Posted: 2/6/2011 9:11:07 AM EDT
| Do any of you guys have one of these set ups that is worth a crap? I've been looking into it and there seems to be a lot of bad stuff out there. I like the idea of a discrete set up rather than solar panels on my roof saying, "Hey look at me!". |
|
Not sure what systems you are referring to, but my experience is that you cannot buy a ready to use decent system for (what i consider) a reasonable price.
If you are asking about the solar generators from mysolarbackup.com, then, no I don't like them as you can build yourself a better system way cheaper. There are a lot of people on here have a good information about solar. As far as I can tell, you are better off educating yourself about solar and buying and building your own system than buying a prepackaged system. |
|
Quoted:
What are you trying to accomplish with a backup system? What's your budget? This. What are your loads, and for how long? Most people tend to overestimate their loads - I've seen people who think that the 45W Harbor Freight kit and a single deepcycle battery/inverter is going to run their deep well pump. |
|
Quoted:
I like the idea of a discrete set up rather than solar panels on my roof saying, "Hey look at me!". On a per-watt basis, the portable panels tend to cost a lot more than residential panels - which is why residential panels are preferable in applications where you don't need to move them. Many folks are shocked at how much it would cost to install a solar system large enough to displace their current utility power usage. However, a much smaller system can still provide many of the essentials during an extended power outage - at a much smaller cost. For example, it only takes a few hundred watts of panels to provide essential lighting, run a laptop, recharge batteries, etc. And, during normal times, this small system can help earn its keep by powering a few loads around the house - items that would otherwise be run on utility power. So, my advice would be to: 1. Think small - Decide which electrical devices MUST still be usable during an extended power outage, and then size your solar system accordingly. 2. Buy quality stuff - The well-established manufacturers of solar equipment offer long warranties on their products, and have been around long enough to prove themselves. Further Reading: Home Power Magazine |
|
I'm looking into this type of set up more seriously than before. Several miles from my house is Solar Hardy that sells Hardy Diesels. They carry an array of panels, controllers, etc. These are not the "cheap" panels. So I'm only going to afford one panel at a time.
My plan is to run my refrigerator and a few electronics during a power outage during daytime. As far as battery back up, it will have to wait. I don't want to skip price wise. I'll be going with AGMs My backyard faces south and I'm on a hill so I'll be putting the panels on the exterior walls for a discreet look. |
My panels, a thousand Watts, and I can't run a refrigerator! 
A two to three hour bullet casting session with my Lyman pot (800W) means I won't be fully recharged until the next day. Solar is more suited for everyday use, off the grid, for lights, computers etc., and it gets backed up with a genset. |
|
Sock- I'm guessing your trying to use a standard, not very efficient fridge?
Checkout the SunFrost and the less expensive "Con Serv" brands. We have been producing our own power since late 99 and use a Con Serv model fridge. With just the fridge and ghost loads running the amp meter on the 4024 shows 1 amp, so it's pretty efficient. Lowdown3 |
|
Quoted:
Sock- I'm guessing your trying to use a standard, not very efficient fridge? Checkout the SunFrost and the less expensive "Con Serv" brands. We have been producing our own power since late 99 and use a Con Serv model fridge. With just the fridge and ghost loads running the amp meter on the 4024 shows 1 amp, so it's pretty efficient. Lowdown3 Expy has a very good thread on converting a chest freezer to a high efficiency refrigerator. I have an Engel MT45 Chest fridge. I tested it in the Summer (highs in 90's, lows in the 70s) under heavy use. Every 12 hours I put two gallons of room temperature water in it to cool. It used a little less than 700 watt hours per day, as measured by my Doc Watson meter. A system with 200 watt output should just about cover that in most areas. |