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Off grid solar power information?
#3320514
01/11/21 08:17 PM
01/11/21 08:17 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 18,757 .
ford150man
OP
Old Mossy Horns
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OP
Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 18,757
.
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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
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Re: Off grid solar power information?
[Re: ford150man]
#3320685
01/11/21 10:24 PM
01/11/21 10:24 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 25,626 Fayetteville TN Via Selma
jawbone
Freak of Nature
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Freak of Nature
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 25,626
Fayetteville TN Via Selma
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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.
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Re: Off grid solar power information?
[Re: ford150man]
#3320690
01/11/21 10:26 PM
01/11/21 10:26 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,404 Scottsboro, Al
jbatey1
Lucky Bastage
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Lucky Bastage
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,404
Scottsboro, Al
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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.
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Re: Off grid solar power information?
[Re: ford150man]
#3320691
01/11/21 10:27 PM
01/11/21 10:27 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34,204 Boxes Cove
2Dogs
Freak of Nature
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Freak of Nature
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34,204
Boxes Cove
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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.
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Re: Off grid solar power information?
[Re: 2Dogs]
#3320994
01/12/21 09:38 AM
01/12/21 09:38 AM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,641 Henry county
coldtrail
12 point
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12 point
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,641
Henry county
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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
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Re: Off grid solar power information?
[Re: ford150man]
#3321011
01/12/21 09:52 AM
01/12/21 09:52 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 9,111 B'ham
Goatkiller
14 point
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14 point
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 9,111
B'ham
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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.
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Re: Off grid solar power information?
[Re: ford150man]
#3321020
01/12/21 09:58 AM
01/12/21 09:58 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 12,047 Sylacauga, AL
poorcountrypreacher
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 12,047
Sylacauga, AL
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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.
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Re: Off grid solar power information?
[Re: coldtrail]
#3321027
01/12/21 10:05 AM
01/12/21 10:05 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34,204 Boxes Cove
2Dogs
Freak of Nature
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Freak of Nature
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34,204
Boxes Cove
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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.
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Re: Off grid solar power information?
[Re: Goatkiller]
#3321029
01/12/21 10:07 AM
01/12/21 10:07 AM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 13,971 Some Marriott/Auburn
AU7MM08
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 13,971
Some Marriott/Auburn
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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.
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Re: Off grid solar power information?
[Re: ford150man]
#3321135
01/12/21 11:49 AM
01/12/21 11:49 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,561 Hartselle, AL
trlrdrdave
14 point
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14 point
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,561
Hartselle, AL
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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
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Re: Off grid solar power information?
[Re: ford150man]
#3321256
01/12/21 01:28 PM
01/12/21 01:28 PM
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,434 Sumter County
sumpter_al
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,434
Sumter County
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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.
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Re: Off grid solar power information?
[Re: sumpter_al]
#3321261
01/12/21 01:34 PM
01/12/21 01:34 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 13,971 Some Marriott/Auburn
AU7MM08
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 13,971
Some Marriott/Auburn
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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?
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Re: Off grid solar power information?
[Re: bama_earl]
#3321315
01/12/21 02:36 PM
01/12/21 02:36 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 13,971 Some Marriott/Auburn
AU7MM08
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 13,971
Some Marriott/Auburn
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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.
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