Quote:
Originally Posted by jen b
Very cool! What is the knobby thing we're looking at in the third and last photos? I would like to eyeball this setup at the midatlantic fest this month to see how all the wires get attached to what.
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See you there, Jen. You won't find the wiring of the controller very complex once you ignore all the schematics of terminal strips which aren't the one you've got and just wire the thing in a big loop; isn't all electricity either a big loop (series) or a bunch of loops on loops (parallel). About the worst part for me was working with the Anderson power pole connectors (quick disconnects) between the
battery and the panel and
battery, extension cord and panel. Managed to crimp and assemble 8 of the darn things without ruining any and I needed eight and only had eight. As they cost approx a dollar apiece, this seemed like a big deal at the time.
The black plastic knob is part of a caged utility
light which came with both a stake (only see the round top of it in the picture) for in ground use, an alligator clamp for pole mounting, and a tilt-base. I scavenged the stakes and clamps off six of these because not wanted by my employer. Same with the lawnmower handle which is now the latitude-adjusting prop; I think I've had it sitting around since 1993. The small piece of bright steel next to the "stake & knob" is the ferrule thru which ran the starter cord. I did turn it over for a position advantageous to the operation of this fabulous "avoiding the Dorothy/tornado" design. There are also two steel tent stakes which hold down the bottom frame member of the panel.
jack