Another solar question

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Monty

Monty

Group Buy Coordinator
Joined
Mar 4, 2005
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Location
Pearland, Texas, USA.
I didn't want to hijack PenMan1's solar post so I'll start this one.
I recently did something I never do and that's buy a DYI book off a web site. This one is on how to build your own solar panels and wind generator. The DVD I received just goes over how to construct your own from items you can buy for less than what it costs to buy a premade solar panel.
What it didn't cover was haw to calculate how many panels you would need and how to construct the storage system, and tie it into your house wiring so you can sell any excess back to the electric company. Can someone point me in the right direction?
I'm fairly knowledgeable in electrical wiring and feel this is something I'm capable of doing myself, given the correct instructions.
 
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Try this

Monty said:
I didn't want to hijack PenMan1's solar post so I'll start this one.
I recently did something I never do and that's buy a DYI book off a web site. This one is on how to build your own solar panels and wind generator. The DVD I received just goes over how to construct your own from items you can buy for less than what it costs to buy a premade solar panel.
What it didn't cover was haw to calculate how many panels you would need and how to construct the storage system, and tie it into your house wiring so you can sell any excess back to the electric company. Can someone point me in the right direction?
I'm fairly knowledgeable in electrical wiring and feel this is something I'm capable of doing myself, given the correct instructions.
Click to expand...
www.bdbatteries.com/panelcalculator.php to get the number of panels you need.
 
Not too easy

Selling back to the electric company can only be done with their agreement and they might be a little picky about the connection to the grid. You will need a grid-tie-inverter to convert the dc from the solar panels and batteries to AC. You might want to look into your local codes - some areas require a licensed electrician or certified solar installer to make the connections to your power.
 
The solar panels and generater produce DC power, you will need a battery bank and an inverter to convert that to 110VAC to hook up to your house and run anything in it. Payback time will work out to about 20 years assuming the battery bank and inverter electronics last that long without problems. I spent the last 30 years working in a nuclear power plant that used battery banks and inverters for backup power in worst case scenarios. Getting someone in to repair this stuff when it fails will not be cheap. If you get 5 years without failures you will be lucky.

Now with a little electronics skills and some work you could likely convert nearly everything in the house except stuff with motors to run from DC. If you can supply 110VDC you can at least run all your lighting without changes.
 
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In Michigan at least the power company must buy your power. But, of course it needs be hooked up right, especially so that if the grid shuts down, you don't feed into it while repairs are being made. Texas is a great place for solar, Michigan, we are lucky to get 80 good days of sun in a year, so you can barely offset your electric bill let alone get any return. Windmills are popular. Most popular is just dropping an old 3 phase electric motor, easy and cheap to find used ones, you put some paddles on it, a couple floats so it floats like a pontoon boat, and you tie it to either side of the creek so it can't float away but it can rise and lower with the creek. You get power always, and can use more than one in a skinny creek no problem. THEY say it's really easy, but I wouldn't know where to start.
 
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