Just hooked up two 85 watt panels for the spec house. Now that I have the wiring all done (but still off-grid), I hooked it up to two deep cycle batteries and a 1250/2500 watt inverter and I'm in business. Should be able to generate around 0.75 KW-hour per day, which is enough to run a few compact florescents and my power tools for the day.
What happens on a cloudy day?
> What happens on a cloudy day?
They tell me of a place where my friends have gone.....
[flash width=640 height=390] http://www.youtube.com/v/bcO2atop2vI?version=3 [/flash]
> What happens on a cloudy day?
four options:
1) Cut the lumber by hand
2) Bring the batteries home and charge them from the grid.
3) Run a generator
4) Take the day off
What kind of deep cycle batteries did you use?
That system along with a small wind powered generator and a larger bank of batteries should enable you to stay off of the grid and there may even be some grants or tax deferments available to do it. That type of system using only wind power has been a success for years, it does require regular checks and battery maintenance though. If the Greens were smart that is the type of system they should be supporting instead of these huge expensive wind farms which many say are never going to replace the power it took to build, transport, erect, maintain plus the energy used in building the new power lines needed to distribute the power generated along with a very expensive management system to manage fluctuating power. Wind alone without a storage system requires us to maintain our present system as well as the new in order to have stable dependable power in our grid. The changes going on now demanded by those not looking at the whole picture should provide the incentive for a thinking person to get weaned away from the grid if they have the means.
jud
I am guessing that is not a pure sine wave inverter either is it?
big wind farms kill a lot of birds too.
if you live in a windy area the little wind generators you put on your roof look like a really good deal.
> What happens on a cloudy day?
More to the point, what happens on a really warm sunny day as your "support structure" melts? 🙂
> What kind of deep cycle batteries did you use?
I bought two 105 Amp-Hr Deep Cycle Batteries from Tractor Supply for $80 each.
> I am guessing that is not a pure sine wave inverter either is it?
Nope. A cheap modified Sine-wave inverter ($90 from Heartland America) Seems to run everything okay so far except charging those Cordless Drill batteries. It does make those GFI outlets buzz though.
Way to go Perry. We put in a 2.3 kW system on our house 4 years ago. It spins our meter backwards most of the time. PG&E owes us money every year now.
Do you have any pics of the setup?
We could be inspired like Arlo
Guthrie and start a revolution.
We could put the electric companies
out of business;)
What was your approximate startup cost?
Sorry no pics, I'll see what I can do but they are on the roof.
It was about 15k total.
Our next car will be electric and it will be free to run it.
Makes sense to encourage power generation by homeowners. Capital cost per kwh for photovoltaic is higher than for wind, it's one of the highest costs there is. Hopefully the technology and production will improve. Wind is about half that of photovoltaic.
Too Cool!
We have both here. And the wind
blows all night too!
How much total
Perry?
Prices are coming down though
PV panels were $3 per watt just a couple years ago. Now costs are as low as 97 cents per watts (Pallet Price).
Kris ...
Less than $ 700
2 deep cycle 105 amp-hr 12v marine batteries from Tractor Supply - $80 each
1250/2500 watt inverter - $ 90
2) 85 watt solar panels and charge controller - $ 420
plus assorted connectors and cables.
Not really cost effective if you have power already, but for a camp it would work great.
