tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937170202895477126.post2948374281899211386..comments2024-03-25T16:44:35.555-04:00Comments on Sixbears in the Woods: What to do about the grid?Sixbearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15572224383041421400noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937170202895477126.post-54348163748133946162009-12-17T21:16:24.895-05:002009-12-17T21:16:24.895-05:00Okay, a few things here. About the panels. The s...Okay, a few things here. About the panels. The small ones are 48 watt at 12 volts. The large one is about 200 watts at 24 volts. The array used to run at 24 volts, but since I got an Outback charge controller, I rewired the system to 48 volts. It reduces line loss to the house. The charge controller reduces the incoming voltage of the array to the 24 volts of the battery bank. <br /><br />I had a Servel propane fridge for about 10 years. It lacked the quality of the old Servels and was junk at the end. I've got a small electric fridge that goes from off grid to on grid, depending on available power. By summer it should be just my wife and I here and we should be able to downsize to an even smaller one -and insulate the heck out of it.<br /><br />I'm quickly reaching the point where I'm willing to live on a lot less power so as to stop feeding the beast. <br /><br />This winter the basement has a much better woodstove and my basement is warmer. Warmer batteries hold more power, so I've stretched the number of sunless days I can go without charging from the grid.Sixbearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15572224383041421400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937170202895477126.post-8689403133487686132009-12-17T20:09:58.022-05:002009-12-17T20:09:58.022-05:00I have 6x15 watt panels and with me being a o/o in...I have 6x15 watt panels and with me being a o/o in trucking I have put my battery bank together with 3x12v truck batteries. I noticed on yesterdays blog you had your panels on display. What is the wattage of your system. I plan on gathering at least 6 more panels that would increase my panels to 180 watts minus 10% for degregation. <br /><br />I have the refridge / freezer from my truck which is a 36v unit in the house as a back up means and along with tv/vcr/dvd and the scanner I see how well we work with the 12v&120v appliances from 2000 watt power inverter and direct 12v hookup. <br /><br />I went to basspro and got a 12v w/breakers 6 unit power board. I plan to put the 12v perimeter lights and a few other things like water pump and what nots to it as I increase my power storing and generating capabilities.<br /><br />I have many solar power border lights as well as a solar power flood light for the Flag to be lighted at night. I am not trying to be "green" not that it is a bad thing for those to believe my purpose is to make sure I can cut off the grid once and for all and save my pocket from being raped anymore than what has been done or planned for "We the People" by those so caring public servants that represent the masses. <br /><br />I mainly wish to insure that my wife, and family members have a means to be safe without worrying when things get rough. Last year when Ike came through the Ohio valley my neck of the woods was without power for 6 days, but not us we had our panels providing lighting and power at night and the gas genny providing power in the day and also was aiding in the charging of the battery bank to make sure that we had power at night without keeping people awake. I was able to keep my business going with power for phones, faxes, internet and not miss a beat, all my contractors made pu/del and no one could tell there was a power problem for 7 states since we were up and running. None of my neighbors were ready even with a decent flash light, hell I had dual fuel lanterns, cook stoves, and hand crank dynamo products.<br /><br />I need to get more proficient at this off grid skills while nobody is noticing what I'm doing on our lil piece of land. And coming to sites like yours helps greatly to educate and inspire, keep up the good work. Feel free to email me and go over any ideas or suggestions you may have on getting better at starving the beast.PaleRiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17609571563035612963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937170202895477126.post-88616358432416514972009-12-17T16:06:40.951-05:002009-12-17T16:06:40.951-05:00It's about usage. I have not had to run the ge...It's about usage. I have not had to run the generator since mid summer as a matter of fact the generator is not even hooked up now. <br /><br />If you replace your oil heater with a propane one think about an old RV propane refrigerator. They don't use that much fuel and works fine.<br /><br />I do laundry at the laundromat if I can't hand wash it here. <br /><br />As far a grid attached power goes it is much much cheaper than a big solar power system any day. Although you are dependent on the power company and an income to pay the bill.BigBearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11552206865163220761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937170202895477126.post-7512719407652579282009-12-17T13:39:44.936-05:002009-12-17T13:39:44.936-05:00I had good luck with Interstate golf cart batterie...I had good luck with Interstate golf cart batteries. Local dealers. Not too pricey. Got 7 years out of my fist batch -where I did every mistake in the book. Went 10 years with my second batch. <br /><br />I used to do an equalization charge once in the summer. Don't even have to do that with the new charge controller. Watered the batteries twice/year. <br /><br />When I do get a sunny day in the winter, my system generates power like crazy. The reflection off the snow really gives it a boost. Late winter/early spring produces well. November and December tend to be bad.Sixbearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15572224383041421400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1937170202895477126.post-1088774122538815242009-12-17T12:31:11.215-05:002009-12-17T12:31:11.215-05:00In 1999 I built a massive solar power system at my...In 1999 I built a massive solar power system at my place. Seimens solar panels, hooked to a big bank of deep cycle batteries, which , with a big diesel generator, flowed into an inverter. It was text book.<br /><br />But, in winter there wasn't enough sun on my mountainside to charge the batteries.<br /><br />The batteries themselves were high maintenance, having to be run on an equalization cycle every week. They had a useful life of 3 years, cost a fortune, and were a bitch to replace. Getting rid of the old ones was a major evolution.<br /><br />It turned out, in the long run, that my generator was the best bet. Hooked into a transfer switch, when the power goes down (which is frequently here) I just throw the switch and run on the generator until the grid comes back on. Sometimes hours, sometimes days.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com