My Solar Panel Power Project
- Thread starter eepete
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Here's some info on solsr panels for those who don't believe they are viable:e
The good news on solar power
Myth #1: Solar power cannot contribute significantly to the nation's electrical needs. Solar panels can help meet electricity demand on any scale, from a single home to a large city. For example, the solar energy that shines down on a 100-by-100-mile area of Nevada could supply the U.S. with all of its electricity. If these solar panels were distributed to the 50 states, each state would need to devote an area of about 17 by 17 miles to solar panels. The U.S. could also get enough land by using rooftops and vacant land. In fact, putting solar panels on the estimated 5 million acres of abandoned industrial sites in U.S. cites could supply 90% of America's current electricity needs.
Myth #2: Manufacturing solar panels creates pollution and uses more energy than the panels can generate over their lifetimes. Most solar panels pay back the energy used to make them in about one year. And with the panels generally lasting 30 years, they producing free and clean electricity for 29 of those years.
Solar-panel manufacturing is regulated by safety and pollution control standards, and it does create unwanted byproducts. But for each kilowatt generated by solar power rather than fossil fuels, the Earth avoids 9 kg of sulfuric oxide, 16 kg of nitrous oxide, and between 600 and 2,300 kg of carbon dioxide each year.
Myth #3: Solar power is unreliable and generates substandard electricity. Solar panels are reliable because they have no moving parts and have been tested by public and private organizations. Many solar panels have been tested and listed by Underwriters Laboratories, just like electrical appliances. Warranties of 25 years are standard on most solar panels.
Solar panels connected to the utility grid generate the same power as that from power lines. Panels today are configured to meet the requirements of the National Electrical Code and the local utility and building codes. Once panels are installed according to these requirements, the owner receives electricity of the same quality as any other utility customer.
Rob
The good news on solar power
Myth #1: Solar power cannot contribute significantly to the nation's electrical needs. Solar panels can help meet electricity demand on any scale, from a single home to a large city. For example, the solar energy that shines down on a 100-by-100-mile area of Nevada could supply the U.S. with all of its electricity. If these solar panels were distributed to the 50 states, each state would need to devote an area of about 17 by 17 miles to solar panels. The U.S. could also get enough land by using rooftops and vacant land. In fact, putting solar panels on the estimated 5 million acres of abandoned industrial sites in U.S. cites could supply 90% of America's current electricity needs.
Myth #2: Manufacturing solar panels creates pollution and uses more energy than the panels can generate over their lifetimes. Most solar panels pay back the energy used to make them in about one year. And with the panels generally lasting 30 years, they producing free and clean electricity for 29 of those years.
Solar-panel manufacturing is regulated by safety and pollution control standards, and it does create unwanted byproducts. But for each kilowatt generated by solar power rather than fossil fuels, the Earth avoids 9 kg of sulfuric oxide, 16 kg of nitrous oxide, and between 600 and 2,300 kg of carbon dioxide each year.
Myth #3: Solar power is unreliable and generates substandard electricity. Solar panels are reliable because they have no moving parts and have been tested by public and private organizations. Many solar panels have been tested and listed by Underwriters Laboratories, just like electrical appliances. Warranties of 25 years are standard on most solar panels.
Solar panels connected to the utility grid generate the same power as that from power lines. Panels today are configured to meet the requirements of the National Electrical Code and the local utility and building codes. Once panels are installed according to these requirements, the owner receives electricity of the same quality as any other utility customer.
Rob
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
I'm researching solar panels for a well pump and want to buy quality, but don't have a clue on who makes good ones, and who makes junk. Is this something that you get what you pay for or is it that you are paying for the latest technology and if you buy last years technology, you can save a ton of money and get nearly the same thing? Are their extras in solar panels that most people don't need?
Eddie
Eddie
greasemonkeyok
Veteran Member
Ditto on Eddie Walkers question, expanded to include batteries and controllers if that was not already implied.
Eddie! How are you?
There's a southwest dealer who just sent me a promo on Schott panels.
Schott Poly 235, 235 watt solar panel
Made in the USA, 25 year power output guarantee, etc. Good panels, I use them here.
You can get older panels, usually what you get is lower power density. (Same size panel with less power) but the cost saving isn't much unless you find a dealer trying to get rid of older stock. Also the more panels you buy usually the less per watt cost.
If you're doing water pumping there are now setups you can buy that allow you to run right off the panels without battery backup so ask the dealer about this option.
Many good panels, Solar World, Sanyo, etc. -- Evergreen is China and so is Canadian Solar. Not bad but for the little extra money I use USA panels.
Rob
tommu56
Elite Member
check with backwoods solar
Backwoods Solar Electric Systems
The pump should not be a standard one with big inrush it will require larger inverter if it is standard pump
the Grundfus with drive in for low current inrush at start is what i have
tom
RPW
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2009
- Messages
- 1,105
-Eddie- for a well solution check out these people SOLAR WATER TECHNOLOGIES INC - Solar Water Pumping Systems. I believe it was them that quoted me a DIY system for a 140ft well for about $2k. Right now I'm using wind power (aka windmill) to pump water for my livestock but am looking at doing a solar pump for my domestic needs when we build on the new place.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Eddie,
The best thing is tell us what your head is and how much flow you need. Are you pumping into a holding tank above the ground that can gravity feed when you need it? Etc.
Rob
bradsigma786
New member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2012
- Messages
- 1
- Tractor
- mahindra 204
Hello, there!! I知 looking into buying a solar panel Maryland for my uncle he wants to experiment with it in his garage. I want a 100watt kit or separate purchase with all the necessary components for around $800-$1000. I have been looking at sun force products and was wondering if the O.T. had any suggestions.
solar panels maryland
solar panels maryland
MotorSeven
Elite Member
I have said this before, but could y'all imagine how different this country would be with at least one solar panel on every roof? Talk about creating jobs and making our grid self sustaining.....what a silly pipe dream eh?
sseelhoff
Veteran Member
I've been researching solar for the new house we plan to build. Seems like Solar and Wind work better on a small scale, i.e. individual houses, than large scale, i.e. large scale generation. I can certainly see the effectiveness of adding alternate energy generation to the new house-especially as utility costs escalate.I have said this before, but could y'all imagine how different this country would be with at least one solar panel on every roof? Talk about creating jobs and making our grid self sustaining.....what a silly pipe dream eh?
guardianii
New member
I have been looking to go off grid for 40 years now. The problem... the cost. Would you do this project again?
Redneck in training
Elite Member
This thread is three years old. Things changed since then. The hardware is cheaper now but to go off grid is still expensive to do. It makes sense only if the power grid connection is cost prohibitive.
Why would you want to go off grid? If you get net metering and take advantage of tax rebate (it might expire at the end of his year) the ROI is reasonably short. If you are able install it DIY then the ROI is only few years.
Gitche Gumee Kid
Bronze Member
Solar Renewable Energy Project July 2010 Slideshow by GitcheGumeeKid | Photobucket
There are 19 pics. Be sure they all show ( some times the slide show metric skips)
I know I'll never get a ROI in my life time but with the way the country's going I don't care. I'm grid tied with a Hybrid inverter.
GGK
There are 19 pics. Be sure they all show ( some times the slide show metric skips)
I know I'll never get a ROI in my life time but with the way the country's going I don't care. I'm grid tied with a Hybrid inverter.
GGK
dave1949
Super Star Member
Nice! Was the high pole mount to avoid shading, or getting closer to the sun?
Gitche Gumee Kid
Bronze Member
Nice! Was the high pole mount to avoid shading, or getting closer to the sun?
<========================================0====================================================>
dave ,I actually had two reasons. The main one was to overcome a shading problem and the other was to put up some political yard signs.
GGK
dave1949
Super Star Member
Political yard signs. :laughing:
The concrete bases are impressive. I don't think those are going to move.
The concrete bases are impressive. I don't think those are going to move.
