Re: [WISPA] [Wisp] solar site
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: > H. 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" > To: "Principal WISPA Member List" > Cc: "'WISPA General List'" ; > > 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'
Re: [WISPA] [Wisp] solar site
Yeah, We don't have the higher capacity yet. For instance our largest panel is 30W right now and our largest controller is 5A. You could use 3 30W panels and 2 5A controllers but I wouldn't suggest that because it's too costly. Next year will be a different story :-) Regards, Scott -Original Message- From: wisp-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:wisp-boun...@wispa.org] On Behalf Of Marlon K. Schafer Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 10:23 AM To: WISPA General List Cc: 'Principal WISPA Member List'; isp-wirel...@isp-wireless.com Subject: Re: [Wisp] [WISPA] solar site Thanks for all of the advice Scott! Do I understand correctly that you can NOT sell this to me because you specialize in even smaller systems? thanks again, marlon - Original Message - From: "Scott Parsons" To: "'WISPA General List'" Cc: "'Principal WISPA Member List'" ; Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 7:44 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA] solar site > 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! Join today! > http://signup.wispa.org/ > > > > WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org > > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ > > > > > WISPA Wants You! Join today! > http://signup.wispa.org/ > > > WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org > > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
Re: [WISPA] [Wisp] solar site
H. 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" To: "Principal WISPA Member List" Cc: "'WISPA General List'" ; 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! Join today! >> http://signup.wispa.org/ >> >> >> >> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >> >
