Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations solar power for dock?

any body out there with any experience about solar power for a 2 stall boat dock? i have put in some quote requests to various companies, and waiting on replies. just thought i'd see if anyone had any thoughts on this topic. mark

It wont be cheap, if your ultimate goal is 115vac with any current capacity, i.e., large solar panels, storage batteries, regulators, DC to AC inverters.
What is your goal? I am not in the solar business, but I am an electronic service engineer in the maritime(merchant ships) industry. Let me know what you want, and I'm sure I can give you quality advice on the most efficient method.

I am interested in this topic. I have a pond with no electricity. I would like the capability to run a small boat lift and maybe a couple of lights.

bugermeister would DC motors and lights be a possible solution instead if 115 volt ac? I know it would still involve battery and solar panel.

Thanks

Frank, again specifics are needed, but quick opinions are; lighting should be no problem, just state requirements, use, etc. Several ways to go with boat lift, though not specifically familiar with them. I work on ship not small boat nav. and comm. equipment. How big is the boat? My 1st comment is have you thought about 2 manual winches, 1 on each end and crank up each side a little at a time? Anything can be done with enough mechanical advantage(gear ratio). AC or DC motors are an option. My first quick thought is a small gas generator for AC lift, a charger plugged in to it to charge batteries for a few minutes while lifting/lowering the boat would put a good quick boost to a deep cycle battery running some 12v lights.
Let me know what you want and I can offer a solution. Shop for AC and DC winch/lift, give me it's electrical requirements and I will present options.

Jim Burkes

Frank Harbor freight has a very good deal going on right now. You can get 3 15 watt panels a controller and a light for 199 bucks that's about 4.50 a watt which is good especially with the controller. I've already bought a couple for use with my greenhouse. Just though I'd pass that on. As far as motors C&H sales has a good selection of dc gear motors at reasonable prices. Several here have bought the 39.99 gast compressor from them that I passed on just type in gear motor on the page and you will see all kinds. Just some ideas.

Bob

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=90599

http://aaaim.com/cgi-local/shop991/shop.pl/SID=472324246/page=start_shopping.htm

Great links, Bob!

I saw a 12vdc boat winch at WallyWorld that also had a hand crank.(52 dollars) That along with Harbor Freights 200 dollar solar panels, regulator, and flourescent lamps, and good trojan battery and ya'll should be set.

here's a couple of option i have seen so far.

from NASP (northarkansas solar power) website, i was quoted about 2400 bucks. enough to run lights, 2 boat lifts and some extras.

a friend of mine has a really nice enclosed thingy/closet, vented...with really good generator (? honda, maybe 500 bucks or so) it runs both his lifts, lights, radios, etc. one crank is all it takes. he and some friends say/verify that you can't hear it at all when it is running and enclosed in the closet thingy.

well, i can do the calculations, and of course the generator sounds like a lot better deal. but, i'm always open to suggestions. i just a bought the place, and it has has boat lift, a dual jet ski lift, and is prewired (has breaker box and outlets and all that stuff.) so, any thoughts/suggestions are appreciated. again, speak english to me here because i dont know much about electricity, except it can really hurt ya, especially around water!!!

one might ask, "why don't you run an electrical pole wire out to the dock". not on option.

The lake is Norfork Lake in northern arkansas in mtn. home. thanks again. mark

As I asked someone else earlier, give me the requirements and I will give you a solution. Obviously, this is a much bigger project than a small pond would be. A generator is your best option. A charger run off the generator and charging a battery for lights would be good.
As you mentioned. You dont know anything about electricity. Now that you have hinted that you have big boats and big power requirements, go with the generator. Obviously, the solar company in N Ar knew you had huge power requirements, as compared with most Pond Boss forum readers.
Doc, go with the thingy with the doo-hicky inside.

If it is already wired with a 110V hoist or two, lights etc then a small gen set would be the simplest and easiest. If you were starting from scratch and only launching two jetskis Friday, then recovering them on Sunday,just turning on a couple of 15watt lights when needed, then a deep discharge battery, solar panel and 12V winch would probably do the job. On the rare time that you kill the battery you could carry a spare down and give it a boost....By the next weekend the system should be recharged.

Mark,

I agree with the others,,,, go with the thingy with the doo-hicky inside.

Consider the awsome versitility of a small ac generator... I used one on my pond before I built a house with a back porch 18 feet from the water (just bragging).

Some projects were: running a cement mixer to build a sidwalk, cement for posts, cement for mail box, cement for pier supports, lights, emergency aeration of holding tank for new fingerlings, power a pump for irrigation of new lawn, power tools to build a dock, electric chain saw, battery charger for the boat and lawnmower, etc. etc.

Nice thing is you can take it home with you and not worry about it being stolen.

Also, when you take it home, it can be used for emergency power if you lose power. Great toy, I will never be caught without one. I have a 3.5 Killowatt ac generator on wheels, it cost a little over $350 at Lowes (several years ago).

By the way, when you store any gas engine, use STA-BIL in the tank and run some of the treated gas through it. It keeps the gas from turning to varnish. Great Stuff.