PV array for Heat Tape
PV array for Heat Tape
(OP)
Hello,
I am looking into a project for a home high in the rocky mountains which has a very high sun exposure on the Southwest facing roofs and eves, the trouble is that this exposure helps in the creation of ice dams on the NE roof valleys of this home. The simple solution is plug in heat tape. However, being an electrical engineer who likes to tinker I would like to look into hooking 12V heat tape to a 12V solar array. I have no need for batteries or constant heat, I am fine with this tape only working while I have direct sunlight. I only want to melt simple channels down the valleys of my roof (5 feet of tape) and further I do not care to melt all the ice I only want a "drain" to allow for any trapped water to escape below the ice. I am thinking of some 12V-5W/ft heat tape for 2 valleys, so simple math tells me I need around 50W of power (2 valleys X 5 ft X 5 w/ft).
Does anyone have any recommendations for waterproof 12V heat tape (obviously not in bulk) and a small 60W solar array? Is there anything I am overlooking? I know I will probably never recoup my investment in electricity savings but hey everyone needs a hobby right?
Thanks!
Chris
I am looking into a project for a home high in the rocky mountains which has a very high sun exposure on the Southwest facing roofs and eves, the trouble is that this exposure helps in the creation of ice dams on the NE roof valleys of this home. The simple solution is plug in heat tape. However, being an electrical engineer who likes to tinker I would like to look into hooking 12V heat tape to a 12V solar array. I have no need for batteries or constant heat, I am fine with this tape only working while I have direct sunlight. I only want to melt simple channels down the valleys of my roof (5 feet of tape) and further I do not care to melt all the ice I only want a "drain" to allow for any trapped water to escape below the ice. I am thinking of some 12V-5W/ft heat tape for 2 valleys, so simple math tells me I need around 50W of power (2 valleys X 5 ft X 5 w/ft).
Does anyone have any recommendations for waterproof 12V heat tape (obviously not in bulk) and a small 60W solar array? Is there anything I am overlooking? I know I will probably never recoup my investment in electricity savings but hey everyone needs a hobby right?
Thanks!
Chris





RE: PV array for Heat Tape
RE: PV array for Heat Tape
RE: PV array for Heat Tape
http://www.costco.com/Grape-Solar-100W-Solar-Panel...
In these parts (E. Canada) we just install rubber membranes under the shingles and can often ignore any ice dams.
RE: PV array for Heat Tape
OperaHouse, I did not consider the voltage profile of a PV array, though I don't think it will be a large deal with a pure resisvite load. V2/R however wouldn't the voltage be dependent upon the load?
VE1Bill, I wish my contractor would have installed rubber but the roof is too new to rip it up. A single hole in the valley would drain any trapped water. I like the attached link and similar, my biggest problem is finding waterproof 12V heat tape
RE: PV array for Heat Tape
SceneryDriver
RE: PV array for Heat Tape