See the full written BLOG POST for the 500 gallon tank installation here: manabouttools.com/TANK500 If you would like to support the channel and future content then please go here: www.patreon.com/manabouttools
@WayneHartman-e2s16 күн бұрын
If you fill tank from bottom your system will work alot better . Just a sajeston . I like your installation though.
@timffoster4 жыл бұрын
I really appreciate the professionalism of your DIY projects, your attention to detail, and best of all, your zeal for good-looking projects. Hats off! Subscribed.
@lindalisting73384 жыл бұрын
You make it look so easy! I can see myself doing this with the right tools.
@MANaboutTOOLS4 жыл бұрын
You can do it!
@natemorlock23792 жыл бұрын
Love your videos man. Thanks
@TheAzachiel4 жыл бұрын
You are little bit more perfectionist than me. Love your videos. Thanks.
@JonLoeffler624 жыл бұрын
Excellent work. Will Prouse is great.
@MANaboutTOOLS4 жыл бұрын
Thank you! And yes he is a fine young man with a ton of enthusiasm!
@stephenmabry28664 жыл бұрын
Wow, ur becoming a master in video production. Skills are undeniable. And innovations in concrete, water storage and now solar power management. Just exceptional. Another great video. Edit: Will Prowse - tremendous electrical knowledge. Get solar/battery knowledge here.
@MANaboutTOOLS4 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much! I so appreciate the support!
@stephenmabry28664 жыл бұрын
@@MANaboutTOOLS really can't say how well you make things, Kent. Makes my attempts look like I'm doing it for the first time - which is usually the case. Great work.
@jameschristian81172 жыл бұрын
Love how neat your work is but i would have put the panel on the pump house,, but really nice work ,thanks again for the video .. 👍👍👍👍👍
@MANaboutTOOLS2 жыл бұрын
Thanks 👍 There's some huge cedars due south of the pavilion that shade the pumphouse. Much more than the roof of the pavilion.
@bobbtheman542 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much, these videos are awesome. I am about to setup a 1,550 gal rainwater system and your tips, design and build are exactly what I need. Also, for the rainwater irrigation/solar setup, I am also doing that. I just installed a drip irrigation system for all the raised beds and looking for a solar setup pretty much as you designed. I will be using an "on-demand" pump with a timer which I think is the only difference. Again, great job and I am much impressed.
@MarkParkTech4 жыл бұрын
That one shunt on plywood base.... That could be a fire hazard if it starts to get hot on a very dry day. If it gets wet, that plywood won't make a very good insulator anymore. I mean, it's great for mock-up, and your wiring is excellent, but your choice of materials makes it less than ideal. I would recommend you replacing the plywood with PVC. A 4'x8', 3/4" thick sheet of it is about $100 at home depot ( They'll even cut it down to size for you if you need ), and for this application, I think it's worth it. Other than that, great job man! Truly excellent layout there. I love it!
@MANaboutTOOLS4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your comments here Mark! I will keep an eye on that shunt. I bet I have some PVC around somewhere that I could replace that plywood with.
@MarkParkTech4 жыл бұрын
oh, side note, they do have smaller sheets, so if you need less than a 4x8, you have options.
@johncotten72044 жыл бұрын
Mark is right.
@fleaniswerkhardt46474 жыл бұрын
PVC is also flammable as well as quite expensive. A non-flammable , non-conductive and inexpensive material like compressed cement sheet would be good in this application. It can easily be drilled and painted and will never rot.
@ChickaWoofRanch4 жыл бұрын
Love it!!! got some projects I'd like to do this coming spring. Thank you!!!
@djaspurh4 жыл бұрын
Very nice clean setup. I was looking at those Renergy panels for my off grid camp.
@MANaboutTOOLS4 жыл бұрын
Thanks! I have two on the RV roof that I installed 5 years ago. They are still working very well.
@DustyRusty814 жыл бұрын
Put some LED lights near your pump/power box with a switch for night time emergencies or maintenance
@MANaboutTOOLS4 жыл бұрын
ohhh...I like that! Thx
@frankligas22493 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video. Useful project for the avid gardener. Followed your Amazon link. Not buying solar today, but I am buying curtains. : ) Hope you earn a commission.
@JGUNW1R3D2 жыл бұрын
Based on the orientation, I’m curious why you couldn’t have mounted the solar panel to the roof of the pump house behind the tank. It appears that both roofs are oriented the same direction.
@MANaboutTOOLS2 жыл бұрын
There's big cedars due south. Up on the pavilion is far less shaded.
@keithmoore55124 жыл бұрын
Looks great. I am a perpetual worrier and would probably not put a lead acid battery in the same compartment as any of my other hardware or electronics due to corrosion concerns. Maybe the compartment is well vented enough. Your call.
@MANaboutTOOLS4 жыл бұрын
Thanks! There are enough cracks in the wooden box to allow air flow. So I don't think it would be an issue.
@idontthinkso6662 жыл бұрын
What doo you think automobile engine compartments are?
@rickleffel2564 жыл бұрын
I would have mad the pump house front removable but other than that I like your set up. The only reason I make this suggestion, at 60 I need easier access.
@MANaboutTOOLS4 жыл бұрын
I had that thought too. And it's still possible. I did something similar with a compost bin in the past. The top opens; as well as the front.
@pottsy37654 жыл бұрын
Hey Kent, You had mentioned in previous videos that you live in Canada. Does the harsh winters affect the above ground plumbing? What do you need to do to winterize. Maybe make a video about readying for winter. Does the solar panel need to be removed before the first snow? Anyway. I love the video. You are on my top 10 list!!!
@MANaboutTOOLS4 жыл бұрын
Thanks Kevin! We are on Vancouver Island and our winters are usually mild. I will do a winterizing video -- it was on my list of things to shoot. The panel is fine in the snow. The two on my RV have been through a few snowy winters and still look great. I brush off the snow so they still charge the batteries. I appreciate your comments and support! Cheers, Kent
@spacewolfjr4 жыл бұрын
Feedback: - not enough kitty cats. - is that a MasterCraft mitre saw? How do you like it? - are you planning on automating the system at all? - more kitty cats please
@idontthinkso6662 жыл бұрын
@@spacewolfjr Agreed. This video was lacking adequate cat content. :)
@C4GIF3 жыл бұрын
How many amperes do you expect from your solar panel? Less than 500 amps? Are you sure that the wire AWG is enough?
@twinprimeable4 жыл бұрын
consider moving the cables to run on the bottom of the downspout to protect them from UV
@twinprimeable4 жыл бұрын
you can also cut a pvc pipe in half (paint if you like) and use it to cover the length of cable from the panel to the housing.
@MANaboutTOOLS4 жыл бұрын
Great idea Ryan! Thx!
@idontthinkso6662 жыл бұрын
I agree that UV is a risk, but those cables are rated for that exposure. They will outlast all other components of the system. The risk to the cables are animals--especially squirrels. I had to replace my entire solar array after squirrels chewed through 75% of the wires. Amazing!
@flowergal53543 жыл бұрын
Do you have a plan for the tank and plumbing set up? If not would it be possible to make one for purchase?
@tfildaed3 жыл бұрын
Great video! Was the distance from the roof to the tank not worth burying the pipe?
@MANaboutTOOLS3 жыл бұрын
Thanks! Burying the pipe would be an option as well. Was close enough.
@peterdement4 жыл бұрын
Since the box floor is elevated above the grade does it act like a drum surface and amplify the pump vibration? Would solid blocking under the floor down to grade at the pump location further reduce vibration/noise?
@MANaboutTOOLS4 жыл бұрын
I would agree with you here. And more blocking may reduce it further. Thx!
@kaydonahue2 жыл бұрын
How due you keep a pump from freezing?
@MANaboutTOOLS2 жыл бұрын
I run some RV antifreeze through the pump in the fall.
@mattevans-koch93534 жыл бұрын
Was that a duct tape bandage I saw while you were connecting the terminals in the box? I've used a lot of those over the years. Very nice and clean installation of the solar panels and the pump and filters. Question-will you see any significant heat build up behind the panel from the color of the roofing or does it stay relatively cool during the summer season? Thank you for this video series. Take care and stay well.
@MANaboutTOOLS4 жыл бұрын
That was some painters tape around a knuckle bandage. Thanks for the support and taking the time to comment! The roof might get hot and decrease the efficiency of the panel. I'll take some temperature measurements over time and see how it is.
@C4GIF3 жыл бұрын
Have you calculated how many square meters of roof you need to fill your 500tank? It seems to me that your 25 square meters are not enough. Maybe the water tank can be filled after one year only if do not consume any water during that time..
@MANaboutTOOLS3 жыл бұрын
The roof is definitely undersized for that tank. But sometimes in the spring we can get some long, heavy rains. We are on the west coast living in what is technically a rain forest. Also, I have it set up that I could also use this tank as extra storage from our irrigation well and the other larger tank.
@hyfy-tr2jy4 жыл бұрын
Wouldn't it have been just as good to fasten the solar panel to the lid of the pump house? Far less wiring to manage that way
@MANaboutTOOLS4 жыл бұрын
I was considering that or having a sloped roof on the surround. But, I think I'll add more panels in the future so will need more space. Also, we have some massive cedar and fir trees to the south of the garden and they would shadow the pump box more than the pavilion roof.
@spacewolfjr4 жыл бұрын
5 minutes in and no kitty cats, not good.
@MANaboutTOOLS4 жыл бұрын
LOL, I did go back and look through the footage and outtakes. No cats unfortunately -- maybe next time.