I had bad luck with solar panels the first time I tried them. One went bad, one connection came loose, one didn’t get pointed in the right direction. Basically, I gave up on them. But I’ve decided changing batteries is a hassle especially in the middle of deer season when the cold is zapping them. So I decided to try again.

There was one panel leftover from a few years ago, but I had lost the mounting hardware. I also didn’t want a lot of cable exposed for coons to swing on and squirrels to nibble, so I headed to Lowe’s for some parts. This creation is a 45 degree angle roofing bracket; a piece of old pressure-treated fence picket cut to length; some nuts, bolts, and washers; a couple of self-tapping metal screws, and some electrical tape. The wire goes through the board, up the back of the board, and right into the hole in the feeder box. I used electrical tape because the plug that came in the hole in the feeder box was a very hard plastic that wouldn’t go back in with the wires in place—it was too hard to give any to accommodate the wire.

It’s only been in place a week, so the Bubba-smithing hasn’t really been tested yet, but the installation feels solid.

I dont have any expirence with feeders,but it looks kind of vulnerable,to me.Looks like corn is collecting on the top edge of the board,and probably on the top of the solar panel itself.Seems a hog or coons attention would be right on that panel.Time will tell.

That exposed wire won't last after the first coon decides it needs reworking.

It's going to get knocked off...move it to the top of the hopper.

quote:

Looks like corn is collecting on the top edge of the board,

I don't think it is collecting, I think he actualy used individual pieces of corn as a shim.

Y'all maybe right. The bottom of the board is about 4 feet up but it's really close to that leg. And I have had a coon skinny up the pole. When the feeder runs, it does leave a lot of corn dust on the solar panel. So we'll see.

LWD

quote:

I don't think it is collecting, I think he actualy used individual pieces of corn as a shim.

That would take Bubba-smithing to a whole 'nother level.....

LWD

If this doesn't work out, get some flex conduit and mount your panel on the south side of your feeder and run the flex conduit down to the the motor. That ought to protect the wires. It wouldn't be very bubbaesque but it should work.

How can you bubba Smith widdout Ducktape?????

It's easy to "Bubba" without Duct Tape because duct tape is predated by bailing wire.

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Or blue tape?

quote:

Originally posted by 505 gibbs:

quote:

Looks like corn is collecting on the top edge of the board,

I don't think it is collecting, I think he actualy used individual pieces of corn as a shim.

Sweet!

Cut some sewer PVC about 2 feet long, drill a small hole in one end, tie a piece of nylon to the hole, slide a piece of pipe onto each leg and suspend 1/2way up the leg by the nylon tied to the top of the legs. The coons shouldn't get past the pipe, they can't hold onto the loose pipe. If you leave it like it is, they'll climb up the leg, jump on the panel, and spin out the corn.

The solar mount looks good.

Reloader

Ok, so the real Bubba Smith died today. Any tie in here?

Well, y'all were right. The coons got after it. It appears that they were hanging on it. The panel is now completely vertical; the bracket is bent straight down. (I took the picture with the box open and wires hanging out; the coons didn't do that.) But all the wiring is intact, and the voltmeter shows full output from the solar panel. Next time I will just attach it flat against the feeder motor box or on an angled bracket up on the barrel.

LWD

quote:

Originally posted by Reloader:
Cut some sewer PVC about 2 feet long, drill a small hole in one end, tie a piece of nylon to the hole, slide a piece of pipe onto each leg and suspend 1/2way up the leg by the nylon tied to the top of the legs. The coons shouldn't get past the pipe, they can't hold onto the loose pipe. If you leave it like it is, they'll climb up the leg, jump on the panel, and spin out the corn.

The solar mount looks good.

Reloader

I bought a place on a lease that came with a feeder so equipped, although he had chain in place of the nylon. 'Seemed to work great.

Leave it to our brothers to the east to know how best to handle racoons!

I have another feeder closer to home without this protection and during this drought the coons have gotten past 3 different types of wire (another Bubba-rig fail) under the spinner to empty it. Too hot and expensive to deal with it now. Nature is just gonna take its course with the deer.

Pray for rain.