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Preparedness

VIDEO: Solar Power for Beginners

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I’ve dabbled a bit into solar and love it. When it comes to time efficiency not much beats a solar system of any size that works all day long for you – while you put your time elsewhere.

This video does a good job explaining what a solar system is and how it is put together. A couple things I have learned:

  1. Solar is useful for charging batteries – rather than running anything directly.
  2. Anything that turns or moves uses A LOT of power.

Solar continues to get less expensive and entire home systems are often available with substantial tax breaks. My own efforts have targeted smaller self-contained systems.

A Few Solar Options…..
 

     
 

     
 

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7 Comments

  1. goingray58 says:

    I’m putting in solar on my critter building this weekend. Pretty simple and self contained with LED bulbs. Walking out to do critters into buildings that are dark is not much fun in the winter. Either a big dog or a hog tore open my quail pen and killed and or let them all out. (incubating more), but we will have one solar light with motion sensor in that area. We will have a BBQ and or someone will be short a dog .. this is third time. Done!
    Imagine if you were depending on that for food ?

    I have recently sourced all my wire and connectors and JUST got in my crimper to tie together all my batteries about 30 of them (AGM). I’ll keep batteries charged with AC if the grid is on. Then back feed if the grid goes down. 12/24VDC appliances are by far more efficient that converting trough and inverter, even a pure sine inverter, but voltage over distance dissipates pretty quickly. Something to think about … and not an inexpensive thing if totally off-grid. Most will need to make sacrifices for what is nonessential. I am almost of the opinion that asking a pro to do a quote and then working from there might make more sense.. at least for perspective and ideas. Our electric supplier will not allow the sale of surplus electric back to the their grid. Some places do and you can make a profit, or build up a large balance on the electric side of the house.
    Our bags to have fold out chargers. Eventually it’d be good to have batteries in a mobile configuration.
    GG58

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  2. CaptTurbo says:

    It’s all about the size gentlemen. My 10.12 kWh system can run the 4 ton AC, and the dryer, with a turkey in the oven while pushing the meter backwards. Go big or go home. lol!!! My battery system is 48 volt. My hybrid inverters are Sunny Island 5000s and they transfer the load to the roof or battery bank in a nano second if the grid so much as hiccups or farts. The transition is do fast and so clean that my computer screen won’t even flicker.

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  3. keebler says:

    I’ve had some sort of solar for 20+ years any where from 5–20 watts keep my vehicle battery’s charged, on the dash Face the vehicle south, feedback to Cigarett lighter socket (Fused), on the tool shed a 20 watt on the roof to a (U1) lawnmower start Battery in a battery box , W/ mt.$19.99 to Led lights (add fuses) & switch for safety.NOT hard wired. I use alligator clips. for fire safety. several Yard lights that can be brought in in a Power Failure.

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  4. Firehawk says:

    Just a safety note here. They have found solar on the roof of a house is a safety hazzard to firemen. Shut it off and it still holds a charge that can electrocute firemen.
    When I install it will be seperate from the house.

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  5. keebler says:

    12,/24 volts DC will NOT kill you./electrocute you. solar panels have shorting Diodes built in them (short circuit) diode opens. thus NO output. fuses are also required on commercial Feed back systems. see National Electric Code.

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  6. Firehawk says:

    Sorry the info on the panels was supplied by the Boston Fire Dept. after such a fire occured and a fireman was electorcuted. The power had been shut off. Remember water is involved in putting out fires.

    Reply

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