Solar Stik™ Solar School
Introduction
The Solar Stik™ System is only designed for one purpose:
Generating “Usable Power”!
The Solar Stik Systemtm is a tool that when used correctly can provide the operator with as much renewable power as is possible, based on the environmental conditions where it is used.
A Solar Stik™ can often be used as a direct replacement for a small, portable fuel-driven generator in a low-power application (less than 3kW-h daily).
For higher power applications (up to 2000 watts continuous), it can also be used in conjunction with generators as well as other existing power sources if they are available.
Devices such as PRO-Verters™ allow the operator to introduce multiple forms of power generation into one functioning closed-loop circuit often called a “micro-grid”.
It can be used anywhere a low to medium duty portable power generator is required, but may not be a viable or desired option.
The purpose of this document is to provide a detailed synopsis about how the Solar Stik™ works, and a short overview of how it compares to a traditional solar power array.
Operating Factors for a Solar Panel
There are three factors that affect a solar panel’s ability to generate power:
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Direct sunlight
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Cool operating temperatures (air circulation around the panels)
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MPPT Charge Controls
It is a universal reality about ALL solar panels, be it amorphous silicon, CIGS (thin film), Mono/Multi(Poly) crystalline or others not listed, that they ALL will operate at their rated capacity ONLY in direct sunlight.
Sunlight has photons, and these photons are the key ingredient to making electrons flow from the positive field of a solar panel (P-type layer) to the negative field (N-type layer). The flow of electrons is also known as Amperage or Current. Photons can be reflected away if the panel surface is not perpendicular to their direction of flow. It is preferable to have these photons pass THROUGH the panel and into the cell structure. This achieves its maximum when the sun’s rays hit the panels at a 90 degree angle. The amount of photons passing through a solar panel is directly linked to the solar panel’s output current.
By maintaining the panels at a perpendicular angle close to 90 degrees, the amount of photons passing through a solar panel is maximized. The Solar Stik™ employs multiple axes of movement which allow it to work at 100% of rated output in direct sunlight and for longer daily periods than a fixed or single-pitch system, with little seasonal effect (output loss due to indirect overhead passing of the sun).
During the course of a calendar year, the sun rarely passes directly overhead during the day. This means that most solar panels mounted in a fixed, flat position will operate at a reduced capacity even during the noon hour. The problem with most single-pitch solar systems is that they can only rotate around a single axis, so the ability to truly follow the sun is greatly diminished, especially if the system is used in the northern or southern latitudes where the sun rarely passes overhead at a 90 degree angle to the surface of a fixed or single-axis solar system.
Taking advantage of basic principles of physics, the Solar Stik™ enhances the performance of its solar panel system.
A multi-axis mounting system is employed on the Solar Stik™, allowing it to be as effective as a fixed-mounted panel system two to three times its size. As little as three daily panel adjustments will enable the Solar Stik™ to produce 100% of its rated power output all day long. A 200% to 300% increase in power output is possible, depending the geogroaphic location and the time of year (the location of the sun and the length of the day).
Click here to see a graph comparison of the Solar Stik™ versus “Fixed” Panels.
Another factor in a solar panel’s ability to produce power is its temperature; a panel that is cool will generate more electrical power than a hot panel.
The Solar Stik™ system employs its solar panels on a mechanical lifting arm, which suspends the panel in a favorable position for air circulation, thus cooling the panel and allowing it to run at maximum power output.
A Real Life Example
Let’s examine a typical day in Florida during the month of March and the sun’s effect on a “fixed” 300 watt solar panel system. The March sun will never pass directly overhead during the course of a day. Therefore, the user may only see a maximum output of around 70% to 80% rated power during peak sunlight periods. Additionally, the heat generated in/under a solar panel in a flat-mounted system will degrade the panel’s power production since these are usually mounted on or close to another surface.
This 300 watt fixed system may yield only about 1 Kilowatt-hour (90 amp-Hours), or a little more depending on whether the system has the ability to pitch or tilt. This often means that the user must install a “larger than necessary” fixed solar system to compensate for these issues and produce the desired amount of power. 
As the sun is more directly overhead in the summer months, the performance gap between the fixed system and the Solar Stik™ output narrows. However, the 100 watt Solar Stik™ System can compete with larger wattage fixed-mount systems based on it’s ability to aim the panels at the sun from sunrise to sunset as well as the cooling effect of air circulation around the Solar Stik’s™ solar panels.
Additional Factors
Blue Sky Energy Solar Boost™ MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) charge controls play a key role in the Solar Stik™ System. These charge controls can be “optimized” for a particular battery bank, enhancing the Solar Stik™ rated output. All Solar Stik™ Power Paks use MPPT charge controls.
A Solar Panel’s amperage is determined by a function of its wattage divided by voltage, and when Blue Sky Energy’s Solar Boost™ controls are used, the result is 100% of the solar panel power output being supplied to the batteries. The Solar Boost™ charge control will allow the Solar Stik™ solar panels to operate at their rated voltage instead of the battery’s voltage and results in about a 25% increase in power to the battery bank. For additional information on MPPT technology please see the Blue Sky Energy Inc. website.
