Is there any reason you can't mount the panels close to the ground? In Nevada, this is common practice.
Can you setup a small windmill? Home Depot has these ( as do many other suppliers) http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5/R-100658295/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053 400 watts rated. John Marlon K. Schafer wrote: > Hmmmm. Note to self. Build good mounts, but make them so that they > collapse in high winds instead of breaking. > > Thanks for the tip Bill! > marlon > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bill Prince" <part...@skylinebroadbandservice.com> > To: "Principal WISPA Member List" <w...@wispa.org> > Cc: "'WISPA General List'" <wireless@wispa.org>; > <isp-wirel...@isp-wireless.com> > Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 8:21 AM > Subject: Re: [Wisp] [WISPA] solar site > > > >> IMO 24 hours is not enough reserve. In our area, we have many occasions >> when there is not enough sun for several days running. I would plan on >> at least 100 hours reserve; more if you are more conservative. >> >> Another issue is storm damage. Two years ago we lost the panels on a >> solar-powered site because of hurricane-force winds. One of the panels >> only flew about 100 feet from the tower, and was not damaged >> electrically. The other panel went 200 yards, and was damaged pretty >> badly. We put the surviving panel back up in 3 days (we had to build a >> new mount, as the old one was completely destroyed). Still, the site >> never went down because we built a week reserve into the batteries. >> >> We emergency-ordered a replacement panel, and got it less than a week >> later. We were able to operate on that one panel for the intervening >> time. We weren't completely charging the batteries, but there was >> enough reserve to limp along for the time we were down one panel. >> >> YMMV >> >> >> Bill Prince >> Skyline Broadband Service >> (a division of Coastal Sierra) >> 650-917-9279 >> >> >> >> Scott Parsons wrote: >> >>> Hi Marlon, Long time... >>> >>> Voltage 12V >>> Power Consumption: MT 4 watts, 2 Radio cards 8 watts >>> Total= 12 watts @ 12V >>> >>> We have a handy calculator at >>> http://tyconpower.com/learning_center/learning_center.htm >>> >>> I've attached the results. I used 4 hours of sun for your location based >>> on >>> another post I saw. >>> I used 24 hours extra battery capacity. You may want to increase or >>> decrease >>> this depending on the reliability of the sun in your area. >>> >>> You need 73 watts minimum solar panel capacity >>> You need at least 88 Ah in battery capacity >>> >>> This is bigger than the stuff we offer right now but here's a starting >>> list: >>> >>> 1. 85W solar panel - You should be able to get for about $350 or less >>> >>> 2. 12V 8A Solar Controller - You should be able to get for $60 or less >>> >>> 3. 100Ah battery - You don't need a deep discharge type because the solar >>> controller will disconnect the load when the battery voltage reaches >>> 11.1V >>> which protects the battery from over discharge. You just need a type that >>> has good performance in cold weather. You should be able to pick up a >>> battery for less than $200 >>> >>> 4. You'll need a mount for the solar panels try here: >>> http://power-fab.com/products.htm They make all kinds of mounts. I'm not >>> sure the cost. >>> >>> 5. You'll need a vented outdoor enclosure if you are putting the battery >>> inside. I've seen people put the battery in one of those plastic battery >>> cases you see in small power boats and then the enclosure requirements >>> for >>> the controller and electronics becomes easy. We have suitable enclosures >>> for >>> $70 14"x10"x5" Polycarbonate outdoor enclosure >>> >>> 6. Wiring is quite simple. >>> >>> Any decent vendor will warranty the panels for 20-25 years and the solar >>> controller for 1 year. >>> >>> Regards, >>> Scott >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: wireless-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:wireless-boun...@wispa.org] On >>> Behalf Of Marlon K. Schafer >>> Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 10:10 PM >>> To: WISPA General List >>> Cc: Principal WISPA Member List; isp-wirel...@isp-wireless.com >>> Subject: [WISPA] solar site >>> >>> Hi All, >>> >>> Sorry for the cross post. Time is short on this project and I need a lot >>> of >>> >>> help. >>> >>> I've never done a solar project. Never really even looked at them due to >>> the costs I've seen tossed about. >>> >>> Now I have a customer that's willing to purchase the initial equipment >>> needed to cover his community. The ONLY way into the area is a hill >>> that's >>> within sight of my tower and NOT anywhere near power. >>> >>> I'll be able to just run a single MT board with two radios in it for this >>> site. One backhaul and 1 distribution. I'll guess that I'll have less >>> than >>> >>> a 2 amp draw (probably much less than 1 amp in reality). >>> >>> We don't often get long periods of no sun. Could be days of fog or low >>> clouds in the winter, but mostly we'll have a lot of sun. On the foggy >>> or >>> cloudy days we often don't have enough wind to worry about wind >>> generation. >>> I think. >>> >>> So, please clue me in on what to buy, who to buy it from (vendors >>> welcome!) >>> and anything else I'm missing. >>> >>> Thanks all! >>> marlon >>> >>> >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> ---- >>> WISPA Wants You! 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