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
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.
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.
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.
@@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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!!!
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
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
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.
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.
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?
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!
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..
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.
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.
![Rainwater Harvesting Tank - solar panel & pump setup [OFF GRID]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
