Solar panels

[Acala]

solar

I installed a 2kw PV system on my house two years ago. The panels will last me the rest of my life and retain their value so, in my analysis, the question is not when will they pay for themselves. They don't have to pay for themselves because I will get most of the invested money back when I sell the house or by selling the panels. Since the principle is not lost, I looked at the purchase price as an investment that returns interest in the form of savings on the electric bill. It works out to about a 4% real, inflation-proof, tax-free return on the investment. Can anyone think of any other investment with those virtues?

Plus, it gives me some energy independence although I don't have batteries or the required inverter to go off grid at this point. I may do that next.

By the way, I live in Arizona and my electric bill for June was $0. It was a relatively cool June and the dry weather in June allows me to run an evaporative cooler rather than AC. But still . . .

So that is my analysis.

 

[Objectivist]

Nuclear is .03-.05 cents.

 

[tmosley]

Nuclear is .03-.05 cents.

Good luck getting the permits.

 

[tmosley]

Just so everyone knows, I did receive the panels, but I have been working late and on weekends for the last month, so I haven't had time to look for a battery or start setting it up. It looks like it will be very easy, as it included a set of very clear instructions. I plan to set it up to run a Mac Mini, a small television, and a Playstation for now. In the future, when I (hopefully) have a better system set up, this set will power my water well, since it is set up to be a small system.

 

[Firegirl]

Amazon has the same thing for $286 and free shipping with their super-saver program.

Sunforce 50044 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit

I've never used them, however there are 52 reviews on Amazon with an avg of 4.5 of 5 stars.

XNN

I was looking into this myself. Been dying to buy this kit and try it out. I know it's not going to get me completely off the grid or anything, but my electricity bill keeps going up, even when I make a point to unplug/turn things off. Anything would be a good start at this point. And I live in NM where all we get is sun!

Anyone else purchased/researched this kit?

 

[tmosley]

You should read the reviews. A lot of people who bought them from Amazon got cracked ones, and got a huge hassle. I paid a little more ($300+tax) to buy them from Walmart.com, shipped them site to store so I could return them there rather than having to send them in if they were broken, but found they were in good shape (I did unpack them, but I haven't assembled anything yet).

 

[Objectivist]

Good luck getting the permits.

A dozen or so are in the pipeline now, some approved already.
http://www.nei.org/keyissues/newnuclearplants/

 

[tmosley]

Wow, that's pretty amazing.

Also, I ordered a battery today. hopefully it will be here by next weekend so I can get it set up.

I found a good glass mat battery, military rated to last for up to 12 years, for $116 with shipping. I figured I would go ahead and get a good battery for now, as it is going to be living in my office for now. Once I get the larger system set up, I'll be using wet cells, which are about half as much as the dry ones, the only problem being that they vent a bit of acid into the air, so it's best not to have them in any occupied rooms.

Here's the link to the one I bought: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026CTYN4/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

 

[tmosley]

Ok, I got the panels put together and hooked up. It was really pretty easy, despite the lack of detain in the instructions. I currently have my computer and monitor plugged into the battery that was charged by the panels today. I guess we'll see how well it works over the course of the next few days. If there are no problems, then I will add more hardware and see what the limit of the energy production is going to be like.

I'll take some pictures tomorrow and post them. Let me tell you, I'm feeling a lot more confident about putting together a full scale system now.

 

[Live_Free_Or_Die]

Here is some rough theory for the DYI's:

Solar panel -> coil -> water cell -> hydrogen & oxygen gas

use oxygen gas to pressurize the hydrogen

stored hydrogen -> gasoline engine w/ gas pressure regulator -> generator

or possibly

stored hydrogen -> smaller gasoline engine w/ pressure regulator -> alternator(s) -> inverter array


basically your solar panels could create a free hydrogen fuel for ya.

 

[Bradley in DC]

Ok, I found a better deal, though the setup I bought is still a good choice, as it has all the required parts, making it easy to replicate.

The deal: http://sunelec.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=249

$2.18/watt. That's a tasty deal.

And yes, it will be worth it once electricity rates go up (they always do), and/or once you find yourself without service in your area due to brownouts/blackouts, as the government regulated us into the dark ages.

Why not take it to the next level: see if you could get a group buy going--try to get a price close to wholesale. RPFs shoppers club here we come!

 

[torchbearer]

Why not take it to the next level: see if you could get a group buy going--try to get a price close to wholesale. RPFs shoppers club here we come!

chip-in time.

 

[tmosley]

Why not take it to the next level: see if you could get a group buy going--try to get a price close to wholesale. RPFs shoppers club here we come!

Hmmm, that's interesting. I'll have to look into bulk pricing.

 

[Krugerrand]

I apologize for not doing a price comparision to see if this is any better than what has already been posted:

Page 2 of the Harbor Freight After Thanksgiving Sale:
http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa...eBook.do?bookid=263&preview=&type=RET&simple=

For $159.99

45 Watt Solar Panel Kit
Use the sun's power to run TVs, lights, computers and recharge 12VDC batteries!

* Three 15 watt solar panels give you plenty of clean, quiet energy - no fuel required
* Power center is completely weatherproof and works under all light conditions
* 3, 6, 9, 12 volt DC adapter outlets
* Easy-to-read LED charge indicator
* Includes mounting hardware, light, 12V socket and battery clamps


Requires 12 volt storage battery and 300 watt power inverter (not included). Maximum current, 3000 mA. 15 watts max per panel. Peak voltage: 23.57 volts open current. Panel dimensions: 12.40'' x 36.42'' x 0.75''
Weight: 9.7 lbs.

 

[Deborah K]

How much is a power inverter?

 

[Deborah K]

Hmmm, that's interesting. I'll have to look into bulk pricing.

Count me in if you do this.

 

[tmosley]

Deb: How big of an inverter do you want, and do you want it to hook to batteries, the grid, or both?

As for bulk pricing, I have found a website that seems to do just that. They have panels for as little as $2/watt (those go fast, so you have to buy them as soon as they are available). http://sunelec.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=5&zenid=775a308a355ec768a556a4ccde8e61ab

Actually, I just looked, on the front page there, they have some for 1.98 per watt. That is cheaper than I have seen anywhere.

 

[Deborah K]

Deb: How big of an inverter do you want, and do you want it to hook to batteries, the grid, or both?

As for bulk pricing, I have found a website that seems to do just that. They have panels for as little as $2/watt (those go fast, so you have to buy them as soon as they are available). http://sunelec.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=5&zenid=775a308a355ec768a556a4ccde8e61ab

Actually, I just looked, on the front page there, they have some for 1.98 per watt. That is cheaper than I have seen anywhere.

okay thanks. I'll ask Mark how big of an inverter we'll need. We want off the grid, so batteries for sure.

 

[tmosley]

Yeah, grid tie is way cheaper. I personally am getting a grid tie with a switch for batteries. That way, you don't have to buy all of the batteries, charge controllers, etc, right away. With grid tie you just need the inverter and the panels, and whatever wiring is needed to tie them together and to the meter. You also get full advantage of any watts you get off of your panels, and you don't have to switch all at once.

But then, that's only good if you are bailing in.

 

[Elwar]

Deb: How big of an inverter do you want, and do you want it to hook to batteries, the grid, or both?

As for bulk pricing, I have found a website that seems to do just that. They have panels for as little as $2/watt (those go fast, so you have to buy them as soon as they are available). http://sunelec.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=5&zenid=775a308a355ec768a556a4ccde8e61ab

Actually, I just looked, on the front page there, they have some for 1.98 per watt. That is cheaper than I have seen anywhere.

$2/Watt is amazing. That's cheaper than buying the solar cells individually and putting the panel together yourself.

I truly believe that once the price is $1/Watt, there's no reason every home shouldn't have them on their roof.

I was all excited about getting solar panels until my wife shot down the idea because of asthetics...

Choose your battles and all that...I'll still get some up there, even if it's just a couple on the side of the roof that's not visible from the road.