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Alternative
Energy Solutions
In 2009 we used the Solar System to help light up portions of
the
property for the Wolf Run Harvest Festival. We hope to be
able to build a more permenate system in the future.
A little about the tech behind how it all works. The solar panel is a
22 Watt Utility Power Module from Unisolar (UPM880) and runs through a
small charge controller to a deep cycle marine battery. From there we
attached a 400 Watt inverter that converts the 12VDC (the same voltage
you find in most cars) to 110VAC (household current). Lastly we had
several long cords running out to the 4 light poles each with a 16Watt
CFL (Compact Flourescent) floodlight, about 64Watts total. Not
shown on the diagram below is also a small voltage meter that reads the
current battery voltage.
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Our Solar System is a little ruff, but it is a work in progress.
In 2009 it did pretty well but did have some problems. It was
able to run most of the first night but did not
work as well the second.
It was a bit cloudy that weekend but we think the battery age may be
a
factor
along with the inverter being pretty old also. Next year we are
thinking of trying it with two newer batteries and possibly a
new inverter. We are also hoping to replace the long extension
cords with a more permeant solution. Perhaps trenching
wire to
each light pole. We also hope to expand the system to
a total of 7 or 8 light post.
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Throughout the year I go to
several events
to speak about Wolf Run and the various programs they offer. To help
with that I have put together a Solar Powered Laptop
that is similar to the above system,
only much smaller so it can be portable and used for demonstrations at
the various events.
A 1.5 watt solar panel to *helps to charge a small 5AH 12V battery that
powers a small 100 watt Black & Decker inverter. The inverter
in turn runs an old IBM Thinkpad (that happens to have a dead battery
in it).
Even though the battery pack had a small inverter in it, the Black
& Decker inverter was used because just prior to an event the
small inverter that is built into the battery pack stopped
working.
I think it has a faulty
power switch but will look into that later.
*While the small 1.5 watt panel could over time charge the battery
pack, when we return to the sanctuary we plug it into the larger solar
system to top off the battery.
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Our Solar Laptop was made possible with help from our friends at
Batteryspec.com.
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