Solar Power for dummies...off grid hook up.

Ouch.
Where is it all going?
How many people?

That's not really bad at all. Thats about 1.25kw average, for a grid tied home, probably about normal

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Timberwolf

Oh trust me, as an Ontarian, I've been studying my electric bill since i've been receiving one. And i own a kill-a-watt.

2 months of usage = 1800Kwh.

Cost of electricity: $196.15
Delivery: $126.86
Regulatory charges: $12.25
Debit retirement charge: $0.00 (somehow qualified for an exemption this month, normally about $13)
Tax: $43.58

Total: $378.84

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https://s14-eu5.ixquick.com/cgi-bin/...e16b6378be2644

I....I don't know what to say.....for the love of all that is holy move somewhere where you can roll your own juice and escape that extortion racket!!! You're behind enemy lines, dammit!

Thanks to no term limit, and institutionalized (read big city and union) voting, we now have the distinction of having the single largest debt of ANY state in the free world.

$300,000,000,000 (yup BILLION) for a population of 13.6 million.

No signs of stopping, in fact all signs point to MOAR MOAR MOAR govt excess and spending and waste.

Oh, come on. Everybody's doing it. It's the cool thing to do. Like teenage drinking and driving. How can that be a bad thing?

Cap and trade (aka carbon tax) is the next big thing on it's way. Right on the heals of having just finished selling off the last of the country's gold reserves.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Timberwolf

Oh trust me, as an Ontarian, I've been studying my electric bill since i've been receiving one. And i own a kill-a-watt.

2 months of usage = 1800Kwh.

Cost of electricity: $196.15
Delivery: $126.86
Regulatory charges: $12.25
Debit retirement charge: $0.00 (somehow qualified for an exemption this month, normally about $13)
Tax: $43.58

Total: $378.84

---

Wow...delivery charge...is that pizza or fries?

I believe that is for lube.

Oh come on Timberwolf, I thought it was all roses out in Ontario land.
How come the folks out there keep voting them Lieberals in...
Sorry..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Timber

Wow...delivery charge...is that pizza or fries?

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Transmission (delivery) and connection fees are pretty much the norm in the States. Sad part is, even if you don't use any power at all, you still get hit with those charges every month.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Timberwolf

Cap and trade (aka carbon tax) is the next big thing on it's way. Right on the heals of having just finished selling off the last of the country's gold reserves.

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Sorry, but I have to laugh, well maybe snicker. Most of us, I'll bet, don't have a lot of money in gold. Far less in the younger generations. Mostly because over the last 35 years, all the jobs got trickled down to other countries. However, admittedly, those other countries are much better off.

In the event of an EOTW scenario, gold is worthless anyhow. You can't eat it. You can't warm yourself with it. Heck, unless it's 24 carat, it doesn't even make for good bullets.

Making one as self-sufficient as possible is where true investment needs to be placed.

If you feel you still need a commodity for trading, then things like cigarettes, ammunition, (and especially primers) and alcohol will be much more attractive to someone, than a heavy lump of metal.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rreidnauer

In the event of an EOTW scenario, gold is worthless anyhow. You can't eat it. You can't warm yourself with it. Heck, unless it's 24 carat, it doesn't even make for good bullets.

Making one as self-sufficient as possible is where true investment needs to be placed.

If you feel you still need a commodity for trading, then things like cigarettes, ammunition, (and especially primers) and alcohol will be much more attractive to someone, than a heavy lump of metal.

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They might find the ammo desirable, but I suggest not using it as a trade good. Ditto for anything else easily used against you.

Copper tubing might fetch a good price. Hand tools. Nails.

Better yet, set yourself up with a machine shop/blacksmiths shop.... they supply the metal.

Also....books.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by donjuedo

I can't find prices on their site. Any idea how many dollars per watt for panels alone?

The federal government charges an import duty to raise prices to benefit US makers, but prices are falling anyway. Current panel market ($/watt):

$1+ is common
$0.80 is a nice discount, not hard to get
$0.50 can be had with a little patience
$0.25 is what I got with plenty of patience last October.

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Today's email from SunElec.com brought another listing for Grade B panels (like I got), for 28 cents per watt. It is not advertised on their home page, though. If anyone is interested, I can provide more info.


Peter