I have the Power
In the years of research and development of our ranch, one of the issues that was most perplexing was how to provide power. Power at a reasonable cost that is. The electric lines are far removed from our retreat and although I can see them off in the distance, I did not cherish the tether they represented or the cost of bringing them in some 3/4 of a mile so that we could turn on a light bulb or watch TV.
I looked through catalogs. I dreamt of the ultimate off grid power system. I put systems down on paper with my trusty pen and priced everything. I went from wind, to Photovoltaic, to hydro and back again. I thought of a hybrid system or one that was just purely one style for simplicity.
Over the years, I have acquired some components and I thought I would put them all together in one.
Seems those days are finally coming to an end. With the sale of the house here in Cascade, I ahve the money to put the system together. While it still took a lot more time and planning to get the system I wanted, I have finished my list. I have, in my online shopping cart right now, the main ingredients for my system. Is it the dream system I wanted? Well, in a word no. You see prices have never come down as promised over the years and, in fact, have risen the past year. Will it work? I think so. I tried to build a system that had it's weak points in areas that could be "fixed" later.
First, let's talk about the panels. There are three types. Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline and Amorphous. You can do a google to find out the differences. Here is what matters. Mono = expensive. Poly = less expensive and efficient ad Amorphous = less expensive and less efficient.
The Poly is bar far the most popular, by far, in the U.S. There is a lot of Amorphous in Africa and Australia. My contacts to companies about Amorphous here were poor. They all wanted to know why I would want to use a less efficient panel and many would not carry them. I am pretty sure it is because there is no money in selling them. But, it is a valid question. Here is why.
They work in partial shade and on cloudy days. Poly and Mono shut down and you get ZERO power if only partially shaded. In the heat of the summer, the Poly and Mono have a reduced output due to the heat. No one could offer a solution to those problems adn I live in the Northwest where cloudy winter days are common and hundred degree heat in summer happens all the time. They would just tell me about the 5 to 10% decrease in performance over 10 years. Ok, so in ten years I add more. I have the room on 120 acres and the lousy warranty, which has matched that of the Poly panels in recent years.
So, I chose the Kaneka K60 panels. They are sold for grid tie systems due to the high voltage (60 to 90). Well, That means smaller wire size to me also and since I have to run 250 feet of it, that will save a ton.
I will connect them to an Outback MX60. I spent the money. This is at least twice the Xantrax, which is a fine unit in it's own right. The outback is totally digital, MPPT and I can set the voltage coming in from like 10 to 140 volts. The MX60 does not care. Likewise, I can set my batteries at 12, 24, 48 volts. Whatever. The MX60 can handle that too. I even bought the sensor that tells the MX60 the temp near the batteries.
For the Inverter, I stayed Puritan. I am getting the Outback FX2524T. It is tried and true. The Vfx is better, but a couple hundred more. I don't think I need venting and I think I can live with 2500 watts. Our highest power item is probably the vacuum, which uses like 12 amps. So, I have like 8 to spare still. It will charge back to the batteries at 55 amps while I am running the Generator.
I bought a 5kw Diesel Gennie last summer. It was a 5 thousand dollar unit, new, from a friend for 1800. The batteries I am still working on. I think it will be a weak link also, but then the batteries are anyway. I will likely purchase the 2200's I got before. 8 of them. That will give me about 9600 watts, or 2.5 kw usable per day, as long as I can recharge them Our goal was 2.5 kw per day, so I think that works. The panels are 60 watt times 12 is 720 watts. 4 hours of sun will give me enough to recharge the batteries daily, with the gennie for when it does not happen.
The best news I have is that I am able to buy all this at one place. I had picked out several companies to get the best deal on shipping. They ranged from free to outrages, free being expensive, so not really. I had settled on two companies. Suddenly, I found out that one of the 2 had the panels I wanted, not in the panels section, but in the specials area. I saved a couple hundred on the, and a couple hundred more on shipping. The company is called Northern Arizona Wind and Sun. I have bought from them once before and they seem to be quick on shipping. I will let you know if they are not this time.
So, my system is costing me just about 8,000 dollars for a 2.5 kwh totally solar power system. a full 2,000 dollars less than the budget was for it. The house sold for less than I wanted and the driveway (I don't call it a road, a road would imply anyone could use it) needs fixed.
posted by Ozmer Land & Livestock LLC at 9:21 AM
2 Comments:
MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY – THE ENERGY EVOLUTION –R9
In order to insure energy and economic independence as well as better economic growth without being blackmailed by foreign countries, our country, the United States of America’s Utilization of Energy sources must change.
"Energy drives our entire economy." We must protect it. "Let's face it, without energy the whole economy and economic society we have set up would come to a halt. So you want to have control over such an important resource that you need for your society and your economy." The American way of life is not negotiable.
Our continued dependence on fossil fuels could and will lead to catastrophic consequences.
The federal, state and local government should implement a mandatory renewable energy installation program for residential and commercial property on new construction and remodeling projects with the use of energy efficient material, mechanical systems, appliances, lighting, etc. The source of energy must by renewable energy such as Solar-Photovoltaic, Geothermal, Wind, Biofuels, etc. including utilizing water from lakes, rivers and oceans to circulate in cooling towers to produce air conditioning and the utilization of proper landscaping to reduce energy consumption.
The implementation of mandatory renewable energy could be done on a gradual scale over the next 10 years. At the end of the 10 year period all construction and energy use in the structures throughout the United States must be 100% powered by renewable energy. (This can be done by amending building code)
In addition, the governments must impose laws, rules and regulations whereby the utility companies must comply with a fair “NET METERING” (the buying of excess generation from the consumer), including the promotion of research and production of “renewable energy technology” with various long term incentives and grants. The various foundations in existence should be used to contribute to this cause.
A mandatory time table should also be established for the automobile industry to gradually produce an automobile powered by renewable energy. The American automobile industry is surely capable of accomplishing this task.
This is a way to expedite our energy independence and economic growth. (This will also create a substantial amount of new jobs). It will take maximum effort and a relentless pursuit of the private, commercial and industrial government sectors commitment to renewable energy – energy generation (wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, energy storage (fuel cells, advance batteries), energy infrastructure (management, transmission) and energy efficiency (lighting, sensors, automation, conservation) in order to achieve our energy independence.
"To succeed, you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality."
Jay Draiman, Energy Consultant
Northridge, CA. 91325
1-16-2007
P.S. I have a very deep belief in America's capabilities. Within the next 10 years we can accomplish our energy independence, if we as a nation truly set our goals to accomplish this.
I happen to believe that we can do it. In another crisis--the one in 1942--President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this country would build 60,000 [50,000] military aircraft. By 1943, production in that program had reached 125,000 aircraft annually. They did it then. We can do it now.
The American people resilience and determination to retain the way of life is unconquerable and we as a nation will succeed in this endeavor of Energy Independence.
Solar energy is the source of all energy on the earth (excepting volcanic geothermal). Wind, wave and fossil fuels all get their energy from the sun. Fossil fuels are only a battery which will eventually run out. The sooner we can exploit all forms of Solar energy (cost effectively or not against dubiously cheap FFs) the better off we will all be. If the battery runs out first, the survivors will all be living like in the 18th century again.
Every new home built should come with a solar package. A 1.5 kW per bedroom is a good rule of thumb. The formula 1.5 X's 5 hrs per day X's 30 days will produce about 225 kWh per bedroom monthly. This peak production period will offset 17 to 24 cents per kWh with a potential of $160 per month or about $60,000 over the 30-year mortgage period for a three-bedroom home. It is economically feasible at the current energy price and the interest portion of the loan is deductible. Why not?
Title 24 has been mandated forcing developers to build energy efficient homes. Their bull-headedness put them in that position and now they see that Title 24 works with little added cost. Solar should also be mandated and if the developer designs a home that solar is impossible to do then they should pay an equivalent mitigation fee allowing others to put solar on in place of their negligence.
Installing renewable energy system on your home or business increases the value of the property and provides a marketing advantage.
Nations of the world should unite and join together in a cohesive effort to develop and implement MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY for the sake of humankind and future generations.
I have a problem with a government sticking it'sw head into everyone business. It is not the job of government to do this. We, as a people are responsible to fix the path we are going down. They are paid to protect us, not legislate us to death.
I would be more willing to agree with the poster if it were set up as a voluntary program, that included incentives to help offset the cost. The same money that would be spent trying to enforce these rules on a once free people, could instead pay for the incentives to learn new ways and embrace an alternative to oil.
There is such freedom in knowing when you flip on that light switch, that you harnessed the sun and you owe no man for that little pleasure. I think part of that would be lost in any kind of mandated system. Just like NAIS, some are turning what could have been a good thing into an attempt to rule, by iron fist thier own personal vision of the future. The Ceaser's of today need to get a life and let people live thier's
Offer incentives, make it more difficult as a contractor to not use energy efficiency, but it is still thier choice.
MountainMan.
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