Anyone else have solar for your tanks?

[MusiclyDeclined]

I dont know why but there's something awesome about nature being powered by nature. My small towns grid is flakey in the harsh winters and during storm season too and I got tired of having to reset light timers and switch the tanks over to backup power during outages ext. So I finally cracked and built a solar and battery power system to run my tanks and fish room 24/7 off of solar and battery on a small diy system. I also built a hardline generator grid into my house for the rest of the house and for double back up for the tanks just incase. Thanks to those who take the time to read this thread and also, Keep reefing!

 

[13rodo]

My whole house has solar + a backup battery. Haven’t lost power in 3 years. Our power company even shut off power for 3 days due to wind and I never lost power (battery through the night and solar through the day with the extra power recharging the battery)! As long as there is sun I can self sustain indefinitely.

 

[MusiclyDeclined]

My whole house has solar + a backup battery. Haven’t lost power in 3 years. Our power company even shut off power for 3 days due to wind and I never lost power (battery through the night and solar through the day with the extra power recharging the battery)! As long as there is sun I can self sustain indefinitely.

It sure is a nice feeling right!? Easier on us and the animals don't have to deal with the inconsistency ither

 

[DmitryB]

Brilliant!

 

[Biff0rz]

Got any details/instructions/BOM? I'd love to do this.

 

[Florida_Man]

I have my MB Sprinter (converted to a camper) with one of the Renogy Solar packages installed that I can run a line from inside the house the house out to the inverter in the van. Luckily haven’t had a need yet but hurricane season is coming up but is a little peace of mind.

 

[MusiclyDeclined]

Got any details/instructions/BOM? I'd love to do this.

I dont have a full detailed build list or anything like that but I do have a link on my TikTok (MusiclyDeclined) to my Amazon affiliate "power management" list of alot of the stuff I used

 

[BryanM]

I have solar with 10kw of battery, and select circuits on that battery, which of course includes the tank.

 

[Üter]

I dont know why but there's something awesome about nature being powered by nature. My small towns grid is flakey in the harsh winters and during storm season too and I got tired of having to reset light timers and switch the tanks over to backup power during outages ext. So I finally cracked and built a solar and battery power system to run my tanks and fish room 24/7 off of solar and battery on a small diy system. I also built a hardline generator grid into my house for the rest of the house and for double back up for the tanks just incase. Thanks to those who take the time to read this thread and also, Keep reefing!

you should post a "how to" for the whole setup.

 

[MusiclyDeclined]

you should post a "how to" for the whole setup.

I'm not a certified or qualified electrician to feel comfortable teaching people how to not kill themselves with high voltage electricity an how to not burn their house down with it so unfortunately I probably won't be making that style of video but I do have a link on my TikTok (MusiclyDeclined) to my AmazonAffiliate parts list for alot of the stuff I used an bought myself. https://www.amazon.com/shop/musiclydeclined/list/17NAFEK59KON1?ref_=aipsflist You can go browse through that if you want to consider building your own system. Just be sure to do your research and know the code or rules for your specific area.

 

[Reeferbadness]

I also have whole house solar with 2 x 13Kwt Tesla back up batteries. Besides not having to worry about power outages, my 2 x 200g tanks definitely consumer a lot of power and this system more than pays for itself.

 

[Marc G-L]

Furst iff I'm not an electrician and if you are comfortable and proficient with complex wiring, stop right here and hire a certified solar electrician.

I've cycled my 124 gal tank, critters are in and now ramping up my solar/ battery back up. I live in So. FL, land of hurricane black outs for days, and summer lightning strikes that leave one powerless for for longer than our power company admits to.
Here's my build. A friend who used to design power grids for entire states, reviewed it and agreed if properly grounded and connected with heavy gauge shielded pure copper wire (not the cheaper copper coated aluminum stuff) it should be safe.

I have a Lithium Iron Phosphate 12.8v 100amp hr battery, get the LiFePO4 batteries. They can last up to 3,000 cycles ( ltotal drain and recharges). To keep the battery from draining over time, I've attached a 20 amp trickle charger designed for this type of battery. There is a fan cooled voltage converter 12v DC turning the supply to 112v AC. If you don't want solar that enough juice to power a main pump and two wave makers for @ 20-22 hrs running at 100%. My Sicce SDC runs @ 10% so more likely I get 50 hrs on battery alone.

The power converter has 3 AC ports and 5 USB 5 amp ports. Get an inverter w/3 ports not 2. For the solar add on, I've got an MPPT controler a little more expensive than other styles but, a more reliable power wave form. The converter is also a sine wave design to prevent damage over the long run to pumps and sophisticated sensing equipment.

Next I have a circuit breaker/ lightning arrestor system built into a water proof clear cover box. That stays outside mounted to a wall. I'm using two 8 ga copper wires (20ft) to go from a 200 watt/ hrs solar panel to the circuit breaker. Finally there is a port w/ a water proof cover that sits on the outside CBS wall and it's 10ga extensions are threaded through the wall to attach to the solar controller. Everything, has multiple switches and circuit breakers ( marine/ waterproof ratinged) to sever and isolate each segment if needed.

So far the build is operating perfectly.