Field Notes

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Twitchell Alfalfa: 2014-08-15 09:30:00 (DOY 227)
Author: Joe Verfaillie
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Summary: Converted solar power system to 24V and added converter for 12V equipment, autocam seems to be working.

Alfalfa
2014-08-15

I arrived about 9:30am. It was clear sunny and wild with little wind. I converted the solar system to 24V and installed a DC-DC converter to supply the things that need 12V.

I removed the third battery that had been installed outside the battery box. I replaced it with the two batteries that were removed with the soil co2 system from Sherman. These to batteries had been supplying the soil co2 system since Wednesday and were still above 24V. I rewired the batteries to be two pairs from 24V in parallel.

I opened the junction box on the west solar panel and rewired the panels to be in series. Without a load, they were giving 40V.

I fixed a screw terminal on the right wall inside the data logger box and labeled it 24V. I connected the LI7550 directly to the 24V terminal. The power for the soil
CO2 system is also connected to the 24V terminal with a 5A blade fuse in line. I added a power converter in the low left corner of the box to supply the old 12V terminal.

Everything seemed to be happy with the power.

I checked the camera. I seemed to have collected all images since last time. I set it up again after the power was restored.

The HMP60 fan had a broken wire that I fixed.

The soil CO2 system was running and I collected its data. CO2 4 and 5 looked like they were reading low to me. I could not find anything wrong in the wiring. Maybe take some spare probes next time to swap if needed.

1 photos found

TA_autocam_20140815_1015.jpg ( 2014-08-15 10:15:02 ) Full size: 1920x1440
Joe on site