Method of use of dual bed cathodic protection system with automatic controls

A method for cathodic protection of a metallic structure buried in the earth, the method comprising:

• providing both an impressed anode assembly and sacrificial anode assembly buried in the earth in proximity with said metallic structure;
• providing a solar power source for producing an output voltage that increases with increasing intensity of sunlight incident thereon and that decreases with decreasing intensity of sunlight incident thereon;
• sensing the output voltage of said solar power source to determine if said output voltage has decreased below or increased above a predetermined output voltage;
• actuating a first connector, powered solely by said solar power source, to connect said metallic structure to said sacrificial anode assembly if said output voltage has decreased below said predetermined output voltage and to disconnect said metallic structure from said sacrificial anode assembly if said output voltage has increased above said predetermined output voltage;
• and
• actuating a second connector, powered solely by said solar power source, to connect said solar power source to said metallic structure and to said impressed anode assembly if said output voltage has increased above said predetermined output voltage and to disconnect said solar power source from said metallic structure and said impressed anode assembly if said output voltage has decreased below said predetermined output voltage.