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Off grid solar power information? #3320514
01/11/21 08:17 PM
01/11/21 08:17 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 18,757
.
F
ford150man Offline OP
Old Mossy Horns
ford150man  Offline OP
Old Mossy Horns
F
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 18,757
.
Does anyone have, or know of, a good source to learn about off grid solar power, that isn’t really just trying to sell me something? I know nothing about it but hope to one day have an off grid cabin, powered by solar. That’s my dream and the whole solar power thing just really interests me. Thanks.


If voting made any difference, they wouldn’t let us do it.-Mark Twain
Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: ford150man] #3320521
01/11/21 08:23 PM
01/11/21 08:23 PM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 13,971
Some Marriott/Auburn
A
AU7MM08 Offline
Booner
AU7MM08  Offline
Booner
A
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 13,971
Some Marriott/Auburn
Solar will eventually reach the point that it becomes a no brainer for those with even somewhat modest means.



Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: ford150man] #3320685
01/11/21 10:24 PM
01/11/21 10:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 25,626
Fayetteville TN Via Selma
jawbone Offline
Freak of Nature
jawbone  Offline
Freak of Nature
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 25,626
Fayetteville TN Via Selma
Stephen McLamb a reporter for one of the N.E. Alabama tv stations built a system for his house. Nice guy and would talk your ears off about it if given a chance. I have no idea what station he works for up there though. I followed along with his posts about it on Facebook.


Lord, please help us get our nation straightened out.
Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: ford150man] #3320690
01/11/21 10:26 PM
01/11/21 10:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,404
Scottsboro, Al
J
jbatey1 Offline
Lucky Bastage
jbatey1  Offline
Lucky Bastage
J
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,404
Scottsboro, Al
I’ve never studied them much, none at all actually.. but there can’t be much to them. Panels, some type of charger, batteries and an inverter of some kind. I’ll watch these videos when I get a few minutes. If it’s easy enough, I may do it to our cabin in Skyline one day. After deer season I’m gonna finish our geothermal install.


The fool tells me his reasons; the wise man persuades me with my own.
Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: ford150man] #3320691
01/11/21 10:27 PM
01/11/21 10:27 PM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34,204
Boxes Cove
2Dogs Offline
Freak of Nature
2Dogs  Offline
Freak of Nature
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34,204
Boxes Cove
If you have a stream or spring that runs year round , a hydro unit might do the job.



"Why do you ask"?

Always vote the slowest path to socialism.







Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: ford150man] #3320971
01/12/21 09:17 AM
01/12/21 09:17 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,886
Ozark , Alabama
B
BradB Offline
10 point
BradB  Offline
10 point
B
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,886
Ozark , Alabama
When the commies get going you should be able to buy one very inexpensively since the taxpayers will be paying for most of it.I will put one on my home in Bama if it becomes more cost effective.They will also probably force electric company to buy excess production which will make it more financially feasible.I want one because it would make a huge difference in my preparations for what’s coming because it would the be only thing left to take me off grid.I have a deep well, efficient fireplace in home and all the equipment needed to grow more food than I could eat.Add solar and I would be getting pretty self sufficient

Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: 2Dogs] #3320994
01/12/21 09:38 AM
01/12/21 09:38 AM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,641
Henry county
coldtrail Offline
12 point
coldtrail  Offline
12 point
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,641
Henry county
Originally Posted by 2Dogs
If you have a stream or spring that runs year round , a hydro unit might do the job.


I'm slowly working on one. Building a road right now. I'm thinking about building a water wheel and attaching a generator to it.


"And the days that I keep my gratitude
Higher than my expectations
Well, I have really good days" Ray Wylie Hubbard
Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: ford150man] #3321011
01/12/21 09:52 AM
01/12/21 09:52 AM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 9,111
B'ham
Goatkiller Offline
14 point
Goatkiller  Offline
14 point
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 9,111
B'ham

You know when the batteries crap out it no longer works, right? They tell you 15yrs. Plan on 5.


No government employees were harmed in the making of this mess.
Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: ford150man] #3321020
01/12/21 09:58 AM
01/12/21 09:58 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 12,047
Sylacauga, AL
poorcountrypreacher Offline
Booner
poorcountrypreacher  Offline
Booner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 12,047
Sylacauga, AL



Been using solar on a cabin since 2007. The original panels still work, but they are very inefficient compared to the newer ones.

It really isn't that complicated - the panels charge batteries, and you pull your power from the batteries. Use 12 volts for lights, and an inverter to provide 120 volts. You will still need a generator for times when the sun is limited, and use some other source for heating and cooling unless you are talking about installing a massive solar system.


All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: coldtrail] #3321027
01/12/21 10:05 AM
01/12/21 10:05 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34,204
Boxes Cove
2Dogs Offline
Freak of Nature
2Dogs  Offline
Freak of Nature
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34,204
Boxes Cove
Originally Posted by coldtrail
Originally Posted by 2Dogs
If you have a stream or spring that runs year round , a hydro unit might do the job.


I'm slowly working on one. Building a road right now. I'm thinking about building a water wheel and attaching a generator to it.


I've been looking at them , there are several companies make them for different applications. Mainly what the water source allows. If you have fall , you don't have a lot of volume for smaller units.



"Why do you ask"?

Always vote the slowest path to socialism.







Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: Goatkiller] #3321029
01/12/21 10:07 AM
01/12/21 10:07 AM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 13,971
Some Marriott/Auburn
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AU7MM08 Offline
Booner
AU7MM08  Offline
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Originally Posted by Goatkiller

You know when the batteries crap out it no longer works, right? They tell you 15yrs. Plan on 5.


Battery technology is going to make major improvements in coming years.
Lithium will be the next oil.

Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: ford150man] #3321061
01/12/21 10:47 AM
01/12/21 10:47 AM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 25,324
Tampa
B
Beer Belly Offline
Freak of Nature
Beer Belly  Offline
Freak of Nature
B
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 25,324
Tampa

Just think of a solar panel as a DC generator that only works when the sun is out and the power from it varies with the location of the sun during the day & by month & direction of the panel. You want them perpendicular to the sun, so the direction of your roof will have impact.

You need some sort of electrical storage
Then you need a back up for when it is cloudy for 3-4 days straight
You also need to convert it to AC for your house.

The solar panels are nothing, just mount them and wire them up. It is the energy storage that is difficult.


--------------
For what it is worth: I still agree with me!
A big man will stand up for himself; a great man will stand up for others.
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Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: ford150man] #3321088
01/12/21 11:05 AM
01/12/21 11:05 AM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,028
Hartselle, AL
G
ghost rabbit Offline
8 point
ghost rabbit  Offline
8 point
G
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,028
Hartselle, AL
Are there lithium battery setups for solar yet? I know they're more expensive but should last much longer

Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: ghost rabbit] #3321134
01/12/21 11:47 AM
01/12/21 11:47 AM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 13,971
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AU7MM08 Offline
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AU7MM08  Offline
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Originally Posted by ghost rabbit
Are there lithium battery setups for solar yet? I know they're more expensive but should last much longer


https://www.tesla.com/powerwall

Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: ford150man] #3321135
01/12/21 11:49 AM
01/12/21 11:49 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,561
Hartselle, AL
trlrdrdave Offline
14 point
trlrdrdave  Offline
14 point
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,561
Hartselle, AL
Don't forget the controller that goes between the panels and batteries. You have to regulate the voltage being delivered to the batteries. Even a small solar cell and a couple of batteries will run some LED lights for a long time. I wired a friends barn/camp/cabin up for LED that runs off 4 batteries in series/parallel and is charged by solar. If you never needed anything other than lights you would never need the generator. He got a generator that runs on LP gas and has gas appliances. He just got a PTO generator in case something happens where he can't get LP for a while. He stays there for weeks at a time in winter and only has to run the generator a couple hours once a week to charge the batteries if needed. He is working now on his underground tornado shelter. We have brainstormed some ideas for that that would impress most prepper geeks I'm sure.


"In time of war, send me all the Alabamians you can get, but in time of peace, for Lord's sake, send them to somebody else." General Edward H. Plummer

"Blessed are those who, in the face of death, think only about the front sight." Jeff Cooper
Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: ford150man] #3321256
01/12/21 01:28 PM
01/12/21 01:28 PM
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,434
Sumter County
sumpter_al Offline
10 point
sumpter_al  Offline
10 point
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,434
Sumter County
A friend has a off grid system. He uses a buck stove for heat, but he also installed radiant floor heaters in the kitchen and bathroom, Actually he installed in near the where the plumbing comes out of the VERY heavily insulated wall. That is for when he is not there to keep a fire burning. To keep pipes from freezing. That type of floor heater is very efficient.

He also adds an electric blanket to keep his bed warmer. His system will run all the lights and even a fridge.

As I said it is very well insulated with quality windows and doors. It has high ceilings and fans for the summer. Its actually quite comfortable year round.


I love my country, but don't trust my government.
Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: sumpter_al] #3321261
01/12/21 01:34 PM
01/12/21 01:34 PM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 13,971
Some Marriott/Auburn
A
AU7MM08 Offline
Booner
AU7MM08  Offline
Booner
A
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 13,971
Some Marriott/Auburn
Originally Posted by sumpter_al
A friend has a off grid system. He uses a buck stove for heat, but he also installed radiant floor heaters in the kitchen and bathroom, Actually he installed in near the where the plumbing comes out of the VERY heavily insulated wall. That is for when he is not there to keep a fire burning. To keep pipes from freezing. That type of floor heater is very efficient.

He also adds an electric blanket to keep his bed warmer. His system will run all the lights and even a fridge.

As I said it is very well insulated with quality windows and doors. It has high ceilings and fans for the summer. Its actually quite comfortable year round.


Is this this his full time house or strictly a weekend/hunting cabin?

Any idea what size panel and battery set up he is running?

Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: ford150man] #3321292
01/12/21 02:11 PM
01/12/21 02:11 PM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,961
Alabama
B
bama_earl Offline
8 point
bama_earl  Offline
8 point
B
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,961
Alabama
The biggest issue I see is the hot humid Alabama summers. How are you going to run a window unit or something on solar. I can get by without A/C for maybe 4 months a year in Alabama.

Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: bama_earl] #3321315
01/12/21 02:36 PM
01/12/21 02:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 13,971
Some Marriott/Auburn
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AU7MM08 Offline
Booner
AU7MM08  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 13,971
Some Marriott/Auburn
Originally Posted by bama_earl
The biggest issue I see is the hot humid Alabama summers. How are you going to run a window unit or something on solar. I can get by without A/C for maybe 4 months a year in Alabama.


Check out the first video I posted up above.
That property is here in Alabama.

Re: Off grid solar power information? [Re: ford150man] #3321358
01/12/21 03:26 PM
01/12/21 03:26 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 21,970
blount county alabama
jwalker77 Offline
Pumpkin
jwalker77  Offline
Pumpkin
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 21,970
blount county alabama
I can get you a fellows number who builds and installs them for a living. If you want it pm me

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