describe your solar power system .

[mosby's men]

please tell me what brands and models of equipment you have in your solar power system .. im looking to really get into this and will help me look at eqipment that will work for the long haul ..
please let us know if you bought any gear that was a waste of money .
tia
mm

[dakdak]

We are still planning and I feel really badly about that but...some print sources we have used are:

Monthly Magazines:
Mother Earth News---left wing but OK for the tech side
Backwoods Home Magazine--conservative and good articles plus ads
Home Power Magazine--very much to the point..good technical info

catalogs:
www.backwoodssolar.com
www.earthsolar.com
www.newsociety.com---includes references to REAL GOODS catalog
www.sunelco.com--catalog, planning guides, sales etc.
www.sunwize.com---catalog, design and planning guides, sales


Really, these are only a few of the information and equipment sources out there. These might give you a start. And of course you can also find people that have already started their install, people that have worked out the bugs in their systems.

[akfanatic]

My solar stuff is all in my dreams.
$$:mad:

Some day...

[bsdmon]

eh don't worry about it. don't try to think of getting it all at once. if anything something is better than nothing. just having a couple small panels and a portable kit can be enough to help recharge batteries or run a radio or some other small appliances. think small.

[dakdak]

You can even get a solar cooker for a few bucks. No expensive hookups. you can cook meat, toast bread, etc., on it. Then, like bsdmon said, you can get a small panel or two for batteries and recharge things.

The big buy is the panels for the house...but you can do A LOT up to that point. :)

[delectric]

I use SOLAREX, having designed and spec out several solar panel systems for the company I work for, I found them well within specifications and durable for the job, and I individually placed voltage regulators on every two panels, each regulating the power to batteries, and providing backflow of voltage into the panels from the batteries.
right now I'm in the design stages, I'm short about six panels, and before I put the array together I have to build a battery bank and hydrogen evacuation system.

[ram]

+1 on Backwoods Home Magazine. Dave Duffy and family are good people.

[ram]

http://www.backwoodshome.com/

[mosby's men]

i started with a marine deep cycle battery , then i added a hook up for a inverter with a outlet for ac plugs and a ciggarette type plug ..
i got some florecent work lights and a battery charger .
i got a small pannel now i need a solar charge controller , start small and build up .. one step at a time..
l.e.d lights or compact florecent lights

[Bidah]

I have 8 130W Kyocera 12v panels, hooked up for a 48v run.
Charger is an Outback MX60 PPT
I have 24 of the IBE 1700AH forklift batteries connected in series for 48v
Trace 5500W inverter
Propane 15KW generator for backup with 1000 gallon tank.

It does a pretty good job overall. I would prefer to add another 4 panels for some extra in the winter during the cloudy days.. maybe next year.

-bidah

[surge223]

Bidah, that sounds like a great set-up!

[Bidah]

It isn't bad, but if I could do it again there would certainly be changes. That always seems to be the case anyway. It was funny that the power went out for about 10 miles around us this last week. Of course those of us that are already off the grid were fine.. :)

-Bidah

[Ak_guy]

It isn't bad, but if I could do it again there would certainly be changes. That always seems to be the case anyway. It was funny that the power went out for about 10 miles around us this last week. Of course those of us that are already off the grid were fine.. :)

-Bidah

Mind posting pics? I am starting my own setup. I want to stay on the grid for some things (at least initially) and have 12v wired into a few rooms for alternative lighting. I'll also have a few 110v plugs running off a inverter for a small tv, etc. Basically a emergency system for when icestorms and t-storms bring down the main grid-based system. I'll use Solar to charge a bank of 6v golf car batteries.

Seeing your setup would help spur some of us on... :)

[Bidah]

Ok, you asked for it.. :)

http://imageigloo.com/images/7860battery bank.jpg

This is a picture of the power house, which is 50' from the house. A bit dated as I have made some changes. I will get a current picture of a lot more, if you can stand it, when I get home.

Picured here is a Trace 5500W Sinewave Inverter Charger with 24 IBE Forklift Batteries ( 1700AH each). They are all connected in series for 48v.

-Bidah

[MdlMkr 7.62]

CAn anyone recommend a book or a website about learning the basics of solar power. It sounds interesting and I'd like to learn more

[mosby's men]

bidah ,
great looking set up , neat wiring ..
looks like your really living the dream .