Getting Started with Solar

Good question. For quite sometime I have been taking your postings across the forum as condescending. I am not sure why because I am not thin skinned by any means. Maybe I have more in common with you than I realize, in that I am seeing myself and am not liking what I see. That would be my only guess why I am butting heads with you. I definitely am not here to disrupt the harmony of the forum, too many good people with lots of expertise advise in most facets of life.

 

If I did come across that way, I am sorry. Sometimes a lot of the questions are not explicit or I may not quite understand the actual intent. It is something that just happens. Sometimes what we are thinking and what we type out are not always the same. Nadja

 

No worries, it was all probably me.

 

Hi I am new here and not off grid but grid-tie. But have had solar for about 3 years.
As the others mentioned build toward expanding. I installed mine at 2 seperate times
These are the components that I am familar with:
1- Xantrex 4548 Inverter Charger
1- Xantrex XW SCC 60 Amp Charge Controller
18- Kyocera 205 Watt Panels
The next year
1- Xantrex 6048 Inverter Charger
2- Xantrex XW SCC Charge Controllers
36- REC 230 Watt Panels
Plan to go with the highest voltage your inverter will produce.
18 panels x 205w = 3690 total max watts divided 48 volts = 76 amps
A Charge controller is good for 60 amps and cost $500.00
18 panels x 205w = 3690 total max watts divided 24 volts = 153 amps
You will need 2 charge controllers.

 

Alright nadja, Andy, rsb, bt, and new guy;.....................................................I'm looking at moving to Colorado in may, most likely, solar only.. My fav property pic, is a solar only house already setup... Minus panels and batts....................................................I haven't yet perused the house with my own eyes (just standard realtor pics), but it looks like he set it up somewhat rightish, using RV propane/DC reefers and a pretty HD inverter...............................................
My questions for now are about batts and panels, wheres the best places to start looking for good deals on good equip (20+ yr / industrial rated stuff)? I have a tri-fuel genny, and also plan on using wind generators as well, if anyone has any recommendations for those...............
Once I get to the property in may, and can take more pics, I will have more specific questions concerning the setup and yalls recommendations on the matter. Will greatly appreciate any recommendations y'all can give me..............and uh, what's yalls thoughts of the effects of an emp blast on the panels and batts? Just curious..

 

Thanks BTPost, yeah, I can afford the system..
Its not an "alternative" that we are looking at, its going to be a "way of life".. lol

I figured it was going to be minimum of $10k, to get a good quality system.

I'm more looking for direction as to where to find the best products, and best prices. So that we only have to do this bulk purchase once, with as little regret as possible.

My wife's a degreed engineer, I'm in the engineering field, our nearby friends are engineers, and another good friend is an industrial electrician.. We are all jeepers and mechanically inclined.. I don't anticipate any "installation" costs..

 

LLC already setup, actually..
I quit my job in Dec and started my own company, and any improvements on the land will be for the operation of said company. Company needs electricity to operate, and then we can get greeny tax breaks, to continue providing a service in the hydrocarbon retrieval industry.. Gotta love irony.

The biz acct was a good call, hadn't crossed my mind yet.. thanx

 

Depends on how much you want to produce/use.

I've got about $30k in mine, to produce about 500kw/hrs/month, and the 1200amp/hr battery bank was basically free.

Emp effect on panels/batteries, I suspect little to none. Charge controller(s) and inverter(s), I suspect would be wiped out.....which, in effect, would mean the panels and batteries would be nearly useless. REALLY good prep would include spare CC/inverter at a minimum, in a Faraday box.

 

I was looking at 2 pallets of these sharp panels;
Solar Cell, Solar Panel, Solar PV, Solar Products, Charge Controllers, Solar Trackers

and maybe a stack of these batts;
Solar Cell, Solar Panel, Renewable Energy, Wind Energy, Charge Controller, Solar Trackers - Solar Cell, Solar Panel, Solar PV, Solar Products, Charge Controllers, Solar Trackers

with the batts, theres so many choices.. it will probably be a couple of months before I have a decision made on what would be best..

The solar panels are an easy choice, from what I gather, basically anything thats been in the biz for a while, not made exclusively in china?
kyocera and sharp are my top pics for quality right now, although these astroenergy's are pretty cheap
Solar Panels from Wholesale Solar

I would like to do it properly, the first time..
I wouldn't mind doing a little work and getting stuff for free, or inexpensively used, but, sometimes its just easier to buy new and set it up all at once.. This is if we purchase the property that is solar only.. Otherwise (gridded property) I will not need to have it all setup at once, and will probably take the piecemeal approach and tie the panels and batts in as I go..

I plan on having basic backup electrical controllers and converters, maybe not in a faraday box, but I do have a backhoe and plan on making good use of it.


I guess, I am asking for someone to tell me if I am on the right track or not..

 

Yep....those Absolytes are great batteries. I got 3 sets of them for 400 bucks, two new, one in float service about 5 years. About 30k worth of batteries based on the prices in your link. I would never have been able to afford them unless a buddy that works at a cell phone company that was selling out hit me with that deal.

 

You are on the right track. Those batteries should be great and panels also.
I bought my first group of Kyocera 205 watt from wholesale solar 3 years ago, prices have come down since then. What is your choice of inverter and charge controllers going to be. Backup inverters/ charge controllers in a faraday cage would wise if a guy had the money.

 

Thats a sweet deal on those batteries. I could use some more battery power. If he knows anyone around Louisiana selling some i would be interested. I saw a guy selling some similar on here from orlando, fl.

 

I havent even begun to look at controllers and inverters. Prolly will soon though.

Faraday cage, yeah, I got some ideas on that, implementing said ideas is another thing.. Lol

 

Solar power and EMP

I am considering installing a solar back-up system for living off the grid in the event of an economic collapse. The problem is that an EMP would render it useless. Any thoughts?

jreb357
SurvivalDisasterPlan.com

 

I would agree with BTPost on this all the way. I myself, have a back up inverter and two charge controllers that will soon be in a Faraday cage or box. I also stocked up on blocking diodes, which are the most likely thing to fail in a solar panel itself. Cheap now, but later, probably not even if you could find some. There has been so much about this that it is more confusing than anything else. I have a friend that is an electrical engineer with Nasa and he told me that all you need for the panels is the diodes (about $1.00 ea.) Now, panels all have different amounts on them . They are the little transistor looking things inside of your junction box on the back. They are to stop your panels from pulling power out of your batteries at night. In other words , a one way track

 

has anyone tested theirs against an EMP?
How do you separate fact from foist?
ccc..