Solar Pump Work, Mouse Purge, Sun Dial & Lots More Work Done!

Peter CB's Ranch Update: April 7-11

Went up Sunday as we had Solar contractor scheduled for Tuesday and chippers were scheduled to arrive either Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Chipper ended up arriving on Tuesday about an hour after the solar crew arrived. Got solar crew setup and then talked to chipper foreman and pointed out all the piles. Kept busy with many other repairs otherwise.

Installed 2x4 perimeter on cover for valve box near old vegetable garden to exclude mice.
Set 6 mouse traps in various locations around house. Two rodent souls will not return.
Vacuumed crawl space on 3rd floor all the way to chimney and removed large mouse nest. Burned mouse nest and cleaned shop vac 2 times. Mice are returning so traps need to be set up regularly when people are onsite.
Mowed old vegetable garden tiers, hillside, and house perimeter. Takes about1.5 hours. Removed brush piles to large brush piles outside gate for chippers.
Set newly refurbished (and mounted) sun dial next to Quince tree. Placement TBD.
Met with chipper team from South Lake County Fire Safe program. Showed foreman all piles and took him down lake road to review the area. He has agreed to chip lake road as his truck has 4-wheel drive...when road and area are dry. Good news.
Installed new union on sediment tank due to damage caused by fallen dead trees. Tank needs annual cleaning and major tree and brush removal to reduce fire hazard and improve access. The area is full of loose dirt and sediment, due to fires and runoff. The area needs regular cleanup and the sediment tank requires annual cleaning.
Removed toilet seat to take to plumbing supply and obtain correct type seat with new fasteners (old toilet seat and fastener system no longer available). Will install new toilet seat next trip. Replaced water supply valve for toilet that was leaking.
Cleaned upper bathroom sink faucet/nozzle, which was full of calcification build-up. Cleaning this make a big difference in flow.
Split oak pieces by dump truck.
Met crew from solar contractor Tuesday morning. Crew finished work at pump house on Wednesday at 3:00 and then worked until 5:30 at Upper Tank. All finished and working as originally planned. Very good news.
Lower tanks have new float system to turn off pump if water is too low (as planned). Upper tank has same float system with all exterior conduits.
Pump house has new wiring on roof and new solar panel angles to capture summer sun. New UPNE-TECH Solar Pump Controller SCB 15A 48V, with LCD display. This instrument regulates the power from panels. The controller will engage pump only when there is the appropriate amount of Amps from solar power. This is to protect the pump. Also, with the functioning float valves, the pump will only run when the upper tank is not full and the lower tanks are not empty.
The wiring that was laid with the new water line works! Also, the hour gauge is hooked up to the pump to record how many hours it runs.
We will post a log in Pump House with date, etc. (similar to the one used for gas pump, generator, etc.). This will allow us to calculate the number of gallons pumped and gallons consumed to help determine the appropriate watering program for the sprinkler system.
Plumbed a riser on overflow drain for lower tanks to keep it out of dirt/mud and unclogged.
Both jeeps need brake fluid replaced and green jeep needs new bell housing and emergency break installed (work for Allan).