Re: [RE-wrenches] PV water pumping
Jay is correct about the economics, but sometimes we must live with them as the only way to increase daily water production. However when the tracker fails they will not be making the daily need anymore and it is far more likely to be left dead than even batteries. In developing communities I have often used a village tracker, a manually tracked array that anyone walking by can move to the sun. Along the line of Buddhist Prayer Wheels that are kept spinning by passerby's. As an aside I once did a 40kW grid-tied PV system for a temple to offset the load of the countless motors spinning their Prayer Wheels (not enough people passing to keep them all spinning). From the Solar, Wind and Hydro powered office of Jeff Oldham/Regenerative SOLutions Dermatologists Hate Her Local Mom Reveals $5 Trick to Erase Wrinkles. Shocking Results Exposed http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/4d556959973be205a16st03vuc___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] PV water pumping
Hi Jeff: I am familiar with that installation you mentioned, which runs all of the buddhist prayer wheels. We have added an additional 100 KW of PV at that site, and at the new temple, Cintimani. Those Kyocera modules that were installed there failed. I found that about 1/3 of the modules were producing 0-10 Voc, vs the 21 Voc specified. As a result, of the low string voltages,the SMA inverters were underperforming significantly or not turning on at all. Kyocera replaced the entire array with new modules, and paid us a fair wage for the trouble. I have spent a couple months of my life working there, which was very peaceful and interesting, to say the least. Each one of those prayer wheels has over a mile of prayers inscribed on a long strip wrapped inside of them. I think I calculated that their were nearly 800 of those wheels, spinning continuously. They say that those wheels send out ~500 million prayers a day! Nick Soleil Project Manager Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC PO Box 657 Petaluma, CA 94953 Cell: 707-321-2937 Office: 707-789-9537 Fax:707-769-9037 From: Jeff Oldham starpowe...@juno.com To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Sent: Fri, February 11, 2011 8:51:34 AM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] PV water pumping Jay is correct about the economics, but sometimes we must live with them as the only way to increase daily water production. However when the tracker fails they will not be making the daily need anymore and it is far more likely to be left dead than even batteries. In developing communities I have often used a village tracker, a manually tracked array that anyone walking by can move to the sun. Along the line of Buddhist Prayer Wheels that are kept spinning by passerby's. As an aside I once did a 40kW grid-tied PV system for a temple to offset the load of the countless motors spinning their Prayer Wheels (not enough people passing to keep them all spinning). From the Solar, Wind and Hydro powered office of Jeff Oldham/Regenerative SOLutions Dermatologists Hate Her Local Mom Reveals $5 Trick to Erase Wrinkles. Shocking Results Exposed Channel9.com ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
[RE-wrenches] PV water pumping
hello Wrenches, I have an organization in Haiti that I have assisted with PV projects in the past. They drill public wells and have a well (4 casing) that they would like to pump with PV. Problem (one) is that well will draw at ~ 20 gpm and they want ~ 25,000 gpd from the well. I have tried to look at every option I can and it looks like a battery bank will be necessary and an inverter ( 48 volt battery bank) to pump at the rate required. OOPPs, forgot they want to use a Grundfos SQ Flex pump, 16-SQF-10. The gird is present.very erratic and stressed, of course. They really would not like to stress gird further and do not want to add a generator. Yep, they made this easy. There are more details, but has anyone designed a PV water pumping system under these constraints and, if so, what have been your results? thanks, tom Tom DeBates Habi-Tek 524 Summit St. Geneva,IL. 60134 630-262-8193 fax 630-262-1343 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] PV water pumping
Tom, It can be done, depending upon how deep the static water level is and what additional lift or pressurization needs to be overcome. The SQ-Flex will run at highest capacity off an AC source, so I'd consider using an inverter system and grid power, with additional solar designed to supplement the grid. You can run the SQ-Flex off a 120v source, so a single inverter works fine. I run my Flex off my FX2024 along with all my regular household loads, no problems. Size the array to cover the load through the longest expected grid outage (minimum) or you can size the solar to provide the majority of the power, and use the grid as bonus energy or to cover up for sizing shortages or the inevitable load creep. Phil Undercuffler imagine if... On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 5:29 AM, Tom DeBates habite...@yahoo.com wrote: hello Wrenches, I have an organization in Haiti that I have assisted with PV projects in the past. They drill public wells and have a well (4 casing) that they would like to pump with PV. Problem (one) is that well will draw at ~ 20 gpm and they want ~ 25,000 gpd from the well. I have tried to look at every option I can and it looks like a battery bank will be necessary and an inverter ( 48 volt battery bank) to pump at the rate required. OOPPs, forgot they want to use a Grundfos SQ Flex pump, 16-SQF-10. The gird is present.very erratic and stressed, of course. They really would not like to stress gird further and do not want to add a generator. Yep, they made this easy. There are more details, but has anyone designed a PV water pumping system under these constraints and, if so, what have been your results? thanks, tom Tom DeBates Habi-Tek 524 Summit St. Geneva,IL. 60134 630-262-8193 fax 630-262-1343 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] PV water pumping
The SQ-Flex can run directly from a high voltage battery/PV system, but with a battery based system at over 60 volts or so, you have a lot of problems finding a good charge controller. So, even with the associated losses you are going to get with an inverter system, that is probably the only good option. But I would also advise that systems such as that, especially those involving a large battery capacity, are very highly subject to failure through mis-operation, poor maintenance, and outright theft in many 3rd world countries, so if you end up designing the system keep that in mind. From: Phil Undercuffler Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 6:59 AM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] PV water pumping Tom, It can be done, depending upon how deep the static water level is and what additional lift or pressurization needs to be overcome. The SQ-Flex will run at highest capacity off an AC source, so I'd consider using an inverter system and grid power, with additional solar designed to supplement the grid. You can run the SQ-Flex off a 120v source, so a single inverter works fine. I run my Flex off my FX2024 along with all my regular household loads, no problems. Size the array to cover the load through the longest expected grid outage (minimum) or you can size the solar to provide the majority of the power, and use the grid as bonus energy or to cover up for sizing shortages or the inevitable load creep. Phil Undercuffler imagine if... On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 5:29 AM, Tom DeBates habite...@yahoo.com wrote: hello Wrenches, I have an organization in Haiti that I have assisted with PV projects in the past. They drill public wells and have a well (4 casing) that they would like to pump with PV. Problem (one) is that well will draw at ~ 20 gpm and they want ~ 25,000 gpd from the well. I have tried to look at every option I can and it looks like a battery bank will be necessary and an inverter ( 48 volt battery bank) to pump at the rate required. OOPPs, forgot they want to use a Grundfos SQ Flex pump, 16-SQF-10. The gird is present.very erratic and stressed, of course. They really would not like to stress gird further and do not want to add a generator. Yep, they made this easy. There are more details, but has anyone designed a PV water pumping system under these constraints and, if so, what have been your results? thanks, tom Tom DeBates Habi-Tek 524 Summit St. Geneva,IL. 60134 630-262-8193 fax 630-262-1343 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org Northern Arizona Wind Sun - Electricity from the sun since 1979 Online Solar Store Free Solar Discussion Forum ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] PV water pumping
Tom, Warren makes a good point that I'll build on here. Just because someone asks for a particular output doesn't mean you should give it to them! If their desired gpd requires an extreme solution, Just Say No. If you have to add a large battery bank and inverter in order to achieve the desired goal, you have added all sorts of opportunities for lack of proper care and maintenance to lead to premature failure. There are plenty of systems in the less-developed countries that sit there inoperational because the money's not there to replace the prematurely failed batteries. I would encourage you to run the pump array-direct only, with a tracked array of maximum, optimized size (1,200 W?). What the pump can produce in this setup is what can be done, period - likely around 10K gpd. To attempt to exceed this invites eventual and likely premature system failure. This just seems like the right time to apply the KISS principle. My $.02. Allan Sindelar Allan@positiveenergysolar.com NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer EE98J Journeyman Electrician Positive Energy, Inc. 3201 Calle Marie Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507 505 424-1112 www.positiveenergysolar.com On 2/10/2011 8:17 AM, Warren Lauzon wrote: The SQ-Flex can run directly from a high voltage battery/PV system, but with a battery based system at over 60 volts or so, you have a lot of problems finding a good charge controller. So, even with the associated losses you are going to get with an inverter system, that is probably the only good option. But I would also advise that systems such as that, especially those involving a large battery capacity, are very highly subject to failure through mis-operation, poor maintenance, and outright theft in many 3rd world countries, so if you end up designing the system keep that in mind. From: Phil Undercuffler Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 6:59 AM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] PV water pumping Tom, It can be done, depending upon how deep the static water level is and what additional lift or pressurization needs to be overcome. The SQ-Flex will run at highest capacity off an AC source, so I'd consider using an inverter system and grid power, with additional solar designed to supplement the grid. You can run the SQ-Flex off a 120v source, so a single inverter works fine. I run my Flex off my FX2024 along with all my regular household loads, no problems. Size the array to cover the load through the longest expected grid outage (minimum) or you can size the solar to provide the majority of the power, and use the grid as "bonus" energy or to cover up for sizing shortages or the inevitable load creep. Phil Undercuffler "imagine if..." On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 5:29 AM, Tom DeBates habite...@yahoo.com wrote: hello Wrenches, I have an organization in Haiti that I have assisted with PV projects in the past. They drill public wells and have a well (4" casing) that they would like to pump with PV. Problem (one) is that well will draw at ~ 20 gpm and they want ~ 25,000 gpd from the well. I have tried to look at every option I can and it looks like a battery bank will be necessary and an inverter ( 48 volt battery bank) to pump at the rate required. OOPPs, forgot they want to us
[RE-wrenches] PV water pumping
Ditto on the AC option. Most of the battery based PV systems I have seen outside the US are completely lacking for maintenance esp. the battery bank. Most folks are not aware of or have available distilled H20. I saw a village PV - telephone system in Fiji that the batteries only work after the sun comes out , no water in the battery bank to be seen and no-one in the village had heard of distilled H2O. The installer from the phone company sad to use fresh water [well], not salt-water in the bank. So maybe sealed batteries? Higher initial cost and shorter life-span than wet LA batteries but lots less no maintenance issues. Are in-country sealed batteries available? Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc E - d...@solarwork.com V - 970.626.5253 F - 970.626.4140 C - 970.209.4076 web - www.solarwork.com Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988 Do not ever believe anything, but seriously trust through action. From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Warren Lauzon Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 8:17 AM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] PV water pumping The SQ-Flex can run directly from a high voltage battery/PV system, but with a battery based system at over 60 volts or so, you have a lot of problems finding a good charge controller. So, even with the associated losses you are going to get with an inverter system, that is probably the only good option. But I would also advise that systems such as that, especially those involving a large battery capacity, are very highly subject to failure through mis-operation, poor maintenance, and outright theft in many 3rd world countries, so if you end up designing the system keep that in mind. From: Phil Undercuffler mailto:solarp...@gmail.com Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 6:59 AM To: RE-wrenches mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] PV water pumping Tom, It can be done, depending upon how deep the static water level is and what additional lift or pressurization needs to be overcome. The SQ-Flex will run at highest capacity off an AC source, so I'd consider using an inverter system and grid power, with additional solar designed to supplement the grid. You can run the SQ-Flex off a 120v source, so a single inverter works fine. I run my Flex off my FX2024 along with all my regular household loads, no problems. Size the array to cover the load through the longest expected grid outage (minimum) or you can size the solar to provide the majority of the power, and use the grid as bonus energy or to cover up for sizing shortages or the inevitable load creep. Phil Undercuffler imagine if... On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 5:29 AM, Tom DeBates habite...@yahoo.com wrote: hello Wrenches, I have an organization in Haiti that I have assisted with PV projects in the past. They drill public wells and have a well (4 casing) that they would like to pump with PV. Problem (one) is that well will draw at ~ 20 gpm and they want ~ 25,000 gpd from the well. I have tried to look at every option I can and it looks like a battery bank will be necessary and an inverter ( 48 volt battery bank) to pump at the rate required. OOPPs, forgot they want to use a Grundfos SQ Flex pump, 16-SQF-10. The gird is present.very erratic and stressed, of course. They really would not like to stress gird further and do not want to add a generator. Yep, they made this easy. There are more details, but has anyone designed a PV water pumping system under these constraints and, if so, what have been your results? thanks, tom Tom DeBates Habi-Tek 524 Summit St. Geneva,IL. 60134 630-262-8193 fax 630-262-1343 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wren ches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrench es.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org _ ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wren ches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrench es.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org Northern Arizona Wind Sun - Electricity from the sun since 1979 Online Solar Store http://store.solar-electric.com/ Free Solar Discussion Forum http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB
Re: [RE-wrenches] PV water pumping
Tom, You might consider just using an SQ-O series Grundfos pump. They operate at 120 VAC (or 240, depending on the model) and have the capability of pumping up to 10 GPM. You could buy two for the cost of one SQ Flex and have the other as a backup. I use one of these at my (solar powered) home and have had no problems for the last six years since I installed it. FYI, I have had 18 solar panels stuck in customs for the last TEN MONTHS in Haiti, so leave yourself plenty of time for that installation... Daryl DeJoy NABCEP Certified PV installer Penobscot Solar Design Original Message: - From: Phil Undercuffler solarp...@gmail.com Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2011 05:59:22 -0800 To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] PV water pumping Tom, It can be done, depending upon how deep the static water level is and what additional lift or pressurization needs to be overcome. The SQ-Flex will run at highest capacity off an AC source, so I'd consider using an inverter system and grid power, with additional solar designed to supplement the grid. You can run the SQ-Flex off a 120v source, so a single inverter works fine. I run my Flex off my FX2024 along with all my regular household loads, no problems. Size the array to cover the load through the longest expected grid outage (minimum) or you can size the solar to provide the majority of the power, and use the grid as bonus energy or to cover up for sizing shortages or the inevitable load creep. Phil Undercuffler imagine if... On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 5:29 AM, Tom DeBates habite...@yahoo.com wrote: hello Wrenches, I have an organization in Haiti that I have assisted with PV projects in the past. They drill public wells and have a well (4 casing) that they would like to pump with PV. Problem (one) is that well will draw at ~ 20 gpm and they want ~ 25,000 gpd from the well. I have tried to look at every option I can and it looks like a battery bank will be necessary and an inverter ( 48 volt battery bank) to pump at the rate required. OOPPs, forgot they want to use a Grundfos SQ Flex pump, 16-SQF-10. The gird is present.very erratic and stressed, of course. They really would not like to stress gird further and do not want to add a generator. Yep, they made this easy. There are more details, but has anyone designed a PV water pumping system under these constraints and, if so, what have been your results? thanks, tom Tom DeBates Habi-Tek 524 Summit St. Geneva,IL. 60134 630-262-8193 fax 630-262-1343 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org mail2web.com Enhanced email for the mobile individual based on Microsoft® Exchange - http://link.mail2web.com/Personal/EnhancedEmail ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] PV water pumping
I strongly agree with the no batteries approach. All issues mentioned come to fruit and in far too few years those batteries will be abused to toast and now the system will sit for a very long time if not forever and no water for the community. Your best options are to live with what you can get PV-direct (I'm even hesitant to use trackers in these applications) or drill additional wells nearby if you cannot stack pumps in the well with minimal drop pipe sizing or larger boreholes. On a side note, I'm always hearing from remote folks that they cannot get distilled water and are forced to use whatever and those that can pay through the nose for tiny red bottles of it. I point out that it falls for free from the sky whenever it rains - collect it! From the Solar, Wind and Hydro powered office of Jeff Oldham/Regenerative SOLutions $65/Hr Job - 25 Openings Part-Time job ($20-$65/hr). Requirements: Home Internet Access http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/4d547bae919511e99b8st03vuc___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] PV water pumping
Just one note - if batteries fail - no, make that when batteries fail - the system is dead. If a tracker fails, the system continues to operate at a reduced output. So the risk is reduced. I, too, would prefer a fixed array, but a tracker is a concession to their gpd request. In this application - fairly low latitude, warm climate - a Zomeworks passive tracker ought to be a good choice. Pretty reliable, no electronics, and if it does fail ropes can face it to the sky. Allan Allan Sindelar Allan@positiveenergysolar.com NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer EE98J Journeyman Electrician Positive Energy, Inc. 3201 Calle Marie Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507 505 424-1112 www.positiveenergysolar.com On 2/10/2011 4:57 PM, Jeff Oldham wrote: I strongly agree with the "no batteries" approach. All issues mentioned come to fruit and in far too few years those batteries will be abused to toast and now the system will sit for a very long time if not forever and no water for the community. Your best options are to live with what you can get PV-direct (I'm even hesitant to use trackers in these applications) or drill additional wells nearby if you cannot stack pumps in the well with minimal drop pipe sizing or larger boreholes. On a side note, I'm always hearing from remote folks that they cannot get distilled water and are forced to use whatever and those that can pay through the nose for tiny red bottles of it. I point out that it falls for free from the sky whenever it rains - collect it! From the Solar, Wind and Hydro powered office of Jeff Oldham/Regenerative SOLutions $65/Hr Job - 25 Openings Part-Time job ($20-$65/hr). Requirements: Home Internet Access Channel11NewsReport.com ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] PV water pumping
HI Allan, Ive got to disagree on the tracker part. The cost to buy and ship a tracker to some far off land, I think if you do the math, modules are cheaper and more reliable. jay peltz power On Feb 10, 2011, at 5:20 PM, Allan Sindelar wrote: Just one note - if batteries fail - no, make that when batteries fail - the system is dead. If a tracker fails, the system continues to operate at a reduced output. So the risk is reduced. I, too, would prefer a fixed array, but a tracker is a concession to their gpd request. In this application - fairly low latitude, warm climate - a Zomeworks passive tracker ought to be a good choice. Pretty reliable, no electronics, and if it does fail ropes can face it to the sky. Allan Allan Sindelar al...@positiveenergysolar.com NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer EE98J Journeyman Electrician Positive Energy, Inc. 3201 Calle Marie Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507 505 424-1112 www.positiveenergysolar.com On 2/10/2011 4:57 PM, Jeff Oldham wrote: I strongly agree with the no batteries approach. All issues mentioned come to fruit and in far too few years those batteries will be abused to toast and now the system will sit for a very long time if not forever and no water for the community. Your best options are to live with what you can get PV-direct (I'm even hesitant to use trackers in these applications) or drill additional wells nearby if you cannot stack pumps in the well with minimal drop pipe sizing or larger boreholes. On a side note, I'm always hearing from remote folks that they cannot get distilled water and are forced to use whatever and those that can pay through the nose for tiny red bottles of it. I point out that it falls for free from the sky whenever it rains - collect it! From the Solar, Wind and Hydro powered office of Jeff Oldham/Regenerative SOLutions $65/Hr Job - 25 Openings Part-Time job ($20-$65/hr). Requirements: Home Internet Access Channel11NewsReport.com ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
