Samuel Morton

Thank you for your replies - I really appreciate you taking the time to get back to me

So if I have two batteries could I connect these together to provide double to amount of power and would this be a better option as opposed to having one in use while the other charges?

'My blender requires 230 watts, so it could be operated for 18 minutes per day.' Can I ask how you figured this out?

If I was to search for products to buy (appliances) what should I look for with regards to determine how long I could use it for (or even if I could use it)?

Also (apologies for the questions) how does voltage tie into this? Is voltage simply something which can be used to avoid too much electricity going to an appliance and overloading it?

Once again thank you for your replies,

Samuel

Good evening everyone,

This is my first post and forgive any ignorance regarding my electrical knowledge.

I am thinking of buying some solar panels for my shed roof which I hope will power (not full time but as and when said appliances are needed) a LED lighting strip and a small water pump to help me wash my produce (and maybe a blender and phone charger).

The solar panel system I am looking to buy is 10watt 12 volts and I was just wondering about the following things:

- what appliances could this power?
- if this solar set-up can power a 10watt appliance for 100hours (for example) would a 20 watt appliance be able to be used and would last 50 hours with this set-up?
- if I buy two systems and have two batteries and connect these together will I then have 20watts and 24volts?
- Will 1 panel take twice as long to charge two batteries and would two panels charge a single battery twice as fast?

Thanks for getting back to me,

Samuel

Morning all,

I was just wondering if anyone has made an aquaponic set-up which does not need electricity, be it doing it naturally and using edible aquatic plants or utilising the physical forces of siphoning and those associated with hyraulic rams?

Thank you for your help,

Samuel

Thank you for your reply.

Perhaps this 5% would be enough to water the grow bed?

I think I am going to need to draw this down to get my head around it.

Samuel

I came across this on wikipedia:

'While a simple siphon cannot output liquid at a level higher than the source reservoir, a more complicated device utilizing an airtight chamber at the crest and a system of automatic valves, may discharge liquid on an ongoing basis, at a level higher than the source reservoir, without outside pumping energy being added. It can accomplish this despite what initially appears to be a violation of conservation of energy because it can take advantage of the energy of a large volume of liquid dropping some distance, to raise and discharge a small volume of liquid above the source reservoir. Thus it might be said to "require" a large quantity of falling liquid to power the dispensing of a small quantity. Such a system typically operates in a cyclical or start/stop but ongoing and self-powered manner.'

It then cites the following patent reference:

http://www.google.com/patents/US5358000

Ah so would the slight increase in atmospheric pressure between C and A would prevent the siphoning work to move the water say from the fish tank to the grow bed?

Evening all,

I came across this video regarding siphoning water between waterbutts (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hQXT29p2m0) and a thought came to my head could I use siphoning in an aquaponic set-up?

Has anyone tried it before?

I have managed to get hold of some old hose and some IBC's so I might give it a try!

Many thanks,

Samuel

Evening all,

I have been looking to buy a water butt for my allotment but so far the cheapest I can find is on ebay (210 litres for £26 - includes delivery)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/210L-Litre-45-Gallon-Water-Butt-Rain-Collecting-Bosh-Barrel-Plastic-/221477997173?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Garden_Plants_Bird_Bath_Feeder_CV&hash=item33911e0a75#shpCntId.

This is much cheaper than argos (£40!), amazon (£50) & Toolstation (£75!!).

I looked for IBC's on ebay and found something but the delivery was 99p per mile and it was a 100 miles from me so it far eclipsed the items value.

What can I do?

I need 2-3 water-butts but the cheapest I have found means it it will add up to £78 - is this too much to pay? Surely I can find cheaper alternatives?

Thank you for your help,

Samuel

Morning all,

The labels for my tomatoes have been wiped off so I am unsure as to which type they are (I sowed both bush and cordon).

I know if you pinch out the suckers for the bush varieties I will get no fruit so I'm thinking of maybe removing 50% as a safe bet?

This time I am going to use a permanent marker!

Samuel

Morning all,

My potatoes have started to flower..does this mean they are ready to harvest?

Is flowering a good indicator that they are ready?

Thank you for your replies

Samuel