04-24-2009, 01:14 PM
Ok,
My current refrigerator (purchased back in 1993) uses 7.6 kw over 76.33 hours. Rather than act like I know what that equates to, I'll just guess that the value of 10 comes in to this equation somehow. :-)
I'm also pretty sure I can get a much more efficient fridge if I buy one from the 21st century. Still, I'd be grateful if any of you "off gridder's" would mind sharing what type of fridge and deep freezer's you like for this purpose.
Solar water heating sounds good, but I wish I could keep the water hot overnight. Any Ideas? Anyway, it looks like gas will have to be part of that equation. Plus I need gas for the stove.
Basically It's just my wife and I who need to put together a solar system that will provide uninterrupted power for the following uses:
I. a small (but standard) fridge,
II. (2) deep freezers for pigs & chickens
III. water catchment pump for
a. drinking,
b. (10) 5 minuet showers a week,
c. dishes (I'm betting I can rig up something for flushing so I wont include the 'american standard')
d. Water for animals and growing veggies if there happens to be a drought.
IV. Computer (Running 8 hours a day)
Power supply Output (600w) +3.3v@30A,+5V@55A,+12V1@19A,+12V2@19A,-12V@1A,+5V SB@2.5A
- Computer monitor (Running 8 hrs a day)
Consumption rating 75W
IV. Lights
- (5) GE 10w cfl on at all times (might as well consider worst case)
- (8) 20w cfl floods (triggered by motion)
V. TV? Not part of the equation since I have a computer.
VI. 4wd golf cart. (I actually saw one for sale in front of someones house up on 19 before you go into Waimea) Just kidding :-)))
Sorry to be so late with all this...
Yep, I'm still convinced that a solar system will be better than paying helco for the rest of my life. Not to mention thousands of dollars per pole just to get hooked up. I'm just worried about the effectiveness of a solar system with the number of cloudy/rainy days in Hawaiian Acres.
I think I'm moving in the right direction as far as figuring out power needs, but after adding all this up, I hoping I'm not in for a rude awakening. I've really been trying to eliminate unnecessary appliances of all kinds.
Chris
My current refrigerator (purchased back in 1993) uses 7.6 kw over 76.33 hours. Rather than act like I know what that equates to, I'll just guess that the value of 10 comes in to this equation somehow. :-)
I'm also pretty sure I can get a much more efficient fridge if I buy one from the 21st century. Still, I'd be grateful if any of you "off gridder's" would mind sharing what type of fridge and deep freezer's you like for this purpose.
Solar water heating sounds good, but I wish I could keep the water hot overnight. Any Ideas? Anyway, it looks like gas will have to be part of that equation. Plus I need gas for the stove.
Basically It's just my wife and I who need to put together a solar system that will provide uninterrupted power for the following uses:
I. a small (but standard) fridge,
II. (2) deep freezers for pigs & chickens
III. water catchment pump for
a. drinking,
b. (10) 5 minuet showers a week,
c. dishes (I'm betting I can rig up something for flushing so I wont include the 'american standard')
d. Water for animals and growing veggies if there happens to be a drought.
IV. Computer (Running 8 hours a day)
Power supply Output (600w) +3.3v@30A,+5V@55A,+12V1@19A,+12V2@19A,-12V@1A,+5V SB@2.5A
- Computer monitor (Running 8 hrs a day)
Consumption rating 75W
IV. Lights
- (5) GE 10w cfl on at all times (might as well consider worst case)
- (8) 20w cfl floods (triggered by motion)
V. TV? Not part of the equation since I have a computer.
VI. 4wd golf cart. (I actually saw one for sale in front of someones house up on 19 before you go into Waimea) Just kidding :-)))
Sorry to be so late with all this...
Yep, I'm still convinced that a solar system will be better than paying helco for the rest of my life. Not to mention thousands of dollars per pole just to get hooked up. I'm just worried about the effectiveness of a solar system with the number of cloudy/rainy days in Hawaiian Acres.
I think I'm moving in the right direction as far as figuring out power needs, but after adding all this up, I hoping I'm not in for a rude awakening. I've really been trying to eliminate unnecessary appliances of all kinds.
Chris