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Newbie setup! Using solar for supplemental energy
http://byap.backyardmagazines.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=28604		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  pilotjack59 [ May 13th, '17, 10:30 ]
Post subject:  Newbie setup! Using solar for supplemental energy
:wave1:

Hi,

I want to use a 100W solar panel to help support the system I'm building.

System basics: 100Gal FT, GB and sump from an IBC. Probable supplemental GB coming later. All housed in a greenhouse in Portland OR area.

I want to use the solar to power the pump when power is available. Am I better to get a 12V dc pump and switch 12V from a solar charged battery or use an inverter for a 120V AC pump?

My goal is to use solar when available and/or the battery has a charge and then use the grid the rest of the time. I havent found much online about this basic concept - I must have the wrong search terms!!

1) 12Vdc pump or 120V pump

2) is "supplemental solar" (EG mainly grid powered systems) better using the grid to charge batterys or for the solar to run an inverter when it's available? Links to inverters or battery chargers that support grid and solar panels would be greatly helpful!!

Progress: FT and IBC onhand, Greenhouse 80% complete. Lots of reading and learning done - now the REAL learning starts...

TIA for any advise.

Jack
Author:  scotty435 [ May 13th, '17, 13:25 ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie setup! Using solar for supplemental energy
Welcome to the forum Jack :wave:
Author:  Gunagulla [ May 13th, '17, 14:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie setup! Using solar for supplemental energy
In my experience with Hailea and SunSun 12V pumps, they are great to start with, and are fine as back-up pumps, but they can't be run full time in the long term, because the brushes wear out too quickly. If you can find a brushless 12VDC pump, then you could use that, as it would likely last much longer, and you avoid the inefficiencies of inverting 12VDC to 120VAC.

I imagine Portland is quite a cloudy area, so a single 100W panel may not provide all that much energy, so maybe you are better off using it to charge a battery devoted to a backup water pump.
Author:  wes1977 [ May 14th, '17, 00:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie setup! Using solar for supplemental energy
Sounds a little like my setup. I have 100 watt setup. 100 gallon fish tank. I dont have any AC power to my greenhouse.
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