up:: La Finka - Projects MOC
tags:: #lafinka #project
skills:: #electrical
lead:: @Niko
status:: #status/idea
start:: #y/2024/fall
estimated completion:: #y/2024/fall

Overview

Drip irrigation or emitters are an efficient way to deliver precise water management to plants around the property. If we could design self contained solar pump system, it would be easy to deploy these around the property to maintain plant life off of the lake ditch irrigation water.

Insert_Image_Or_Gif

Additional Docs

• Research - Drip Irrigation Systems

Purpose

To design a cheap off grid system to irrigate small to medium sections of the yard with a low cost, self contained solar system feeding off our lake ditch water enhancing water efficiency and sustainability in agriculture at La Finka.

Objectives

• Design & Develop a small system that can be deployed throughout the property for moving water efficiently to where it is needed most.
• To reduce water usage while maintaining optimal plant hydration.
• To educate the community on renewable energy applications in agriculture.

Background Info

Flood irrigation is inefficient in the high desert due to high evaporation rate specifically in the summer. What is more effective is burying drip irrigation lines underneath wood chips to help lock in moisture to encourage soil development. These systems can be off grid and automated due to cheap electronics and clever controls.

Project - Details

Scope

• Solar Powered System
  • Solar Cell, Controller, Battery
• Efficient Water Distribution with Drip Emitters
• Trigger system
  • Automatic Timer
  • Moisture Sensor
  • Evaporative measurement
• Bonus: Monitoring System

Milestones

A - Manual System Design

• Sourcing Parts
• Prototyping Solutions
• Evaluating performance
• Different designs for use cases
• Schematic

**B - Automation Design

• Propose different control system types
  • Timer
  • Sensor
  • Float on water basin

C - Installation with Rain Water Capture

• Utilize water from rainbarrels that is further from lake ditch lines
• Pump lake ditch lines into rain barrels when necessary?

D - Evaluation

• Monitor the system's efficiency and impact on water usage.

Task Items

• ToDo:: Research Pumps & sizes (Alibaba?)
• ToDo:: Locate Drip Line supplier in Reno - Buy in Bulk kits
• ToDo:: Research low cost 50-100w solar systems
• ToDo:: Research control systems for monitoring

Project - Resources

Budget

Estimated Budget:

Materials & Tools

• Solar Cells 50w-100w [tasktype:: acq]
• 12V Pumps [tasktype:: acq]
• Solar Controller [tasktype:: acq]
• Drip Irrigation Kit

Equipment

• Tools for installation

References / Examples:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfVaDG-ZVdY

Documentation and Media

Photos and Videos:

Links or embedded media showing progress or highlights.

Documents:

Links to relevant documents, such as plans, blueprints, and research papers.

Technologies

• Insert_Technologies_Required

Questions / Unknowns:

• Q:: Assessing the optimal layout for solar panel exposure.
• Long-term maintenance requirements.

Collaboration and Participation

How to Get Involved

• Have you built drip irrigation systems before?
• Are you interested in helping with component selection research?