Installing Off-Site Watering Setup

[Naptown]

Dump the battery
Run directly from solar with a panel. Twice the watts a pump will take There is another device who's name escapes me at the moment that will run the pump.
Plan on getting the pumping done during the sun hour time.
12 hours is too long figure use more like 5 depending on the location which is critical to know

[OregonSolar]

Dump the battery
Run directly from solar with a panel. Twice the watts a pump will take There is another device who's name escapes me at the moment that will run the pump.
Plan on getting the pumping done during the sun hour time.
12 hours is too long figure use more like 5 depending on the location which is critical to know

The only problem with that is storage. Ideally there are two 350 gallon stock tanks out there. The original plan was to use solar panels to charge some batteries, which would run the pump when a float in the tanks called for water. You see, for some reason the contractor wants NO overflow, hence the battery design. To run an 8 GPM pump for 5 hrs would require an extra 1500 gallon storage tank that would drain into the stock tanks using a float. This is out of the question, considering a 1500 gallon poly tank costs $800+.

[Naptown]

Another thought
Do the streams run with any kind of velocity or just very slow
If you have any kind of flow perhaps you could use the stream to power a pump
Just like in the old days of water mills

[OregonSolar]

Another thought
Do the streams run with any kind of velocity or just very slow
If you have any kind of flow perhaps you could use the stream to power a pump
Just like in the old days of water mills

Not going to happen. No usable head, no real flow, the streams are practically stagnant from a hydropower point-of-view.

From any way I look at it, each system is going to be upwards of at least $1,200+. I'm sending an email to my boss right now. *shudders of the thought of inbox in the morning *

[Naptown]

Sorry about that
I tried
You can't even get a 1 knot flow even if you restricted a portion?
And by one knot I mean 6000 feet an hour past a wheel?
Just trying to think outside the solar box

[OregonSolar]

Sorry about that
I tried
You can't even get a 1 knot flow even if you restricted a portion?
And by one knot I mean 6000 feet an hour past a wheel?
Just trying to think outside the solar box

I applaud the effort, but still, no go.
The problem with any kind of hydropower setup is that the whole point of off-site watering is to keep impact to the stream at a minimal level. Diverting the stream for a wheel or any other setup would TOTALLY defeat exactly the thing you're trying to accomplish!

[Naptown]

Ok
Then lets think about things that would not require a battery.
There are pumps and controllers that do not have batteries and are used for this exact purpose.

What about wind?

[OregonSolar]

Ok
Then lets think about things that would not require a battery.
There are pumps and controllers that do not have batteries and are used for this exact purpose.

What about wind?

What about wind? Not consistent enough. A good 20MPH blow that would maybe provide enough energy to do something comes around once a month. Mostly we range from calm to 10MPH sustained, with occasional 15MPH gusts. Oregon ain't the Great Plains, you know.

Sorry to rain on both our parade's, but solar is really the only consistent energy source out here.

What do you mean, systems that don't require a battery? I already brought this up, storage (1500 gallon poly tank+two 350 gallon open top stock tanks) for a 8GPM pump running 5hrs costs just as much as getting the batteries.

I'm just being difficult, aren't I...

[Naptown]

Well you are not the first to bring this subject up.
Mostly however from Texas.
Now how many feet above the stream is the tank to be located? This is important to calculate the head on the pump.
A pump that has to pump up vertically 100 feet may only put out 1/5 the water if it was only 10 feet. The numbers above are arbitrary and depend on the pump selected.
So lets get that settled first.
Second up is a zip code to check insulation at various tilts for the location.
Bet the place in Florida didn't ask this many questions.
Lastly how much do the cows drink daily
It is cheaper to have the storage for perhaps 2-3 days in the water tank than to buy and maintain batteries.
( think water storage in place of batteries)

[OregonSolar]

Well you are not the first to bring this subject up.
Mostly however from Texas.
Now how many feet above the stream is the tank to be located? This is important to calculate the head on the pump.
A pump that has to pump up vertically 100 feet may only put out 1/5 the water if it was only 10 feet. The numbers above are arbitrary and depend on the pump selected.
So lets get that settled first.
Second up is a zip code to check insulation at various tilts for the location.
Bet the place in Florida didn't ask this many questions.

So far, depending on some locations, it will be no more than 20ft of lift through about 100ft of 3/4 inch black poly pipe. I understand the pump lift concept; assuming an only 20ft lift (10PSI pump pressure) I should be running nearly at maximum flow.

Zip is 97624. This site (http://solarelectricityhandbook.com/...alculator.html) reccomends a 66 degree angle from horizontal in winter (round to 65, won't use), a 42 degree angle spring/fall (round to 45, may use), and a 18 degree angle in summer (Will use definately, round to 20 degrees). Is it just me or does the 18 degree angle seem a little shallow? I mean, it will really cut down on your exposure in the later afternoon and early morning.

[Naptown]

Setting up an adjustable tilt is fairly easy
Generally though go for the angle that gets you the most for the worst insolation month the system will be used.
Don't even think about trackers on this scale.
So based on your head what will the pump produce an hour?

[Naptown]

The only problem with that is storage. Ideally there are two 350 gallon stock tanks out there. The original plan was to use solar panels to charge some batteries, which would run the pump when a float in the tanks called for water. You see, for some reason the contractor wants NO overflow, hence the battery design. To run an 8 GPM pump for 5 hrs would require an extra 1500 gallon storage tank that would drain into the stock tanks using a float. This is out of the question, considering a 1500 gallon poly tank costs $800+.

Ok how long would that tank last
Lets say 20 years for the sake of the discussion
And a battery bank lasts on average 5 years with very good care
Now say good quality batteries will cost about $600.00 and last 5 years on the outside.
Which is more cost effective in the long run!

[OregonSolar]

Setting up an adjustable tilt is fairly easy
Generally though go for the angle that gets you the most for the worst insolation month the system will be used.
Don't even think about trackers on this scale.
So based on your head what will the pump produce an hour?

2.8GPM at 10 PSI. But I just realized something: The retailer I was looking at had the wrong amperages. The pump is actually only about 3 amps. So with the revised amperages, the calculator says I only need a 200 watt panel and 150Ah of 24 volt batteries. This is very easily within my grasp. Sending a revisory email to my boss.

Looks like it might be worth it after all.

[OregonSolar]

Ok how long would that tank last
Lets say 20 years for the sake of the discussion
And a battery bank lasts on average 5 years with very good care
Now say good quality batteries will cost about $600.00 and last 5 years on the outside.
Which is more cost effective in the long run!

Yes and no. Poly tanks tend to crack after about 10 years sitting in full sun. Ever leave an empty milk bottle outside all summer, and then when you go to pick it up it falls apart? Same principle. Seems more cost-effective than the batteries, even after I did fix the calculator amps. Interesting to think about...

Note: A setup involving a tank would require twice as much fencing around due to the extra surface area, but this cost is negligible. And you need a big truck to haul the tank out of the field in fall, then back out again in spring. The battery setup all it takes is to remove the pump so it doesn't get flooded.

[OregonSolar]

Li batteries?

Here's another possibility for my batteries: Perhaps LiION?

From what I've read so far, they have a MUCH higher energy density than FLA's or AGM's, and can be discharged past 60% safely. Since bulk is a factor in this setup as everything has to fit in one pole mounted box, would this be a possible solution?

I understand that they take a lot more advanced charging controller technology, but if I can get the weight and bulk of my batteries down it would be great.