I'm running a manufacturer-designed solar-direct pump (Dankoff 24v 6amp Solar SlowPump) for running sprinklers at a remote location. Until my grass seed germinates, I've decided that I'd like to temporarily soak the ground during the night and I'd like to learn how to set up the battery side of my system. (This is all a big experiment to teach myself backwoods solar applications anyway.) I'm running one 24v 8amp panel through the proprietary charge controller for that pump (and other Dankoff pumps)
I'm wondering if someone here can tell me how to link in the battery charging side of the equation (stuff in blue on the diagram). Everything in black is solar-direct and currently working.
Two questions:
1. What will happen if I don't include a timer that will prevent the battery from charging at the same time as the pump is running? There is extra amperage coming from the panel (a couple amps). I'm guessing it'd trip the breaker, but I don't know if the charge controller is smart enough to know that there's an 6 amp draw on the leg -- and if the charge controller will adjust to take whatever amperage is left after the pump draws. I can't imagine that would work unless the charge controller is smart. My solution is to run a timer that will prevent the battery being charged during the use of the pump. How's that sound? My charge controller is an HQST 30amp PWM Smart Solar Controller or I can order whatever might work.
2. What will happen if the direct leg of the system is supplying 6 amps to the pump and the battery is in the loop? I'm guessing the amperage will pour back toward the battery and jack it up without a diode, since there's no charge controller on that leg. Do I need a second timer on that leg just to prevent back-flow of power into the battery?
This is getting complicated and I'd move to a pure battery-based system instead of solar-direct, but I'm only planning on using the battery-based night irrigation for a couple weeks -- and I don't want to buy a new pump. After the seed germinates, I'd like to go back to solar-direct.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Solar Irrigation Wiring Scheme.jpg
I'm wondering if someone here can tell me how to link in the battery charging side of the equation (stuff in blue on the diagram). Everything in black is solar-direct and currently working.
Two questions:
1. What will happen if I don't include a timer that will prevent the battery from charging at the same time as the pump is running? There is extra amperage coming from the panel (a couple amps). I'm guessing it'd trip the breaker, but I don't know if the charge controller is smart enough to know that there's an 6 amp draw on the leg -- and if the charge controller will adjust to take whatever amperage is left after the pump draws. I can't imagine that would work unless the charge controller is smart. My solution is to run a timer that will prevent the battery being charged during the use of the pump. How's that sound? My charge controller is an HQST 30amp PWM Smart Solar Controller or I can order whatever might work.
2. What will happen if the direct leg of the system is supplying 6 amps to the pump and the battery is in the loop? I'm guessing the amperage will pour back toward the battery and jack it up without a diode, since there's no charge controller on that leg. Do I need a second timer on that leg just to prevent back-flow of power into the battery?
This is getting complicated and I'd move to a pure battery-based system instead of solar-direct, but I'm only planning on using the battery-based night irrigation for a couple weeks -- and I don't want to buy a new pump. After the seed germinates, I'd like to go back to solar-direct.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Solar Irrigation Wiring Scheme.jpg
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