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Solar Generators - Discreet(?)

gavin		Posted : Wednesday, 13 July 2011 7:49:04 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Administrators, Registered Joined: 20/02/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,326 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 736 times Was thanked: 535 time(s) in 287 post(s)		Just an idle thought... Using a solar generator might be a little more quiet / discreet in the bush. Wonder how long the juice would last and how quickly it re-charges in the sun?! http://www.theinnovationdiaries.com/1190/solar-generators/
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simon		Posted : Thursday, 21 July 2011 10:54:42 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 7/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 789 Location: Central Otago Thanks: 33 times Was thanked: 239 time(s) in 150 post(s)		interesting. i wonder what they charge for a solar setup. the cost is usually solar's downfall. and the fragility of the solar panels. dunno if they would survive a hike into the bush. would be a dream if there was an affordable solar setup suitable for a small dredge that was easily packable into the bush.
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BigBlack		Posted : Friday, 22 July 2011 9:51:00 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 22/07/2011(UTC) Posts: 2 Location: Auckland		Theres a new portable solar system that has just come onto the market this year called Goal Zero. They have a NZ and Aus website www.goalzero.co.nz www.goalzero.com.au Modular system with small cell phone units to large base camp systems

kiwijw		Posted : Friday, 22 July 2011 1:37:08 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,152 Thanks: 92 times Was thanked: 658 time(s) in 324 post(s)		WOW....that is amazing. Thanks for the link. Awesome footage too. I must have been under my rock for too long. Didnt know that stuff existed. Cheers for waking me up. I love it. JW :)

Maverick		Posted : Friday, 22 July 2011 4:05:57 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 7/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 78 Location: ChCh Thanks: 2 times Was thanked: 9 time(s) in 9 post(s)		for a decent power solution for the likes of a dredge? the big drawback for portable solar is the weight of the batteries. to lug a couple of truck batteries around in the bush along with solar panels and all the other gear doesn't make it too appealing. If you have a permanent site then it would be ok, but as a portable solution a petrol powered pump is still a more practical solution. what would a dredge need in terms of a pump? you'd need a DC motor that is capable of shifting a lot of water. so lets say it's a 1hp motor, 12volt 1800rpm 40amp. (quick search of motor suppliers) run it for an hour and you will need a battery with a capacity of 40a/hrs. run it for 7 hours you will need a battery to supply 280a/hrs so a couple of heavy batteries about the size a a large chilly bin!! and then some solar panels to charge them , the more the better. so a couple of 40w panels which are about 1200x600mm. It's a lot of gear and weight to lug around the bush! plus if you get a cloudy couple of days, the batteries will not be back up to full capacity so maybe only an hour or two dredging before you run out. the problem with solar or micro hydro is always the storage, if you need to run big loads you need lots of storage. your power comes from the storage not from the solar cell. sorry to be a buzz kill. Edited by user Friday, 22 July 2011 4:07:18 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

oroplata		Posted : Friday, 22 July 2011 5:54:46 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered, Moderators Joined: 16/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,040 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 211 time(s) in 152 post(s)		You could always run the pump direct off the solar cells, but you're gonna need a lot of them, and when the sun goes behind a cloud, it's tea break time.
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gavin		Posted : Friday, 22 July 2011 7:39:56 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Administrators, Registered Joined: 20/02/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,326 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 736 times Was thanked: 535 time(s) in 287 post(s)		Kinda figured it prob wouldn't be a good option - but was curious. You seem to be a wealth of knowledge there Maverick - know who I'll be directing my technical questions at! ;)
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Maverick		Posted : Saturday, 23 July 2011 9:51:06 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 7/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 78 Location: ChCh Thanks: 2 times Was thanked: 9 time(s) in 9 post(s)		Originally Posted by: oroplata You could always run the pump direct off the solar cells, but you're gonna need a lot of them, and when the sun goes behind a cloud, it's tea break time. direct wouldn't work. a solar panel will only supply 2-3 amps direct. to get enough current you'd need more than a couple of panels. but a small hydro unit could do it. as long as there is enough water flow and head to run it, but lugging a hydro unit with 30-40 meters of pipe could still be a problem.

oroplata		Posted : Saturday, 23 July 2011 10:23:20 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered, Moderators Joined: 16/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,040 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 211 time(s) in 152 post(s)		Originally Posted by: Maverick Originally Posted by: oroplata You could always run the pump direct off the solar cells, but you're gonna need a lot of them, and when the sun goes behind a cloud, it's tea break time. direct wouldn't work. a solar panel will only supply 2-3 amps direct. to get enough current you'd need more than a couple of panels. Hence "but you're gonna need a lot of them" :)
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Maverick		Posted : Saturday, 23 July 2011 10:59:54 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 7/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 78 Location: ChCh Thanks: 2 times Was thanked: 9 time(s) in 9 post(s)		yeah sorry, didn't comprehend it all i blame the glasses them on my face and them full of voddy too !!