solar power

[yobskin]

Hi guys,
Does anyone use solar power to operate there pumps?
I am in the proceeds of weighing up the thought of carrying a car battery around or light solar panels.....if they have been proven to work and be reliable im there ...any advise on this guys thanx.

 

[slowflow]

Hi yobskin
Generally not enough grunt directly from the panel & shade has too much impact on current output. A 250 watt panel ( 1200 mm square) gives about 10 amps under ideal conditions and is just too awkward to carry through the bush. Car batteries are not designed for deep cycle and deep cycle should only be discharged by about 40% for best cycle life. You will get many people telling you to run until flat but I suggest you have a look at solar applications & control before you decide.
Cheap panels generally don't electrically segment the solar panel cells so when partially shaded the out put drops quickly. Segmented panels cost more.

Lithium ions are a possibility but very expensive and need special care.

 

[AtomRat]

Yeah I agree with slowflow there, you wont be able to get the power needed at all to operate a pump unless you have a trailer of batteries you want to carry everywhere. But there is some info you have not left us with yobskin - what sort of pump are you talking about? Solar would work for 12v pumps quite well, but not for a 240v that needs a generator to run it.

 

[Jaros]

I use a 12v bilge pump on my mini hi-banker recirculation sluice. I lasts 4hrs ok. I then re charge off solar panels. That is enough running time for me??

 

[yobskin]

Sorri guys
Yes 12v pump.
Im converting a 5+ foot sluice to highbanker.
Most of qld is dry so i dont want to limit myself.
Im probably looking at 5000gal/hr pump.

I drag everything around via a gard n grow tipper wagon.
It goes off road pretty good saves me back.( bad discs).
Ok i agree with you slowflow money is problem for me and i dont do cheap n nasty. So i need a deep cycle battery with solar charger??..im a bit younger than jaros i can handle maby 7hrs of shoveling. Thanx guys

 

[nuggetino]

I don't know what type of pump you intend to use but 5000gph bilge pump in a 12v configuration will draw about 20amps . If you're going to be pumping for 7 hours a day it's 140ah and that's if you drain your battery 100% which will kill your battery fast! Doubling that capacity to a 300ah battery is going to weigh well over 80kg as a 150ah battery is already 45kg. With solar power it's as slowflow says. My 300w panel can do 10amps but averages around 6amps so I guess you could put back 40-50ah with a 300w solar panel. Durable glass panels are heavy and flexi panels are pretty expensive and short lived in comparison.

Considering how heavy lead acid batteries are and likewise large solar panels perhaps a petrol pump would be a better option. The smaller models don't go through much juice and weigh around 20kg or as much as a medium size car battery. Also much cheaper upfront.

 

[wooly]

Here is a little experiment i did a few years ago to show the effects of shading on solar panels.

http://youtu.be/UNPJapaZlCU

 

[yobskin]

Thanx heaps guys ,

I will look at a petrol pump less stress that way was hoping on being less noisy....startup a pump here they all come a running thinkin your dredging. Plus most areas here are near grazing dont want the cows to stop makin milk.
Thank you again guys

 

[backcreek]

Another alternative is a quiet inverter generator and 1or 2 240v submersable pumps.
I have done it like this and it works quite well.

 

[gcause]

I run a 2000gph bilge pump ($40 from Supercheap Auto) on my highbanker, works well plenty of water flow.
I just take the secondary battery (calcium deep cycle 100amp hour) off my Troopy and can run all day on that.
I then hook her back up to the secondary system again and go for a drive to recharge it.
Have been looking at getting a solar setup to have as a permanent addition to the Troopy but for now I don't need it.

 

[yobskin]

Great info guys thanks,

My sluice is huge haha
160cm x 25cm .

When its setup with good flow.
5inch angle 2inches flowing over rifles. Perfect diamond over ripple mat i hardly need to clasify only rocks the size of my boot become a problem. Its locally made great bloke i think.
So im am looking today for petrol power pump or geny.
Thank you again its great having some one like minded to discuss these issues. im driving the mrs crazy lol