Posts: 1
Threads: 0
Joined: Sep 2012
Aloha,
I am brand new to PunaWeb, and I am planning to relocate to the Puna area in a couple of months.
I am originally from Honolulu, and I have been living in Virginia for 5.5 years now; but, the aina is calling me back, and this time, I wish to live on the Big Island forever.
Anyway, I have been doing much research about living off-the-grid for a few years now, and I would like to share with you a website that I found, concerning solar electric power.
Please check out this website called: Solutions From Science; [red]www.solutionsfromscience.com. Check out the Solar Power & Energy page . . . very interesting.
Please let me know what you think. If someone out there is an electrician, please give your feedback on this subject.
Mahalo nui loa,
Keoneana
Posts: 142
Threads: 9
Joined: Apr 2012
That's a website with alot of stuff for sale...there's a million of them.
Our system is completely off grid now. I'll try to sum it up:
2 220 watt Grape solar panels from Costco and 6 of their 6v golf cart deep cycle batteries.
Everything else except the grounding wire and those ridiculous little star washers we bought from norther arizona wind and sun. U know why? Because they ship to Hawaii....AND....because they ship U.S.P.S. instead of insisting on fed-ex or ups. Saved a bundle.
We just copied the small solar system pdf file from the Morningstar website.
We're under $2,500 and have all the power we need and then some. The computer and tv can be on all day and lights all night, which we need with all the creatures at night.
We run the washer/dryer, hair dryer etc. on the generator and have all propane appliances.
eta: Should have done this 8 years ago when I 1st moved in! It was so easy, you know, eventually; and I hate that ****in' generator every single day. Now if we could just get our neighbors to do the same.
Note: If you're putting together a small system, use the internet to search...asking companies here for any advice at all for 'poor' folk doesn't get you anywhere even though someday you may come back and buy their $25,000 system.
Posts: 7,734
Threads: 686
Joined: Jun 2011
quote:
Originally posted by GuitarDude
I have been reading through the solar water heater comments on this thread & have a question. Are these systems on properties that are on the grid? If so how much $$ do you estimate that's saved on your helco bill? I hadn't put much thought into a solar hot water system, but this has me thinking. Thx. Steve
The number that is thrown around for "how much do you save" with a solar hot water heater varies so much because hot water usage varies so much by family, but the figure I hear the most is "about a hundred bucks" a month. The "net" cost of installation is about $1,700 after rebates and tax credits, so using the $100 figure it takes less than 2 years for the system to pay for itself and then you've got free hot water for life. Unlike PV (electrical) systems that are always subject to technological breakthroughs that will either dramatically lower cost or raise efficiency, making "is now the right time to buy them" always a gamble, solar hot water heater systems are already as efficient as they need to be (refer to my previous post regarding we never run out of hot water) or are going to get in the near future, so now probably really is the best time to get them while the rebates and tax credits are still in place. Even if you are wrong, by the time that changes it will probably be 2 years from now and your system will already be paid for and you're enjoying free hot water anyway. Depending on who's figures you believe the average electricity bill (with a home with electrical hot water) is between 25-37% used for heating water. Amazing that a $1,700 investment can make that percentage GO AWAY.
Edited to add, we are on the grid.
Posts: 771
Threads: 37
Joined: Feb 2006
The african energy blog had article about the batteryless dc frig- I was thinking even I can hook that up if it's just the hooked up to the pv panel-
http://www.africanenergy.com/index.php?option=com_lyftenbloggie&view=lyftenbloggie&category=african+energy+blog&Itemid=5&lang=en
Posts: 7,734
Threads: 686
Joined: Jun 2011
quote:
Originally posted by tada
The african energy blog had article about the batteryless dc frig- I was thinking even I can hook that up if it's just the hooked up to the pv panel-
http://www.africanenergy.com/index.php?option=com_lyftenbloggie&view=lyftenbloggie&category=african+energy+blog&Itemid=5&lang=en
It makes a lot of sense... unit runs when the sun is shining and it banks it's cold within the unit and insulation keeps everything chilled when the sun isn't shining. Unfortunately, it wouldn't work so well in a house with a teenager(s) who stand there with the door open staring at the contents waiting for something that isn't there to appear, all the while letting the cold out. Maybe the unit comes with a lock.
Posts: 771
Threads: 37
Joined: Feb 2006
If you going batteryless that means your appliance going shut off at least once a day at sunset if powered by a pv panel. Maybe more if it's cloudy. Is the constant turning off and on going stress the appliance is what I'm thinking.
Posts: 14,114
Threads: 424
Joined: Aug 2012
Some DC fridges (notably Sundanzer) are designed to be connected directly to a panel, no batteries, and I'm sure the engineers have designed for cloudy days.
They are expensive (more so locally with the shipping) but cheaper long-term than a propane fridge -- fossil fuels will keep going up, and propane is a double-whammy since you have to burn gas to go get it.
Posts: 771
Threads: 37
Joined: Feb 2006
Thanks, sounds like the diy for me. now gotta find out how to hook up the leads. I've corresponding with couple vendors though don't know if it's in stock. one of them by J Hara. I looking to check it out next week.
Posts: 9
Threads: 4
Joined: Sep 2012
Thank you all for the responses. I am doing research on the ideas that everyone has put out & am curious about having propane delivered. I see there's amerigas & hawaii gas and others. How much is a full tank delivered? Approximately how long would it last for 2 people (used moderately)? All of the damn websites want you to email for a quote. I am curious how much saving there'd be even if solar electric isn't in the equation...Thx all.Steve
Posts: 2,490
Threads: 222
Joined: Dec 2005
quote:
Originally posted by mailes
We just copied the small solar system pdf file from the Morningstar website.
Do you mean
http://www.morningstarcorp.com
I'd like to get that plan myself.
Yes, I've talked to 3 business's here on the island. They all want to sell you 25K dollar systems - 8-9K is about the cheapest system I've run across. They seem to want to sell you a 25000 dollar system and give you the tax rebates of 10K. But if you not making XXXXX dollars a year I hear it's hard to get it all back.
It would be nice to get a 2500 diy setup. I saw that pahoa-batt has a solar system they are selling for 5-6K They had it setup underneath the roof in the shade. You'd think they would have put it in the sun to top off batteries or something.
