I'll bet I'm not the only forum participant concerned about global warming and/or our dependence on foreign oil. As much as I'd like to convert my whole home to solar Photovolactic power, without more incentives than those available in Wisconsin, it currently doesn't work economically. Not on a system that would cost me at least $75,000. Besides, my major chunks of spare cash are putting two kids through college.
But I'd like to experiment a bit, preparing for the day when solar PV is a bit more cost effective. I ran across this article on getting your toe wet and gaining experience by taking a bedroom off grid.
http://www.off-grid.net/2008/03/27/take-one-room-off-grid/
I thought, "If you can do that with a bedroom, why not a garden railroad?" By the way, this approach could work for any of you that would like to run a GR in a location not close to grid power.
Why did I post this here? It's the battery power forum isn't it? /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/laugh.gif Solar panels are being used to generate power which is stored in batteries. Power is being drawn from the batteries to power stuff. Sound at least a little similar to some of the other posts in this forum? Now if I could get Tony Walsham enthused about developing a radio control system to manage an entire solar powered railroad ... /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/laugh.gif
Yes, the scale of the battery power in this project is somewhat greater than the scale of most battery power posts to this forum. But I consider this to right on topic for this forum. And you are the august group of participants in MLS most likely to be able to help me out.
My North Pacific Coast garden railroad almost came alive at the end of last summer. The track was laid. The golden spike ceremony was set. I just ran into a few last minute problems getting power to the layout. So a bunch of friends attended and complimented me on the static trains I had on display. I won't get into the power snafu here as it might subject me to ridicule from this group. But I've been obsessing about power all winter. Now that the 100" of snow we received in Madison, WI this winter has mostly melted, I'm about ready to get going.
The NPC was built to be a radio controlled, battery powered layout - the old fashioned way - packing rechargable batteries in tenders and battery cars. I also planned to light my structures with solar power outdoor light components. That won't change. You might say, "Farin, you're already off the grid with battery power and solar." That is an incorrect statement for a number of reasons.
(1) The batteries need to be charged. I'll bet most of you do it with grid power.
(2) I have a very nice string of old fashioned metal low voltage lanterns that will be used to illuminate the walkway running through the middle of the layout. Input to the transformer powering these lights is 120V AC.
(3) There will be a water feature requiring a lift pump to bring water from the catch pond at the bottom of a stream back to the top.
(4) I ran 20A 120V lines and placed outlets all around the layout for occasional and possibly unplanned continuous use.
So what I'm talking about is taking all of the above off the Alliant Energy power grid and substituting a small off-grid setup conceptually along the lines of that pointed to by the bedroom link earlier in this post.
I've researched the components and have refreshed my mind on electrical math. Five books on solar PV power are on their way from Amazon. So I think I can deal with the general issues - what components to use and how much capacity I will need. I plan significant overcapacity in all but the solar panels and battery banks so I can upgrade later.
Here's where I can use some help.
(1) Have any of you ever tried this stunt? If so, I'd appreciate learning from your successes. And from your failures.
(2) It seems ludicrous to generate 12V DC with PV panels, charge a 12V battery, invert the battery output power to 120V AC, then plug in transformers to convert back to DC to charge the batteries my engines will pack. Any thoughts on a shortcut?
(3) The same could be said for the pump that will move the water except the AC back to DC step would be skipped.
(4) The same could be said for the low voltage lanterns. DC to AC to DC.
(5) What are the gotchas I'm missing?
I'd also welcome comments from anyone intrigued by the idea that would like to network on implementation.
By the way, I realize this is not the most cost effective way to power a garden railroad. But then, is there anything about a garden railroad that is cost effective? /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/crying.gif
It's a hobby, and an opportunity to learn something new while making a very token contribution to solving some of the problems we all face.
Tom
But I'd like to experiment a bit, preparing for the day when solar PV is a bit more cost effective. I ran across this article on getting your toe wet and gaining experience by taking a bedroom off grid.
http://www.off-grid.net/2008/03/27/take-one-room-off-grid/
I thought, "If you can do that with a bedroom, why not a garden railroad?" By the way, this approach could work for any of you that would like to run a GR in a location not close to grid power.
Why did I post this here? It's the battery power forum isn't it? /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/laugh.gif Solar panels are being used to generate power which is stored in batteries. Power is being drawn from the batteries to power stuff. Sound at least a little similar to some of the other posts in this forum? Now if I could get Tony Walsham enthused about developing a radio control system to manage an entire solar powered railroad ... /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/laugh.gif
Yes, the scale of the battery power in this project is somewhat greater than the scale of most battery power posts to this forum. But I consider this to right on topic for this forum. And you are the august group of participants in MLS most likely to be able to help me out.
My North Pacific Coast garden railroad almost came alive at the end of last summer. The track was laid. The golden spike ceremony was set. I just ran into a few last minute problems getting power to the layout. So a bunch of friends attended and complimented me on the static trains I had on display. I won't get into the power snafu here as it might subject me to ridicule from this group. But I've been obsessing about power all winter. Now that the 100" of snow we received in Madison, WI this winter has mostly melted, I'm about ready to get going.
The NPC was built to be a radio controlled, battery powered layout - the old fashioned way - packing rechargable batteries in tenders and battery cars. I also planned to light my structures with solar power outdoor light components. That won't change. You might say, "Farin, you're already off the grid with battery power and solar." That is an incorrect statement for a number of reasons.
(1) The batteries need to be charged. I'll bet most of you do it with grid power.
(2) I have a very nice string of old fashioned metal low voltage lanterns that will be used to illuminate the walkway running through the middle of the layout. Input to the transformer powering these lights is 120V AC.
(3) There will be a water feature requiring a lift pump to bring water from the catch pond at the bottom of a stream back to the top.
(4) I ran 20A 120V lines and placed outlets all around the layout for occasional and possibly unplanned continuous use.
So what I'm talking about is taking all of the above off the Alliant Energy power grid and substituting a small off-grid setup conceptually along the lines of that pointed to by the bedroom link earlier in this post.
I've researched the components and have refreshed my mind on electrical math. Five books on solar PV power are on their way from Amazon. So I think I can deal with the general issues - what components to use and how much capacity I will need. I plan significant overcapacity in all but the solar panels and battery banks so I can upgrade later.
Here's where I can use some help.
(1) Have any of you ever tried this stunt? If so, I'd appreciate learning from your successes. And from your failures.
(2) It seems ludicrous to generate 12V DC with PV panels, charge a 12V battery, invert the battery output power to 120V AC, then plug in transformers to convert back to DC to charge the batteries my engines will pack. Any thoughts on a shortcut?
(3) The same could be said for the pump that will move the water except the AC back to DC step would be skipped.
(4) The same could be said for the low voltage lanterns. DC to AC to DC.
(5) What are the gotchas I'm missing?
I'd also welcome comments from anyone intrigued by the idea that would like to network on implementation.
By the way, I realize this is not the most cost effective way to power a garden railroad. But then, is there anything about a garden railroad that is cost effective? /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/crying.gif
It's a hobby, and an opportunity to learn something new while making a very token contribution to solving some of the problems we all face.
Tom