Basic solar power part3

Submitted by Doug on 30 May, 2008 - 23:44.
Basic solar power part3

A pair of Trojan Type 24 deep cycle batteries and a Samplex 600 Watt pure sine wave inverter to make 110 Volt AC from the 12 Volt DC.

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DC

Submitted by thunderdial on 2 June, 2008 - 21:39.

Have you encountered DC versions of appliances in your research?

smaller stuff...

Submitted by Doug on 2 June, 2008 - 22:07.

these folks are good;

http://www.skingcompany.com/Cooking_and_Kitchen-c4.aspx

the larger stuff like freezers and refrigerators there are a few quality makers like :

http://www.sundanzer.com/Home.html

but they will thin your wallet real fast.

Anything in particular you're looking for?

-Doug

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate

Same thing you're looking

Submitted by thunderdial on 3 June, 2008 - 19:53.

Same thing you're looking for - to operate the whole shootin' match with our good friend, the sun. DC aside, on Fyl's behalf, I was thinking about what is a must have for a geek ranch. I have a mid-size APC UPS on my DSL modem and access point. My laptop is always charging. When a big storm comes and knocks out the power, there have been times I have been up and surfing the net for hours while the whole neighborhood is dark.

I could see a setup like yours keeping a low power infrastructure up for a while. It wouldn't work for the geek ranch if it has even a modest server operation. I bet you he's thinking about virtualization with ESX or Virtuoso with one mid-range to beefy server.

going 100% solar...

Submitted by Doug on 3 June, 2008 - 23:21.

is expensive, with the Geek Ranch usage, probably more than the land cost.

The panel and two batteries I have are running a small ice maker, charging two laptop batteries and a few lights.

You want to run off the sun so how about biomass to run a generator to charge batteries? Nature is great at converting sunlight to fuel. Chop it up and run it through an anaerobic digester, run everything on the methane it makes. Gas to cook on and heat water as well.

-Doug ©

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate

Cerveza Pacifico?

Submitted by rholmes on 1 June, 2008 - 11:01.

It looks like an important step involves a case of Cerveza Pacifico. Do the bottles need to be emptied as part of the process?

if you see someone who has lost their smile, give them one of yours

no Toña...

Submitted by Doug on 1 June, 2008 - 13:42.

it's my second choice for the vital Bottle Emptying Ritual. I try to practice daily...

-Doug

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate

Everything in the photo has a number

Submitted by Seybonazo on 31 May, 2008 - 09:40.

It must be for custom/declaration purposes? BTW Doug, where are you in your travels? I saw photos of the Consulate in San Francisco. Did you go back up north after coming to the Bay Area?

I am in wonderful Washington...

Submitted by Doug on 31 May, 2008 - 10:11.

still, I flew to SF to get paperwork done, late last year. The numbers are for customs, my "inventory from hell"...I loathe data entry, carpel tunnel syndrome in both hands just adds to the fun, that and I am a lazy layabout who can't stop finding that one last neat bit of equipment needed for the expedition. We still have to stop in SF one more time, the inventory and a few other documents need the stamps

Now that we have waited long enough to ensure our arrival in the rainy season, it must be near departure time. What fun would it be with 3 large dogs in a van for 3600 +- miles towing a 16 foot trailer if it wasn't raining...roads washing out..bridges gone..and of course we will have to get stuck in mud somewhere...better material for the book and video ;)

-Doug

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate

good post

Submitted by Che Guevara on 31 May, 2008 - 19:39.

and i am praying for you on the trip....

when government grows, liberty yields, thomas jefferson

thank you..

Submitted by Doug on 31 May, 2008 - 22:37.

we can use all the help we can get :)

-Doug

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate

What is the cost?

Submitted by bluewater on 31 May, 2008 - 07:48.

How much does it cost for the system you have in the photos and what will it energize? Thanks!

I shopped around..

Submitted by Doug on 31 May, 2008 - 08:43.

the batteries; 85 Amps @ 20 hours- 2 X $95

the inverter 600 Watts sine wave- $210

the 40 amp charge controller- $135

the 64 Watt solar panel-$300

breakers, disconnects, wire- $55

You don't want to discharge your batteries more than 50% so a realistic working load would be 85 Amps for 20 hours. I have this in a cargo trailer and will be used for lighting, charging various batteries and running a small ice maker.

I could have gone with a cheaper modified sine wave inverter, they run most things fine, the batteries I got hosed on , got them from a small local dealer. I have another charge controller that would have been fine for about $40 but this one is going on the farm system when we get there as it also handles load diversion for hydro and or wind charging, the solar panel was a great deal , a display model with a small dent, these panels won't break in hail storms or from flying rocks on the hiway, the dealer said they will still work with holes on them !

I have the same size panel on the farm now, that and a single slightly larger battery run 6 lights and charge the camera and computer batteries just fine. If you are trying to figure daily usage, there is a small meter called Kill-a-Watt that will track the consumption of anything plugged into it, very helpful

-Doug

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate

Great Information

Submitted by bluewater on 31 May, 2008 - 17:11.

Looks like you really shopped hard. What do you do to add more consumable energy, add panels and batteries? Thanks for a really useful post.

just spend more...

Submitted by Doug on 31 May, 2008 - 22:34.

money add panels and batteries as you need to. Ideally your battery bank should hold you for 3 or 4 days of average usage. That charge controller can handle 8 panels like I have, and the more batteries the better. The lower the discharge percentage the longer they last.

-Doug

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate