PV Gap

Freddie Said:

What is the best option of how to use Solar System?

We Answered:

If you want an answer, it helps if the question is intelligible!

Alice Said:

How do electric fences work?

We Answered:

Yes, you have to run the conductor around the pasture.
I did not run the wire underground at the gates, I put in an insulated gate. It is just a handle which is spring loaded and I attach it to the conductor on the other side. when the gate is open part of the circuit is dead, but as soon as you connect it back you are good to go.
Yes the system needs to be grounded. An electric fence is like a battery, it only works when both sides are connected.
On mine, I ran the hot wire on top, connected the ground to the rest of the fence, went to the distant end and put a ground rod there, the horse will put his head over the fence most of the time and push his chest up against the lower one. Making the lower wires part of the ground helps complete the circuit even when the ground is really dry.

You meet the other suggestion of running additional ground wires by using the lower portion of the fence to also carry ground. For 400 acres that would be a really expensive fence if I followed that suggestion.

Good luck with your fence, just think of it like a battery, and forget burying the wire, dumb idea and really tough to fix if it goes bad.

See the site below for instructions on installing an electric fence.

Amber Said:

Does anyone have a solar hot water system with electric boost?

We Answered:

What brand and model is your system? Mine is a Rinnai E315S36. (315 liter, single element 3600watts) With the single element model a thermostat set to 70 degrees C kicks in electric heating. I set my water heater to night rate in the mains power box so that solar heating occurs during the day and and any electric temperature top-up required is done at night. I've never missed not having the extra boost element this way. The model with the boost function has the extra element set to only 60 degrees C and this can't be adjusted. As long as you haven't set the main element thermostat to less than the 60 degree setting the only thing hitting the boost will do is warm the water a bit more quickly from cold. If the water is already above 60, nothing will happen. I have found that I don't even need the main electric element most of the year and I turn it off at the beginning of summer..... about October. It stays off 'til I actually get cold showers.... about June. Then I turn the main element back onto night rate and wait 24 hours for it to heat all the water back up. If you did the same and ran purely on solar for as long as possible and then only hit the boost once a year to cut that 24 hours down a bit you would save on carbon and time. If you are having to run your electric element all year round and hit boost all the time then your solar water system is too small for your needs..... It will be costing you money, not saving it. Either get a bigger one or go gas. Also, you HWS should have a tempering valve on it somewhere. It has three copper pipes running into it and is made of brass. This mixes cold water into the 70 degree + hot water comming out of the tank. It should be set to about 50 degrees C but it can be set from about 40 to about 60. If you are getting tepid water no matter what you do, have this valve looked at. Finally, as a good tip for all hot water service owners, you MUST replace the zinc sacrificial annode in the top of your tank every five years or so....... otherwise the system will corrode out and die. I write the date the last one was put in on the side of the tank so as to not forget. I suggest you stick last months installation date on yours.
Chook

Tracy Said:

What are you doing to prepare for bad political and economic times, possible war?

We Answered:

Serving in the Army and earning tons of money so I do my part and have no fears.

--"Silly Liberals, Paychecks Are For Workers."--