Vox Humana wrote:
"Wolf Kirchmeir" wrote in message
...

Vox Humana wrote:

"Jangchub" wrote in message
...


On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 16:55:44 GMT, "Vox Humana"
wrote:



"Jangchub" wrote in message
om...


On Sat, 05 Nov 2005 21:58:07 GMT, "Vox Humana"
wrote:



"Thomas Cooper" wrote in message
news:ES5bf.8026$Q27.5640@trnddc02...


Hey all,
I am in need of a small (4 station) solar powered automatic

sprinkler


system that is reasonably priced. I have been unable to find any

sources


or


plans for such a setup. Any help would be much appreciated.


Sprinklers run on 24v DC. I don't see any advantage of using solar

power.


Unless you're off the grid.

Where does the water come from if you are off the grid?


A well.


Don't you need electric to power the pump?

That's what generators and solar power systems are for....


Oh, I thought that the OP simply wanted to avoid using a transformer to run
the valves. You seem to believe that he wants to run the entire system,
well pump and all, from a solar panel. I think the cost would be very high
and one wonders what is being irrigated by such a system. Does the OP want
a power source at each valve or is the power going to be distributed through
wires to the vales?

I don't know what he wants, but a solar power system to power a house is
getting within range of many home owners. One to power a well and
sprinkler system would be much smaller, and thus relatively cheap.

As with all such installations, pay-back times are "conservatively"
estimated. I wish I had put a ground-effect heat-pump into my house when
I built it 25 years ago. The payback time was estimated at 25 years. In
fact, it would have paid for itself in about 15 years, at the rate
energy prices were and are increasing. I might still install one, since
the major cost would be drilling the holes into the ground, and if (as I
expect) we hit water a mere 25 feet down or so, they won't have to be
very deep. In real terms, such installations are cheaper now than 25
years ago, too.

Not too far away from here, only an hour or so into the bush, an
acquaintance runs his whole house off a solar system. Heats with wood,
cooks with wood and bottled gas. Last time I was out there, he was
experimenting with a water turbine to drive a generator. His test
installation generated 5KW, a respectable amount. He figures he could
easily generate 10-15KW with his water source, which is a small lake on
a plateau about 80 feet above his house. He would use less than half the
regular outflow.

Fact is, a typical suburban house has more than enough roof surface to
power a solar system for lights, TV, computer, and refrigerator. In many
areas of the country, solar water heating is feasible, too. (My sister
and bro-in-law in central Calif. have been heating their water with
solar for nigh on twenty years. They replaced the original green vinyl
water pipe this fall. When first installed, the water was too hot - they
ahd to install a mixing valve to keep the water at a safe temperature,
and that valve was the priciest part of their system.)

HTH