Anyone come across any solar powered pump or misting equipments for a 2ft tank set-up? I intend to put it next to window, probably setting up a vivarium that does not require power filtration or air pump, a pump that provides a trickle/drips of water would be enough.
You can probably hook up a small 12V water pump (I believe those that are used for car wipers or something, I've seen them sold at Sim Lim Tower) to a solar array with a charge controller or something. That should work, but I don't know how strong the flow is or how reliable the pump is.Originally Posted by fisbike
Only problem is that it'll be fairly expensive to start. Will be A LOT cheaper with just a simple eden AC pump.
So only way is to DIY, no market ready products. Recently I saw a solar powered blinking lights for bicycle, would it be powerful enough to run the lowest power pump? Anyone can advise? Saw some solar panels for charging handphones/batteries on sale too, maybe these can be use too?
Bike lights draw far less current than water pumps, same for solar handphone chargers I believe.
You need to match the right panel with the right solar charge controller with the right battery with the right pump. There is no off the shelf product if I'm not mistaken.
There's a science project thing sold at Takashimaya and some other places where they do give a solar panel in the kit. I remember Tamiya had a model car with a solar panel included. It was meant as an educational kit. Whether it is capable of powering up those pumps or misting units is another question altogether.
It is like that you'll need several of those kits just to power up one puny pump.
Fish.. Simply Irresistable
Back to Killies... slowly.
Sorry to disappoint you. But commerical power from any solar panel that is required to power a pump with be huge and cannot be hang from any HDB window. HDB will come after first as the solar panel will be big (at least 1 to 2 metres in size) so unless you stay in a condo or landed properties.
There's a science project thing sold at Takashimaya and some other places where they do give a solar panel in the kit. I remember Tamiya had a model car with a solar panel included. It was meant as an educational kit. Whether it is capable of powering up those pumps or misting units is another question altogether.
It is like that you'll need several of those kits just to power up one puny pump.
Saw this at one online shop. Does anyone knows how much current to run a simple pump like those that people use for fishing type, keep their baits alive ones?
Dual Ports Solar Powered Self-Recharging USB Battery (with Cell Phone Adapters)
- Built-in 2000mAh rechargeable lithium battery powers devices even without sunlight
- Self-Recharged via the onboard dual-panel 3W photocell (solar panels)
- Built-in Handy White LED Flashlight
- Dual USB output port
- Can also be recharged by the included AC adapter and Car Charger, when sunlight is not available
- Supports USB powered devices and a lot of other devices (4.5V~9V adjustable)
- Comes with English User's Guide and various adapter cables for charging most cell phones
.
Key specifications
- Solar panel capacity: 3Wh
- Built-in battery: 2000mAh
- Output voltage: 4.5V~9V (selectable steps: 4.5V, 5V, 6.3V, 9V)
- Output current: 1000mA max
- Unit weight: 216 grams
That is an interesting idea, but will it still work in the night, if so then can patent laiow, we can use it when we go for hoiliday without worrying about power trips
The idea is for the pump or misting unit to be running for 24/7 with or without lightsource.
I tried using solar panels with the portable air pump before but unfortunately the solar panel is not strong enough to generate sufficient charge to power anything more than 1 LED. the portable air pump takes up either 3V or 6V so the solar panel must generate quite a lot of power.
Oh I'm not disappointed. It was a suggestion to the thread starter. In any case, these are the kits if anyone is interested:
http://www.billandwalts.com/tam_solar.ep.html
Since the Tamiya solar battery (model #76003) can generate 1.5V, I guess you'll require a minimum of 2 sets to power up a 3V portable air pump, or 4 to power up a 6V pump. I don't think it's that big to begin with.
It is impossible to do this unless the solar panel can store electricity elsewhere for usage at night. Another problem with solar power is that some flats are under shade throughout the day, because of how the block is oriented. If your home does not get bright sunlight most of the time, this might be difficult to pull off.
Fish.. Simply Irresistable
Back to Killies... slowly.
saw one guy from AF used a solar panel and linked to a battery type airpump to aerate his torsats.
http://www.arofanatics.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=370396
Suggestions for DIY solar powered air pump
title:Suggestions for DIY solar powered air pump
Landed property, and that panel looks big. Good job by the guy too.
Fish.. Simply Irresistable
Back to Killies... slowly.
Typically a solar setup would be something like this:
http://store.sundancesolar.com/do-it...olar-kits.html
Solar Panel >> Solar Charge Control >> Invertor >> Battery and Extension Cord.
So what you want to pay attention here is the way you contect your solar array and that of the battery. 3 panels would be good. 3 Battery is good also.
From the Extension Cord you can run your normal appliances, so the fan could run typically about 5-8hrs. I am talking about normal stand fan.
Now a normal EDUCATIONAL KIT would set you back about $23 if you just want to test it. I have two kits myself, still toying with different designs of holders that I have built.
Note: Solar Panel reacts to sunlight, not tank lights.
Think then I have to start with solar powered fan first. My aim is to start a tank, maybe 1 ft type or even smaller, solely on solar engery.
I have tried a 3v motor. No reaction against tank light. A probe into some DIY readout they'd say the same thing. The little panel only reacts to sunlight and move only in the strongest light. If you just the motor itself no problem, when you fix the blade up it is a different matter. Hence choosing a light blade is also a must.
But although I am doing it at a small scale level, my ultimate goal is to run a live model of 3xpanels with 3xbattery. Serial or parallel connection will determine the life span of the panels. Cable long short will decide the life span of the battery. In Singapore a simple setup may amount to $500 but a similar setup in US doubles the panel power for the amount of money.
If you buy a $250 solar kit set, you have add double the aount due to freight cost. Hence you have look at the costing and the technical aspect both at the same time before you decide if you want to continue this. The last thing is that because you are running the panel, the panel will heat up, hence cooling is another aspect to look at.
the battery is connected directly to the solar charge controller.
the output of a solar panel is in dc. an inverter is required only if you need to supply power to ac appliances; inverter converts dc into ac.
if the devices require dc power, either a buck converter (to reduce output voltage) or a boost converter (to increase output voltage) may be required.
a solar panel can work with fluorescent light. however, the conversion efficiency is extremely poor.
thomas liew
series or parallel connection has no bearing on the life span of the panels. it determines the output voltage of the solar panel array. generally, the rated lifespan of a panel is about 25 years.
cable length does not determine the life span of the battery. the length and cable size determines the power transmission loss between the solar panel and the battery or load.
battery life is determined by the type os battery being used as well as depth of discharge experience by the battery.
whether a load is connected to the panel or not, it will heat up as a solar panel is placed under the sun. you'll loose some conversion efficiency. using any form of cooling is not a solution as it will degrade the system efficiency even further.
thomas liew
Oh, you can search the internet for current existing setups. Serial connection will damage the panels, most do parallel for a small scale model. Even those project deployed in remote villages.
In an array of 3 deep cycle rechargeable battery, the + and - distance between each battery must be equal. This is the portion what I meant.
Roughly about 1000 charge cycle, that is why you need a solar charge controller there. As to discharge, because you expend most, more likely to empty the battery, that is why the use of deep cycle rechargeable battery is preferred, more lasting. Maintenance work would also most likely be this area also.
Power could be channel into the battery, Daytime usually not a home, so that shouldn't be a worry. Just make the house get a bit of ventilation. The heat I highlight means you cannot any-o-how go and touch the panel once it is in full operation.
I already have gotten the contacts at SLT, Q3 of this year I should be able to work out a full scale model. But not necessary be deployed for the tank. Night is cooling over my place but I planned to cool it even further...I'd be paying off my Sony Vaios Z laptop till June at the moment. So have to do constantly do costing. Not to worry, even though I did not study electronics, I have done my homework very thoroughly for the last 5 years. I already got in mind the design framework etc. Haven't decided to do it from freight or to get it locally. For the same price, the vottage of the panel is half that of US. I most likely to go for freight to ship it over.
oh! also, you can learn that series connection is used to increase the output voltage of a photovoltaic system; 2-series panel will output a nominal 24v, a 4-series panel will output a nominal 48v. output current is increased by connecting panels in parallel. series-parallel connections of solar panels as used to build a solar panel array.
nope. the cables need to be as short as possible and the cable diameter needs to be big enough to keep cable losses to <5%.
deep-cycle batteries are used, not preferred. they are designed to be regularly discharged to much as 80% of it capacity. most of these batteries are maintenance-free and are replaced after a few years of use.
solar panels are usually installed on rooftops. this helps to keep a house cooler as sunlight does not fall on the the roof directly. so ventilation or touching the panel is not an issue.
thomas liew
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