Solar Power Shed Project

DANOCHEESE · Sep 12, 2006

Back to the power company estimate!!! 100K for less than a mile? It would be interesting to see if they would sell you power at the primamry voltage. They could PT/CT the line for metering. Then get an estimate from a company to bury the primary for you. I have buried .500mcf up the side of a mountain north of you. The last time i bought any MCf the price was around $2 a foot. You would own your own pot ( Transformer). I know PGE will sell you primary voltage. At least they sold it to our company. We built our own two mile line for half the cost of PGE. Aeriel and Underground. Aeriel less maintenance.

The drawback would be if the cable failed you would need to find someone to repair it. Spare pot sitting in the shed no big deal.

Solar is great, unfortunatly with everything there are cost to maintain and replace failing components. Batteries have a lifespan.

Did you consider a fuel cell? These are very interesting. You do need hydrogen delivered so there are costs associated. They are great for sites that need uninterupitable power.

I may move back to Cali and start myself a bussiness. DANO electric distribution. $19 a foot plus rock clause!!!!!!

schmism · Sep 12, 2006

nice thought on the fuel cell...

i just got the bid to run 400' of primary (12KV) through 2" conduit (that i place) to a padmount transformer set off the corner of my building. $2K everything but the conduit is done by AmerenIP

we felt this was the best way as its virutally impossible to get 400+ amps (i was wanting 600amps) at 120v. run from the existing pole out at the street.

one kicker... if i want more than a 400amp meter base then i have to go to a CT meter (current transformer) which is MUCH more complicated (401-800 amp single phase). Ameren faxed me the specs on both types, but i didnt get a cost comparison yet.

3RRL · Sep 12, 2006

Dano,
When did you move out of Cal and where did you live? Near my place in 3R?

john_bud · Sep 17, 2006

Hey 3RRL!

I had a thought on your "power company". It sounds like you have neighbors close by. Do they need power? You can sell it too them, you have the tractor to run the trench. Then you would be a solid for real no doubt about it company. In fact, at the rates charged for running line, you could turn a profit!

Also, did you look into windmills? When it is cloudy, it's often windy (at least around here). Just wondering...

jb

3RRL · Sep 18, 2006

John,
I thought about it but I don't think my little solar project will make enough power to sell to my neighbor?

But that's a great idea though. Thanks.

The solar guy charged the batteries with his generator and installed the meter. He has the well hooked up now so the pump starts automatically. No more driving up to the home site to start the generator. There will be 2 meters that show usage, just like if I was on grid. One to power the barn/shop and the other for the house. Except the power being used is what is being made on our own system. I thought that was pretty neat to see the dial spinning. We hope to get the trackers next week and then install them into the ground. Then to mount the solar panels.

Here's a picture of the 2 meters on the shed wall.

This is a close-up of the one running.

john_bud · Sep 18, 2006

3RRL said:
John,
I thought about it but I don't think my little solar project will make enough power to sell to my neighbor? But that's a great idea though. Thanks.

You know, you don't have to sell a lot. Maybe run it by your accountant...
The tax savings could be nice.
jb

3RRL · Sep 21, 2006

Great news today.
The county has finally completed plan check on the house. That means we can start building right away and I can bore you guys with THAT project. In the mean time, the Solar project is waiting for the trackers to arrive and get installed. It is nearly complete. It has gotten final inspection approval already. The General contractor will use the solar energy for all his electrical equipment, so timing is perfect.

3RRL · Oct 16, 2006

Update on my solar project.
Guess what, the Watson trackers finally arrived! of course I didn't take any pictures yet, they were still in the box. The contractor will start assembling them next week.

We did get the steel posts into those holes finally. I had to grade a better road and ramp for the concrete truck to get to the meadow where the tracker poles are. It was pretty steep but he managed to get in and out OK. After pouring the concrete, Loretta and I had a chance to have some fun.

Here is Loretta and Coco trying to square up one of the posts. There will be 2 trackers when completed.

Then I had to pitch in the fun too. It was a great break from all the work we did this weekend.

3RRL · Oct 16, 2006

Here are a couple more photos of us having fun. You can tell we had nothing else to do (finally)

after completing a bunch of other work on the property. You can also see the slope to the meadow in this picture.

I'm still trying to hold up this post. Man, it takes a long time harden up, I'm getting tired! Now I've got to push it the other way a little.

This is one of them ready to mount the tracker system on. We'll have to paint them first though. Each post is Ø8" and each hole took nearly 3 yards of concrete! The holes ended up about 4' x 4' x 5' deep. Then we poured a "top" on that so it sticks above the ground. Then I can weed-eat around it when the grass comes up. Once the conduit and wires are in place I can level and clean up the area with my Kama.