Getting up to speed
It’s time I let everyone know how I got started, and where I am at.
First, Harbor Freight was and probably still is having a sale on 5 Watt, 350mA solar panels. Usually $49.99 but for a while only $34.99. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41144
A few days I went back later and purchased 3 more.
I also got a 7 amp / 100 Watt charge controller. I didn’t want to fry my battery with to much juice.
You have to watch harbor freight as usually everything goes on sale sooner or later. They also have a 45 Watt three panel, that I am patiently waiting for to go down in price.
After my father and I played with it for a little, we discovered that it was pumping out almost 24 volts. If this was hooked to a battery for any extended amount of time, it would fry the battery. So I needed a charge controller.
Harbor Freight to the rescue again (this time in automotive)
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94048
Mine looks a slightly different but the same specs.
Okay now that I go it working now what?
I have this 60 Gallon drum that I got from my Joe, my mom’s neighbor. It’s filled with water, and pumped through black garden hose. So now I can get hot water.
So the PV panel, charge controller, and battery were connected to a DC/AC inverter, the kind usually found at automotive stores, or wally world. The max output on that is 300 Watts, modified sine wav inverter (more on wave lengths later). If you have the choice from Modified Sine vs Pure or True Sine. Get the True or Pure sine wave converters. Want more help? http://blog.outsidesupply.com/inverters/customer-inverter-questions/power-inverters-true-sine-wave-versus-modified-sine-wave.html
Plugged into this is an extension cord that plugs into a small (AC) fountain pump that is in the 60 gallon drum filled with water. I have found some DC pumps (bilge) pumps that would work, just have located any locally yet to purchase.
With water circulating in the hose and back into the drum, by the end of the day I have about 110 degree water. Depending on the heat, and temperature the ground gets.
Water Temp at sunset
