I have a solar battery that will be getting full sun for a period in summer. I wanted to build a tall shade (approximately 2.5 m high) offset from the wall by about 60 cm (to allow sufficent clearance from the battery). It will be in a position where it will be getting rained on, and so I want to make it of materials that won't rust or require upkeep.
I was thinking of making a backing frame out of this:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/metal-mate-25-4-x-25-4-x-1mm-x-3m-black-aluminium-square-tube_p0427733
Joining the frame together with these:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/metal-mate-3-way-connect-it-corner-joiner_p1138482
And then making the screen from this:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/sunlite-8-1-2-x-0-61m-solar-grey-twinwall-polycarbonate-sheet-1200mm_p1010936
I was wondering:
- Will the aluminum struts be strong enough to hold a sheet 2.5 m x 1.2 m upright?
- How to attach the metal frame to the brick wall (it will be perpendicular)?
- How to ensure that the joiners don't come apart (I was presuming that I could put a screw in perpendicular to the join if needed?
- If I can paint acrylic paint directly onto the polycarbonate (or if it will need to be primed in order to make sure that the paint adheres/it doesn't have issues if it expands in the heat)
- If there is a better way of doing this project
