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Electricity Independent

Submitted by stockoneder on Tue, 03/03/2009 - 14:06
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I made the decision to safeguard my family due to the unraveling of our economy by installing a 4.3 kw solar photo-voltaic system
on my roof. It is now up and running and producing over 20 kws per day. Here is a link http://righttoreason.blogspot.com/
to pictures, facts and stats for anyone who has been thinking about doing this. As an investment due to state and federal incentives it is a no-brainer.
Best of all no matter what happens to the grid I will have power always. I am electricity independent.

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If there is a prolonged grid-down situation,

Submitted by McClarinJ on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 12:06.

you will need to take precautions.

Many who invest in photovoltaic systems just have grid tie-ins and skip the cost of a battery bank, inverter, controller, etc. Such systems are great as long as the grid is in operation but there are many potential causes of grid failure that would leave such an investment next to useless. Let's assume you have a stand-alone PV system. What issues might arise during grid-down?

First, there will be a festering, growing resentment on the part of those who are without power. If you have close neighbors, will you allow them to run extension cords over to their house? If not, what do you expect their reaction will be? Some are driven to destroy what they cannot have.

Second, will thieves try to steal your solar panels when nobody is home, or possibly at night when all are asleep?

Third, gangs will coalesce within a few days of grid-down specifically targeting likely caches of food, fuel, and other supplies. A roof covered with solar panels will advertise the presence of someone with the foresight to be prepared. They will figure you've got plenty of food at a minimum and begin laying plans to seize it by force via armed home invasion. Some of these gangs will have no compunction over killing you.

I'm not suggesting that solar electricity is a bad idea. I have my own working system and am building more solar panels to expand it. I'm just saying there is a huge potential security issue that all are advised to address. What can you do to safeguard your panels from theft? What can you do to protect yourself from home invasion? What will your policy be toward neighbors? Can you shut off all outdoor receptacles to thwart rebellious neighbors from plugging in a cord for their freezer while you're away or asleep? Will you incorporate more effective electronic surveillance/detection into your solar-electric system?

My Blog:
http://horizonscanblog.blogspot.com/

—

New Hampshire and Ecuador

I realize having solar

Submitted by stockoneder on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 10:50.

I realize having solar panels will make me a target in the event of a breakdown but I am willing and able to defend myself. Have made arrangements with people I know and trust who will also fight, to come to my house as a fall-back position and defend it with me.
Not in a real heavily populated either. We shall see how it goes down. In the meantime I made a good investment and am happy with my system.

Awesome!

Submitted by Black Ops on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 10:31.

Thanks for sharing. Loved seeing the meter spin backwards. lol.

I did too. The power company

Submitted by stockoneder on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 10:38.

I did too. The power company came and took that meter and replaced it with a digital one. All it shows now is kwhs used from teh grid and kwhs sent to the grid. I like my old one a lot better.
Don't trust the new one.

That doesn't include labor,

Submitted by stockoneder on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 10:41.

That doesn't include labor, permit, mounting racks, hardware, batteries, wiring etc. Adding batteries increased the cost quite a bit but it gave me the independence from the grid which was a big factor in deciding to get a system. Also in my state in order to get the rebate the system must be installed by a licensed contractor.

This, in my opinion, is a very smart move.

Submitted by jgar on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 09:52.

I can't imagine why you wouldn't do this if you have the money.

—

Ron Paul 2012
www.josiahgarber.com/blog
www.heirloomgardenpro.com
www.mennonitesforronpaul.com

I agree that . . .

Submitted by 1988vote on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 11:26.

it's hard to be awake; it's easier to dream--

if you have the money, this is a wise thing to do.

Unfortunately, I don't know very many people who have had difficult enough experiences in life to be politically 'awake' who have the money for it--

but my hat is off; I admire this.

:)

—

it's hard to be awake; it's easier to dream--

Yeah, right.

Submitted by RS on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 09:02.

4.3 kW? That's an odd size.

A 4.3 kW unit would cost most people about $35,000. The pay back would be around 35 years....if....and that's a big IF the panels last that long. That's not too good considering most panels are rated for 20 years.

You're electricity "independent" so long as you have those wretched short lived deep cycle batteries and have sun light. If you send excess electricity back into the grid the utility company will only credit your account for the excess generated (based on kWh rate base production) and not pay you for the electricity produced from your site.

If you really did install a PV system you can thank all of us for giving you our money to help pay for your panels.

4.32kw. 20 -216 watt

Submitted by stockoneder on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 09:22.

4.32kw. 20 -216 watt panels.
You didn't read carefully enough. After rebate and tax credits cost to me is less than 13,000. Makes about $1000 worth of electricity per year and the value of my house increased by close to the total cost of the system. Panels have 25 year warranty.
Yes my batteries will have to be replaced in 6 to 7 years. By then I should be able to get more efficient, cheaper batteries as technology improves them.
I get credit for the excess power I produce which I use later(like during night)
I really did install the system. Go to my blog and see the pictures:
http://righttoreason.blogspot.com/2009/03/solar-pv-system-up...
You didn't pay for my system at all. I have paid well over 400k in extorted taxes at gunpoint by state and federal government thugs. Getting a little back is peanuts compared to what was stolen from me.
By the way you are an ass.

In a way, your use of the

Submitted by freedomfan08 on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 10:15.

In a way, your use of the credits reminds me of how Ron Paul will seek federal funds for his district and then vote against it. The money has already been stolen, and he might as well try to get it for his constituents. I have no problem with you helping yourself get a little back from what was stolen from you.

Yeah, right- Part 2

Submitted by RS on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 09:36.

Our tax dollars were stolen from us and given to you for your system.

We're supposed to applaud?

What a

Submitted by Black Ops on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 10:39.

waste. Get real and get in the battle and quit whining like a little child.

Just remember, there's no such thing as "tax dollars"

Submitted by MikeLawson on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 10:32.

You give your time to the lords, that's all. Dollars were something our great-grandparents had.

—

Explore Orthodox Christianity

I don't seek your approval

Submitted by stockoneder on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 10:24.

I don't seek your approval or your applause. I bet I have had far more stolen from me than you have. Unless you live in florida It wasn't any of "your money" since it is a state rebate. And the 30% federal tax credit is a credit against more taxes "owed."
Again none of "your money."
Not my fault you can't afford a system.

I am going to put a system in too.

Submitted by jgar on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 09:49.

Early 2010. 3.5-4Kw System. Getting your tax dollars back is not a bad idea.

—

Ron Paul 2012
www.josiahgarber.com/blog
www.heirloomgardenpro.com
www.mennonitesforronpaul.com

Why wouldn't you try to get

Submitted by stockoneder on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 10:26.

Why wouldn't you try to get back some of the money that was stolen from you? That is perfectly moral.

bump

Submitted by highwithaltitude on Sun, 07/05/2009 - 15:27.

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you, then you win!"
GANDHI

—

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you, then you win!"
GANDHI

not seeing it on the link

Submitted by ladalang on Sun, 07/05/2009 - 14:39.

can you give the date of the post

No increase in taxes since

Submitted by stockoneder on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 08:51.

No increase in taxes since you are supporting the "green" agenda.
Solar improvements are tax-exempt in my state.

Interesting. I haven't

Submitted by john2k on Sun, 07/05/2009 - 18:09.

Interesting. I haven't thought about this, but I wouldn't be surprised if it would result in an increase in property taxes which basically zeroes out any financial benefit/savings of getting off the grid.

—

...

I don't know about my being off the grid

Submitted by hopefulfilled on Sun, 07/05/2009 - 18:53.

and taxes, but I found out that when the assessor came to assess my house, and found out that despite a shower, washer hookup, and sinks, etc, because I only had a compost toilet, they wrote down that I didn't have running water, and therefore my taxes are low. The compost toilet was going to be temporary but maybe not, if my taxes will stay very low.....

Great information!

Submitted by truthy on Sun, 07/05/2009 - 13:52.

Thanks for posting!!

I've been studing energy effecient building for 30 years.

Submitted by Ralph Waldo on Sun, 07/05/2009 - 11:49.

The three most cost effective things I have found are:

1. Make your home as air tight as possible. Due to air infiltration, most homes have between 2-5 air changes per hour where they should have between 1.5 ACH or less.

2. Thermal Mass - If you take a steak and a loaf of bread out of the freezer to let them thaw out, the bread will thaw out five times faster than the steak - because it lighter and has less mass to change temperature. Having mass inside your home, be it by brick, water or furniture will store "comfort zone" temperatures and help keep the inside temperture in the "comfort zone".

3. Energy effecient appliances and light bulbs.

the thing about

Submitted by troy on Sun, 07/05/2009 - 12:22.

the thing about air infiltration is that sealing your house up makes it so that the toxins can't escape, either. a standard house is made out of pretty toxic stuff. your carpets and insulation aren't the greatest things in the world. not to mention new furniture, and other kitchen cleaners.

there's a method of heating and cooling your house that basically doesn't cost any money at all.

it's called geothermic cooling. all you do is dig a hole in the ground and put a fan at the entry in to your house. this is because the ground is warm when its cool out, and cool when its warm out -- so you will always be blowing nice temperature air into your house without the expensive stuff.

You are right there can be toxins in a home that can cause

Submitted by Ralph Waldo on Sun, 07/05/2009 - 12:52.

problems but sealing a house up to where it has less than one air change per hour, which is where the toxin problem comes in - is very difficult to do. The best methodology is to use a blower door test to find the small cracks and air leaks. When you add all of those up, they can amount to a large gaping hole in your wall.

I have do some geothermal techniques. No doubt the earth keeps a steady state temperature 10' down, the biggest challenge is dealing with the humity.

water is toxic

Submitted by Conspiracy_Elitist on Sun, 07/05/2009 - 14:30.

And so is prolonged exposure to oxygen, that is what aging is all about.

oh, yeah

Submitted by troy on Sun, 07/05/2009 - 12:41.

and the best part is you get nice earth-filtered air introduced into your house -- not the toxic stuff.

Well done.

Submitted by Brit4RonPaul on Sun, 07/05/2009 - 11:03.

Keep us all updated and let us know how much money you're saving!

"I believe the true significance of the Gold Commission is that the politicians and central bankers were so alarmed at such a thing that they made sure it was packed by an array of Keynesians and monetarists." (Ron Paul 1985)