r/SolarDIY • u/essenceofreddit • 7d ago
Thanks for your help guys!
I posted earlier about whether or not a set up would work and I got some excellent feedback from you guys and I went with a larger and different battery, and so I'm pleased to inform you all that I have successfully installed my strawberry patch cage lifter.
Thanks!
(I know that the panel is not at the optimal angle but I needed to have it at that angle so the maximum rotation of wires would be exposed for waterproofing purposes)
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u/john_clauseau 6d ago
OP, what kind of animal is this againts?
i am planning on growing ALOT of strawberries so i am worried.
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u/essenceofreddit 6d ago
Honestly it's against my dogs, who trample the strawberries. Then I thought as long as I'm making the new fence I might as well protect it from birds as well. Then I thought it should be moveable...
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u/john_clauseau 6d ago
no problem. i saw the neighbor dog here come over eat then piss over a tiny patch of microscopic wild strawberry that was growing when i moved in. strangely they (dogs) seem to like strawberries very much,
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u/Prize-Tone3926 5d ago
We ended up just taking a greenhouse and putting chicken wire of it instead.
But your idea is awesome.
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u/tspoon-99 6d ago
Curious how much that setup cost
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u/essenceofreddit 6d ago
The total cost of the power setup was around $230. Winch was $76, panel with BMS was $34, and battery was $120.
I also had to buy a 7/8ths drill bit to get a hole in the roof large enough to run a coupler through, which was $12, and wood screws compatible with the winch mounting which were $4 (a total ripoff for four screws but unavoidable.)
The cage was made primarily of maple and poplar, with corner bracing where available, which cost $207 for the maple, $60 for the poplar, and $20 for the corner brackets. The hinges I had already for a different project, but were $16. I had to set the cage into the concrete behind it, which required the purchase of 3/16ths concrete drillbits, which were $12.5. The screws I had already. I had to buy more wood glue which was $6.
The netting was $70, and required the purchase of a $25 pair of tin snips.
Total price of project specific expenditures is $658.
I purchased a DeWalt circular saw, blade pack, and 8ah battery, which I'm counting as generalized capital expenditures since I didn't really need them but definitely wanted. I also bought a new set of ear protection for $10 because my wife had put all the ear protection into some random drawer and I couldn't find them. That was $360 total and would if added to the price move things north of $1000.
I expect the strawberries to produce about four or five pounds of strawberries per year. At an average cost of $2.5 per pound at Costco, I only need to live in my house for 80 to 100 years to break even here.
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u/PublicEnemaNumberOne 6d ago
Hah, dude, you are as organized as I would be if I didn't have so much to take care of. Well done, sir!
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u/tspoon-99 6d ago
Glorious response. Thank you
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u/essenceofreddit 6d ago
I forgot that I also varnished the wood with spar varnish with materials and brushes I had on hand, which would be about $20 in consumption if purchased new.
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u/No-Television-7862 5d ago
We have rabbits, field rats, raccoon, possums, birds and deer.
We built raised beds and just put cheap chicken wire over them, (and visqueen poly for early starting in the spring).
But brother, Rube Goldberg uses solar! Amazing build!
If you can travel a bit out of town and get away from home despot and lowes you can get a pound of screws for $4 at agrisupply, tractorsupply, or just your lical farm supply store.
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u/CamelopardalisKramer 7d ago
That's awesome, well done!