I know what I want to accomplish but I think there are multiple ways to get there. I could use some advice in sorting it out.
Goal: Greenhouse exhaust ventilation. What I need to happen, I need to move air when it is hot. It is hot when the sun is shining. It is not hot when the sun is not shining. I have no need to run said fan(s) at night or when it's cloudy, rainy, or overcast. I do have some non-electric ventilation happening as well, it is just not quite enough when the sun is shining brightly.
I currently have a fan that I could install in a few minutes that would draw about 370 watts, a 1/2 hp 120 vac motor. It's a common item in greenhouses and I have one. But... I do not have ac power there.
I could easily come up with some 12 volt fans to move air as well, and they would likely add up to a similar power need, similar wattage, give or take a little. The panels would likely be about 25 feet away from the fan(s) so not a huge distance, but still notable. I do not have the panels yet.
I could use a battery to stabilize voltage for the load but I have no interest in actually running this thing on the battery. If the sun isn't shining sufficiently to power it, I don't need it.
So, it comes down to how to get the job done. I could use some advice on how to make it happen such that I don't have to babysit the system and yet not spend so much I'd just as well have run a new service from the grid. (I could, it's just expensive to make happen where it is located.) Dunno, it might be really simple but it kinda has me stumped.
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Goal: Greenhouse exhaust ventilation. What I need to happen, I need to move air when it is hot. It is hot when the sun is shining. It is not hot when the sun is not shining. I have no need to run said fan(s) at night or when it's cloudy, rainy, or overcast. I do have some non-electric ventilation happening as well, it is just not quite enough when the sun is shining brightly.
I currently have a fan that I could install in a few minutes that would draw about 370 watts, a 1/2 hp 120 vac motor. It's a common item in greenhouses and I have one. But... I do not have ac power there.
I could easily come up with some 12 volt fans to move air as well, and they would likely add up to a similar power need, similar wattage, give or take a little. The panels would likely be about 25 feet away from the fan(s) so not a huge distance, but still notable. I do not have the panels yet.
I could use a battery to stabilize voltage for the load but I have no interest in actually running this thing on the battery. If the sun isn't shining sufficiently to power it, I don't need it.
So, it comes down to how to get the job done. I could use some advice on how to make it happen such that I don't have to babysit the system and yet not spend so much I'd just as well have run a new service from the grid. (I could, it's just expensive to make happen where it is located.) Dunno, it might be really simple but it kinda has me stumped.
Thoughts?
Thanks!