Solar Energy Delivers
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Click here for a video walking tour of my
Back Country Solar Waterer
First I had to find a water source that wouldn't freeze in the winter.
I have a small creek that runs in Spring and Fall but dries up in the
Summer.
I have a friend that witches water and loves good micro brew beer.
I invited him up to sample my latest batch and suggested he bring his
witching sticks. He walked the creek bed and found a strong signal
about 3ft from the creek center.
I bought a drive point and started hammering it into the magic spot. I
hit water at 3ft and kept driving down to 12ft. I then brought in a
backhoe and dug down 12 ft and installed some concrete cistern
rings. The water even in the middle of Summer stays above half full.
I now needed a way to get the water out of the cistern and into
something the animals could drink from that wouldn't freeze. I started
by building an insulated box around an 80 gallon water tank. I built
a small box inside to house a deep cycle lead acid battery. I used
cedar shavings for insulation around the tank and hard styrofoam
cut to fit in the metal cover I had bent at a local heating and air
conditioning contractor.
To get the water from the cistern I purchased a 2.5 amp, 12 volt, Rule
brand bilge pump and float switch. I placed the pump well below the
surface where it would be covered with water year round. I then
plumbed it up and into the 80 gallon tank.
The float switch was mounted on a adjustable mount so I could keep it
12" below the surface as the water level changed with the seasons.
brand bilge pump and float switch. I placed the pump well below the
surface where it would be covered with water year round. I then
plumbed it up and into the 80 gallon tank.
The float switch was mounted on a adjustable mount so I could keep it
12" below the surface as the water level changed with the seasons.
I then poured a level slab right next to the cistern, placed the
insulated tank, and attached a pole made from electrical conduit to
hold my solar panel made with earth4energy plans.
The bilge pump runs when the water level trips the float switch
pumping about 15 gallons of water from the cistern into the tank.
The tank has an overflow at the top that exits the side of the box so
the tank doesn't run over. This cycle happens about every 30
minutes in the winter which keeps the water from freezing. Yahoo!
With this set up you need to trade batteries about every two weeks
due to the shorter days in Winter.
You could extend the time by adding another solar panel, or wind
generator for more electric input.
Be sure to use a charge controller between the solar panel and
batteries so they don't over charge.
In the Summer I wire the system to a switch that connects when it
gets dark so it only runs at night. It then has all day to charge and I
never have to switch batteries. This allows me more time to make
beer. Yahoo!
Here's a picture of the finished product. Thank you for reading, and
Thank You Michael Harvey for creating earth4energy!
Be Sure and opt in for more cool projects and information.
insulated tank, and attached a pole made from electrical conduit to
hold my solar panel made with earth4energy plans.
The bilge pump runs when the water level trips the float switch
pumping about 15 gallons of water from the cistern into the tank.
The tank has an overflow at the top that exits the side of the box so
the tank doesn't run over. This cycle happens about every 30
minutes in the winter which keeps the water from freezing. Yahoo!
With this set up you need to trade batteries about every two weeks
due to the shorter days in Winter.
You could extend the time by adding another solar panel, or wind
generator for more electric input.
Be sure to use a charge controller between the solar panel and
batteries so they don't over charge.
In the Summer I wire the system to a switch that connects when it
gets dark so it only runs at night. It then has all day to charge and I
never have to switch batteries. This allows me more time to make
beer. Yahoo!
Here's a picture of the finished product. Thank you for reading, and
Thank You Michael Harvey for creating earth4energy!
Be Sure and opt in for more cool projects and information.
How Do You Keep Animals Watered at 20 Degrees
Below Zero With No Electricity?
It was so cold that the lawyers had their hands in their own pockets.
Flashers were describing themselves.
It was also cold enough that the ice on the pond froze to 18" thick. To
thick for the cows and horses to break through.
I trudged down to the pond morning and night to break the ice so they
could drink.
This I believe is punishment for some horrible deed I must have
committed in a past life.
Ta Da, Michael Harvey and earth4energy to the rescue. I needed a
solution and I found it in Michael's guide to building your own solar
electric systems. Here's my solution.
Below Zero With No Electricity?
It was so cold that the lawyers had their hands in their own pockets.
Flashers were describing themselves.
It was also cold enough that the ice on the pond froze to 18" thick. To
thick for the cows and horses to break through.
I trudged down to the pond morning and night to break the ice so they
could drink.
This I believe is punishment for some horrible deed I must have
committed in a past life.
Ta Da, Michael Harvey and earth4energy to the rescue. I needed a
solution and I found it in Michael's guide to building your own solar
electric systems. Here's my solution.