MT.EVANS OBS PV SYSTEM: DATE & CUMULATIVE AMP HOURS [avg. Ah/day]:

Note: these averages reflect the preceeding 64 days recorded on the Outback controller

01Aug2006 [MJD53949]   84kWh [+17kWh/3d = 5.67kWh/day = 236Ah/day @24vdc]

28Jul2006 [MJD53945]     67kWh

[Jul’06--system reset by power cycling]

13May2006 [MJD53869]   79.7kAh [+7.4Ah/72d = 108Ah/day, spring]

02 Mar 2006 [MJD 53797] 72.3 kAh [+17.7kAh/221d = 80Ah/day, winter]

24 Aug 2005 [MJD 53576] 54.6 kAh [+3.8kAh/29d = 131Ah/day, summer]

26 Jul 2005 [MJD 53578]   50.8 kAh [+4.6kAh/26d = 177Ah/day, summer]

28 Jun 2005 [MJD 53552]  46.2 kAh  [ +4.5kAh/30d = 150Ah/day, summery]

31 May 2005 (MJD 53522) 41.7 kAh [+6.9kAh/54d = 128Ah/day, spring]

07 Apr 2005  (MJD 53468) 34.8 kAh [+15.3kAh/144d = 106Ah/day overwinter]

14 Nov 2004 (MJD 53324) 19.5 kAh [+5.2kAh/41d = 127Ah/day autumn]

02 Oct 2004 (MJD 53283)  14.3 kAh [+14.3kAh/63d = 227Ah/day late summer]

07 Sep 2004 [MJD 53256]  11.3 kAh [+11.3kAh/36d = 314 Ah/day, summer]

02 Aug 2004 (MJD 53220) start, 0 kAh [new controller and replacement pv panels]

Ah/day rate                                                                              6          4

200+    .           .           .           .           .           .           .           .           .           4          .           .

150+    .           .           .           .           .           5          5          .           .           .           .           .

100+    .           .           .           5          5,6       .           .           5          .           .           4          .

  50+    .           .           6          .           .           .           .           .           .           .           .           .

    0+    .           .           .           .           .           .           .           .           .           .           .           .

            J           F          M         A         M         J           J           A         S          O         N         D


Sample readings:

Daily amp-hour accumulations noted after installation of Outback charge controller, 8/04:

2005 – DATE – Amp hours stored – minutes at float voltage – sum [kAh] - notes

01 Feb 2005

 Ah

 mins

Kah

 

02

125

0

 

 

03

133

0

 

 

04

188

154

 

 

05

131

189

 

 

06

112

0

 

Cloudy?

07

98

0

 

Cloudy?

08

117

213

 

 

09

121

264

 

 

10

118

256

 

 

11

116

196

 

 

12

83

0

 

 

13

134

258

 

 

14

117

195

 

 

15

92

0

 

 

16

109

56

 

 

17

127

278

 

 

18

118

0

 

Cloudy?

19

89

0

 

Cloudy?

20

127

142

 

 

21

120

237

 

 

22

42

0

 

Cloudy?

23

121

0

 

Cloudy?

24

137

288

 

 

25

117

203

 

 

26

119

153

 

 

27

69

0

 

 

28

142

250 = 4h10m

 

 

01 Mar 2005

117

180 = 3h

 

 

02

128

287

 

 

03

121

189

 

 

04

124

205

 

 

05

125

254

 

 

06

133

310 = 5h10m

 

 

07

134

314

 

 

08

41

0

 

Cloudy?

09

146

0

 

Cloudy?

10

121

160

 

 

11

131

315

 

 

12

126

275

 

 

13

125

149

 

 

14

39

0

 

V cold

15

117

0

 

V cold

16

132

89

 

 

17

114

213

 

 

18

116

197

 

 

19

121

256

 

 

20

52

0

 

 

21

143

64

 

 

22

125

283

 

 

23

89

0

 

Cloudy?

24

137

0

 

Cloudy?

25

96

0

 

Cloudy?

26

106

0

 

Cloudy?

27

132

333 = 5h33m

 

 

28

121

243

 

 

29

110

0

 

 

30

99

0

 

Snow

31

6

0

 

 

01 Apr 2005

192

105

 

 

02

118

267

 

 

03

120

300 = 5h

 

 

04

117

273

 

 

05

119

224

 

 

06

129

332 = 5h32m

 

 

07

143

301

34.8 kAh sum

Site visit

08

128

0

 

 

09

140

120

 

 

10

79

0

 

Tdawn=15F

11

185

138

 

 

12

177

249

 

 

13

200

239

 

Tdawn=19F

14

213

214

 

 

15

185

0

 

Tdawn=24F

16

229

0

 

 

17

244

0

 

 

18

236

0

 

 

19

200

0

 

 

20

224

58

 

Tdawn=20F

21

230

0

 

 

22

236

86

 

 

23

210

52

 

 

24

81

0

 

 

25

51

0

 

Tdawn=22F

26

140

0

 

 

27

135

0

 

 

28

136

0

 

 

29

124

0

 

Tdawn=16F

30

113

134

 

Tdawn=12F

May 2005

Max 116Ah

Min 13Ah, 0 flt

Max 368 mins flt

5/31/05, 41.7kAh

Dawn temp: 5/1, 16

5/10, 26F; 5/20, 37F; 5/30, 32F

 

2004
June 2004: Replaced C40 charge controllers with new Outback unit

Date

Accum [amp-hr]

Float time [mins]

Sum [kiloAmp-hrs]

Notes

28 June 2004

123

 

 

 

29

132

 

 

 

30 June

84

 

 

 

01 July 2004

0

 

 

Snow cover!

02

177

 

 

 

03

239

 

 

 

04

247

 

 

 

05

181

 

 

 

06

203

 

 

 

07

267

306 mins

 

 

08

273

 

 

 

09

182

 

 

 

10

171

 

 

 

11

182

 

 

 

12

212

 

 

New batt arr.

13

233

 

 

 

14

115

 

 

 

15

76

 

 

 

16

80

 

 

 

17-31 July ‘04

 No data saved

 

 

 


August 2003: Replaced 1/3 of A-frame roof panels due to electrical damage.

Date

Accum [amp-hr]

Float time [mins]

Sum [kiloAmp-hrs]

Notes

01 Aug 2004

96 Ah

66 mins

 

 

02

99

0

 

 

03

148

226

 

 

04

187

0

 

 

05

146

0

 

 

06

202

51

 

 

07

123

0

 

 

08

126

241

 

 

09

133

360

 

 

10

209

79

 

 

11

208

0

 

 

12

148

0

 

 

13

221

0

 

 

14

141

130

 

 

15

137

219

 

 

16

130

0

 

 

17

111

0

 

 

18

50

0

 

 

19

32

0

 

Snow?

20

95

0

 

 

21

152

0

 

 

22

100

0

 

 

23

136

197

 

 

24

119

0

 

 

25

182

0

3.1 kAh

Since 8/2

26

170

0

 

 

27

67

0

 

 

28

143

310

 

 

29

125

295

 

 

30

105

0

 

 

31

110

0

 

 


Sept 2004

Date

Accum [amp-hr]

Float time [mins]

Sum [kiloAmp-hrs]

Notes

01 Sept 2004

121 Ah

134 mins

 

 

02

136

0

 

 

03

153

0

 

 

04

36

0

 

 

05

108

0

 

 

06

150

317

11.3 kAh

 

07

251

0

 

 

08

125

0

 

 

09

125

0

 

 

10

114

111

 

 

11

138

267

 

Tmin=+15F

12

122

0

 

 

13

128

159

 

 

14

124

145

 

 

15

152

300

 

 

16

139

257

12.7 kAh

 

17

145

172

 

H20 topped

18

161

140

 

 

19

24

0

 

Snow

20

186

0

 

 

21

13

0

 

 

22

69

0

 

 

23

179

0

 

 

24

148

0

 

 

25

134

26

 

 

26

138

0

 

 

27

99

0

 

 

28

121

0

 

 

29

79

0

 

 

30

104

0

 

 


Oct 2004

Date

Accum [amp-hr]

Float time [mins]

Sum [kiloAmp-hrs]

Notes

01 Oct 2004

2

0

 

Snow

02-14

No data saved

 

 

 

15

133 Ah

79 mins

 

 

16

156

241

 

 

17

138

87

 

 

18

77

0

 

 

19

75

0

 

 

20

186

0

 

 

21

148

0

 

 

22

40

0

 

 

23

200

160

 

 

24

24

0

 

 

25

113

0

 

 

26

162

0

 

 

27

36

0

 

 

28

87

0

 

 

29

85

0

 

 

30

211

190

 

 

31 Oct

95 Ah

0 mins

 

 

01 Nov 2004

4 Ah

0 mins

 

 

02

225

80

 

 

03

148

270

 

 

04

143

262

 

 

05

141

96

 

 

06

148

227

 

 

07

152

234

 

 

08

139

64

 

 

09

52

0

 

 

10

10

0

 

 

11

32

0

 

 

12

23

0

 

 

13

13

0

 

 

14

155

0

19.5 kAh

site-visit

15

 

 

 

 


New solar pv array undergoing winter testing

In Sept.1999, we added 1200 watts of experimental solar array panels to the south face of the observatory. The new panels are provided by Siemens Corp, and made of a CIS composite quite different from silicate arrays. Watch this space for developments.


Microwave Data Link Established

June 1998
With the help fo FreeWave Inc. wireless data transceivers, Mt.Evans observatory is now linked to the outside world at speeds to 115 kbps via 910MHz spread- spectrum technology pioneered locally by FreeWave (www.freewave.com). Watch this website for live images and remote operations to follow as soon as these can be organized. This is vital as Mt.Evans has no electrical or phone lines.

In related developments, Merlin Controls is completing automation of the Ash dome which will allow the telescope and dome to be controlled under one software package. See merlin.com. This is essential for eventual, remote operations.


Renewable Energy Trust provides PHOTOVOLTAIC GRANT!

October 1997

MT.EVANS OBSERVATORY GOES PHOTOVOLTAIC

Contact persons: Prof. Robert Stencel, DU 303-871-2238, rstencel@du.edu

Andy Sulkko, PSCo/RET 303-294-2554, asulkko@psco.com

Joseph Burdick, BTU, 303-274-4358

The University of Denver's new Meyer-Womble Observatory, located atop 14,268 ft Mt.Evans, now receives its continuous supply of electrical power directly from the Sun. Because the observatory is remote from any electrical power lines, generators have been the only power sources to date. Here is a sample of the data being collected with the array:

The installation of a continuous power source moves the new facility one step closer to the goal of remote operability. "The provision of a modest but steady source of power will enable us to begin overwinter monitoring of the observatory systems, and develop the communication pathways needed to ultimately bring telescope images to classrooms, Gates Planetarium and the internet" says DU astronomy professor Robert Stencel, observatory director.

The installation of the 1400 watt photovoltaic system is being provided with a $14,268 grant from the Renewable Energy Trust, matching money from the University, and contributions in-kind from the Public Service Company, the Colorado Office of Energy Conservation and the National Renewable Energy Lab. The Renewable Energy Trust has been involved in a number of photovoltaic and wind energy demonstration projects regionally, and promotes diversified energy sources needed for the coming century...

What's unique about this installation, other than its location, is that the solar panels are integrated into the roofing shingle material, so no exposed boxes will stand off above a normal looking roof. The PV-shingles are made by United Solar Systems of Troy, MI, and the project management is being provided by Joseph Burdick of Burdick Technologies Unlimited, Lakewood CO. The shingle installation is being done by D and D Roofing of Denver, and the electrical work by Ken Thames, Thames Electrical, Denver. The work will ideally be completed by late September, before autumn weather begins to hinder easy access to the peak.

For further information and updates, please see our webpages: www.du.edu/~rstencel www.psco.com


PROGRESS TOWARD FIRST LIGHT

FIRST LIGHT ACHIEVED 16 AUGUST 1997!
We succeeded in getting the new telescope operational this summer, after the success of building construction last summer which ended with an early snowy autumn. Among the tasks completed include:
Hoist system, install;
Hatchway doors, install;
Air Handling Unit checkout;
Telescope cooling system;
Telescope thermal monitoring system;
Telescope control system; Oxygen system setup;
Telescope back plates;
Mirror cells - prep, assembly cart and assembly;
Secondary mirror systems;
Telescope tube interior paint and baffles;
Telescope tube counterweights;
Telescope tube fan units;
Yoke system & limit hardware;
Telescope drive systems;
Optical alignment and tests leading to first light.
As you can tell, we had a busy summer to get the system up and working. Stay tuned for announcements.


FIRST LIGHT ACHIEVED 16 AUGUST 1997!


back