Where to Buy Solar Cells In Hilo?

[tmyc]

I'll be moving to HPP in a couple weeks. Since I know I won't have Electricity for a month or so I was going to Set up temporary Solar cells. I only need to find a very reasonably priced dealer that will sell me the PV Panels (Sharp or BP). I don't want to pay too much for them. Any recommendations?

[David M]

Try Paul, Solarman, solarpaul@yahoo.com 808-217-6317
He's in HPP

David

Ninole Resident

[Hotzcatz]

Sauces and Propane in Honoka'a has some good deals on them occasionally. Otherwise, Solar Works over near Oceanview and there is always Inter-Island Solar in Kona. Most folks get a small generator if it is only going to be for several months since PV panels are quite pricey for merely temporary use.

Will you be selling the panels once you are done with them? Can I stand in line for when you do?

[Carey]

Marco at Provision has some BP, but is more in to Sanyo.... but they are more pricey... also try Novoana Solar....


for a month or so only, you probably do not want panels, & would have a lot of added $$$ even if you want to go to a grid tied system later ( the batteries in a typical off grid system have a high cost & learning curve....)
Some HPP'ers we know have been able to plug into neighbors electrical (for a cost...) for the "month or so" that it took to get electric (plan on SEVERAL months to get the hook up, that way if it is only a month or so you can be pleasantly surprised, rather than ticked that it takes so long to get electrical service.... which it might be...)

Edit to Add: The battery cost is high for a month or so of use... not bad if it is amortized over an eight year lifetime... Also the cost would also be dependent on tax credits & other deductibles that you may need to add to this years' taxes.... but it still may be easier to plug into a neighbors house... if you have one that is willing....

[Hotzcatz]

Off grid battery systems are now a lot easier than they used to be. There are charge controllers which keep them from being overcharged and many inverters have cut off switches which keep them from being discharged too much. Once the system is set up, it doesn't need to be fussed with much. We use deep cycle golf cart batteries and about every three months go out and check to see how the water level in them is doing. They last for about eight years and it cost us $450 to replace the battery bank last time. We do have a smaller system than many folks may want to use, though, since we are very frugal with our electrical use but the whole system so far has been less than $8K so it has been affordable.

[heyyou]

Honda makes two quiet generators. The smaller one may be affordable if you have no neighbors. Check on renting one. Be aware that long extension cords need to have larger wires to carry power long distances.