THE BENEFIT of adding a solar collection system to your hydroponic set-up is that solar panels and other solar collection devices continue to improve as technology and demand increase .”
trends & technology
THE BENEFIT of adding a solar collection system to your hydroponic set-up is that solar panels and other solar collection devices continue to improve as technology and demand increase .”
Nearly all the components of a hydroponic system can be partially or fully powered by alternative energies . Any system that runs on electricity or battery power , such as lighting , pumps , filters , agitators , and timers , can be altered to run on off-the-grid power sources . Not all energy sources are practical for all systems , however , and many may be too cost-prohibitive to effectively implement . Still , for the majority of alternative systems there is usually a do-it-yourself version or an online hack out there that can help you to grow your greens without using petroleum or nonrenewable energy sources . The systems outlined below are just an overview of the different types of alternative energies available and should not be considered a how-to . Most of the energy systems will generate direct current ( DC ). An inverter is required to convert the DC into alternating current ( AC ) to be useful for most of the appliances that a hydroponic system runs on . Another option is to consider converting your components to be compatible with DC .
SOLAR ENERGY
The effectiveness of any solar energy collection system for your growroom will depend greatly on how much sunlight you receive and how large of a collection system you can install . If you can put solar panels on the southfacing slope of your roof , not blocked by any large shade trees , you will likely have enough power for more than just your hydroponic system . However , many homes , especially older ones , are not suited for this type of installation . Solar panels can instead be placed on other buildings or as free-standing units in your yard . Their effectiveness is , of course , reliant on factors such as the time of year or amount of cloud cover in your area . The benefit of adding a solar collection system to your hydroponic set-up is that solar panels and other solar collection devices continue to improve as technology and demand increase . Simple systems can be installed to manually ( or automatically ) turn to follow the path of the sun . Other solar collection devices are designed so that instead of converting sun energy into current , they heat up pipes to warm water . This system can either give off heat or simply reduce the amount of energy required to heat your water . Solar has come a long way in the last 20 years and there is an application for almost every scenario . It is also a type of alternative energy that can easily be added on to . You could , for instance , attempt to power just one aspect of your hydro system and keep building from there until the entire hydroponic system runs on stored energy derived from the conversion of solar power into usable current .
WIND ENERGY
Most people can imagine the way wind energy works ; the concept is fairly simple . As the wind blows , a rotor or turbine spins . The energy derived from spinning is converted by a generator into useable power . The number of materials that can be used to create a wind turbine also make the prospect accessible to many and encourages creativity . Wind turbines can be made from parts of 55-gallon drums , old satellite dishes , canvas sails , and almost anything that can cup the wind and spin freely . The difficulty , however , lies in the actual application of harnessing wind power on a small scale and its practicality , which depends on your location . If you have an open piece of land that is an acre or more in size , wind power may be practical . If you live in an urban setting , in one of the tallest buildings , and have access to the roof , wind power may be practical . In a typical suburban setting , however , only very small scale energy applications are usually worth your time and investment . In these environments , it may make more sense to try to power only a portion of your hydro system with wind and then store whatever energy it creates into a battery .
84 grow cycle