Kenneth Alepidis's posts

Thanks Tom - simpler is better, right?  But I guess that wouldn't be fun.  I have my barrels (which are actually hard-piped to my sump pump) in an enclosure and integrated some plantings around them so I can't really move them much.  I also want a small system as a back up to my sump pump.  It's a good point, and if I don't get my panel set up I'll look into the gravity feed option instead.  Thanks.

Thanks for all the help, advice and recommendations Bramley, very much appreciated.  I'll likely steer away form the direct, as I already have some components kicking around (inverter, battery, AC pump) and I want the backup batteries.  I will however purchase the rest of the equipment, and thanks for the fuse advice.  As an aside, I work at a company in Boston who has worked with you guys, and you come highly recommended.  I now see why.

Thanks Bramley - see below for answers in parentheses:  What part of the country (Boston, MA area). Is this a seasonal project (yes, primary use for garden pumping is seasonal, May-September - fyi, I have a 50watt panel already, so I plan to use that.  I would like to have the system available year round for emergencies, but it would get little use beyond the summer).  How much water do you want to move per day (5-15 gallons). Is that amount seasonal (summer only, same amount throughout the season) . Is there any vertical lift from where the water is to where it needs to go (typically 5, but up to 10 ft. lift).  Do you need any pressure to water your garden - do you plan to use any sort of spray nozzle - or to just let the water flow openly from the pipe (minimal pressure, mostly open flow with some drip irrigation incorporated).  (Thanks again)

I am planning a small (tiny) system to primarily charge and run a small pump to be used to transfer water from my rain barrels to my garden (~50 ft. away).  Since I have access to a 50watt panel (larger than I need), I plan to build the system a little more robust in case I want to charge 2 or 3 larger batteries, to run some equipment in case power goes down (sump pump, beer fridge, etc.).  Does the system I planned make sense or will it work properly:
1) 50 watt marine grade panel, 2) inline fuse, 3) 6A/12V charge controller, 4) 12V, 8Ah(20Hr) Sealed Agm Battery (or Deep Cycle/RV Battery- Group Size 31M, 115AH (20hr)), 5) 200 watt DC/AC converter, 6) outdoor outlet timer, 7) 1/12 HP transfer pump or small bilge pump.
Any comments are greatly appreciate – I realize I’m going a bit cheap here, and that I have no idea what I am doing. Thanks.