Stainless steel structures for deterring birds....
Dennis
I'm looking at some designs to deter birds from perching on the top of solar
panels and fouling them.
There are spikes both stainless steel & polycarbonate available
commercially. I'm worried about the threat to the eyes of the service guys
from these style of structures, plus they aren't cheap.
I've seen a different style of deterrent that is a strip of sheet metal cut
in a zig-zag pattern. I wonder if anyone has experience with making these or
have seen them up close. I'm trying to work out what are the important
parameters - do they need to be sharp? Is the spacing critical? What sort of
thickness 0.8mm? Material - Aluminium or Stainless?
I've googled for an hour & have not found any useful information or even a
picture. My next option is to drive the freeway till I spot one and try to
guess from a distance what the dimensions are.
Has anyone had any experience with this sort of thing?
Thanks
/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\
/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \
| |
| ZIGZAG SHEET |
| |
================================\
\ \
\ \
\ \
\ \
\ \
\ SOLAR PANEL \
\ \
\ \
\ \
\ \
=================================
Jim Wilkins
> I'm looking at some designs to deter birds from perching on the top of solar
> panels and fouling them.
>
How about a perching bar offset above and behind the panel?
jsw
Phil Kangas
"Jim Wilkins" <kb1...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:25366a36-351d-4440...@p12g2000vbo.googlegroups.com...
jsw
Perhaps a fake predatory bird mounted nearby? Like
a hawk
or an owl? phil
Gary A. Gorgen
I went through this about 5 years ago, with pidgins.
There is also a spring type. like a SLINKY.
It has to make it hard for them to land on.
Longer than their legs, or wobbly like a large spring.
No matter what you do, they will figure out, how to get around it.
Try something, see what happens, if it doesn't work try something else.
It's a matter who is more persistent, you or the birds.
The birds will eventually give up, but it make years.
Good Luck.
--
Gary A. Gorgen | "From ideas to PRODUCTS"
tun...@comcast.net | Tunxis Design Inc.
| Cupertino, Ca. 95014
Tim Wescott
Suggestion 1:
Build a BB gun out of stainless steel, go out every few days and plink at
those bird-shaped tin cans.
Suggestion 2:
Build a fake owl out of stainless steel. Mount it where it overlooks the
panels.
Suggestion 3:
Build the offset perch that was suggested, but remember -- this is green
energy. So build a water-wheel-like structure underneath the perch,
connected to a small generator, that harvests the energy of the falling
bird poop. Use stainless for everything except for the teflon blades.
Suggestion 3a:
Empty the bird poop into a methane generator. Catalyze with political
talk shows if the activity isn't vigorous enough.
David Billington
other birds off his produce. Apparently they don't like the way they
sway about and reflect light. Worth a try.
Jim Wilkins
> ...>
> Suggestion 3:
>
> Build the offset perch that was suggested, but remember -- this is green
> energy. So build a water-wheel-like structure underneath the perch,
> connected to a small generator, that harvests the energy of the falling
> bird poop. Use stainless for everything except for the teflon blades.
>
> Suggestion 3a:
>
> Empty the bird poop into a methane generator. Catalyze with political
> talk shows if the activity isn't vigorous enough.
>
> --http://www.wescottdesign.com
Bird poop is free plant food, hang planter boxes underneath.
I wonder how hard it would be to cross-breed a Sunflower with a Venus
Fly Trap? It might like the taste of birds and lust for more. Name it
"Audrey", of course.
jsw
anorton
"Dennis" <blu...@blibber.com> wrote in message
news:b8ydnWewq-pfQuXQ...@westnet.com.au...
They make motion activated sprinklers for this purpose. Here is one
defending a pool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdYc86AA8M0
I don't see why you could not rig this up on the roof.
CaveLamb
birds can tell the difference in a heart beat.
I use junk CDs (BoA? :) ) strung so the wind will flicker them.
ANY motion at all around a good landing site will run them off.
--
Richard Lamb
email me: cave...@earthlink.net
web site: http://www.home.earthlink.net/~cavelamb
Artemus
"David Billington" <d...@djbillington.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4d78f070$0$2509$db0f...@news.zen.co.uk...
> Dennis wrote:
> > I'm looking at some designs to deter birds from perching on the top of solar
> > panels and fouling them.
> >
> A chap I know uses CDs/DVDs strung up in his garden to keep pigeons and
> other birds off his produce. Apparently they don't like the way they
> sway about and reflect light. Worth a try.
Wife tried this in her garden. It worked for a week or two.
Art
Artemus
"Jim Wilkins" <kb1...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:25366a36-351d-4440...@p12g2000vbo.googlegroups.com...
---------------------
And put ball bearings on each end so it rotates freely.
Way back when I was a teenager we had a couple of nasty
parrots and I did this to their perch. They were fast learners
and avoided it like the plague in short order.
Maybe a propeller one end for wind assist? Might add too
much inertia though in a no wind condition.
Art
chaniarts
some of tom's long brush heads, perhaps ripped down the middle to make them
extend further?
Sunworshipper
SCREAM 1/4 ROUND TILE ! That has to be the hardest tile to install,
right. If I knew a customer was thermal shocking the spa dam like
that... Had one customer that made me come over and chase away a duck,
Italian dude would not stop calling me.
My mom could use some of those to get cats. She can talk about stupid
cats in her yard for ever.
For the OP; I've seen what your looking for. It's pronged aluminum as
if cut like a comb and each prong alternately bent opposite ways.
Usually found at airports, nice buildings, casino's, federal/state
buildings, ect.
SW
steamer
and they won't come back... Run electric fence from solar array: win-win!
:-)
--
"Steamboat Ed" Haas : Steel, Stainless, Titanium:
Hacking the Trailing Edge! : Guaranteed Uncertified Welding!
www.nmpproducts.com
---Decks a-wash in a sea of words---
Jim Wilkins
> --Electric fence comes to mind; make it a grid of wires; one zap
> and they won't come back... Run electric fence from solar array: win-win!
> :-)
Neither will the unsuspecting maintenance man, after he recovers from
falling off the roof.
jsw
Stormin Mormon
foot on the ground.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
"steamer" <ste...@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:4d79489a$0$10574$742e...@news.sonic.net...
Stormin Mormon
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
"Jim Wilkins" <kb1...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:abf0b7c3-0d30-4bbe...@x13g2000vbe.googlegroups.com...
Karl Townsend
wrote:
>
>I'm looking at some designs to deter birds from perching on the top of solar
>panels and fouling them.
You've had other good suggestions. I'll suggest one more. Fishing
lines pulled real tight right over the roost spot will stop them from
sitting there. Place it so its in their way. You can have several runs
and it won't shade a thing.
Karl
DoN. Nichols
> Dennis wrote:
>> I'm looking at some designs to deter birds from perching on the top of solar
>> panels and fouling them.
[ ... ]
> A chap I know uses CDs/DVDs strung up in his garden to keep pigeons and
> other birds off his produce. Apparently they don't like the way they
> sway about and reflect light. Worth a try.
Aha! A use for all the free AOL CDs sent to us over the years. :-)
Enjoy,
DoN.
--
Remove oil spill source from e-mail
Email: <BPdnic...@d-and-d.com> | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564
(too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html
--- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero ---
Don Foreman
I tried a fake owl under the canopy of my boatlift two summers ago.
It didn't deter the swallows at all and I was really getting tired of
having my boat covered in birdshit.
Shooting swallows from the dock with an air pistol for about an hour
did seem to have some lasting effect. When they fell in the lake I
just left them there. Muskrats and northerns would clean them up
during the night. Eventually the rest of the flock did seem to get the
idea. I'll probably have to repeat the treatment each season.
CaveLamb
> On 2011-03-10, David Billington <d...@djbillington.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
>> Dennis wrote:
>>> I'm looking at some designs to deter birds from perching on the top of solar
>>> panels and fouling them.
>
> [ ... ]
>
>> A chap I know uses CDs/DVDs strung up in his garden to keep pigeons and
>> other birds off his produce. Apparently they don't like the way they
>> sway about and reflect light. Worth a try.
>
> Aha! A use for all the free AOL CDs sent to us over the years. :-)
>
> Enjoy,
> DoN.
>
I wanted to use all the AOL CDs for a ring around the moon,
but they tell me we can't do that anymore...
Pity.
It would be pretty.
Dennis #1
Thanks for the many replies guys, I think I may have to find an existing
metal comb unit and clone it.
Michael A. Terrell
CaveLamb wrote:
>
> DoN. Nichols wrote:
> > On 2011-03-10, David Billington <d...@djbillington.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
> >> Dennis wrote:
> >>> I'm looking at some designs to deter birds from perching on the top of solar
> >>> panels and fouling them.
> >
> > [ ... ]
> >
> >> A chap I know uses CDs/DVDs strung up in his garden to keep pigeons and
> >> other birds off his produce. Apparently they don't like the way they
> >> sway about and reflect light. Worth a try.
> >
> > Aha! A use for all the free AOL CDs sent to us over the years. :-)
> >
> > Enjoy,
> > DoN.
> >
>
> I wanted to use all the AOL CDs for a ring around the moon,
> but they tell me we can't do that anymore...
>
> Pity.
> It would be pretty.
I've been collecting them and bad CDRs to make a pair of table
lamps. I want to use at least an eight inch stack for each base, and
put a few LEDS in them to use them as a night light when I know I won't
get home before dark. :)
--
You can't fix stupid. You can't even put a Band-Aid™ on it, because it's
Teflon coated.
Michael A. Terrell
Stormin Mormon wrote:
>
> Only works if the bird has one foot on the wire, and other
> foot on the ground.
Sigh. You use pairs of wires.
Larry Jaques
That's great, killing two birds with one stone^H^H^H^H^Hpellet.
--
Know how to listen, and you will
profit even from those who talk badly.
-- Plutarch
Lewis Hartswick
:-)
Then electrify the perch. :-)
...lew...
Lewis Hartswick
> Stormin Mormon wrote:
>> Only works if the bird has one foot on the wire, and other
>> foot on the ground.
>
>
> Sigh. You use pairs of wires.
>
>
:-)
...lew...
Sunworshipper
wrote:
I just checked for the first time. Go to google images and type in
pigeon deterrent metal. Lots of pictures.
SW
Jim Wilkins
I was thinking mainly about cheap and simple. I might use string on
wire supports.
How do you arrange lightning protection for the panels?
jsw
Larry Jaques
Followed by a sign "Free hot food for the homeless!"
Jim Wilkins
wrote:
> ...
> > Then electrify the perch. :-)
> Followed by a sign "Free hot food for the homeless!"
"Which is why I just prefer to think of the homeless as outdoorsy. So
shine on, urban campers. You smell like adventure."
Sue the cheerleading coach on 'Glee'. She makes Dr. House sound like a
diplomat.
jsw
Michael A. Terrell
Supply enough current and you'll have roast pigeon! :)
Sunworshipper
<dfor...@NOSPAMgoldengate.net> wrote:
Hmmm, last year we had a swallow problem. I was perplexed for a couple
of weeks on what to do. Then the wife confronted me about it and I got
a extending branch saw and creamed all their nests, they were pissed
and all flew off never to be seen again... Wonder if they will be
back this spring? I've always thought animals are a lot smarter than
most people would think, could have been from the tour through SWR as
a kid. But then again the dog ran off the other day just before dark
and a snow storm, think the coyotes got it, that dog was so stupid.
SW
Larry Jaques
<kb1...@gmail.com> wrote:
>On Mar 11, 10:10 am, Larry Jaques <ljaq...@invalid.diversify.com>
>wrote:
>> ...
>> > Then electrify the perch. :-)
>> Followed by a sign "Free hot food for the homeless!"
>
>"Which is why I just prefer to think of the homeless as outdoorsy. So
>shine on, urban campers. You smell like adventure."
Har! I can just hear some schlock saying that.
>Sue the cheerleading coach on 'Glee'. She makes Dr. House sound like a
>diplomat.
I've only seen a couple seconds of 'Glee' promos on someone's TV set
and it makes me damned glad I gave up TV. Luckily, I can find House
on DVD through Netflix, completely sans commercials. Bliss!
Dennis #1
jsw
==========================================
We dont worry too much about lightning protection.
On systems that have long cable runs we will include a surge arrestor.
Dennis #1
"Sunworshipper" <SW@GWNTUNDRA> wrote in message
news:3pckn6h91apejipvg...@4ax.com...
Thanks - there are some images in there that I hadn't seen, especially the
ones using expanded mesh. My google fu was off I was simply using "bird
repel spikes" and similar.
Jim Wilkins
wrote:
> On Fri, 11 Mar 2011 07:42:02 -0800 (PST), Jim Wilkins
> >Sue the cheerleading coach on 'Glee'. She makes Dr. House sound like a
> >diplomat.
>
> I've only seen a couple seconds of 'Glee' promos on someone's TV set
> and it makes me damned glad I gave up TV. Luckily, I can find House
> on DVD through Netflix, completely sans commercials. Bliss!
I browse the Net on the other computer when it's on and watch only the
music. Those 'kids' include Broadway song-and-dance veterans who can
really belt out a song. Gwyneth does pretty well too.
jsw
Larry Jaques
Glee and RAP make me miss Disco, and I absolutely hated disco.
To each their own.
--
Whomsoever controls the volume of money in any country is
absolute master of all industry and commerce and when you
realize that the entire system is very easily controlled,
one way or another, by a few powerful men at the top, you
will not have to be told how periods of inflation and
depression originate. --James Garfield
Jim Wilkins
wrote:
> ...>
> Glee and RAP make me miss Disco, and I absolutely hated disco.
> To each their own.
Rich Grise
>
> I'm looking at some designs to deter birds from perching on the top of
> solar panels and fouling them.
>
upward.
Cheers!
Rich
Larry Jaques
"The video you have requested is not available.
If you have recently uploaded this video, you may need to wait a few
minutes for the video to process.
Sorry about that."
I'm thinking that I should count myself lucky.
Jim Wilkins
wrote:
> On Sat, 12 Mar 2011 09:41:45 -0800 (PST), Jim Wilkins
> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exyC321IxDA
>
> "The video you have requested is not available.
>
> If you have recently uploaded this video, you may need to wait a few
> minutes for the video to process.
> Sorry about that."
>
> I'm thinking that I should count myself lucky.
I took the last copy???
They KNOW what you think of them???
It's Matt Morrison singing "Sway" at a wedding.
"Marry You" by Bruno Mars:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K1HZNdphkw&feature=related
I miss Carol Burnett et al doing variety shows. She appeared once as
Sue's mother. Glee is a poor substitute.
jsw
Larry Jaques
<kb1...@gmail.com> wrote:
>On Mar 12, 7:00 pm, Larry Jaques <ljaq...@invalid.diversify.com>
>wrote:
>> On Sat, 12 Mar 2011 09:41:45 -0800 (PST), Jim Wilkins
>> ...>
>> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exyC321IxDA
>>
>> "The video you have requested is not available.
>>
>> If you have recently uploaded this video, you may need to wait a few
>> minutes for the video to process.
>> Sorry about that."
>>
>> I'm thinking that I should count myself lucky.
>
>I took the last copy???
>
>They KNOW what you think of them???
ROTFLMAO! x2
>It's Matt Morrison singing "Sway" at a wedding.
>
>"Marry You" by Bruno Mars:
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K1HZNdphkw&feature=related
I have no idea who those two people are. (prolly best I don't)
>I miss Carol Burnett et al doing variety shows. She appeared once as
>Sue's mother. Glee is a poor substitute.
OMG, that Burnett woman could swallow a bus _whole_ with that very
large mouth. She was OK when she wasn't doing slapstick.
Dennis #1
"Rich Grise" <ri...@example.net.invalid> wrote in message
news:ilgqi7$mq6$6...@news.eternal-september.org...
some of those stainless "lice rakes" might be an idea.
Jim Wilkins
> "Rich Grise" <ri...@example.net.invalid> wrote in message>
>
> >> I'm looking at some designs to deter birds from perching on the top of
> >> solar panels and fouling them.
>
> > Just glue some drugstore combs to the upper edge, with the teeth pointed
> > upward.
>
> some of those stainless "lice rakes" might be an idea.
They will attract Nitpickers.
jsw
Dennis #1
They will attract Nitpickers.
jsw
========================
lousy pun!
Larry Jaques
wrote:
>
>"Rich Grise" <ri...@example.net.invalid> wrote in message
>news:ilgqi7$mq6$6...@news.eternal-september.org...
>> Dennis wrote:
>>>
>>> I'm looking at some designs to deter birds from perching on the top of
>>> solar panels and fouling them.
>>>
>> Just glue some drugstore combs to the upper edge, with the teeth pointed
>> upward.
>>
>some of those stainless "lice rakes" might be an idea.
Aluminum landscaper's rakes might work better. Lice rakes would have
very small teeth. http://tinyurl.com/4f63ort (Google confused the
content, so disregard.
Or take some 4" wide aluminum or s/s sheeting and cut sharply pointed
sawteeth into it, cutting it in half for two toothed pieces. A scroll
saw with a round carbide blade would allow you to cut it freehand.
Fastening it to the panel surrounds would be the key issue, avoiding
putting a screw into either circuitry or crystal, and keeping the
instrusions weathertight so you didn't compromise the panel longevity.
--
You create your opportunities by asking for them.
-- Patty Hansen
Jim Wilkins
wrote:
> ...>
> Or take some 4" wide aluminum or s/s sheeting and cut sharply pointed
> sawteeth into it, cutting it in half for two toothed pieces. A scroll
> saw with a round carbide blade would allow you to cut it freehand.
>
> Fastening it to the panel surrounds would be the key issue, avoiding
> putting a screw into either circuitry or crystal, and keeping the
> instrusions weathertight so you didn't compromise the panel longevity.
>
It may not have to be pointed. An upright strip of thin flexible
plastic that won't support their weight might be enough. Perhaps 2"
duct tape applied to the shaded side with 1-1/2" protruding above the
panel, slit to weaken it. If that works you could look for a more
durable material.
jsw