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General Category >> Politics, Religion (Tall Table) >> Getting off the grid
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Message started by Paraquat on 08/19/13 at 09:20:58

Title: Getting off the grid
Post by Paraquat on 08/19/13 at 09:20:58

I posed this question on another forum but didn't get a definite answer.

The topic was about windmills and solar generation.

I'm not quite sure what happens next.
How do you turn the energy you've harnessed into useable electricity?

For instance: do you have a bank of yacht batteries in the basement that charge off a bunch of solar panels on the roof? Do you have one big inverter or an inverter wired to each outlet of your home? Doesn't the system ultimately run at a loss (the power necessary to keep the inverter running whether it draws or not)? Or at a loss because, well, the sun eventually sets.

The only viable solution I got off the other forum was to buy 12 volt accessories. Blenders, fridges, can openers etc that are designed for use in RV's, etc.
Propane powered coolers.

Personally, I am considering (since I have 4 extra good car batteries in my garage), hooking these up to my inverter in the basement (ventilated, of course) just to power my boiler. Should be very low draw but it's the device that kicks on and off the most.
I am thinking about one of those 45 watt solar tender blankets on the roof should keep the battery charged.

Baby steps... but I'm curious how it's done if anyone has an experience.

--Steve

Title: Re: Getting off the grid
Post by WD on 08/19/13 at 09:32:29

Storage batteries and an on demand inverter, plus low energy consumption appliances. Go to the "Hippy Times" website, 40+ years of solar write ups. Sometimes Hobby Farms has info as well.

Hippy Times...http://www.motherearthnews.com/

Hobby Farms...http://www.hobbyfarms.com/

Title: Re: Getting off the grid
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/19/13 at 09:36:51

Dude, if you need an electric can opener to survive, you aint gonna make it,..,

Title: Re: Getting off the grid
Post by WD on 08/19/13 at 09:48:07

It does make more sense to learn actual survival skills, but in the meantime, cutting your dependence on grocery stores, power companies, etc is a good start.

We're by no means "doing well", but we've been living on $1200/month for several months.

Our friend Doug lives on $600/month from a bike wreck in 2006 or so. Started getting the checks for the second half of his settlement in November 2012. That is the sum total of his income, he works off his rent, his utility bills are under $80/month.

Title: Re: Getting off the grid
Post by Pine on 08/19/13 at 11:11:40

Don't think of solar power as replacing all your needs, its one step towards reducing overall use of utility power. The solar array charges up the battery bank, this occurs throughout the day as the sun shines. Using new controllers, those things you have connected to the solar system can draw against the power being generated, as well from the battery bank. Once the sun stops, yes power creation stops, and all draw is from the battery bank. Your total usable power is a function of both how much you can create and how much you can store. Currently I am not a fan for solar to lead acid battery banks. The batteries are too costly and just do not last.

Other systems can be effective at reducing external power costs:
insulation of the home
use of high efficiency applicances
heat pump if appropriate
ground or water thermal pumps if appropriate

and this is cool: http://www.wimp.com/energyleaf/

Title: Re: Getting off the grid
Post by verslagen1 on 08/19/13 at 11:47:57

Taking baby steps myself.
I convinced a solar power company to install panels on my roof and I pay monthly to them... $70 for $200 of electricity.
And the grid is my battery for which I pay $1 a month for.
The solar panels provide DC to an inverter and the inverter provides AC to my fuse box. The inverter needs the grid power to regulate the frequency. And if the power goes out everything shuts down.

That's baby step #1.
step #2 is to get an inverter for emergency off grid use.
The power company will have a fit if I override the shutdown and supply electricity into the grid (and it'll probably overload the inverter in a grand flash of light too) so my intent is to tap into the panel with a separate inverter with an isolated plugs for running the essentials only from extension cords.

This will provide daylight only electricity, but I'm currently generating 15+ kwh a day. enough to keep a frig cold anyway.
step #3 would be to run down to autozone and picking up the batteries at the 1st sign of an emergency to provide the nighttime electricity.

Title: Re: Getting off the grid
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/19/13 at 20:44:13

I convinced a solar power company to install panels on my roof and I pay monthly to them... $70 for $200 of electricity.

Uhh, Hey, buddy,, you wuldn wanna splain summathat, woodjya?

Title: Re: Getting off the grid
Post by verslagen1 on 08/21/13 at 11:17:40

basically, I rent solar panels for $70 a month.
My electric bill is now a $1 and a 1 finger salute.

Title: Re: Getting off the grid
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/21/13 at 11:21:12

But you rent from whom? I wanna see if I can land such a deal.

Title: Re: Getting off the grid
Post by verslagen1 on 08/22/13 at 09:26:11

I don't know if you can get the same deal, California subsidizes solar installs...

http://www.truepowersolar.com/

mention my name so I get a little xmas present 8-)

Title: Re: Getting off the grid
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/22/13 at 09:49:25

Turn on your best Church Lady

Weeeeell, look what we have Heeere.

Texas: Money for nothin’, Power for free.
Posted on January 21, 2013 by Suzanne Scull

In Texas, utility solar incentives are generous! If you compare them to the cost per watt for a solar power grid-tied system, you’ll see that some incentives will literally pay for an entire system. Wholesale Solar’s Gridtied Solar Power Systems range from $1.30 to $2.40 per watt. While rebates and incentives in Texas range from $0.75 to $2.50 per watt, the Federal Tax Credit covers about 30% of the cost. Do the math!