How to build a Solar Power source?

[Samw]

I found a couple of old threads where people were interested to use Solar Panels to charge batteries for their backup power.

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=10411&highlight=solar+power

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=5627&highlight=solar+power

What I want however is to provide continuous power for powering equipment for a small 5-10 gallon water pond on my balcony (South and West facing). The equipment will be a small powerhead (Minijet), maybe an air pump, and a small heater. The pond will contain cold water fish like comets or white clouds. Therefore, the heater only has to prevent the water from freezing in the winter so it'll be set to a low temp. I don't want to extend power cords to the water pond. So I think a solar panel and a power pack is what I need. Does anyone have experience with this? How do I calculate the size of the panel that I need and the size of the power pack? I don't know where is the best place to buy these things but Canadian Tire seems to have a few to choose from.

Canadian Tire Solar Power (http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/dept_landing.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=25343743035 17530&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=2534374303517494&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=2534374303517530&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=1408474396671722&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443281867&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474396670271&bmUID=1151862552912)

I'm wondering if a 2.2W panel and a Motomaster Eliminator 300A PowerBox will do the job of providing continuous power for a pump and heater? Anyone with experience?

[Samw]

According to this calculator (using Seattle), http://shop.altenergystore.com/Calculators/on-gridcalculator.html , I will need a 450W solar panel to generate the 40kWh/month (max) that I think I will need for my 6W mini-jet and 50W heater. That's going to be pricey!

[Samw]

Looks like there are already tons of cheap solar powered pond pumps out there (w/ battery).

http://www.siliconsolar.com/solar-fountain-pumps.php

http://newportsolar.com/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=28

Now, I just need to find a small solar heater.

[TheReefGeek]

Interesting idea, let us know if you succeed.

[Gizmo]

I would wonder if you could use a Marine 12V battery w/ a 6W solar panel to charge it during the day and run the pump. Using a 75W or more Inverter.

Inverter 11-1839-4 = $29.99
Marine Battery 10-2499-8 = $89.99
5.5W Solar Panel 11-1884-4 = $89.99

Using a Deep Cycle battery (Big Drain and Charge) it can run a heater and pump all night and almost drain, then charge during the day. You just need to be sure that your solar panel is going to handle running the devices AND trickle charge your Marine Battery at the same time.

[StirCrazy]

According to this calculator (using Seattle), http://shop.altenergystore.com/Calculators/on-gridcalculator.html , I will need a 450W solar panel to generate the 40kWh/month (max) that I think I will need for my 6W mini-jet and 50W heater. That's going to be pricey!

how did you get 40kWh? I get 15 for your set up. I could see you getting away with two 80 watt panels and a couple good deep cycle batteries. for your little pump it would be way more efficient to use a 12V one if you can find it.

Steve

[Samw]

how did you get 40kWh? I get 15 for your set up. I could see you getting away with two 80 watt panels and a couple good deep cycle batteries. for your little pump it would be way more efficient to use a 12V one if you can find it.

Steve


Steve, I used the Load Calculator and punched in 55 watts at 24 hrs/day and at the bottom, it gave me 40 kWh/Month.

ie. 55*24*30/1000=39.6

I used the worse case scenario which is to have the heater running 24h/day. This might happen in the winter time.

I am considering now just having enough power to run the pump during the above 0C time of the year and forget the heater. If I have a deep enough pond, I think the water won't completely freeze in the winter (maybe just the top 2 inches) and I'll store the pump indoors so it doesn't break.

[StirCrazy]

you might also want to airarate in the winter that will keep the O2 levels up and should keep an area free of ice.

they are doing it in a few lakes now to prevent winter kill.

Steve

[Buccaneer]

In our old house I used a trough heater along with a pump/pond head

kept the pond clear all winter long ... no worries


the solar thing would be cool though

[cc_bruno]

If you are going to go with the deep cycle battery idea... check out Princess Auto for the solar panels and the battery as they usually have the 13 watt panels on for about $100, (or less, but can't remember the last sale price), and a marine battery for about $49. Good luck with it and hope this helps.

Robert

[Rikko]

Hey Sam,

Walmart also sells all-in-one solar powered "pond" pump units for a surprisingly low $40 - comes with a solar panel about 4"x4", covered in beautiful (hic) faux rock, and is directly connected to a submersible pump.
Under full sun it pushes a fair bit of water - depending on what you're looking to spend, one of these units might be cannibalizable for what you want to do.

[Samw]

Hey, thanks for all the ideas. What's the difference between a Marine battery and a car battery?

[Samw]

So I may just go for AC power for now.

Maybe something like:

Motomaster 300A Power Pack (http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444295 2263&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=2534374303517494&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=2534374303517530&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=1408474396670121&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396670121&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474396670271&bmUID=1152590813882)$49.99

5-6W Solar Panel - EBay

Jebao 12VDC Pump (http://www.jebao.com/english/products.php?laywer1=9937)

[StirCrazy]

Hey, thanks for all the ideas. What's the difference between a Marine battery and a car battery?

be carfull not much you don't realy want either as so many marine batteries are heavy versions of car batteries.. what you want is a true deep cell battery not a marine starting battery or a car battery.. the difference is the deep cell is designed to be deeply discharged then recharged, where a car battery is ment to remain fairly charged at all times.. also a true deep cell has way more capacity than a simular sized starting battery.

here are some good pages on batteries

http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden//carfaq.htm

http://www.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/12volt/12volt.htm

http://www.phrannie.org/battery.html

Steve

[Samw]

Ok, I'm not 100% sure what the advantages of buying a separate battery, charge controller, and inverter would be over buying just the powerpack/powerbox.

[StirCrazy]

Ok, I'm not 100% sure what the advantages of buying a separate battery, charge controller, and inverter would be over buying just the powerpack/powerbox.

the power pack power box is usually a crappy battery. like a car type battery as they expect it to seldom have to be used as the power pack is plugged in for charging and also runs off your wall outlet until the power goes out.

Steve