Solar Monolith

Solar Monolith - Rough Plans Mike Burgess

Click on images for enlargement.

1) These are quite general, use a large amount of
common sense and pointy screws.

2) I built this like a tank, to take a beating at
Burning Man, and survive to come a 2nd year. It
also powered a laptop and printer for a craft faire.

3) Original plan was to hold a single deep cycle battery,
and a power conditioner. Common inverters won't drive
the inductive load the conditioner presented, so I'm
reconfiguring the battery tray cleats to hold 2 batteries.

4) The batteries act as ballast, preventing winds from
doing too much to the Monolith. Be inventive if a
major storm arises - see photo SM_Laying_Down.jpg
for the most streamlined configuration - use without the
battery & dolly. Guess what happens to most batteries
if you tip them on their end.

5) I also use battery boxes from a Marine Supply store,
just in case. Color Code things like battery leads.

6) It's heavy, so the dolly is multipurpose, helps unload
your truck, and moves the panel to the best sun.

7) By varying the prop stick, you can adjust the angle of
the panel to the sun, and rotate it to track as the day
progresses, I moved it at least 5x a day to keep full
charging angle.

8) After the 6 cuts are done, you will have a 60"x20"
and a 60"x24" sheet, the 60"x20" will need to be cut
special, on the diagonal - making the 2 angled sides.
The 60"x24" is the back panel

9) Box Frame Base. The base where the battery(s) sits
holds a tremendous amount of weight, and plywood will
bend, so a Box Frame is made to take the weight and
provide stiffness. It also serves as a surface to bolt
the sides & back to. (and optional bottom skids) I used
1"x2" (beware, when you get it home, the actual dimensions
are really 3/4" x 1 1/2" of a 1x2)

10) Major rough dimensions: (inches)
60 x 24 Back
18 x 24 Base (Box Frame)
18 x 60 2 Sides
scraps used for shelves, bracing cleats ect...

11) Parts (some, your mileage may vary)
4'x8' x 1/2" plywood (weatherproof, good skins)
1"x4"x8' Clear DougFir (Solar Panel Frame)
3/4 & 1" wood/drywall screws (pre-drill some spots)
Corner brackets for solar panel frame and base (6-8 total)
Hinges, 3, 2 for panel, 1 for prop stick. 3" at least.
2"x4"x6' for skids
1"x2" x6' 3 ea (Shelf cleats, Box Frame base, side cleats)
metal hardware, nuts, washers, bolts, steamer trunk handles.

This is by no means complete, just a basic guide to get
you started. Size of frame around your solar panel will
vary with type of panel, your charge controller (if used)
can vary with several sources. Shelves and outlets can
be added as you desire.

Mike Burgess - basic design, spring 2001
Construction Assistance by Mike Se. and Norm Sm.
AEZ for panel group buy.