Solar-Powered Ford 9N Runs On Battery Power

Solar-Powered Ford 9N Runs On Battery Power ENERGY Solar Jerry Clermont replaced the original gas engine in his Ford 9N with a 24-volt solar-charged system Solar panels on an overhead frame supply electric power that’s stored in the tractor’s four 6-volt batteries An inverter mounted ahead of the steering wheel converts the 24-volt power to 110-volts which supplies all the power needs for the lights in his shop and for shop tools and appliances “I use the inverter to power the lights in my shop all winter long ” says Clermont After removing the engine he built a metal frame to mount a 10 hp DC electric motor and the four 6-volt batteries He left the tractor’s 4-speed transmission in place “I start the tractor in 12 volts and flip a switch to go to 24 volts for full power ” Clermont made the conversion 8 years ago and says it was inexpensive and simple to do “My total cost was less than $2 000 The biggest expense was for the solar panel which cost about $1 600 The electric motor was salvaged from an electric forklift “I use the tractor on my small acreage to do everything from skidding logs to vineyard and orchard work The electric motor actually puts out more torque than the tractor’s original 23 hp gas engine It works very well with implements such as my 3-pt mounted rotary mower and spring tooth 2-bottom harrow which I use to do gardening work I can still use the pto if I want “All the controls work the same except that with DC power there’s no need for a clutch ” Clermont says the batteries are constantly being recharged by the solar panel even on a cloudy day “I can work for about 2 hrs before the batteries will lose power I don’t have any gauges to show how much battery power is left so I just run the tractor until the batteries die When that happens I can go home for lunch and by the time I come back the batteries are fully charged again ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jerry Clermont 1950 Shannon Lake Road West Kelowna B C Canada V4T 1V5 ph 250 769-5285; jerryclermont@telus net

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