Solar power

[dmccarty]

take that $1200. and buy a gen set

$1,200! I only spent $600! :laughing::laughing::laughing:

To be fair, the $600 was the generator that attached to the DR engine.

Depending on usage a generator would be FAR cheaper. What the batteries buy is instant power with no effort. When the power goes out, the batteries takes over and one should not see a power disruption on the emergency circuits. With a genset you have to go set it up unless one has really spend some money. :laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[Lazy]

We have 4 130 watt pv panels, an outback charge controller fx-60 mppt, xantrex pro 3 kw Inverter, 8 6 volt wet cell batteries plus other panels and equipment, looking at buying 10 more 235 watt pv panels and another outback charge controller and more batteries (12 volt AGM type ) not sure yet how many. I might also purchase a 400 watt wind generator. We also have a 6 kW and a 4 kW gasoline generator. WE have an all Electric home 25 kW heating and a 5 ton A/C unit. We are also looking into solar heating (homemade collector) to assist with heating and maybe hot water. At this point all work will be done by me. We built a 30x50 garage last year and installed pex tubing in the flooring for heating.

 

[rmorey]

Lazy, regarding your upcoming purchase, keep in mind the outback charge controllers have a limit to how many watts of pv can be connected. 10 - 235 watt panels may exceed that limit. You may need 2 controllers.

 

[Paddy]

Dave,

How many solar panels do you have? Evacuated tubes or flat panel? We have radiant heat and have considered solar to heat water.

Patrick T

 

[Lazy]

Lazy, regarding your upcoming purchase, keep in mind the outback charge controllers have a limit to how many watts of pv can be connected. 10 - 235 watt panels may exceed that limit. You may need 2 controllers.

Yes we are aware of the limits, we will have 3-4 panels connected in series. for each controller. the controllers are rated at 150 volts 48 amps.

The reason I'm getting 10 is if you buy a pallet which is 10 panels with shipping the cost is $1.00 per watt.

 

[crazyal]

I think now is a good time to buy panels. I read where Bosch is pulling out of the market because of the glut of panels and the lack of profit. If that's the case then prices will only increase as more companies stop making panels.

 

[rmorey]

Yes we are aware of the limits, we will have 3-4 panels connected in series. for each controller. the controllers are rated at 150 volts 48 amps.

The reason I'm getting 10 is if you buy a pallet which is 10 panels with shipping the cost is $1.00 per watt.

I get that pallet prices are much better, have you seen the "string sizing tool" on the outback website? You enter the data on your panel model and it tells you how many can be connected in both parallel and series configuration. They had a problem with people hooking up too many panels to the controller and burning it out. This tool shows you the max panels allowed in any configuration. Its handy.

 

[buickanddeere]

Depending on your home's electric consumption, if the electrical rate is time of use? The amount of available sunlight and wind?
Probably a 3KW to 5KW ground mounted tracking/sun following solar panel system and a net meter inverter. A couple or three 1KW wind turbines form ebay.

 

[schweizer]

We live off the grid and I have lots of first hand experience with solar power:
2700 sq ft house
3000+ watts of solar panels
48 V DC battery bank
120/240 V AC in house w/ 240 V well pump and capability of 240 VAC appliances/shop as necessary.

The key to using solar power is to ***use less electricity***. Be more efficient. On average, our house uses 10-12 kwh/day. Don't try to add more and more panels to generate what your house uses -- size your system to how efficient you think you can be.

The tax credits/incentives are not as great as 5 years ago, but the price of solar panels has dropped like a rock. My system cost about $40k just 5 years ago (panels, labor, inverters, batteries, breaker panels, charge controller, etc.). With the federal and state tax credits, the net cost to me was about $20k.

Our whole off grid project is documented here:
http://www.docbryner.com/mossy_hollow
(lots of pictures and diagrams)

Marcus

 

[eray1066]

We are installing a 4.3KW grid tied system. With insulation improvements and a new combined hot water and heat system our electrical usage will be much lower than before. Part of our plan is to use excess electricity to heat water that will go to a heat exchanger coil in the bottom of the combined hot water and heating tank. This will either temper the incoming water or provide enough heat to keep the gas modulating burner from coming on. We will try to balance the amount of electric water heating to keep our electrical use close to our production. The 119 gallon water tank will store some KWs as BTU's that are available for either domestic hot water or heat. Excess electrical production feeds into the grid. If enough of us do this type of thing the air might get a tad cleaner.