Dan Cox

Hey guys, we have a question! What constitutes a genuinely efficient setup for our hostel in the jungle @Feel Free? Panels, Controller, batteries, and converter?

We are hoping to capture and save enough energy per day to run (AC): a small chest freezer, a few AC outlets for a blender and charging small accessories, and power tools.

We are in the tropics, (8˚ lat, northwestern Colombia). We really want to buy local, as we know its available and here maintenance will be much easier with a guarantee; even if written by hand by the only tool seller in the village.

So if you could shed some light on what it is were looking for in order to run a smooth, simple and cheap system, it'd go much appreciated! Thanks!!!

If you are storing up your energy for night usage this is probably best. Regular daily weather patterns may effect you choice of angle, so, for example, if you mainly get clear mornings and clouds build in the afternoon, then consider angling them a little to the east to catch more of the morning Sun.

Hey Tom thanks for useful advice we certainly will be generating during the day for night time use, as well as a chest freezer and other, mostly kitchen, appliances. Pooling water wont be problematic as the panels will have to be transported inside at times anyway (to keep the local coyotes from half-inching the panels). Any idea what size panels and batteries I might need for a roundabout 1400kw p/month average?

Dan, it looks like the larger tank is inside your structure. Is that the 500 liter tank? That sounds small for the amount of rain you will get. Can you fit a 1,000 liter tank?

I thought so too until I looked at the plans, I think the structure will suffer holding that much water weight at elevation. I would love more capacity though, so I'll keep it in mind when the foundations (footings) are laid. I figure we get fairly consistent rain so we shouldn't need more than 500ltrs between downfalls. I was also thinking overflows can lead to more storage below on ground floor, or even run through a drip system for the nursery... Thanks

I've heard rumblings that as part of Chinese continental takeover, there are some great quality deals out here.

But where? Anyone got experience buying solar in CA/SA? Need a hand finding good deals?

Hey Matt

Thanks, I'll look into it, though I think it might break the budget! I was just thinking N-S Directions near the equator.

We're planning on building a two floor 5x5m‘ workshop/temporary living space at our lot in Capurgana, which is within a tropical monsoon climate.

Our farm will start as soon as we have this liveable space ready on the lot. We'll be starting a nursery to the main structures side, too. The workshop will serve as a shopfront for the farm and storage and temporary living space until we can start the kitchen project. Rainwater falling on the 25m‘ roof will flood a catchment pipe which fills a (second floor) 500l water tank directly beneath the rain gutter point. The water will be used for washing (one faucet) below the tank (max pressure) and another leading outside for a simple jungle shower. The two systems will lead into a grey water treatment bed of plantain and beneficial plants.  
A messy scribble describes the idea for the more extreme visual learner here.
http://imgur.com/s6ujZQE

Q1. We're at 8˚ latitude here, and plan on mounting a solar system on the roof. I'm told that the optimum angle for panels relates to Latitudinal zone. Any idea how to best optimise solar panel light exposure, including magnetic direction (I assume the roof will slope slightly to the north)?
We will rarely struggle for water, but catching it seems the most logical way of supplying limited needs, and it would be great to harvest the abundance of rain, So:
Q2. Has anyone ever created a simple system like this one? I worry about the pressure being too low, the catchment too big for the tank «
http://imgur.com/JJpvHHI
Q3. That a tank of 500 litres will be too weighty for 8x 6"x6"x8' Wild Cashew timber building to hold on the first (raised, boarded floor)?
http://imgur.com/nZOTsoG
Please leave any feedback on the idea here as we're ready to build in June!

Contact us and follow our progress on http://www.facebook.com/feelfreehostel ;) Likers win free t-shirts (from the workshop!!!)

Somehow, within the international sphere going basically hay-wire, Colombia is progressing when it comes to land use and proprietary laws.

Taking full advantage of this, I've bought a 1.6 hectare plot of virgin forest, full of wild fruit trees (and even wilder wildlife) and I'm shooting for an organic farm, a dream permaculture project, as well as conservation and hostel project, worked on by the local community and willing volunteers. Check out our project video on the tube:

[youtube]  [youtube]https://youtu.be/Di9Ps2Opev8[/youtube]

We're running workshops, getting involved with a huge cleanup project and other community plans, and designing nice basic bamboo treehouses for guests and volunteers. We aim to grow everything consumed on site within 3 years using permaculture-based growing and cultivating techniques we have learnt over the last ten years, mixed harmoniously with local techniques. ≈ In 3 months we will have mapped, cleared, planned, prepared and be producing on the farm. We will be building the main hostel structure as of April; with a view of having a two-storey structure live-in ready by July.
Within 6 months the main structure will be mounted and the hostel taking it's first volunteers.

We need your help to reach our project's target. Please contribute here igg.me/at/feelfreehostel to claim your little slice of paradise! Like us on Facebook.com/feelfreehostel for special offers etc! @FEELFREE

+vibes