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Aloha all,
My partner and I have been living with off-grid PV for the past 4 years and we love it. We are now considering purchasing a house that is currently on grid, with an eye towards taking it off-grid.
Assuming we have all the equipment installed by a licensed electrician, we're wondering what hurdles we may face in disconnecting from HELCO, either from HELCO itself or other agencies.
Anyone have experience doing this ?
mahalo !
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Many disconnect from HELCO just by not paying their bill, and Iselle helped others by downing their lines, so not sure of your exact meaning.
If the property has a structure and meter, you will need to contact HELCO to disconnect. I do not think there are any areas with CC&Rs about off grid solar, but you would be well advised to make sure.
You will also need all of the off grid solar plans submitted by a licensed Electric engineer (and most likely an stamped architect, as there most likely will be structural components, even if every thing is roof mount)
We are looking at going grid tied, so much of this is similar, but you will have the added expense of a back up system, we are looking at installing 2 SMA Secure Power inverters, so that power outages will not completely take our electric system out... but will be reliant on sun and only 2 circuit up, unless we put in an isolation panel for a backup system...
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Carey - thank for the reply. To clarify - we are using an off-grid PV system currently, so are very familiar with the equipment, maintenance, and usage considerations. We love being off-grid. In considering buying a different house, one that is currently on-grid, we would likely want to add an off-grid PV system to it at a later date, and disconnect it from HELCO. Your point about plans, both electric and structural is well taken, and exactly the sort of suggestion I am looking for. We are also considering the possibility of installing an off-grid system, but leaving the HELCO connection in place for use as a backup during extended periods of low or no sun. Thanks for your helpful comments !
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I'm currently in the middle of picking a vendor. I will be installing a "transfer switch" to allow the switching the source of my residence power between HELCO and my off-grid system. If you PM me, I can update you on my progress.
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I bet any of the vendor/installers would be more than happy to let you know what's involved. They've likely done this before many times.
Me ka ha`aha`a,
Mike
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Tom, hubby wants the same transfer switch idea, with an isolation panel...so it is not powering up the full panel ('many things can not be powered during an outage' is his idea on that)(my idea is that "extension cord to the SMA secure power inverter(s) would be fine enough")
Gexpro Hilo has most of eh materials for everything you would want to do...many installers use them..
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Thanks all for the helpful replies - I definitely have food for thought now, and will likely pursue the topic further with a vendor or installer. Tom, I'll keep your offer in mind - mahalo.
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We were off grid for a decade or so and there was a lot of work in maintaining the batteries, the back up generator, keeping track of if we had power to do whatever, etc. Then we moved to town and got a grid-tied solar system Total non-brainer. The solar panels make power, feed it into the system and if we produce more than we use, then the electric bill is $20 a month just to be connected to the system. Way easier than a completely off grid system.
However, if the grid goes down, so does our current system. They do now make new inverters that will switch to a stand alone system if the grid goes down. Our next system will be that type.
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
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If you have Road Runner? Or plan to get it? They frown on Off Grid. Get it hookedup before going off grid, and even then... If they drive by and see that there are no electric wires or meter you might be screwed?
I would think it would be pretty easy to call Helco and tell em come get their meter?
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We had road runner and were completely off grid. Why would they care how you power the box?
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
