Diy Placer Projects

[HardPack]

DIY Rocker Box

 

DIY High Banker Recirculating setup

[HardPack]

Testing a recirculating setup with the above Gold Hog mini highbanker (30 pounds) using only one 12vdc bilge pump and one of the shallow tubs. The smaller tub holds approx. 16 gallons of water. The pump is a Johnson SPX 2200 with 2080 GPH ($94/5 lbs) at 13.6 volts. At 12v the actual flow is closer to 1800 & 1900 GPH. The pump at 12vdc has an average draw of 75 watts and 6.2 amps. A small solar generator such as a Bluetti EB3A (268 w/h x 85 %)($210) could possibility operate the pump for approximately 3 hours. The solar generator has a 12v/10a outlet plus a built in solar charge controller at a weight of 10 pounds. Equipped with a Bluetti 120 watt solar panel ($249; 12.6 lbs) at a 6.1 amps charge rate should increase operation time to around 6 hours. Drilled the hopper support legs to allow the hopper to set at 1 degree for a clay prewash as needed. Jackery and Ecoflow both have similar size solar generators/ panels. The GH highbanker has Grizzly bars which reduces or eliminates bucket classifying. Normally stockpile a couple of cubic yards of material prior to running. 

[HardPack]

I have an older Jackery Explorer 1500 with a Lithium Ion battery, with 1488 watt hours, good for fridge backup but at 32 pounds is too heavy for light weight highbanking. Later today plan to run a longer pump test with the Jackery 1500 to verify wattage use.
Looking at the Bluetti EB55 ($350/16.5lbs) with the longer lasting LFP battery, with 537 watt hours and a DC discharge efficiency of 89% (537 w/h x .89 =478w/h). A 75 watt water pump at 478w/h is approx. 6 hours of runtime without any solar panels. The EB55 can handle up to 200 watts solar panels.

[HardPack]

Ran a 6 hour test run with the Johnson SPX 2200 pump (rated 12v 7.5a) using the Jackery 1500. The Jackery’s 12vdc 10a outlet plug is actually regulated at 13vdc. The pump used 437 watt over the 6 hour test or an average of 72.83 watts per hour (73w/13v=5.6a). The pump lift was 26 inches. Water loss off the Grizzly bars was approximately 8 gallons per hour, setup up a rear capture bucket to direct the water to the tub. 

 

[HardPack]

This should work a person into the dirt

Flow into the hopper.

 

[HardPack]

Clay mud pounding zone with a small punch plate locked behind a 1/2 inch raised lip. Using an assortment of Gold Hog mats. Moved the rubber flap forward for the photo.

[HardPack]

Still exploring the LFP battery options. Already have a Bluetti SP120 watt solar panel plus two Jackery Solar Saga 100 watt solar panels. The Jackery Explorer 300 plus and Bluetti EB3A have to low a watt hour rating. The Jackery 500 has a shorter life cycle Li Ion battery, the Ecoflow River 2 Max has low DC efficiency rating plus a higher price. The Bluetti EB55 works except for the price point of $398. The only other option is to purchase a 12v 50 a/h LFP battery and a PWM solar charge controller ($50) for one of the solar panels. The Li Time LFP battery ($169) has a few good reviews. The Renogy and Battleborn 12v 50 a/h batteries are the price of the EB55 then some. Weather is moving back in, so no hurry.

[John-Edmonton]

That rocker is a nice looking piece of working art. I built one a few years ago, that fits on top of a bucker to keep some strain off your back. I like to use it occasionally. 

[HardPack]

Picked up a Bluetti EB3A power station ($200), figured runtime at 3 hour at 73 watts for the 12v/7.5 amp pump plus the Bluetti SP120 watt solar panel should provide at least 73 watts per hour.