New to solar power and need help.

4 Posts

Aug 1, 2006 05:08 pm

I need some advice, I've got a portable fueling point that runs a 12 VDC pump that is rated at 20amps. The power source is a 12 vdc Optima gel cell battery. The problem is the designers failed to include a battery charging system. As a result, we're going through batteries every 2 days. Is there a solar powered setup that will trickle charge the battery, but remain portable? We're located in the middle east, so sun light isn't a problem.

Steve Bird

22 Posts

Aug 2, 2006 06:09 am

Re: New to solar power and need help.

Hello Paul;
If I read you you right that you use up a battery every two days, that tells us that it is used only for an hour or two per day...actually pumping, correct?
If it is a manned station, get a few 12 volt truck or car batteries wired parallel and do a charge from your vehicle for a half hour or so daily.
If a remote station and is used unmanned, use a generator for charging or a large solar panel if you have access to one. A 110 watt panel with a charge controller will suffice just fine. Cost for panel and controller would be $600-700 USD
Steve

James Cormican

578 Posts

Aug 2, 2006 06:23 pm

Re: New to solar power and need help.

I agree with steve. The battery may not be of a type that is a deep discharge renewable energy battery. because of this, it may not like to be discharged very deeply over long periods of time. also, batteries do not like severe heat or cold.

it is important to know how many hours the pump runs so we can then figure the watt hours. although it is likely that a 100w panel will provide suffiecient energy to your load, it would be nice to make sure.

please feel free to caontact me with any other questions, and thanks for the post, hope this helps.

james - alt-e staff

AltE
"Making Renewable Do-able"
http://www.altEstore.com/

Tel: 877.878.4060 x107 or +1.978.562.5858 x107
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Paul Stork

4 Posts

Aug 2, 2006 09:10 pm

Re: New to solar power and need help.

Thanks for the replys and help.

Paul Stork

4 Posts

Aug 8, 2006 12:03 am

Re: New to solar power and need help.

Hey James, sorry I got disconnected. I've been asked to request if you could put together a complete package of what we would need (panels, charge controller, etc). We do have the ability to fabricate our own mounts. If you have any questions about the fueling station we're mounting it on, let me know and I'll send you some pictures and rough measurements.

SSgt Paul Stork
paul.stork @ auab.centaf.af.mil

James Cormican

578 Posts

Aug 9, 2006 05:12 pm

Re: New to solar power and need help.

I will try to get a quote out to you today or tomorrow.

- james

AltE
"Making Renewable Do-able"
http://www.altEstore.com/

Tel: 877.878.4060 x107 or +1.978.562.5858 x107
Fax: 877.242.6718 or +1.978.562.5854

Paul Stork

4 Posts

Aug 9, 2006 09:55 pm

Re: New to solar power and need help.

Ok, thanks for the help.

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