Got my solar power off-grid system up and running (finally)

[phorvath]

I agree that a grid-tied solar system is cheaper in that batteries can be eliminated. You can also either sell the excess power back or have your bill reduced. But I've read that it is wise to ask your utility serving your area property where the nearest pole is and how much it will cost to bring a power line into your property.
Like everyone else, I've been pricing everything and found that it will cost me about $7000 more to go completely off-grid compared to using a grid-tied system (assuming no charge to bring a power line in or minimal cost if the pole is right at the road by the property). I could be wrong. Of course the prices will change when I begin to build. Also, I do worry about having to replace batteries so I would buy those with the longest warranty period.
Phil

[phorvath]

Hello Loghousenut!
You seem to be the wisest here and I always appreciate your good advice. I can't make the class this year but hope to attend in May 1916 if the class is available.
Amazing, my family is in support and say, "go for it." Hopefully after I take the class I can travel to someone's build site and help there for the experience because I will probably need help too. If anyone's interested, I just found a great book by Henry A. Mercer titled Ancient Carpenters' Tools. Amazon.com $17 - $20. Describes log building tools (axes, hatchets, draw knives etc.). This would help if you are looking for old tools at flea markets, antique stores, etc.
Have a good day!
Phil (hello NSA!)

[edkemper]

I agree that a grid-tied solar system is cheaper in that batteries can be eliminated. You can also either sell the excess power back or have your bill reduced. But I've read that it is wise to ask your utility serving your area property where the nearest pole is and how much it will cost to bring a power line into your property.

Phil,

I can only speak of CA regs on grid tied systems. First, there is a customer charge that isn't eliminated by your production. Second, you can only sell what you use. Meaning, since you are not a "real" power company, you can only sell to the system that which you use. Anything you produce over what you use, they say think you for your excess production. Until that one item changes, we won't have the public replacing the produced power of (for instance) coal and hydroelectric production by homeowners. So it's not really a money maker for us.

Personally, I am hoping to go with my own battery bank and not be tied to a system that I can't get a zero cost or profit from being part of.

Welcome to the fold my friend.

[donjuedo]

Hello Loghousenut!
You seem to be the wisest here and I always appreciate your good advice. I can't make the class this year but hope to attend in May 1916 if the class is available.
Amazing, my family is in support and say, "go for it." Hopefully after I take the class I can travel to someone's build site and help there for the experience because I will probably need help too. If anyone's interested, I just found a great book by Henry A. Mercer titled Ancient Carpenters' Tools. Amazon.com $17 - $20. Describes log building tools (axes, hatchets, draw knives etc.). This would help if you are looking for old tools at flea markets, antique stores, etc.
Have a good day!
Phil (hello NSA!)

May 1916? Got a time machine?

You're off to a good start, planning on solar. Prices on panels keep coming down.

[loghousenut]

Hello Loghousenut!
You seem to be the wisest here and I always appreciate your good advice. I can't make the class this year but hope to attend in May 1916 if the class is available.
Amazing, my family is in support and say, "go for it." Hopefully after I take the class I can travel to someone's build site and help there for the experience because I will probably need help too. If anyone's interested, I just found a great book by Henry A. Mercer titled Ancient Carpenters' Tools. Amazon.com $17 - $20. Describes log building tools (axes, hatchets, draw knives etc.). This would help if you are looking for old tools at flea markets, antique stores, etc.
Have a good day!
Phil (hello NSA!)

You're a very perceptive fellow, Phil... In May of 1916 I was just getting situated with some of this wisdom.

My advice to you is to wait a year or so and take the class. Sooner if you can swing it but I say no hurry. After class you'll be welcome here at the LHN spread but don't expect much work happening. I'm slow and meticulated.

[phorvath]

Thanks Ed!
I definitely prefer the off-grid route. Don't know if it is okay on here to mention a vendor I found. I'll take a chance and say it is okay. I've priced everything at www.bluepacificsolar.com. They have the watt requirement inventory tool. I probably underestimated but I figured that I will need a 2000 W system (unless I find a "full time night woman"). They sell the solar panels, inverter etc. in kit form. The batteries are under a different tab. This is the only site I've found so far so I don't have another for price comparison. This site also has grid-tied solar kits. I will probably have two sets of eight 9-volt batteries (in series) connected in parallel. Also a Generac generator.
I think what you guys are talking about above will be useful. I'll also keep in touch with my electrician friends here at work.
Thanks for the advice!
Phil

[phorvath]

Hi Don!
I couldn't make it to class this year due to my Federal Theft Return and other expenses. But next year for sure. Will be retiring at age 70 (am 67 now) so I have time to collect all the tools after the class and purchase the land. I hope this can be in Montana. I've looked at the Michigan Upper Peninsula as well as the Superior bordering county of Wisconsin. But I always come back to Montana and the mountains.
Your from Pittsburgh, PA! I grew up just outside of Philadelphia.
Can't wait to take the class.
Phil

[phorvath]

Okay Great!
I'll keep coming back here.
Phil

[donjuedo]

Thanks Ed!
I definitely prefer the off-grid route. Don't know if it is okay on here to mention a vendor I found. I'll take a chance and say it is okay. I've priced everything at www.bluepacificsolar.com. They have the watt requirement inventory tool. I probably underestimated but I figured that I will need a 2000 W system (unless I find a "full time night woman"). They sell the solar panels, inverter etc. in kit form. The batteries are under a different tab. This is the only site I've found so far so I don't have another for price comparison. This site also has grid-tied solar kits. I will probably have two sets of eight 9-volt batteries (in series) connected in parallel. Also a Generac generator.
I think what you guys are talking about above will be useful. I'll also keep in touch with my electrician friends here at work.
Thanks for the advice!
Phil

Phil,

In order to procrastinate this afternoon, I visited the web site you listed, and made a spreadsheet to compare batteries' system cost. The public link is here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing

My assumptions are based on my usage in this part of the country, and how long I'd go before starting a generator. I have no laundry in this apartment, and wash dishes by hand. Heating and cooling costs do not show in my numbers. Everyone's needs are different, of course, but I'm hoping this spreadsheet will help folks size their own system and shop for the best battery deal.

If you find typos, please let me know.


Peter

[StressMan79]

Thanks Ed!
I definitely prefer the off-grid route. Don't know if it is okay on here to mention a vendor I found. I'll take a chance and say it is okay. I've priced everything at www.bluepacificsolar.com. They have the watt requirement inventory tool. I probably underestimated but I figured that I will need a 2000 W system (unless I find a "full time night woman"). They sell the solar panels, inverter etc. in kit form. The batteries are under a different tab. This is the only site I've found so far so I don't have another for price comparison. This site also has grid-tied solar kits. I will probably have two sets of eight 9-volt batteries (in series) connected in parallel. Also a Generac generator.
I think what you guys are talking about above will be useful. I'll also keep in touch with my electrician friends here at work.
Thanks for the advice!
Phil

9? Volt

Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Forum Runner

[rreidnauer]

Your from Pittsburgh, PA! I grew up just outside of Philadelphia.
Can't wait to take the class.
Phil

Then I'm sure you know where I grew up, in Quakertown.

[BoFuller]

Hello Loghousenut!
You seem to be the wisest here and I always appreciate your good advice. I can't make the class this year but hope to attend in May 1916 if the class is available.
Amazing, my family is in support and say, "go for it." Hopefully after I take the class I can travel to someone's build site and help there for the experience because I will probably need help too. If anyone's interested, I just found a great book by Henry A. Mercer titled Ancient Carpenters' Tools. Amazon.com $17 - $20. Describes log building tools (axes, hatchets, draw knives etc.). This would help if you are looking for old tools at flea markets, antique stores, etc.
Have a good day!
Phil (hello NSA!)

LHN, Wisest? Boy have you been snookered.

[edkemper]

Hello Loghousenut! You seem to be the wisest here and I always appreciate your good advice. Phil (hello NSA!)

Is it possible you're from either Colorado or Washington?

[rreidnauer]

LHN, Wisest? Boy have you been snookered.

It was a typo. He meant wiseassed.

[loghousenut]

Phil (phorvath) just PM'd me with his apologies... He meant w i d e s t.

[phorvath]

Hello donjuedo!
Thanks very much for this information. The batteries that I have looked at are Rolls (my first choice) followed by Trojan. I calculated that I will need 16 nine volt batteries. Hopefully I can live off-grid 100% with a complete solar system. I don't plan on having a lot of appliances. This will be a complete change in lifestyle and I am looking forward to it.
Have a great day!
Phil

[donjuedo]

Hello donjuedo!
Thanks very much for this information. The batteries that I have looked at are Rolls (my first choice) followed by Trojan. I calculated that I will need 16 nine volt batteries. Hopefully I can live off-grid 100% with a complete solar system. I don't plan on having a lot of appliances. This will be a complete change in lifestyle and I am looking forward to it.
Have a great day!
Phil

I'm glad it was useful. But now I'm curious about your need. You said you need 9 volt batteries but all the batteries offered have even voltages, not odd. An inverter won't care, but a charger or BMS would.


Peter

[rawson]

Anyone checked into the latest Tesla whole home battery yet, pros or cons?

[donjuedo]

I did read a little. The 10 KWH model is not meant for daily discharge, but the 7 KWH model is. It just happens to be the energy I use in an average day, without heating or cooling. To be off-grid and last 3 days due to cloudy weather, I'd be OK with 7 units. That would cost just over 10 kilobucks. I will wait.

[marshall]

Did hear that Tesla isn't even making the batteries yet. Still in some sort of preliminary phase. At least that's what a solar company in Huntsville, AL told us when we inquired about solar.
I have been to several websites to price an off-grid solar system and have gotten wildly different estimates.
The only main appliances that will run will be fridge and separate freezer. The rest is lights(led), ceiling fans, and other small appliances. The well will be on a separate/dedicated solar system.

I was just curious about what was the "norm" with those who have off-grid solar? I know it varies wildly, but I'm trying to get an idea of what is reasonable and what sounds outlandish.

Everyone here sounds like they know way more than I do so I just thought I might get some friendly advice?

Thanks!

[Little Eagle]

I found this that said they would be deliveries this summer, may not be THIS summer but im not sure.

http://www.teslamotors.com/powerwall

[pietro]

Has anyone looked at lithium-ion batteries? I'm thinking of combining a few LiFePO4 ones and some supercapacitors.

[edkemper]

Awesome batteries. Had ten (12v) in the space of two normal wheelchair batteries in my powerchair. Crazy expensive short term. Drove further, by far faster because of the steady juice and lasted for years. Could run them down like your laptop battery and then get a full charge in no time. Not sure of practicality due to the expensive nature of those high tech batteries.

[donjuedo]

I have not, but would be interested in how they compare. Specifically, I like to measure cost, and not just for one battery. That's because batteries are different, so cost per battery comparisons still amount to comparing apples and oranges.

So I figure out kilowatts-hours (energy) one battery delivers from full charge to "empty" (proper discharge level, not run down to 0 volts).

I also assume the battery will need replacement at the end of the warranty period. That's far from perfect, I know, but two things are important about that assumption: battery manufacturers generally lie about the same (AFAIK), and batteries surely don't last forever. (NiFe would likely last past my "expiration date", life expectancy, but I still do that math).

My measure, then, is dollars/KWH/year. I wish all battery manufacturers would advertise their batteries with my measure, for easy comparison.


Peter