred without the high shipping to Idaho from San Tan. I couldn't find much info except they said this design is best for flat roof installs. I have a flat horse shed roof right next to my trailer. Is this a tech fail or would it work for a simple system to just power three 12 volt vent fans , some led lights and a bit of computer use from a AGM battery?

  • @kd4pon
    @kd4pon Před 4 lety

    Mr. Wizard!

  • @jrockett11
    @jrockett11 Před 4 lety

    Tom: Great vid. I learned a lot.... What would be the effects if you would put reflective panels on your Solar panels? Would you gain more energy from the sun to the panels? Inquiring minds want to know!
    Thanks Again Tom!
    JR

    • @HOBOTECH
      @HOBOTECH  Před 4 lety

      No. That's not how solar panels work.

  • @chriskoch9829
    @chriskoch9829 Před 4 lety

    Winter?

  • @TheUGFUGF
    @TheUGFUGF Před 4 lety +3

    Did you include the best way to determine angles/degrees?
    How do you know what 12 degrees is?
    BTW: Thanks I have Never been able to understand how a compass works till now!

    • @HOBOTECH
      @HOBOTECH  Před 4 lety +2

      I just eye ball it. If you split 90 degrees to get 45 you can split again to get 22.5 so those angles cover you most of the year.

    • @johnwyman6331
      @johnwyman6331 Před 4 lety

      You just use a simple angle finder. I have a small inexpensive plastic one that I got where they sell tools.

  • @buckreynolds1779
    @buckreynolds1779 Před 4 lety

    good morning my friend Professor Hobo.................................and my Earthly friends

    • @buckreynolds1779
      @buckreynolds1779 Před 4 lety

      it's like a retweet..............................sorta be safe

  • @latergator3367
    @latergator3367 Před 4 lety +1

    Ho ho hobo Tech ! See you next Christmas, and remember to be a good boy ! Don’t be a Hack !

  • @samhorani9423
    @samhorani9423 Před 4 lety

    Thanks for all your valuable information
    I have 200 w panels on top of my van connected to bluetti 1500w
    I saw on a video that I need 30 amp solar fuse between the panels and the power station
    Do you see that necessary
    Thanks
    SH

  • @terrybrowning9891
    @terrybrowning9891 Před 4 lety

    I'm a newbie boondocking in So Cal and it's been cloudy. I ran my generator and didn't see any change on my Zamp Solar Charge Controller. Had 12.3 V to start and 45 minutes later it had only gone to 12.4V and it was daytime, so I figure a little solar was coming in. I have 340 on the RV roof. Should that charge coming from the generator show up on the solar controller? Thank you for your instructional videos.

    • @HOBOTECH
      @HOBOTECH  Před 4 lety

      The controller will show battery voltage but 12.3-12.4 in 45 mins might be normal if your charger is slow or if you have lots of amp hours.

  • @Chefsantatravels
    @Chefsantatravels Před 4 lety

    🙏✌❤ happy new year🎉🍾👨‍🍳🎅🥓🥩🌶🚌

  • @warrenweisfus709
    @warrenweisfus709 Před 4 lety +2

    Feed them panels enuf ‘klinky’ and they will tilt and turn all by themselves !

  • @davesdiversions8078
    @davesdiversions8078 Před rokem

    Did you serve in the Army?

  • @DennisWintjes2
    @DennisWintjes2 Před 4 lety

    Like #120. Thanks 4 sharing!

  • @neliosamch3195
    @neliosamch3195 Před 4 lety +1

    I put wheels on my panels and a level for my cat. She eat 3x a day so if she wants some food she has to push the panels to the correct position so the food will drop into her plate.

    • @bentnickel7487
      @bentnickel7487 Před 4 lety +2

      I have that same incentive for my girlfriend.

    • @neliosamch3195
      @neliosamch3195 Před 4 lety

      @@bentnickel7487 My cat isn't dangerous and obey my command as requested.

  • @JimRoberts-mg2kc
    @JimRoberts-mg2kc Před 4 lety +1

    Remember.... moss grows on the north side of the tree
    bears shit in the woods
    and wet birds don't fly at night
    and oh yeah, if your electric heater relies on a solar panel..consider investing in extra flannel

    • @warrenweisfus709
      @warrenweisfus709 Před 4 lety

      All very true....just one other pertinent thing....Wolverine is the Only naturally Frost Free Fur

  • @formeraide529
    @formeraide529 Před 4 lety

    I have a class c that is solar prepped with the only connection on the roof. I don’t want to use roof panels. Would I lose a lot if I hooked the wires for my ground panels to a long set of cables running from the roof connection down to them?

  • @rodfer5406
    @rodfer5406 Před 4 lety

    What happened to the white-clad Dr. Hobotech ?! :)

  • @TerryManitoba
    @TerryManitoba Před 4 lety

    Is it possible to overcomplicate a simple procedure...

  • @clearwater9118
    @clearwater9118 Před 4 lety

    BREAKING NEWS!!! Hobotech will be doing a video on how he flat irons his beard without getting burned. Tonight at 11:😂👀
    Please do it bro.

  • @spockmcoyissmart961
    @spockmcoyissmart961 Před 4 lety

    No sun; welcome to my world......... ;)

  • @aftech7268
    @aftech7268 Před 2 lety

    Just make a k motorized sun tracker

  • @zfoxfire
    @zfoxfire Před 4 lety

    @13:55 windy day voiceover?
    nvm.. sounds pretty noisy for the middle of nowhere.

  • @281covfefe5
    @281covfefe5 Před 4 lety

    👍🏻🇺🇸

  • @t.i.o.motorsports243
    @t.i.o.motorsports243 Před 4 lety

    The real question is
    Are there windy conditions??
    Time to start testing some wind turbines

    • @johnwyman6331
      @johnwyman6331 Před 4 lety +1

      For durable, efficient and inexpensive small wind generators check out the John Daniels CZcams Channel. The information is sound, although the videos are kind of erratic and may be hard to follow

  • @pplusbthrust
    @pplusbthrust Před 4 lety +1

    Someone put my sticks on the campfire
    and now my batteries are dead.

    • @bentnickel7487
      @bentnickel7487 Před 4 lety

      Captain DeStructo That's a really good excuse and funny. ;-)

  • @SuperDeut4
    @SuperDeut4 Před 4 lety

    Thanks but too much dependency on internet can paralyze us in an actual contingency situation. Nice if and only one has learned to track at best without internet.

  • @thespacecowboy420
    @thespacecowboy420 Před 4 lety

    Have you seen the DCC50S yet? GAME. CHANGER. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W84SS41/

    • @HOBOTECH
      @HOBOTECH  Před 4 lety

      I been considering one of their 40 amp DC to DC so I can fully charge the lithiums while I drive. The 50A w/controller isn't that great because it can only handle 25v of solar. Useless for most setups.

  • @tricorter1
    @tricorter1 Před 4 lety

    as a general rule, I watch/let all your ads play. Here's the problem. Ads are playing like this every 45 seconds of video, there are 1:15 of ads. A LITTLE ridiculous....

    • @HOBOTECH
      @HOBOTECH  Před 4 lety

      I know. Timing and length of ads is set by Google. I have heard viewers getting 45 minute long ads on some videos!

    • @tricorter1
      @tricorter1 Před 4 lety

      @@HOBOTECH I figured as much. but if you can put a bug in someone's ear at YT.... Also I would to really like to come camping with you someday! (as soon as my wife lets me LOL)

  • @Harleyglide03
    @Harleyglide03 Před 4 lety

    Dude..... They must have updated the App...... and the price. That’ll cost you a $Ten spot, as of this morning....... Talk about inflation

    • @HOBOTECH
      @HOBOTECH  Před 4 lety +1

      That's only for Apple. They overcharge for everything.

  • @tonyinfinity
    @tonyinfinity Před 3 lety

    I really want to subscribe because you do some decent product reviews but this whole over the top dorky nerd routine is too much chief.

  • @jackvanbourgondien7349

    Too much information for nothing I like your videos but seems like your running out of things to talk about 🤣😂😂

    • @HOBOTECH
      @HOBOTECH  Před 4 lety +3

      I could do more Jackery videos if you like?

    • @fulltimefreebirds2700
      @fulltimefreebirds2700 Před 4 lety

      @@HOBOTECH 😂

    • @jackvanbourgondien7349
      @jackvanbourgondien7349 Před 4 lety

      @@HOBOTECH Tom I like all of your videos. You and Heidi are pretty awesome people!! Your solar generator videos are awesome. I generally point my solar panels towards the sun or where i think the sun will be mid day. The replies that you have gotten from a lot of people shows me that there plenty of people that need help with this. My mistake!