used Solar Pathfinder?
Solar Bus Driver
full price I'd like to see if I can find a better deal on a used one.
thanks
gary beckwith
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THE SOLAR BUS
a solar energy education project on wheels
http://solarbus.org
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Martin Riddle
news:VMudnR0lt78Lwf_b...@adelphia.com...
> Anyone have or know of a used Solar Pathfinder for sale? Before I pay the
> full price I'd like to see if I can find a better deal on a used one.
>
This would be an interesting subject to expand on. Since the average Joe
finds the cost quite high.
any substitues out there for the Solar Path Finder?
Links ideas?
Martin
Anthony Matonak
You can always do a solar site survey using an inclinometer and compass.
It's painful and slow but very inexpensive and the parts are common. In
fact, with a little creativity you can leave out the compass.
Here is one website that describes the process.
http://www.builditsolar.com/SiteSurvey/site_survey.htm
Now, I wonder, is it possible to duplicate the Solar Pathfinder out
of common items? I found one website the describes the unit and shows
a picture of it.
: The Solar Pathfinder™ uses a highly polished, transparent, convex
: plastic dome to give a panoramic view of the entire site. All the
: trees, buildings or other obstacles to the sun are plainly visible as
: reflections on the surface of the dome. The sunpath diagram can be
: seen through the transparent dome at the same time.
...
: The Pathfinder has an integral bubble level and magnetic compass to
: facilitate quick instrument set-up.
...
: the user traces the outline of the horizon’s reflection seen on the
: dome onto the underlying diagram by inserting a white marking pen
: (included) through the slots on the side of the unit.
So, the unit consists of a reflective plastic dome mounted somewhat
elevated over a platform, a calibrated sun path chart, a bubble level,
magnetic compass and white marking pen. I imagine that the compass,
bubble level and appropriately curved clear plastic or glass bowl
are not either hard to find or very expensive and a platform can
be made out of a clipboard or scrap wood. Black paper and white pens
can be had at any craft store.
No doubt that to get an accurate tracing you need to line up a dot
or dimple in the center of the plastic dome with a center point on
the paper chart and close one eye. :)
The trick seems to be the calibrated sun chart. I would propose that
three or four points could be plotted using the inclinometer method.
A blank sheet a paper could be traced using the uncalibrated home
made version of the Solar Pathfinder and the two compared. A sun
chart for the location from the University of Oregon could be then
transposed on to the tracing to create a calibrated sun chart.
http://solardat.uoregon.edu/SunChartProgram.html
I suppose one could go high tech and use something mirrored to
take a digital panoramic photo instead of tracing a reflection.
Something like the following...
http://www.kaidan.com/Detail.bok?no=101
Perhaps a home made version could use something like this...
Vehicle Safety Acrylic Dome Mirror Viewing Angle 360 Degrees
Diameter 8 Inches
http://secure.data-comm.com/GL/Detail.bok?no=131706
Anthony
George Ghio
> Martin Riddle wrote:
>> "Solar Bus Driver" <ga...@solarbus-remove-this.org> wrote in message
>> news:VMudnR0lt78Lwf_b...@adelphia.com...
>>> Anyone have or know of a used Solar Pathfinder for sale? Before I
>>> pay the full price I'd like to see if I can find a better deal on a
>>> used one.
>>
>> This would be an interesting subject to expand on. Since the average
>> Joe finds the cost quite high.
>>
>> any substitues out there for the Solar Path Finder?
>> Links ideas?
>
> You can always do a solar site survey using an inclinometer and compass.
> It's painful and slow but very inexpensive and the parts are common. In
> fact, with a little creativity you can leave out the compass.
Pencil, piece of paper, compass, protractor, ruler. Everything you need for the job.
Or you can build one as I did, <http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/GGhio/>, see inclinometer
photo.This was made from scrap plexiglas, an old rifle sight, degree rings from cannon sight, a
compass and level. Total cost $4.95 for the compass.
Had a look, Better to start with a polar chart.
>
> I suppose one could go high tech and use something mirrored to
> take a digital panoramic photo instead of tracing a reflection.
> Something like the following...
> http://www.kaidan.com/Detail.bok?no=101
>
> Perhaps a home made version could use something like this...
> Vehicle Safety Acrylic Dome Mirror Viewing Angle 360 Degrees
> Diameter 8 Inches
> http://secure.data-comm.com/GL/Detail.bok?no=131706
>
> Anthony
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Solar Bus Driver
"Martin Riddle" <marti...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:DHl9i.9447$FU4.831@trndny02...
There used to be a less expensive product called the Solar Site Selector,
shown in this photo:
http://www.solar-rating.org/education/images/siteselector.jpg
it was cumbersome but gave the same basic results. however I don't think
it's available anyomore. if anyone knows, please give me a URL by all means.
thanks
never@million
An upside down visor?
Donn