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Solar Panel Wall

katzgar said:
you are kidding...right?
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Nope and if you took the time to look at it without partisan blinders on you see how similar they are.


Would you like to debate the issue or will you simply provide a snide remark, declare victory, and not address the topic in your usual manner?
 
apdst said:
There are wind farms on the border, so solar panels on the border wall are just as feasable.
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Feasable? Maybe.

Intelligent? Not likely. A big solar farm like the ones already being built would be more efficient, cheaper to maintain, cheaper to build etc.

If you can just slap solar panels on everything to make it cheaper then we should be making every new government building, bridge or structure to be covered in solar panels. I encourage trump to invest in solar but this way is simply not reasonable when there are cheaper and easier methods.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk
 
roughdraft274 said:
Feasable? Maybe.

Intelligent? Not likely. A big solar farm like the ones already being built would be more efficient, cheaper to maintain, cheaper to build etc.

If you can just slap solar panels on everything to make it cheaper then we should be making every new government building, bridge or structure to be covered in solar panels. I encourage trump to invest in solar but this way is simply not reasonable when there are cheaper and easier methods.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk
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You hate it because it's President Trump's idea.

Solar panels mounted on the border wall would be just as efficient as any other application.
 
apdst said:
You hate it because it's President Trump's idea.

Solar panels mounted on the border wall would be just as efficient as any other application.
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Me, I'm thrilled you guys are getting behind the idea of spending billions of tax dollars on solar power.
 
Deuce said:
Me, I'm thrilled you guys are getting behind the idea of spending billions of tax dollars on solar power.
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I've never really been against it.
 
Nuber said:
Solar 101 - General Description (in other words don't bust me on details, I am trying to use layman's terminology)

Solar is DC, your house is AC. A converter is therefore required to "use" electricity in the normal way. You can make DC useful (your car is DC, your Ipad is DC) but it has restrictions as with all things.

DC is not efficient to deliver over distances, that is why our electric grid is AC. If you put thousands of solar panels across hundreds of miles of horizontal distance, you now have a lot of DC power produced, with hundreds of miles of delivery losses.

OR

You can install converters periodically and connect to the AC grid at nearby points. First option, lots of losses. Second option, lots of equipment, expense, maintenance, etc.

FYI - modern solar panels can take major hail storms without damage. Seen many kids hit baseballs into rooftop panels without ill effect. They are not a delicate as you might think. All things can be broken with enough motivation, however.

Generic responses provided as a customer service announcement by a licensed Master Electrician. Please tip your waiter or waitress, I may or may not be here all week.

By the way, as Mexico has "given" us an open tab, I support the laser-headed shark monsters. Excellent use of other people's money.:lamo
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I have solar panels on my roof. They provide around 70% of my electric use. 20 year lease plus $5,000 NYS tax credit. No out of pocket because the provider gets the Federal subsidy. No maintenance either, should there be?
 
Mycroft said:
The solar panels on the wall could energize the wall...provide power for guard posts, electronic countermeasures, killer shocks, etc.
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Killer shocks at our border? I hope you are joking like I was. There are children that cross the border. But I guess it makes more sense to spend unlimited money to shock them to death rather than just applying current laws. :roll:
 
Hari Seldon said:
I have solar panels on my roof. They provide around 70% of my electric use. 20 year lease plus $5,000 NYS tax credit. No out of pocket because the provider gets the Federal subsidy. No maintenance either, should there be?
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Maintenance on solar panel systems is both a function of time and type of system. Maintenance costs are low to non-existent initially, but eventually a connector will fail, the inverter will stop producing rated output, the panels need cleaned to maintain optimum efficiency. If any solar system has tracking panels or has any sort of battery storage system, maintenance is much higher.

Hari - as I don't know the details of your specific system, I would recommend that you read your manufacturer's instructions and follow their recommendations (or your installation company). I would also monitor your system's output if possible. If you are getting 70% "coverage" now, and you get 65% next year, something likely needs looked into.
 
Nuber said:
Maintenance on solar panel systems is both a function of time and type of system. Maintenance costs are low to non-existent initially, but eventually a connector will fail, the inverter will stop producing rated output, the panels need cleaned to maintain optimum efficiency. If any solar system has tracking panels or has any sort of battery storage system, maintenance is much higher.

Hari - as I don't know the details of your specific system, I would recommend that you read your manufacturer's instructions and follow their recommendations (or your installation company). I would also monitor your system's output if possible. If you are getting 70% "coverage" now, and you get 65% next year, something likely needs looked into.
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It's monitored. I can check online anytime. The agreement guarantees a certain amount of production or they cover the difference. Since its leased they are responsible for maintaining the system. Not a huge money saver but something. Also a hedge against future rate increases.

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americanwoman said:
Well since Mexico is paying for it all, why not have the wall include sharks with frickin lazer beams attached to their heads? Might save us some money instead of adding more border agents.
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I say we also install Casinos along the Great Wall of Trump. That way Mexicans can gamble for their citizenship. ;)
 
americanwoman said:
Killer shocks at our border? I hope you are joking like I was. There are children that cross the border. But I guess it makes more sense to spend unlimited money to shock them to death rather than just applying current laws. :roll:
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Yes...I was joking...at least with the "shocks" part. Another option, from that video I posted, is selling the electricity to Mexico.

That way, we can make some money off the wall that they will pay for.
 
roughdraft274 said:
Feasable? Maybe.

Intelligent? Not likely. A big solar farm like the ones already being built would be more efficient, cheaper to maintain, cheaper to build etc.

If you can just slap solar panels on everything to make it cheaper then we should be making every new government building, bridge or structure to be covered in solar panels. I encourage trump to invest in solar but this way is simply not reasonable when there are cheaper and easier methods.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk
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Actually, you CAN slap solar panels on just about everything.

My little town (about 30,000 or so) recently built a new education center that incorporates solar panels on the roof.

solar.jpg
 
Mycroft said:
Actually, you CAN slap solar panels on just about everything.

My little town (about 30,000 or so) recently built a new education center that incorporates solar panels on the roof.

View attachment 67219101
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:roll:

A building isn't a wall. This isn't complicated Mycroft. Seriously.

Also, those solar panels power the building correct? And they are located all in a central location on top of the building? So you don't have any of the complications that I have previously pointed out of installing solar panels on a wall?

Please come back when you have a good reason as to why solar panels would work better on a wall than on a buildings roof or in a solar farm formation.
 
Deuce said:
Sure buddy. You never once complained about Obamas efforts on that front ;)
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I complained about spending money on businesses that went tits up within a year. Businesses that they knew were risky as hell, anyway. Does Solyndra ring a bell?
 
Skeptic Bob said:
Interesting, but it is referred to as solar panels but is also called "mesh". While I understand how mesh is graffiti resistant, I don't understand how solar panels can be mesh, and hence graffiti resistant.
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Fry 'em like ants!
 
Mycroft said:
Actually, you CAN slap solar panels on just about everything.

My little town (about 30,000 or so) recently built a new education center that incorporates solar panels on the roof.

View attachment 67219101
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The solar panels have to point south, so unless they are armored, they will be destroyed - rocks, slingshots, bullets.
 
roughdraft274 said:
:roll:

A building isn't a wall. This isn't complicated Mycroft. Seriously.

Also, those solar panels power the building correct? And they are located all in a central location on top of the building? So you don't have any of the complications that I have previously pointed out of installing solar panels on a wall?

Please come back when you have a good reason as to why solar panels would work better on a wall than on a buildings roof or in a solar farm formation.
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Are you saying it can't be done? Are you saying our engineering abilities aren't up to the task of getting it done?

Look, I'm not an engineer, but I have faith in our abilities. If we want to do it...we can.
 
roughdraft274 said:
Please come back when you have a good reason as to why solar panels would work better on a wall than on a buildings roof or in a solar farm formation.
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I don't think anyone has claimed that solar panels would work BETTER on a wall verse building it cluster farm.


What most are saying, who aren't outright dismissing the idea. If we are going to have a thousands mile long wall, we should explore ways it can be beneficial. Current technology may make the idea cost prohibited but a few decade out who knows.
 
chuckiechan said:
The solar panels have to point south, so unless they are armored, they will be destroyed - rocks, slingshots, bullets.
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shrug...

I see that as just another thing to be dealt with...another solution to be found.

Should we not try...just because you can think of an objection?
 
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