Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I thought Australia was a democracy system too?

Here we pay zero, but thats just me and my wife, on my off-grid system, people around us pay much higher than Colum's "The highest in the world last time I checked." Peak rate is 0.52/kWh, and theres a $1.60/day standing charge, and if on flat rate I think its about 0.32/kWh

$0.52/kwhr

That is more expensive than diesel

How did that you compare that to diesel?

When I got the not from the power company about how I would now be paying $0.394/kwhr I did a calculation to work out how much it would cost to run a generator.

I can't remember the exact figures but the fuel consumption of the diesel generator at 80% load yielded a cost at $0.4/kWhr when diesel costs $1.5/L. That doesn't factor in depreciation and maintenance of the diesel generator but then nor does it factor in the fuel rebate I'd be eligible for for diesel use in an engine not used on the road.

Since I did that calculation I've been trying to work out how to go off grid.

Trying? its a no-brainer these days, buying outright can get you under 20c/kWh, or you can lease for zero up front, or go with a Power Purchase Agreement if a large enough consumer, for well under the cost of grid power.
Even off-grid is on the verge of economical to do in areas with high daily standing charges, with a Lithium battery.

A lot of America's coal is high in Sulfur so doesn't burn very clean.

Electric is currently fairly cheap here in the northwest because of hydroelectric. Works out to around $ 0.09 a KWH. Still would like to not be paying anything since it seems to go up every year. Doubt I'll every get there with as little insulation as this house has, but I'm sure I'll take a good chunk out of the bill.

I'll know to ask you Aussies about what to do to reduce my bills and how to get the conversion done

The problem is for my AP system I don't have a standard usage pattern. The pumps having to run 24/7 seems to confuse all the solar people I've talked to.

Stuart, email me your estimated daily demand profile, and I'll see what can be done.

Probably better if we talk. I've had a few interesting enquiries over the last two days which could change everything...or lead to nothing again (sigh).

Ya I would like to have a solar powered or steampowered aquaponics system but I've been having trouble trying to figure out wiring and how to connect a battery bank to my power source (whether it be hydro/steam power) or solar power.. I have a 5w solar panel dig kit that I still haven't put together. Got it as a introductory thing for a mini scale model to use before I do big.

Overall I find dig videos about how to build the components but none ever go into depth about how to wire and connect everything....


Gunugulla do you think you can explain and help us all out? A video or something possibly?

Also a lot of water pumps recommend that you should not use solar power to operate them...
Because of how the power available fluctuates through our the day...

But that is with a direct connection I'm guessing... My thought was what if I connected it to my battery bank and then to a bank of capacitors that would give off 600watts of power to a pump and give it constantly 600watts.. Idk if this is accurate and if there is something extra I need..

Well, if they are AC pumps, you generally don't want to use DC on them, although series wond motors will still work if the correct DC voltage is used. Other than that, dodgy inverters will give AC motors a really hard time- the waveform output by some "modifed sine wave" inverters is rubbish.
A good quality inverter of appropriate size, with a correctly sized battery behind it, will give perfect pump motor performance.
Also, you should generally not try to run a motor directly from a panel, unless it is specifically suited to that sort of operation, as you will have minimal control over the voltage.

Don't waste your time on a DIY 5W solar panel, it wont be of any use in an AP system. Larger DIY panels are probably not worth messing with either, if you want a reliable decent output. Good quality panels can be had at a sensible price these days, the DIY panel thing is a leftover from when PV panels were seriously expensive, like they were in 1991 when I went off-grid.

You don't need capacitors across a battery just to run a pump, it just adds to the cost, with no benefit.

That's what it was! An inverter! Thank you but I still don't understand wiring..