Comments on: Alternative Solar Energy Mountain Cabin Project http://diysupersolarpower.com/308/alternative-solar-energy-mountain-cabin-project/ Make solar panels yourself Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:17:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: DavesTreeFarm http://diysupersolarpower.com/308/alternative-solar-energy-mountain-cabin-project/comment-page-1/#comment-972 DavesTreeFarm Fri, 25 Dec 2009 21:50:14 +0000 http://diysupersolarpower.com/308/alternative-solar-energy-mountain-cabin-project/#comment-972 Those are Kyocera 85w/12v panels. They produce about 5A each. With about 5 hours usable sun = 100AH at 12v or about 10AH at 120v, which will give 5AH per day assuming a 50% depth of discharge (I'm not even considering the loss at the inverter, etc). That's not a lot of power. As for "free"electricity; Those panels are worth about $2000, and if those are true deep cycle batteries you can count on another $1000 to $1500 plus the inverter, charge controller, etc. Those are Kyocera 85w/12v panels. They produce about 5A each. With about 5 hours usable sun = 100AH at 12v or about 10AH at 120v, which will give 5AH per day assuming a 50% depth of discharge (I’m not even considering the loss at the inverter, etc). That’s not a lot of power.

As for “free”electricity; Those panels are worth about $2000, and if those are right deep cycle batteries you can count on another $1000 to $1500 plus the inverter, charge controller, etc.

]]> By: DavesTreeFarm http://diysupersolarpower.com/308/alternative-solar-energy-mountain-cabin-project/comment-page-1/#comment-971 DavesTreeFarm Fri, 25 Dec 2009 21:32:37 +0000 http://diysupersolarpower.com/308/alternative-solar-energy-mountain-cabin-project/#comment-971 Burying the batteries is a good idea. It allows for a constant temperature. Heat limits battery life and cold limits capacity. Burying the batteries is a excellent thought. It allows for a constant temperature. Heat limits battery life and cold limits capacity.

]]> By: tatonkazi http://diysupersolarpower.com/308/alternative-solar-energy-mountain-cabin-project/comment-page-1/#comment-970 tatonkazi Fri, 25 Dec 2009 20:33:07 +0000 http://diysupersolarpower.com/308/alternative-solar-energy-mountain-cabin-project/#comment-970 The buried refrigerator truck box keeps the battery temp regulated. It works well. You are also correct in assuming that the electricity was not free. However, the panels were from a University project & I got them at less than $200 apiece. Batteries are from a high-rise stand-by system where batteries are replaced every 2 yrs. Essentially unused in 1989 when purchased from a battery salvage company. The wiring is from oil drilling company salvage & cost 2 cents per foot. The buried refrigerator truck box keeps the battery temp regulated. It works well. You are also right in assuming that the electricity was not free. But, the panels were from a University project & I got them at less than $200 apiece. Batteries are from a high-rise stand-by system where batteries are replaced every 2 yrs. Essentially unused in 1989 when bought from a battery salvage company. The wiring is from oil drilling company salvage & cost 2 cents per foot.

]]> By: tatonkazi http://diysupersolarpower.com/308/alternative-solar-energy-mountain-cabin-project/comment-page-1/#comment-969 tatonkazi Fri, 25 Dec 2009 20:10:56 +0000 http://diysupersolarpower.com/308/alternative-solar-energy-mountain-cabin-project/#comment-969 Total project, inverter, controllers & all was $2500 not counting our sweat equity & the help of a few knowledgeable friends. The whole point is, where public power would have cost over $15,000 we made it happen & our pay-back period to break even was less than 5 yrs even with replacing the batteries every 4 to 5 yrs. New technology is making this type of solution even more practical in todays energy world. Total project, inverter, controllers & all was $2500 not counting our sweat equity & the help of a few knowledgeable friends. The whole point is, where public power would have cost over $15,000 we made it happen & our pay-back period to break even was less than 5 yrs even with replacing the batteries every 4 to 5 yrs. New technology is making this type of solution even more practical in todays energy world.

]]> By: mrsparex http://diysupersolarpower.com/308/alternative-solar-energy-mountain-cabin-project/comment-page-1/#comment-968 mrsparex Fri, 25 Dec 2009 19:38:35 +0000 http://diysupersolarpower.com/308/alternative-solar-energy-mountain-cabin-project/#comment-968 Good simple video...thanks /encouraging Excellent simple video…thanks /encouraging

]]> By: AtvProjects http://diysupersolarpower.com/308/alternative-solar-energy-mountain-cabin-project/comment-page-1/#comment-967 AtvProjects Fri, 25 Dec 2009 19:07:12 +0000 http://diysupersolarpower.com/308/alternative-solar-energy-mountain-cabin-project/#comment-967 Very Nice:) I was thinking of putting a train cart Box(I think that's what there called) and almost doing the same thing but all the way underground and a ladder down, good thing i Didn't. I love the Solar Panels:) I wish i had them. Very Nice:) I was thinking of putting a train cart Box(I reckon that’s what there called) and nearly doing the same thing but all the way underground and a ladder down, excellent thing i Didn’t. I like the Solar Panels:) I wish i had them.

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