Electricity Independent

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?

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

http://seeeco.com/prices/...

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

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.

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

can you give the date of the post

just wondering.

Thanks for posting!!

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.

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)

http://tinyurl.com/d7wo3e

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Talk to me in the winter..Your 20KW / day relates to 1 KW per hour .Not quite what is needed to run the normal household....! KW is not even a small electric heater, but it is something...This whole go green crap is nothing new ..It is simply 19 century source with 21 century tools..Let's go back to the 18 hundreds so China & the investers that abandoned America can have the use of OIL we will sacrifice to them..
*They have to do it LEGALLY
Good people make the difference, you-no

I think the most economical use for solar panels is hyrdrogen for cars..

In warm climates for heating water, all that is needed is a barrel of water, painted black and surrounded by glass for the sun to shine through. The black barrel draws heat from the sun, magnified by the glass, and since it is encased it holds the heat in for days.
grant

I live in Florida and checked into this Government rebate thing. The deal I heard was that you could get your rebate but you were not allowed to go off the grid because you are not allowed to get the batteries for system for storage or they will not pay you.

In other words, FPL, the local special interest group, would basically own your roof. And even with the rebate I figured it would take at least 15 years to get riembursed for your investment. It is as if FPL's power source is expanding and you are financing it.

If the power goes off, which it does frequenlty from too many overhead lines, trees, lightning, and hurricanes you are screwed too. That is no more independence at all to me.

Maybe I am completely mistaken. But this is why I did not do it.

Hello everyone,

For the DIY enthusiast, our website provides useful and much needed information aswell as a quality range of renewable energy products. Check it out:

Solar Panels

Keep up the good work!

I have seen solar systems come and go in my career, almost like a fad. in todays world, electricians and plumbers are not really into service work, my friend is travelling 75 miles in one direction today, to wire in an energy management system that the electrician can't figure out!
keep all of your nomenclature, it is not much good if it quits and nobody can figure out why! contact a commercial refrigeration guy if all else fails! or commercial heat and air.

" the important thing is to never stop questioning, curiousity, has it's own reason for existing..
Albert Einstien

for the DIY folks here. great sources of info, links and forums.
http://builditsolar.com/i...
http://www.otherpower.com...

pays for itself over time, but most of us don't have $42,000 laying around and don't want to borrow the money and give the banks interest on it. Just wondering if anyone has invented/sales cheaper working items.