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gavin
#1 Posted : Wednesday, 13 July 2011 7:49:04 p.m.(UTC)
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Just an idle thought...

Using a solar generator might be a little more quiet / discreet in the bush. Wonder how long the juice would last and how quickly it re-charges in the sun?!

http://www.theinnovationdiaries.com/1190/solar-generators/
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simon
#2 Posted : Thursday, 21 July 2011 10:54:42 a.m.(UTC)
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interesting. i wonder what they charge for a solar setup. the cost is usually solar's downfall. and the fragility of the solar panels. dunno if they would survive a hike into the bush. would be a dream if there was an affordable solar setup suitable for a small dredge that was easily packable into the bush.
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BigBlack
#3 Posted : Friday, 22 July 2011 9:51:00 a.m.(UTC)
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Theres a new portable solar system that has just come onto the market this year called Goal Zero. They have a NZ and Aus website
www.goalzero.co.nz
www.goalzero.com.au

Modular system with small cell phone units to large base camp systems
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kiwijw
#4 Posted : Friday, 22 July 2011 1:37:08 p.m.(UTC)
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WOW....that is amazing. Thanks for the link. Awesome footage too. I must have been under my rock for too long. Didnt know that stuff existed. Cheers for waking me up. I love it.

JW :)
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Maverick
#5 Posted : Friday, 22 July 2011 4:05:57 p.m.(UTC)
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for a decent power solution for the likes of a dredge?
the big drawback for portable solar is the weight of the batteries.
to lug a couple of truck batteries around in the bush along with solar panels
and all the other gear doesn't make it too appealing.
If you have a permanent site then it would be ok, but as a portable solution
a petrol powered pump is still a more practical solution.

what would a dredge need in terms of a pump?
you'd need a DC motor that is capable of shifting a lot of water.

so lets say it's a 1hp motor, 12volt 1800rpm 40amp. (quick search of motor suppliers)
run it for an hour and you will need a battery with a capacity of 40a/hrs.
run it for 7 hours you will need a battery to supply 280a/hrs
so a couple of heavy batteries about the size a a large chilly bin!!
and then some solar panels to charge them , the more the better. so a couple
of 40w panels which are about 1200x600mm.
It's a lot of gear and weight to lug around the bush!
plus if you get a cloudy couple of days, the batteries will not be back up to full capacity
so maybe only an hour or two dredging before you run out.

the problem with solar or micro hydro is always the storage, if you need to
run big loads you need lots of storage. your power comes from the storage
not from the solar cell.

sorry to be a buzz kill.
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oroplata
#6 Posted : Friday, 22 July 2011 5:54:46 p.m.(UTC)
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You could always run the pump direct off the solar cells, but you're gonna need a lot of them, and when the sun goes behind a cloud, it's tea break time.
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gavin
#9 Posted : Friday, 22 July 2011 7:39:56 p.m.(UTC)
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Kinda figured it prob wouldn't be a good option - but was curious. You seem to be a wealth of knowledge there Maverick - know who I'll be directing my technical questions at! ;)
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Maverick
#7 Posted : Saturday, 23 July 2011 9:51:06 p.m.(UTC)
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oroplata;4072 wrote:

You could always run the pump direct off the solar cells, but you're gonna need a lot of them, and when the sun goes behind a cloud, it's tea break time.


direct wouldn't work. a solar panel will only supply 2-3 amps direct. to get enough current you'd need
more than a couple of panels.

but a small hydro unit could do it. as long as there is enough water flow and head to run it, but lugging
a hydro unit with 30-40 meters of pipe could still be a problem.
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oroplata
#8 Posted : Saturday, 23 July 2011 10:23:20 p.m.(UTC)
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Maverick;4102 wrote:
oroplata;4072 wrote:

You could always run the pump direct off the solar cells, but you're gonna need a lot of them, and when the sun goes behind a cloud, it's tea break time.


direct wouldn't work. a solar panel will only supply 2-3 amps direct. to get enough current you'd need
more than a couple of panels.


Hence "but you're gonna need a lot of them" :)
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Maverick
#10 Posted : Saturday, 23 July 2011 10:59:54 p.m.(UTC)
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yeah sorry, didn't comprehend it all i blame the glasses
them on my face and them full of voddy too !!
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