solar night box?

NorCal tortoise guy

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2017
Messages
1,217
Location (City and/or State)
Northern California
Every time I build a new night box a big limiting factor always ends up being how far I can bring the power safely. So Ive been day dreaming about alternative heating options. I have thought about a self contained solar system and wondered how doable it might be. Any one have any experience that might help support or debunk this idea?

I was a plumber for several years so naturally the other alternative idea that has been coming to mind is hot water radiant heat. Fed by ether a long under ground hot water line or even a water heater feed from a propane bottle.

Both of these idea my be hair brained and probably much more expensive to start with but just thought i would see if anyone else has crazy ideas like me hahaha
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,265
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
In theory, either could work. I lived in an apartment in college that had hot water floor heating. A pump circulated water from the hot water heater through pipes in the floor and was controlled by a regular household wall mounted thermostat. Worked like a charm and was very efficient. I loved it. No noise, no air filters to replace all the time. Temperature was always just right, and it was cheap to operate.

Also, no reason a person couldn't set up a large solar array with a bunch of panels and have a shed of some sort with the inverter and a large battery back up array.

In practice, however, neither of these ideas are cheap or practical when compared to renting a trencher from Home Depot for a couple hours and running a GFI line to a weather protected receptacle. The mini oil heaters we use pull 700 watts while they are running. That would require a lot of batteries to last through a cold NorCal winter nigh, and what if it was overcast the next day?. The Kane mat/RHP combo pulls 160 watts, but run all night long on a cold night. It would costs thousands to make a solar system to accommodate one tortoise night box. Maybe in the long run it would be worth it?

Like wise, if you are going to dig a trench to run hot water lines out there, why not just run electricity and not bother with all the pumps, piping and making some sort of heat conducting floor in the tortoise house and have to worry about leaks in the systems and what not?
 

Maro2Bear

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
May 29, 2014
Messages
14,712
Location (City and/or State)
Glenn Dale, Maryland, USA

cjturtle

New Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2018
Messages
20
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
I like the idea. Has anyone ever watched those tiny house videos. They usually claim to live off of solar power and collected rain water sometimes. Not sure if the the solar is enough to last like atom said but very interested in the idea.
 

Tim Carlisle

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Nov 13, 2017
Messages
2,560
Location (City and/or State)
Cincinnati, OH
I'm still toying with the idea of putting up solar panels on mine. I already have the electric wiring in place, so solar would certainly be an afterthought for down the road.
 
Top