Big redo of the old bucket

The optimum angle for a solar panel is the same as one's latitude. Here in MSP we are smack on latitude 45° so my panel and lid will tilt up to that when the car is sitting, then close when the car is turned on. Testing for angle:


But actually since the car will be used in the summer a better angle would be 30°. The sun is higher in the summer, lower in the winter, and 45° would be a compromise for fixed panels year-round.

 

I could add a tracker that would tilt the panel to always point at the Sun. But, gosh, I don't want to over-engineer my bucket.

 

What happens when you make a u-turn?

 

Out of the paint! You know how when you're 1/2 way thru a project and there are pieces everywhere and a list of dozens of things to do and you begin to wonder if it will all happen before you expire? You don't? Well, aren't you special. Here's the bed lid freshly painted:

That is the underside of the lid, done in Rustoleum Truck Bed Coating, which is uber-tough and hides all my mistakes.
But what are all those holes? Remember a solar panel goes on the other side of the lid. Guess if you dare.

 

Spanky is close. Solar panels do get hot and some ventilation is nice. Others care to try?

There are two linear actuators which raise the lid/panel to 45° when parked. Then close when key on. Anticipate video to thrill you.

 

Just the one panel.

 

Hmmm...what is all this crap:

 

Hard part done. Solar panel, bed lid and hinge mated, and wired assy attached to bed:

Those 5 screened holes are outlet vents for the solar panel, which gets hot in operation. Centered below is a muffin fan to blow air beneath panel. And above the fan is a volt/amp display:

...putting out 18.5 volts no load. Once wired to it's controller and the battery we'll see how much juice we get. The panel is rated at 100 watts, so we might see 7 or 8 amps in full sunlight. But the controller will limit it to whatever the battery needs to charge plus any other loads.