Solar Electricity for a Farm

In May 2018, I visited a farm overseas and installed a Photovoltaic System (900W) on the farm. They have no grid electricity supply.

Photovoltaic System for the Farm

The system proposed is a 900 Watts Photovoltaic System that can provide up to 2 KW of electricity to the farm. The daily usage has to be budgeted to ensure that the batteries storage is not fully discharged by excessive electricity usage.

System Specifications:

900 Watts Photovoltaic System (6 pieces of 150W Solar Panels)

Power Inverter, 24Vdc to 230Vac, 2,500 Watts

Lead Acid Batteries 12Vdc 200 AH – 4 pieces (Operating at 24 Vdc)

Budgeted Daily Energy Usage: approx 2,600 Watt-Hour per Day

Standby Battery Storage: 3 days

 

The Schematics for the Photovoltaic System is shown below.

The estimated energy usage for the farm based on their daily operations using the following electrical equipment and appliances:

1. Water Pump (500 watts) uses 3 hours daily
2. LED Lamps (10W x 5 pieces) uses 6 hours at night
3. Fan (40W x 2 pieces) uses 10 hours at night
4. Spot Light (10W) operate 12 hours at night for security

If the farm restricts the energy usage to the above duration, the photovoltaic system will be able to provide their daily energy needs.

The ampere meter shows the solar charging current of 18.7 Amps into the lead acid batteries.

A change-over switch between generator and solar allows easy switching between the two systems.

Donation of the Photovoltaic System.

• Photovoltaic System Cost – SGD 4,500
• Tools (Hammer Drill & Battery Operated Hand Drill) – SGD 160

In July 2018, the inverter had died. It was brought back to Singapore and send back to the shop to repair. It was found that all the fuses and MOSFET were burned. Still trying to understand what caused the inverter to die.

In October 2018, I bought a new inverter online, 2500W pure sine wave solar power inverter DC 12V 24V 48V to AC 110V 220V digital display. It cost me SGD$213.73.

Manage to get someone to bring over and install the inverter. The system is working again.

Visit PKH and Farmland in Cambodia

On 18 April 2012, I went on a mission trip with my friend's church to Cambodia for 5 days. We stayed at PKH in Kg Speu for 2 nights. During the period, we taught the students who are studying Industrial Skill Training, workshop safety, 5S and measurements.

Currently, the ISC is training its 3rd batch. The 1st and 2nd batches were 21 students each. A summary of the employment history of the 2 batches are:

Type of Work

          Category                                        Graduates

1. Constructions / M&E                             19
2. Maintenance (Hotels & Bldg)                   7
3. Farming                                               5
4. Self-Employed                                      4
5. Pursue further studies                           1
6. Unemployed                                         5
7. Training (PKH)                                      1

At night, we conducted english lessons for the students.

The trainers of the Industrial Skill Training have manage to organise the tool and materials room neatly as shown in the picture below. They have practise 5S concept effectively.

It is mango seasons and at PKH, the mango trees are fruiting. We were given a treat of mangoes from their harvest.

Next, we travel to Snoul, a small market town, close to the Vietnamese border and on the main road from Phnom Penh to Kratie, north east Cambodia and Laos. Along the way, we passed by rubber plantations, tapioca plantations and dragon fruits farm.

A Dragon Fruit Flower

At Snoul, we visited a farm that grows tapioca and dragon fruits. In June 2012, the dragon fruits were harvested. Inside the dragon fruit is red colour, high in anti-oxidant. The fruit taste sweet.

They have just harvested tapioca and have chopped them into pieces and dry them in the sun.



Below is a picture of how the workers in the farm stay.

Visit Lombok, Indonesia

In February 2011, I visited Lombok, Indonesia, to recce for possible community projects for the local community; to meet with local staff to discuss scope of projects and make necessary arrangements to accomodation for future trips.

We visited Lebuan Pandan and viewed a demonstration farm plot which is experimenting drip irrigation farming.

Next, we visited  Rembitan where a Sasak couple who provides Batik making skills training for young people in an Art Gallery. We discussed possible projects such as building vats for dyeing and washing of batik and teaching of conversational English.

Finally we visited Senaru to discussed possible projects in surrounding villages including building of volleyball court, particiapting in a biogas project and accomodation at a traditional house.