Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Minuteman on November 18, 2009 at 9:47pm

Well I recently did alot of research on the off grid solar stuff. Here is the best system that I could find:

http://sunelec.com/index.php?main_page=2000_watt_off_grid_system

This puppy will truely make you toast in the morning on a cold winter day...but that's about 2000 dollars a slice.

Up here anything less than a 2000W system with reserve batteries (12 x 225Ah) is not worth doing on a large scale. This system, believe it or not, is an excellent deal. Up here in the northeast we count on a sun factor of 2.8 hours daily in the winter. With this specification, and keeping the panels clear of snow/ice, you are good for 700W round the clock production by my calculations. Less if it is stormy. Not the ultimate solution but certainly viable if alternative heating fuels are utilized.

Oh yeah, count on replaceing the batteries every 5 to 7 years at $120 a pop too..... Wind is a negative here the thing would just sit there most of the time. I've got an appointment with a solar survey company on Monday at the QTH. They are talking $16000 for an installed grid tied system with no backup. They can come but my checkbook is staying in the safe....

You can get a 30% tax credit for a professionally installed solar system right now. The IRS are making it a voucher as well in 2010 or 2011.... still pricey. Here's a system in my town. The guy is an engineer and combs through he output daily. He's generating around a 20% total savings at his home. At my home that would equate to around $25 a month. ROI is very long with solar. He is using the $16000 grid tied system...ouch!

http://stevetodd.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/12/index.html

So I'm with you Jonesey, I'll stick to the battery charging for power packs and such for now. The Marine battery and a 45W system for the home just for comms and the new generator for bullwork on feeding the home. I'm looking into ARES and the solar comms will be a plus there to participate.

Thanks for the charger link. It is a handy device for sure.

KB1TDQ

Permalink Reply by David A Jones on November 20, 2009 at 5:30pm

Here's something else I've been eying for several years. A Propane generator. I have my small Honda 500 Watt, and in a pinch, it has helped me in the past OK.

But I would like something a little larger, and since I have propane here, and it doesn't get "old," I am weighing in that direction rather than gasoline.

I am not looking for anything that will run round the clock for weeks on end. I want to be able to intermittently run high watt items. Clean clothes comes to mind, eh? I remember back in the 90's, the cute chick on the back page of American Survival Guide hawking the China Diesel gennies. Those were some bigguns, and my bet is there are many still out there chugging along.

Have any of you actually had experience with a propane gennie? Amazon has a 3500 Watt for $450. Has decent reviews. And the thing I most like with Amazon...NO TAX, NO SHIPPING. Their return policy is pretty good, too.

Here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/PG30P11-4-Cycle-Propane-Portable-Generator/dp...

later guys,
jonesey65244

Permalink Reply by Minuteman on November 21, 2009 at 11:51pm

Jonesey I have no direct experience with the propane generators 'cept a monthly start-up checklist at a healthcare facility I used to supervise at. It was a big Onan unit. I can say this however that all of the whole house solutions at homes that I have been are propane or natural gas.

I see the advantages of propane like generators but don't have it handy here. I think the permiting is easier around here for propane vs gasoline/diesel storage. It is spill clean-up oriented I think, less of a problem with LPG I assume. Even new external heating oil tanks need a catch basin installed up here nowadays.....

That looks like a fair deal on the generator. It has great reviews too. I'd go for LPG if I had the choice but the tank rentals are steep if you don't use a minimum amount of fuel here.