Securing solar panels on a radar mast?

[H35]

I have gotten hold of a nice and tall radar mast in 75mm stainless steel. I would like to secure solar panels on it, a little below the top, mostly out of the shadow of future radar. I'm thinking of installing two panels, one on each side, for good balance, and better looks. Not sure how I should secure them though. But I have found some stainless steel clamps for exhaust pipes that will fit exactly. They can be used, I suppose. The panels should be able to extend flat out horisontally. But preferably also adjustable to an angle, sideways and upwards, for sailing here in the high north.

Any ideas or suggestions on how to go about this? The panels I am looking at have aluminium frames and measure 54x54 cm.

 

[William_H]

You will need to be able to rotate the panels to face South either permanently if you have a jetty type mooring or any time if you want power when sailing or at anchor. However if you have a swing mooring you can either leave them horizontal or face south in any prevailing wind. Yes mounting each side of the pole would be OK but if you then mount a radar scanner on top you are going to often get shade from it. All very difficult to optimise. But 2 panels should give you something useful into batteries. I suspect more than 20 w each panel might be /look ungainly. Mostly you need a falt plate under the panel and a strut to triangulate the mount from underneath so would need 2 of those clamps for each panel. good luck olewill

 

[bbg]

I think I would be looking to mount them above the radar, rather than below.

You can mount them on a rubber u-joint like this

https://shop.wind-nc.com/collections/windsurfing-universal-joints/products/rubber-universal-joint

Then a light line from each corner of each panel down to somewhere convenient so you can adjust them. A rolling hitch on each line allows easy adjustment.

I would be very concerned about the overall stability of the structure. That is a lot of weight at the end of a long lever. I suspect you will need some struts or stays to stabilise the pole.

 

[H35]

I think I would be looking to mount them above the radar, rather than below.

You can mount them on a rubber u-joint like this

https://shop.wind-nc.com/collections/windsurfing-universal-joints/products/rubber-universal-joint

Then a light line from each corner of each panel down to somewhere convenient so you can adjust them. A rolling hitch on each line allows easy adjustment.

I would be very concerned about the overall stability of the structure. That is a lot of weight at the end of a long lever. I suspect you will need some struts or stays to stabilise the pole.

The mast goes through the deck and will be secured to the hull. A collar against the deck with 4 solid bolts. The radar dome weighs 5,5 kilos. Two solar panels Maybe 5 kilos each. It's not going anywhere.
Panels on top of the radar dome? Naaah... Don't think so. But thanks!

 

[bbg]

The mast goes through the deck and will be secured to the hull. A collar against the deck with 4 solid bolts. The radar dome weighs 5,5 kilos. Two solar panels Maybe 5 kilos each. It's not going anywhere.
Panels on top of the radar dome? Naaah... Don't think so. But thanks!

OK it sounds sturdy. I was not suggesting mounting panels on the radar dome, but above the radar dome. So radar mounted on the front of the mast (pole) and panels mounted at the top of the mast. Solar panels can lose efficiency far more quickly than the percentage of the panel that is in shadow. I don't know the exact percentages but (by way of example only) 10% shadow on the panel might lose you 25% or more in terms of output.

Also, there will be a lot of windage up there, so you need to consider the weight and the windage. FYI I sailed for three years with a large solar panel mounted on one of those rubber u-joints, with cords to each corner to adjust for angle. The u-joints are definitely strong enough to manage the weight of the panel, but the corners do need to be secured for angle and stability.

 

[PaulRainbow]

My boat had a 60w panel, same size and weight as a modern 100w panel, mounted on a 1" tubular pole for 15 years.

As said, shade is a killer for solar panels, mounting on the top of the pole with the radome on the front isn't a bad idea, radar doesn't look up much. Plenty of yachts with them halfway up the front of the main mast, or even the mizzen.

 

[H35]

Back from the drawing board.... Well, the kitchen table at least.

Due to a "Better safe than sorry" approach to deciding the size of my solar panel, I am working on the idea of setting up a 150W panel. It is 147x67 cm and weighs 12 kilos.

How about the idea of putting the solar panel on top, and the radar dome on a pedestal down on the pole, as some mentioned. The top plate of my radar mast is a plate measuring 18x18 cm, with a bolt hole in each corner. If I bolt down two box profiles (alu or SS), with say 50 cm on one side, and about 100 cm on the other side, so the panel comes on a bit offset on the mast, but more in centre with the boat? Otherwise I could put the box profiles on lenghtwise and centred. It's a big panel (I think...). But I think I have aluminium box profile of about 10x40 mm that could be adequate. If not I can go shopping for what's needed.

The panel has a sturdy frame, which may be good enough to avoid twisting. But then I could certainly make up a "T" in each end to bolt it onto.

Waddayaguysthink???