Info on the Hows and Whys of the Solar and Other Energy Systems
Papi's invention to determine the best angle for the panels.
September 2015
Plans to build the rack for the 12 solar panels are being developed by Papi, Dery Osborn and Ron Schrock of Ron's Electrical, Seymour, MO. Touring the site are the Pate family with Papi explaining the layout. A rack large enough for 16 panels will be built in case there is a need for expansion in the future.
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Please Note:
Due to the difficulty setting the rack posts the final structure will only accomodate the twelve initial panels.
September 17, 2015, Papi and Deryl Osborn working on the layout for the solar panels.
September 17, 2015, Papi and Deryl Osborn working on the layout for the solar panels.
March 15, 2016, Papi, Michael, Deryl and Ron Schrock met to discuss the solar system. A few adjustments were made for the placement of the solar panel rack. A second inverter was ordered and it was decided to make a pathway up to the panels from behind the well head.
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This decision led to increased erosion during heavy rains that will need to be addressed by diverting the water.
March 29 and 30,
Jesse and Deryl erect the rack for the solar panels.
On April 7, 2016, (Noah"s birthday) the crew from Rons' Electrical came to begin installing the solar equipment and the generator. Part of the crew is pictured below.
Much equipment needed to be hauled either to the battery room on the grilling porch, the hillside where the water well is or up the hill to where the panels were to be installed. Hard work. Hard workers!
This is the closet off the grilling porch designed for the batteries and inverters and other solar power equipment that I don't profess to have a clue about!
Lots of electrical wiring and pipe was pulled, pushed and shoved!
The propane generator was set near the water well with care...
Solar array is way up the hill behind the cabin. Rack was built by Deryl Osborn and the panels were installed by Don's Electrical from Seymore, MO.
Conduit is laid to bring the electricity to the storage batteries.
Conduit leads up into the cabin from the hillside.
Five copper bars are pounded into the rocky ground under the cabin to attach grounding wires.
On Monday, April 11,2016, the propane gas tank was installed and the first 375 gallons of propane delivered...let's see how long that lasts!
Progress continues on the installation of the solar electrical system.
Deryl has added some guy wires to help anchor this solar "kite"!
Mark, from Ron's Electrical, explains some of the dials that are now operating...
Hopefully the generator will be operational by next week! The purpose of the generator is to keep the solar batteries charged during peak use or dark days.
April 15, 2016
You win some-you lose some!
We had purchased a well pump some time ago that had not been used but was previously owned. When it was installed today, it didn't work. Has to be removed and replaced. Bummer...but the power is connected and the overflow pipe has been installed.
False Alarm!
The wiring was just incorrect. The pump is working!
April 21, 2016
Adding water to the batteries for the first time. Improvised funnel. Distilled water only.
April 21, 21, 2016
CAUTION DO NOT TOUCH!
April 21, 2016
The manual for this thingamajiggy is on a thumb drive!
So, ours is a 48 Volt system...here it reads 54.75...supposedly that is a good thing!
I f you ever need the generator key, here it is!
Oops! Poor planning...the lid for the wooden enclosure for the batteries could not be hinged so it could be easily openned because a piece of the inverter is right above the box. As it is the lid is screwed down with about 8 screws which will have to be removed each time the batteries need water...have to do some adaptations to this!!!!
May 15,2016
The annual??? spring burn off came close to the solar panels!
Ashy panels!
IInstructions for turning off the power to the whole cabin are on the front of the solar box inside the grilling porch closet. Be sure to follow the correct sequence to turn on and to turn off.
Be sure to see the maintenance section for tips on how to maintain the solar system
