Posted by Jim Wilkins on July 24, 2015, 11:02 am
> On 7/22/2015 8:52 PM, Ron Rosenfeld wrote:
>> I suspect a fossil-fueled generator will be more cost-effective
>> than a solar powered battery bank.
>
> In most cases I agree, which is why I have a natural gas powered
> generator. That said, if you do the math you will see that over a
> long outage a fossil-powered generator can drink an amazing amount
> of fuel. Operated 24/7, my little Onan could easily give me a $000
> gas bill!
>
> Properly designed and thought out, a solar system can provide power
> year-around, not just during an outage. Mine isn't grid-tied, but
> it lights my yard lights year-round and supplies some of my home's
> internal lighting.
>
http://www.samlexamerica.com/products/ProductDetail.aspx?pid 1
"Preference is given to the solar panels and batteries as sources of
power and in the eventuality that these are inadequate; the load is
transferred to the utility power supply."
(Amazon.com product link shortened)
Posted by danny burstein on July 24, 2015, 5:39 pm
Exactly, pretty much, what I was looking for.
Thanks
--
_____________________________________________________
Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
dannyb@panix.com
[to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]
Posted by Jim Wilkins on July 24, 2015, 6:24 pm
I can do the same thing with my computer UPS at much lower cost by
watching the cheap backlighted digital meters I added to show battery
voltage, and plugging into the wall when they drop too far. A Harbor
Freight "45W" kit keeps the batteries topped up, independently of the
UPS.
Posted by ads on July 25, 2015, 8:52 pm
On Fri, 24 Jul 2015 14:24:43 -0400, "Jim Wilkins"
There are much cheaper sources than HF. I got two 12 volt 100 watt
panels from Sun Electronics for $00 and change each, including
shipping from Miami. These panels have a 20 year warranty.
You have to be on their mailing list to see what they have the best
deal on each week, but it's easy to delete the ones of no interest.
Ramsond has a 12 volt, 10 amp charge controller for abiout $0 (free
shipping).
With some careful shopping, you can get a 100 watt solar panel and a
decent charge controller for $20. That's twice the power for less
than the HF 45 watt system on sale.
Posted by Jim Wilkins on July 25, 2015, 10:43 pm
Have you measured the actual current from the panels into a 12V
battery?
I buy from HF because they have a retail store nearby where I can
return things too defective for me to repair. The solar kit was deeply
discounted for damage that didn't matter to me.
If I decide to expand I'll look elsewhere for more powerful panels,
but HF's neatly packaged one is easy to move around to measure the
results from various locations. My lot is heavily shaded by large
trees and there's no ideal place for panels, including on the roof. To
maximize current collection during a summer power outage I'd have to
move them four times a day. Winter isn't as bad without the leaves.
I prefer my home-made charge controller with voltage and current
meters and a maximum voltage pot I can lower to control hydrogen
generation indoors or raise to periodically equalize and desulfate the
cells outdoors. The HF kit doesn't really get into the hydrogen range
anyway, but it won't equalize an older flooded battery.
Gotta go solve a neighbor's battery problem.
-jsw
>> I suspect a fossil-fueled generator will be more cost-effective
>> than a solar powered battery bank.
>
> In most cases I agree, which is why I have a natural gas powered
> generator. That said, if you do the math you will see that over a
> long outage a fossil-powered generator can drink an amazing amount
> of fuel. Operated 24/7, my little Onan could easily give me a $000
> gas bill!
>
> Properly designed and thought out, a solar system can provide power
> year-around, not just during an outage. Mine isn't grid-tied, but
> it lights my yard lights year-round and supplies some of my home's
> internal lighting.
>