RussellMc wrote:
> Thanks for the suggestion - its well out of the class of what I'm
> needing for the present requirement but looks like a very useful
> device. I'd be interested in your conclusions re reflectors and what
> reflective coating you ended up using. (I have a somewhat dated but
> useful paper on various reflector materials if you are interested, -
> Silver on Acrylic with Acrylic top protective coating is the best at
> about 96% but Al on Mylar with no protection is close  behind.
>
> The Taos light sensors look very useful and their dual diode solution
> to avoid using a selective filter merits a better look.
>
>                   http://www.taosinc.com/default.aspx
>
> So - thanks again for the suggestion, and it looks like it may produce
> some useful leads for other purposes.
>
>
>        Russell
>   =20
Glad to help with a link to the irradiance meter.  The Taos chips were=20
on clearance at
RadioShack for a couple bucks - there may still be some out there in stores=
..

I'd appreciate the paper on reflector materials.  Would you send it to=20
my email address?
  My friend is kind of hitting a brick wall in coming up with a=20
cost-effective method of
improving solar panel efficiency.  Washington State has this incredible=20
deal in effect.
If a solar system has all all "grown in Washington" components, you can=20
put a meter
at the panels and get paid for every KW produced by the panel (not fed=20
back into
the grid, but output from the panel) for up to $10,000 per year, AND any=20
power
you use from the grid is free!  Even with these incentives, my friend=20
figures he has
to improve panel output by a factor of 2 just to make sense to pay back=20
the costs
in a reasonable period of time.  He's got a couple panels set up to test=20
reflectors and
tracking methods.

Thanks,

Jon


--=20
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