Solar Power/How To

[HADave]

just recieved an email from Marco @ ProVision Technologies Trying to get us to sign up for a PV installation, He announces good news as the State of Hawaii is now giving a $5000.00 tax credit and the Feds are maintaining their $2000.00 tax credit. $7000.00 is nothing to turn one's nose up at eh?

Aloha HADave



Edited by - HADave on 06/13/2006 14:31:45

[David M]

Tax credits - be sure you know the details. Don't know about the Fed, but I did the HI credit in effect last year. Only spent $5000 to save $78. Thank goodness there are other beneficial reasons.

In order to receive a tax credit, one must have a tax liability. Do not look to get a refund of actual cash above what you actually paid into the system.

Perhaps someone knows if this years is better?

David

Ninole Resident

[HADave]

Here is a site that offers all the incentives plus a lowest price gaurantee...

http://www.hawaiisolar.com

Aloha HADave



Edited by - HADave on 07/06/2006 02:47:48

[Cindy V]

Aloha

Anyone living in Leilani Estates with solar? Love to hear from you on success.

Mahola
Cindy

[David M]

While not completely on topic, this was closest I found...

Today, we added, what I hope to be the last major improvement to our solar electric (PV) system - an AirX 400 watt wind generator. This is not for the main house, but our "shed". So now we have 742 watts of PV and the 400 watt wind generator to charge our 1320 ah battery bank. Honda 3000si generator for backup.
Pics at: http://travel.webshots.com/album/1985176...h?start=72

If this works as planned, adding appropriate wind generators to the house system is my preferred choice rather than a massive diesel generator.

David

Ninole Resident

[Fishboy]

Dave M,
I got an "Error on page" when I tried to look at your Web Shots collection. Am I doing something wrong? I get a real kick out of watching how others have constructed their homes. I'm looking forward to the next installment from Royal.

Brian

[Royall]

Hey David, is there any mechanical noises transmitted into the house through the metal braces? I would have thought you would pick up a humming sound or whine from the generator. Also, what kind of wind speed do you need to get that bad boy working?

Fishboy, I’ll have the next batch of photos sometime this next weekend. I’m glad you enjoy seeing the progress on the house. I’ll be glad when we get moved in!


Royall

What goes around comes around!

Edited by - Royall on 11/06/2006 04:29:58

[olin137]

Hello All,

I've read the solar discussions on Punaweb with interest since we're planning on building in Puna and need to consider all options. The gist of the opinions seems to be that solar is only generally recommended if you want to feel free of the utility company, or if you have no choice; i.e., off the grid. Frankly, if given choices, I'd opt to work on the grid, but some of the properties we like best seem to typically be those without current power connection. We're just starting to read into the solar information, so am novice at much of the discussion we read, but just to start us off, could someone give us reasonable total cost estimates of what going solar adds to the cost of building
- assume a "standard" ~1400 sf house with
"typical" american appliances/etc. Just looking for a ballpark right now since the estimates I've see/read about really are all over the place. Thanks for any information.

Olin

[Hotzcatz]

Aloha David,

How is that wind generator working? We are thinking of adding one too and are wondering if they make any appreciable noise? Of course, if it is spinning along, then the wind is blowing so the trees are rustling and there's all sorts of other noises to mask the generator hum?

For the rest of you considering going solar, it isn't a decision that is made at the beginning of construction and then "set in stone". The wiring, fixtures, outlets and the rest of your electrical system in the house are all the same whether you are feeding the house system from the grid or from an inverter. An inverter is about the size of a breadbox, it is usually attached to the wall and doesn't make any noise. You can convert to solar electric power pretty easily by adding photovoltaic solar panels, an inverter and a battery bank. The battery bank is for the complete off-the-grid system.

An off the grid system doesn't run electric water heaters, dryers or stoves, though, unless it is a really huge system, so you may have to switch to gas for those appliances.

Even if you are on the grid, you should still be using compact flourescent light bulbs and shutting stuff off when you aren't using it. Although, we're invested in Hawaiian Electric - even though we are off the grid, so keep using power, we get dividends! Heheheheh!

A hui hou,
Cathy



Edited by - hotzcatz on 11/06/2006 09:43:24

[David M]

Brian - I just clicked on the link - no problems. Here's the higher level link:
http://community.webshots.com/user/ninoledands

Royall - Look at the pic with the 5 metal poles on the garage floor. Hard to see but there are rubber isolators, the near ones for the mast, the far ones attach to the house. These isolators are part of the roof mount system Southwest sells - I made my own poles. I was able to feel some vibration with my hand directly on the mast, but none in the house. There is some "noise" , but not loud, nor offensive and it does seem to blend in with the other wind rustlings as Cathy suggested. I believe the wind must be 7/8 mph to start generator.

Cathy - too soon to know yet about performance, only been hooked up less than 24 hours and I had it disconnected most of today working on some wiring.

Olin - Cathy is right, build your house as if on Helco. You do need to consider useage. Basically no electric heat appliances such as HW, stove, oven etc. One of the big lessons for us was what sucks up juice without you realizing it - basically anything that is "instant on" like TV,s microwave, entertainment stuff, the myiad of chargers we own.

David

Ninole Resident