04-19-2014, 10:33 AM
quote:
Originally posted by peteadams
We're entirely off grid with 2.6 kw of panels installed in 2005. We've had several L16 battery replacements since then. Back when I was measuring our daily usage I found we averaged about 4 kw per day. One does have to be frugal with electrical consumption off grid. Our major loads are refrigeration and a 1 hp pump that usually runs on and off over a period of about an hour per day. After asking any number of on grid people, local and mainland, what their usage is (many of course didn't know), it seemed to range from 10-20 kw a day. I once read an article about a couple in Portland, OR who were trying to go green and they stated they had whittled down their consumption to 7 kw per day and found that a bit onerous. After one of our common very gray days here in Puna it's always a good idea for us to run the generator in the evening to pump the batteries back up a bit.
Could you install several more panels so you wouldn't have to worry quite so much during cloudy days?
-Veritas odium parit”(Terence 195–159 BC))-"Truth begets hatred".
-Veritas odium parit”(Terence 195–159 BC))-"Truth begets hatred".