Solar Power/How To

[mella l]

Here is a wholesale resource for solar. It is on the mainland but will sell to residential users unlike other outfits who cannot afford to sell you their supplies without doing the labor also.

Haven't looked into it yet but the site comes from excellent source!!

http://www.solardepot.com/

Aloha, Mella L

mella l

[Hotzcatz]

Aloha Nancy, HADave and All,

Putting the pre-heater before storing the hot water in the storage tank would still allow the heat to dissapate from the storage tank. If the pre-heater is put before the end use there won't be any heat loss from storage. Basically, that would be an instantaneous (or "tankless" water heater backed up by stored hot water from your solar panels.

A hui hou,
Cathy

[Carey]

Hi, we looked into solar (hubby attended Solar Institutes' Intro. to Alternative Energy just before we moved here). I would first see how much energy you use. We have always been fairly conservative in energy use (we used to average 400-500kwh in Chicago), house with 3- 5 people, 3 tvs, 2 refrigerators, washer, dryer, 5-7 computer systems, normal type stuff( for a computer geek husband)). One thing that the Institute drove home was to reduce your usage first if you are on grid. When we moved into our rental house, we changed out all of the incandescent bulbs to the twistie flourescent, only powered up the hot water heater when we showered, our computer sytems were all put on total power down switches, LCD monitors replaced CRT monitors, and we had no TV (we would have to have gone satellite to get it anyhow). We averaged 100kwh for each of the six months we lived there, and the last month we have lived in our 'new' house (& added an LCD TV). With monthly electric bills of under $40, we cannot justify alot of investment into alternative energy. We also found out in the 2 months we were cleaning out our 'new' house that Helco charges a minimun fee of $20, so we could only reduce our bill by $20. So, if you are already on grid, look carefully at each and every thing you plug in, some things are contant energy drains if left plugged in, you have to totally isolate these power hogs. If you are replaceing an applicance, only go "energy star", and always check how much energy it consumes. Although we got a great education on alternative energy (the Institutes facility was one of the foremost in the country - WAS...the California flooding hit them very hard) we also learned how to reduce our impact first. We also know now that you do not even notice most of the things that really add up in energy savings.
Aloha, Carey

[mella l]

Carey thanks for all the great and thorough electricity information. Can you tell us what type of energy hogs you identified. Like clock radio, night lights, microwave clock? Just wondering what sneaky things one may have running and not even realise that energy is being used, leaked or wasted. Mahalo Mella L

mella l

[Carey]

Mella, any CRT monitor has a capacitor that is powered up, our hot water heater was a biggy, at the rental we flipped the breaker off unless we were using hot water, our refrig. was an energy hog, new one is energy star rated, and is one of the most efficient around for its size, a candalier had 12 40 watt bulbs - that baby is gone - most of our lights are 13 watts or less now, older computers can have power drains. One of the ideas that the Solar Institute has was to check what in your house is useing energy (you can buy gizmos, or just shut off everything & as you power up appliances, check the electric meter, if its spinning off its' orbit, what ever is on should be looked at, is it working properly, if it is - is it neccessary & can it be replaced with something more energy efficient. Some of the replacing has been over the years, but we purged much when we moved here & have been extremely energy aware when we purchase any thing electrical. Aloha, Carey

[David M]

This week I take delivery of my batteries. Rolls 4KS25PS. These are 4 volt, 1350 Ahr. I'll have 12 wired as a 48 volt system. Batteries are 15 3/4" X 10 5/8". 24 3/4" high and weigh 315 lbs. Configuration will be 2x6 (32"X66"

Anyone have a good battery box design? These will sit on a concrete pad (3' X 8" adjacent the end of my 20 ft shipping container and under the 28' X 30' roof that will support the PV's (36 - KC125s). So while basically outside, it will be mostly protected from sun and rain.

I have some thoughts I will put to paper, but roughly plywood sides, front and top. Sides will be slanted 30" in front to 42" rear. "Shed" type top hinged at rear with pvc vent. Front will have 4-6 screws for easy removal. The rear height is to allow room for a removable shelf sufficent to store a few gallons of distilled water and other maintainence items. Painted to match the container.

I'm debating 2 issues:
1. Floor - do I really need a continuous (plywood) floor or is it sufficient to set the batteries on 4 or 5 2Xs with the sides and front attached?

2. Back - do I need a separate plywood back? The 3 sided box would sit againsts the wall of the container. I'm thinking without the wall and plywood floor, I'd have better air circulation, less potential heat buildup.

Any thought, comments, suggestions?

David

Ninole Resident

[mella l]

After considerable evaluation, including life expectancy ie insurance actuary tables, at apx $10,000 Per KW we will be going standard electric. With as many LP gas appliances, water heater, oven/gas range, clothes dryer, and energy star refrigerator, we will forgo the solar for our project unless something changes drastically. Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this. Mella L

mella l

[David M]

Mella
Read a very interesting article in Smart Money mag recently on Energy Star appliances. Seems it isn't the same program of years past but more of a marketing ploy. So, beware and check the numbers, not just the sticker.

David

Ninole Resident

[Kapohocat]

A guy named Ron Ober is da kine solar guy! He put in the awesome system for a Yurt B&B in Opihikao - their generator runs occassionally (every 4-5 days) for about 45 minutes if no sun... otherwise doesnt run at all. (16 deep cycle batteries - 8 solar panels). They also splurged for the auto start on the genny. Power usuage is same as above 2 fridge/ 2 micros/ 3 coffee makers / 2 water pumps / BIG stereo system / washer / dryer / assorted lights, etc.

My suggestion for a backup generator is to go for a good marine diesel one that will quickly power batteries if necessary. The small ones takes hours and hours and use tons of fuel to do so on cloudy days.

-cat

[HADave]

Bringing this forward cause I thought it had lots of great info and certainly helped me out alot.

Here is yet more great info regarding PhotoVoltaic Systems!

http://www.sandia.gov/pv/main.html

with drop down menues accross the top which takes you to about everything you would want to know abot PV Syatems... one example some to be searching for...

http://www.sandia.gov/pv/docs/FAQ.html#AnchorMyself

Aloha Ayuh, HADave