Go to Otherpower.com Home Page Go to Forcefield Shopping Cart Go to Wondermagnet.com Home Page
Front Page - [Homebrewed Electricity-- (wind) (solar) (hydro) (steam) (controls) (storage) (mechanical)] - Classifieds - Site News
Everything - Newbies - [Remote Living-- (housing) (heat) (light) (water)] - Reviews - Diaries - Our Products
Off grid Greenhouse Inflation Fan Application | 36 comments (36 topical)
Re: Off grid Greenhouse Inflation Fan Application (3.00 / 0) (#22)
by ghurd on Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 03:12:05 PM MST

It looks like high volume and low pressure to me.

The one way air valve means it does not need volume, just some pressure.
If the plastic mattress-thing is anything like I picture it in my mind, it does not need much pressure at all.

Leading me to believe a DC muffin fan would work just fine.

And I believe this is a case where solar would be worth the initial cost.
Mental math this morning (pre-coffee) looked like about $70 / year for the grid fan.
Solar with junk ("boat batteries") payback was about 8 years and soon to need the 3rd set of batteries.
With a pair of Sam's Club golf cart batteries was 9 years But that had new batteries figured before then that would last a lot longer than the 9 year mark, meaning golf cart batteries worked out to cheaper.

That sounds BAD?
It only included the cost of RE related items.
It did not include the cost of running the grid to the green house.

If the cost of running the grid to the green house (I used $200 total cost) is deducted from the RE related costs, then even was at 4 years 9 months.  
After than time you are coming out ahead.

If you have to pay someone to do the AC grid wiring, or the run is long, or it requires an excavator or renting a ditch-witch, then solar may work out cheaper the first time the fan is turned on.

The one way air valve has me wondering if the initial cost could be reduced even more.

To know what is what, need to try several DC muffin fans and be sure they are up to the task.
Before spending money.
G-


[ Parent ]



Re: Off grid Greenhouse Inflation Fan Application (3.00 / 0) (#25)
by mooselick7 on Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 03:41:26 PM MST

Sounds plumb reasonable - I will investigate this as well.  

[ Parent ]


Re: Off grid Greenhouse Inflation Fan Application (3.00 / 0) (#26)
by BigBreaker on Fri Jun 12, 2009 at 06:45:48 AM MST

Why not just support the greenhouse film with static supports rather than the inflation scheme?  Seems like hoops or tensioned wires would make more sense and would cost less than the RE powered fan set up.

[ Parent ]


Off grid Greenhouse Inflation Fan Application | 36 comments (36 topical)

Menu
· create account
· How to use the board
· FAQs
· search the board
· Google search the board

Login
Make a new account
Username:
Password:

Powered by Scoop
You must be a registered user to post here. It's easy and free, and the link is on the upper right side of your page.
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Postings are owned by the poster, but may be deleted or moved at the ADMIN's sole discretion. The Rest © 2009 Forcefield.
You can Email the board ADMIN here. PLEASE include the username you signed up with!