American Farriers Journal
American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.
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Is Solar Power Worth Your Investment?
Consider the pros and cons before investing in an inverter for your rig
Farriers working where electricity isn’t available need to supply their own power if they want to use their power tools. Solar-powered rigs are an option that has gained popularity, but they might not be the right choice for every farrier.
John Halko of Talking Rock, Ga., an hour’s drive north of Atlanta, is one proponent of solar-powered rigs. A farrier for nearly 40 years, Halko has come to believe in the practicality and advantages of auxiliary solar power.
Halko first started using portable power in shoeing rigs by installing battery banks that were connected to a vehicle’s ignition system and recharged by the alternator. Such systems most often use deep-cycle marine batteries, which are designed to regularly expend most of their power and be recharged to full effectiveness.
Farrier Takeaways
- A solar-power system can be helpful for farriers who do not have ready access to electrical outlets.
- Don’t go the cheap route. Expensive, top-of-the-line systems will perform better and longer, Georgia farrier John Halko says.
- An anti-corrosion grease should be regularly applied to DC power
connections to protect against exposure to air, which leads to
corrosion. - Small generators are an option for farriers who need portable energy.
However, he says even marine battery-bank systems were usually depleted of power after just 2 or 3 weeks of operation because farriers did not drive enough miles during their workdays to enable the…
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American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.
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