Solar Power Shed Project

[3RRL]

going on what 2-3 weeks now...

updates?

Yeah, I know it's going slower and slower as we near completion. Sorry about that. I did make a little more progress but the solar guy has still not put the Watsun Trackers on the poles. He is letting the concrete foundations cure for 28 days. So what do I know? I'll just have to live with it.

He did get the power pulled to a spot near where the home will be. He didn't want to put it any closer in case it interferes with grading or something like that. So it's out of the way. He's left another 150' of wire to get it into the house from here. We are thinking about using the same trench to run pipes for the propane to the house, since the propane tank will be next to the shed.

The contractor can run his electric stuff from this box.



You can tell I'm jazzed because I can plug in my MR Coffee when I'm up there working.

 

[3RRL]

I also cleaned up the tracker meadow. You can see the posts and concrete "tops" that are expose. They are small in comparison to what is holding the posts in.



I also did more grading and clean up on the adjacent site where the well is.

 

[Doc_Bob]

Great project!
Bob

 

[3RRL]

This is where he pulled the power pole for the barn/shop. It will be between the solar power shed and the well.



These are 3 of the 16 Sharp 200 modules. These 3 are hooked up now and are keeping the batteries charged. Since there is no power draw at this time, they keep the batteries full. We are using the system now for charging our 2 way radios, coffee pot, etc. Little things like that.



Just this morning I got a call from Griggs, the propane company who will install the tank next week. Then we can get the generator on line too.

A funny thing happened when the solar guy called for final inspection. The inspectors who are not familiar with "off grid" kept telling him they would need to check the system after the power company hooked up to it. They repeatedly referred to that as he was trying to explain there will be NO power company. This IS the power company. So after it finally sunk in to them, since they had no previous experience with "off grid", they signed off. LOL ... They are now going to let the solar installer help them set up guidelines for final inspection so they have something to "inspect to".

 

[3RRL]

Doc,
I read your thread about your solar project so you know what I'm going through.
Thanks for looking.

 

[monkeymonk]

Your getting me excited!

I completed my shed,pole has been in for months,concrete is 4inches shy of ground level so it can be covered with flowers,grass.
conduit is in place from pole to shed,shed to tanks,shed to house
batteries are sitting pretty covered up.
all the outback goods and panels are vacationing in the outbuilding just waiting to go on line.

AND its raining non stop for days now. Just when I was making the Big push to the finish line!

Thank goodness for Honda! weve been using our 3000eis and propane lights for eions.

You got rain down there 3rrl? sure looks like you could use some vetch,grass,cover crop on that meadow befor the rains come. could ruin your whole day driving truck/tractor on that.

Which reminds me I need to fillin the conduit trenches before they turn to race ways.

Great photos!!

 

[Doc_Bob]

A funny thing happened when the solar guy called for final inspection. The inspectors who are not familiar with "off grid" kept telling him they would need to check the system after the power company hooked up to it.

Great story.
Bob

 

[Doc_Bob]

Doc,
I read your thread about your solar project so you know what I'm going through.
Thanks for looking.

I feel you pioneer spirit! You are blazing a trail we all most take when we can.
I am guessing you get some great solar where you live?
Bob

 

[3RRL]

Doc,
We are in a great solar area according to the map. Like in the maximum area.

monkeymonk,
I had the tops put on so I could weed-eat around them instead of what you did. My stuff is wildflowers and it grows pretty tall. I don't plan on having a lawn down where the posts are. It will be a natural meadow after it rains.

We do get rain (I hope soon) and that's when everything starts growing again. I'll stay off it before then. The Watsun trackers should be installed in a couple of weeks.

 

[EddieWalker]

Hey Rob,

In the picture of you standing next to your panel, is that conduit going up into the air? And are those weather shields on top for an ariel line?

I might have the wrong name for them, but it looks like your set up for connecting to an overhead powersource. I'm confused.

What is it that your standing next to?

Eddie

 

[flusher]

So this is where it gets tricky and I'm not sure I will proceed in this manner. But it IS LEGAL if I can prove it. And it would make an enormous difference in how much I can write off and get as a refund. The Solar Contractor is dealing with my "company" and my Accountant can set it up this way.

However, IMO, doing so will probably cause an audit of some sort down the line...maybe not?? But if it's "Set UP" properly, it might pass???
However, I don't think I'll do that just to avoid an audit, but the difference in refund would be huge!!! Enough to buy another tractor for sure and more. Think about it...what would YOU do?
I was thinking about getting Johnny Cochran as my attorney??

.

Too late for that. Johnny passed away 30 March 2005, his life's work completed.

But I'm sure you can find another attorney like him. I'd try Denny Crane. Never lost a case. Never will.

 

[3RRL]

I never did like Johnny much ... sorry about that.

Eddie,
That is a power pole with several receptacles for 220v and 110v. It's for the contractor to use when he starts building the house. Right now, it is just temporary. We are not sure exactly where the home will sit so he's got a bunch of extra line coming out of those weather shields.
Later, the power pole will be dismantled and the wires run through conduit, all underground to where the home is, just like the power would come to the home from a power company to your main electrical panel.

There are 2 sets of wires, that need to be trenched to the house later. One set that will run to the electrical panel mounted to the house (power) and another set that controls the Outback Solar Power System. Those will most likely go to a spot in the house where we can monitor the whole system from inside. Like from a bedroom, office, garage or wherever we choose. The power to the barn/shop will need to have the same thing done later too.
Where would be a good place to have the monitoring system installed?

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks Rob, I get it now. I never thought about a temporary power supply, or how your going to go about building your house. LOL Guess I just figured you'd have an outlet or two in the shed and run some long extension cords.

As for a good location to put your monitoring station, I'd put it in the kitchen. They are kind of the industrial area of a home anyway, so it could easily blend in on the wall someplace that's easy to see it.

Eddie

 

[schmism]

im confused....

why are your sun trackers..... sitting in the SHADE!

"Where would be a good place to have the monitoring system installed?"

id put a second one out in the machineshop. Id like to know how close im comming to having the generator come on if i was working on a project and at a point were i could just put it down and hold off till tomwarrow when i had some more battery juice for my End mill or whatever...

 

[patrick_g]

For those interested in this sort of thing, take a look at "Home Power" magazine which is dedicated to similar projects (plus wind and hydropower too.)

This project is a "poster child" for solar power where alternatives are so expensive it justifies a significant budget and long paybeck. I have subscribed to "Home Power" for many years and have yet to see a solar energy project for a residence with grid access that was driven by economics.

If you want to make a green statement or assuage your gilt at burninig fossil fuels in your SUV or have a topic of interest to discuss at the country club a solar project will fill the bill. If you have grid power avaiable you will never find a way to beat the cost with solar power using existing technology.

There are, of course, lots of good applications of solar power even if you have grid connectivity. I have solar panels on my motorhome and on my pickup camper. I have solar path lights in the landscaping. I will be using solar lighting at certain remote locations on my property. I may go solar power for the proposed electric security gate rather than bury 800 ft of power wire.

Some folks think for them it makes sense to spend several thousands of dollars to be able to see the electric meter spin backwards (when they turn off just about all loads in the house on a bright sunny day.) If that blows your skirt up, fine, just don't expect the economics to be there, they won't.

None of what might seem to be pesimism (but isn't) in this post is directed toward the solar shed project. I like the project and think they are doing a good job and in their particular situation making a good economic choice. I have had a recreatiional land leashold in Mexico for several years in a solar power only zone where all my neighbors were solar powered and we all signed papers stating we would never band together to petition for electrical utility access as a condition of our lease. I have considerable experience designing, building, and using solar electric installations but I don't let this interfere with reality.

Pat

 

[3RRL]

Thanks Eddie,
That's a good suggestion and somebody (Loretta hopefully ) would go there everyday. I've seen some fancy homes that now have an "Electrical Component Area" where all the CD's, video equipment, stereo, radio, burglar alarm etc is kept. All wired throughout the house to it. But it is like a separate room or area and we won't have that. I don't know what it is really called. Looks great but you need to design and have the space for it. Kitchen sounds good to me. We will have a small open study like area in the "great room" that might work too?
Thanks,

 

[3RRL]

im confused....

why are your sun trackers..... sitting in the SHADE!

"Where would be a good place to have the monitoring system installed?"

id put a second one out in the machineshop. Id like to know how close im comming to having the generator come on if i was working on a project and at a point were i could just put it down and hold off till tomwarrow when i had some more battery juice for my End mill or whatever...

Come on schmism, it's obviously to keep them cool of course.
Seriously, they will be up higher on the tracker poles, above the sahdows. I am aware to keep the trees topped in front of them though. Might even have to pull them out? This was the only spot relatively out of view from our home but still close to it.
You are right about the second monitoring system for the shop/barn and there will be one in there. I am not going to pretend I know anything about the system, but my solar guy told me the generator will come on "seamlessly" if demand is exceeded. Additionally, the monitoring system will also have the ability to turn the generator on with a switch to run off it.

 

[3RRL]

For those interested in this sort of thing, take a look at "Home Power" magazine which is dedicated to similar projects (plus wind and hydropower too.)

This project is a "poster child" for solar power where alternatives are so expensive it justifies a significant budget and long paybeck. I have subscribed to "Home Power" for many years and have yet to see a solar energy project for a residence with grid access that was driven by economics.

If you want to make a green statement or assuage your gilt at burninig fossil fuels in your SUV or have a topic of interest to discuss at the country club a solar project will fill the bill. If you have grid power avaiable you will never find a way to beat the cost with solar power using existing technology.

There are, of course, lots of good applications of solar power even if you have grid connectivity. I have solar panels on my motorhome and on my pickup camper. I have solar path lights in the landscaping. I will be using solar lighting at certain remote locations on my property. I may go solar power for the proposed electric security gate rather than bury 800 ft of power wire.

Some folks think for them it makes sense to spend several thousands of dollars to be able to see the electric meter spin backwards (when they turn off just about all loads in the house on a bright sunny day.) If that blows your skirt up, fine, just don't expect the economics to be there, they won't.

None of what might seem to be pesimism (but isn't) in this post is directed toward the solar shed project. I like the project and think they are doing a good job and in their particular situation making a good economic choice. I have had a recreatiional land leashold in Mexico for several years in a solar power only zone where all my neighbors were solar powered and we all signed papers stating we would never band together to petition for electrical utility access as a condition of our lease. I have considerable experience designing, building, and using solar electric installations but I don't let this interfere with reality.

Pat

Pat,
You are right about people who think they will see the meter spin backwards and sell energy back to the power company. In real life, I don't think that happens. Best you can hope for is to have a reduced electric bill and then hope the difference pays for the grid tied system over time. That is exactly what the solar contractor told me. Like you, I have several little solar applications around the campsite. they are pretty cool. I've solar path lights and solar lights spot lights that are motion activated. Also solar chargers for the tractor and ATV.

As far as economics, if you read the entire thread you noticed the cost of pulling power to our homesite was astronomical. Our initial intention was not to make a "green statement" but found "off grid" to be an alternative economical solution compared to what the power company wanted. We certainly feel good about being able make a "green statement" in that respect though. Our nearest neighbors are also "off grid" and been so for almost 8 years now.

Right now we are at least $100,000 ahead by doing this project. Rough calcs tells me the maintenance, upgrades and battery replacement every 10 years or so will be close what we would pay if we had a monthly electric bill. If I am anywhere close, that means we will always be that $100,000 ahead for the rest of our lives. The fact that we are helping with energy conservation is a big plus for us too. Additionally, there are some incentives we will take advantage of.

Thanks for all the good input and your interest.

 

[Doc_Bob]

For those interested in this sort of thing, take a look at "Home Power" magazine which is dedicated to similar projects (plus wind and hydropower too.)

I subscribe to Home Power. They now have the option of pdf version. My next subscription will be all pdf. It is a wonderful magazine. I do miss the section that used to have on Guerilla Solar. Any idea why it no longer is in the magazine?
Bob

 

[monkeymonk]

good one bob what ever did happen to the guerilla solar pages?

I'll have to ask my homies at HP, I did'nt even realize it till now. Maybe it has to do with solar being accepted nationaly?