This site uses cookies to maintain login information on FarmallCub.Com. Click the X in the banner upper right corner to close this notice. For more information on our privacy policy, visit this link: Privacy Policy
NEW REGISTERED MEMBERS: Be sure to check your SPAM/JUNK folders for the activation email.
Solar-powered Cub
Forum rules
Notice: For sale and wanted posts are not allowed in this forum. Please use our free classifieds or one of our site sponsors for your tractor and parts needs.
Notice: For sale and wanted posts are not allowed in this forum. Please use our free classifieds or one of our site sponsors for your tractor and parts needs.
- Jeff M
- 10+ Years
- Posts: 955
- Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2003 6:00 am
- Zip Code: 04071
- Tractors Owned: Cubless, but living vicariously through others
'61 Ford 641
Kubota BX 2370 - Location: ME Raymond
Solar-powered Cub
I don't know how many of you browse YouTube, but I found this interesting video about a "1954 Farmall" (I don't think so!). Probably not for dial-up folks, I'm afraid....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R26RdfqG ... =1&t=t&f=b
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R26RdfqG ... =1&t=t&f=b
Care and feeding of family's Ford 641 ('61)
Kubota BX 1860
Kubota BX 1860
- Jeff Silvey
- Team Cub Mentor
- Posts: 4910
- Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2005 2:30 pm
- Zip Code: 46055
- Tractors Owned: -
1950 Demo,1956 w/ FH, 1959 w 59" mower,
Cub L-54 Blade,152 Plow
189 plow, LF 194 Plow, Woods 42" Mower,
Choremaster Garden tractors & Implements
Antique Gas engines - Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: IN, McCordsville
- Ron Luebke
- 10+ Years
- Posts: 3182
- Joined: Fri Jun 02, 2006 1:57 pm
- Zip Code: 30145
- eBay ID: 9716ron
- Location: Ga, Kingston
-
- Cub Pro
- Posts: 2575
- Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2003 5:25 am
- Zip Code: 37774
- Tractors Owned: 1948 McCormick-Deering Farmall Cub
152 Disc Plow & Flat Belt Pulley
Brinly #8 Moldboard Plow
1971 JD 112 Garden Tractor
1928 Economy Hit & Miss Engine
1927 David Bradley "Little Wonder" Feed Grinder
1 A.H. Patch Corn Shellers
1 A.H. Patch #1 Grist Mill - Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: TN, Loudon (near Knoxville)
Hey Jeff...THANKS MY FRIEND What a GREAT and it's no surprise that it comes from a Down East Mainiac Engineer either. It was GOOD to see WMTW Channel 8 again I haven't been up in your neck-o-the-woods for sometime!
"Save The Possums...Collect The Whole Set"
"Tennessee Sun-Dried Possum...Heaven In A Can"
"Tennessee Sun-Dried Possum...Heaven In A Can"
- PKS
- 10+ Years
- Posts: 275
- Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:18 am
- Location: Southern NH
-
- Team Cub Mentor
- Posts: 20369
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2004 9:52 pm
- Zip Code: 65051
- Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: Mo. Linn
That solar powered Cub was featured in an article in MotherEarth News. The article stated that Howe has $5000- in the conversion plus the cost of the tractor.
If you will notice the engine is still in the tractor and that you don't get a good look at tractor or its solar power set up.
I'm a skeptic. It this were a true solar powered, Cub then the clutch and or crankshaft would have to be removed or the tractor operated with the clutch depressed when operated with solar power. If the crankshaft and or clutch were removed, why leave on the exhaust and other unnecessary parts for solar operation.
There is a renewable energy center in New Bloomfield, Missouri sponsored by one of the religious based TV stations. They have a W series Allis Chalmers tractor that has been converted to solar power.
Eugene
If you will notice the engine is still in the tractor and that you don't get a good look at tractor or its solar power set up.
I'm a skeptic. It this were a true solar powered, Cub then the clutch and or crankshaft would have to be removed or the tractor operated with the clutch depressed when operated with solar power. If the crankshaft and or clutch were removed, why leave on the exhaust and other unnecessary parts for solar operation.
There is a renewable energy center in New Bloomfield, Missouri sponsored by one of the religious based TV stations. They have a W series Allis Chalmers tractor that has been converted to solar power.
Eugene
- John *.?-!.* cub owner
- Cub Pro
- Posts: 23701
- Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2003 2:09 pm
- Zip Code: 63664
- Tractors Owned: 47, 48, 49 cub plus Wagner loader & other attachments. 41 Farmall H.
- Location: Mo, Potosi
I assume he has the clutch blocked down, or removed, since I see an eletric motor and drive pulley on the rear running th pto shaft. Leaving the motor in would make sence in my area due to sun only being available to chrge batteries part of the time. We don't get neough sun to keep the batteries charged on Mom's gate opnener in the winter sometimes.
If you are not part of the solution,
you are part of the problem!!!
you are part of the problem!!!
- George Willer
- Cub Pro
- Posts: 7013
- Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2003 9:36 pm
- Zip Code: 43420
- Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: OHIO, Fremont
- Contact:
I'm a skeptic. It this were a true solar powered, Cub then the clutch and or crankshaft would have to be removed or the tractor operated with the clutch depressed when operated with solar power. If the crankshaft and or clutch were removed, why leave on the exhaust and other unnecessary parts for solar operation.
I'm happy he chose a Cub for his experiment, but I'm HUGELY skeptical. As we can easily see, the solar panels are charging batteries and the tractor is running on that battery power. Nothing new here. What's important and hasn't been mentioned is how much work can be done using the batteries and how many days will be required to recharge the batteries using those tiny solar panels. It shouldn't be necessary to carry the solar cells along with the tractor except for theatrical reasons. To be possibly practical the solar panels should be the entire barn roof.
George Willer
http://gwill.net
The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog. Ambrose Bierce
http://gwill.net
The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog. Ambrose Bierce
-
- Team Cub
- Posts: 17272
- Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2003 2:59 pm
- Zip Code: 55319
- Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: MN
-
- Team Cub Mentor
- Posts: 20369
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2004 9:52 pm
- Zip Code: 65051
- Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: Mo. Linn
The solar powered W series Allis from New Bloomfield, Missouri is strictly battery operated. The engine has been removed and there are no solar panels on the tractor. The TV station features a half hour energy program every weekday evening. Every once in a while, during a demonstration, you can see the battery powered tractor operate in the background. - Not part of the demonstration/presentation.
As far as battery/solar powered farm tractors in 50 years. Perhaps, but not with current day batteries. When I was a kid we farmed (machinery was running) 24 hours a day during spring tilling/planting and fall/winter harvest. 3 or 4 hours run time out of a set of batterys just wouldn't cut it in a farming operation.
Eugene
As far as battery/solar powered farm tractors in 50 years. Perhaps, but not with current day batteries. When I was a kid we farmed (machinery was running) 24 hours a day during spring tilling/planting and fall/winter harvest. 3 or 4 hours run time out of a set of batterys just wouldn't cut it in a farming operation.
Eugene
- Rudi
- Cub Pro
- Posts: 28706
- Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2003 8:37 pm
- Zip Code: E1A7J3
- Skype Name: R.H. "Rudi" Saueracker, SSM
- Tractors Owned: 1947 Cub "Granny"
1948 Cub "Ellie-Mae"
1968 Cub Lo-Boy
Dad's Putt-Putt
IH 129 CC
McCormick 100 Manure Spreader
McCormick 100-H Manure Spreader
Post Hole Digger
M-H #1 Potato Digger - Circle of Safety: Y
- Twitter ID: Rudi Saueracker, SSM
- Location: NB Dieppe, Canada
- Contact:
I really would like to see this guy come on the forum and explain to us in detail how he did this and what the actual costs where. Also, as George and others stated.. the real test is how much work can be done... I can see this as a lofty goal, but as Eugene said.. when current battery technology can only provide say 2 or 3 hours per charge -- you would have to have a minimum of 8 tractors to do the work of 1 gas powered tractor. I see no advantage at all..
And I am hugely skeptical as well.
When it comes to solar power.. one just has to look at the annual solar powered car cross country run from USC to MIT I think it is. Lofty goals, brilliant ideas, good engineering.. good fabrication -- just not Economical by any standards..
Only place solar panels are really useful is probably on the ISS..
But HAY.. What do I know
And I am hugely skeptical as well.
When it comes to solar power.. one just has to look at the annual solar powered car cross country run from USC to MIT I think it is. Lofty goals, brilliant ideas, good engineering.. good fabrication -- just not Economical by any standards..
Only place solar panels are really useful is probably on the ISS..
But HAY.. What do I know
Confusion breeds Discussion which breeds Knowledge which breeds Confidence which breeds Friendship
- Bigdog
- Team Cub Mentor
- Posts: 24144
- Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2003 12:50 pm
- Zip Code: 43113
- Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: OH, Circleville
- Contact:
Here's a link to another one courtesy of our old friend Lombard:
http://www.flyingbeet.com/electricg/
http://www.flyingbeet.com/electricg/
Bigdog
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.
My wife says I don't listen to her. - - - - - - - - Or something like that!
http://www.cubtug.com
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.
My wife says I don't listen to her. - - - - - - - - Or something like that!
http://www.cubtug.com
-
- 10+ Years
We did some calculations last time someone mentioned this device.
First, as Jim pointed out, there is no vehicle this side of the troposphere that can run off of real time solar electric. So, putting cells on any solar-powered vehicle is merely a way to say "look!! this vehicle is solar-powered!!!!"
Even if one covered the barn roof, the amount of work the tractor would be able to do, without removing the heavy engine and transmission to offset the weight of the batteries, would be somewhat limited.
I think, last time we discussed this, we figured that optimally, the tractor might be able to do 3 hours of work at a time, and then require about a good week of charging, with a fairly massive solar array.
Now, for some of us......that'd do the job......for me, when plowing snow, or plowing fields, however, it would be a useless figure.
If you want alternative fuel for a small tractor, build yourself a wood gassifier....they sound like a real pain in the butt, but the technology is proven, and sound.
First, as Jim pointed out, there is no vehicle this side of the troposphere that can run off of real time solar electric. So, putting cells on any solar-powered vehicle is merely a way to say "look!! this vehicle is solar-powered!!!!"
Even if one covered the barn roof, the amount of work the tractor would be able to do, without removing the heavy engine and transmission to offset the weight of the batteries, would be somewhat limited.
I think, last time we discussed this, we figured that optimally, the tractor might be able to do 3 hours of work at a time, and then require about a good week of charging, with a fairly massive solar array.
Now, for some of us......that'd do the job......for me, when plowing snow, or plowing fields, however, it would be a useless figure.
If you want alternative fuel for a small tractor, build yourself a wood gassifier....they sound like a real pain in the butt, but the technology is proven, and sound.
-
- Team Cub
- Posts: 17272
- Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2003 2:59 pm
- Zip Code: 55319
- Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: MN
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 34 guests