Posted on 12/31/2021 4:10:30 AM PST by george76
I’m in MO and I’m putting in a small solar backup system.
Just enough to run LED lights, a computer, fans..etc.
I’m installing quite a few panels as there will only be a few hours a day to charge the LiFePO4 battery bank (600ah) so they will be getting hit with a charge current of 200+amps. I tested that and they do warm up a bit, that will shorten their lifespan some but it is what it is. I am building my own switching charge controller as the off the shelf chargers are overpriced and under-performing.
I do have enough power to run my microwave or the washing machine... those are a must! My inverter is 3kw and pure sine wave....looks better on the scope than the power company waveform does, even under load.
My panel efficiency is about 22% and I get a bit less than 6amps from each of the new panel. I have some old panels I salvaged from a Dept of Energy array in NM but they are old and I only get 3.5amps from each of them.
Solar power isn’t useless but it also is not the miracle cure for our power needs that its supporters say it is.
” Even under perfect conditions, the solar panels in use today can only convert a maximum of 30% of the sunlight that strikes a panel into electricity.
70% of the sun’s energy is in wave lengths that cannot be converted to electricity by current technology.”
True, but they do take that much into account. Their starting point for efficiency is 1000 Watts/sq-meter (total power from sun after passing through atmosphere, directly overhead).
From that, typical Solar Arrays for Ground Use have an efficiency of 20% of above number, so 200 Watts/sq-meter. There are more efficient cells (probably up to that 30% number), but the cost is through the roof, so not worth considering.
So figure never more than 200 Watts/square meter of panel space (about 20 Watts/sq-ft), and you’ll have your best day if pointed perfect and the sun being close to directly overhead. Otherwise, you go down from there...
“3. Runs my 110V circuits every night using no power from the grid. (Battery discharges about 20% at night to run these circuits)”
What about a/c? My power usage is miniscule (literally $2.00 a day) up until I turn on the central a/c. Will your solar handle that?
Are you running a 48vdc system?
Battery prices are coming down, I just got some 100ah units for 320.00 and free ship... good BMS boards but they lack low temp shutoff.
Was going to buy 400ah rack-mount batteries but they were always out of stock.
Excellent post.
I have been looking at small wind generators. There’s lots of You Tube info because in Europe/UK and India it is a big deal. It’s easy to make a very good and inexpensive vertical blade rotor to turn a small generator. The problem is making the generator but not to worry, there are several for sale on line.
In my case, I have a space that has wind nearly always. The generator will turn slowly at times and then faster at other times.
I can easily keep deep charge batteries up to max for when the power goes out. I have about decided not to make the effort because I have a battery charger invertor battery system that can produce enough to get by in my van
I guess snow will eventually slide off of a sloped panel (although any ice under the snow will take a while to go away). For flatter installations (which won’t give you much in winter anyway) I’m not sure I would want some teenager slamming a snow shovel on those panels, as I doubt they’re made for that.
So you do your best to lightly brush off the snow from an area you can reach, while your neighbor on the grid simply walks into his house after work. Kind of gives you that same “why” feeling as buying a Tesla. Lots of fun talking about it, but your neighbor gets to walk inside after work while you have to drag out a heavy cord after work and plug it in.
The old folks are not the problem. As I’ve said it’s the suburban housewife.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
I think you are spot-on. I live in west suburbs of Chicago. 2 of the 3 houses near me have solar panels on the roof. Those same 2 of 3 have:
1. “Hate has no home here signs” out front
2. Inhabitants are divorced single moms with their kids
I suggest the 2 “woke” families both go the lesbian route (probably are anyway) and shack up and save even more cash. Is there any doubt how they vote?
Not necessary...the full energy usage of the US can be done with an area of solar cells 50 miles by 50 miles (and that includes the day-night cycle). The problem is storage and transmission, not collection. I looked this up years ago, so the numbers have probably changed (cell efficiency up, cost down and so forth).
Africa may not have all that sunshine if Gates (you know, Fauci’s good buddy) has his way and can figure out how to cloud the sun.
Hard to argue your point about suburban women.
By the way, a good check on these women to see if they’re really conservative, or are faking it is the following:
Ask them if they’d be good to going back to the days before women voted or could hold office.
If they say yes, then they’re real conservatives, as they see putting the needs of the country as more important than ‘their rights’. If they say no, then they’re still tribal (feminists), even though they may really think they’re conservative.
“Something tells me there outta be a law saying all contracts over $50 signed by people of a certain age need to be approved by concerned citizens. Especially if they live alone.”
Some version of that is not a bad idea - after all, we do it for kids. There has to be some risk for the scammer in signing up people who may not be otherwise competent to read through their schemes.
Bookmark
Tesla promised that...
“Additionally, all our Supercharger energy will be 100% renewable in 2021.”
https://electrek.co/2021/04/27/tesla-power-all-superchargers-with-renewable-energy-this-year/
Well, they still have a few hours left to make good on their promise. I’m sure they’ll do it. /s
““Additionally, all our Supercharger energy will be 100% renewable in 2021.””
LOL. They do have solar panels on top. I once counted the panes to figure out their generation. I think the station had 16 Superchargers. My estimation was that the solar panels could charge 1.25 cars, and then only if:
1. Daytime, near solar noon
2. No clouds
3. Summer (roof is flat)
The rest of the time, forget it.
Would be interesting to ask the customers gawking at the rooftops how much of their power they think are coming from the panels.
Banks and credit cards have a great many security features that were not available in the past.
If an unusual charge goes through on one of his credit cards or ATM, or a check is written for an unusual amount, the security computers jump right on that.
The bank or card company will call him or text him immediately, and in some cases will block the transaction while it is happening.
The major things to watch for are new credit cards, or a new bank account, or a loan that is not his.
If someone uses your Dad's credit card or bank checks, your Dad is not liable as long as the issue is discovered and reported in a timely fashion.
If someone takes out a loan or gets a credit card in your Dad's name, your Dad has no liability, but it might ding his credit report for a couple months while you clear up the problem.
I advise watchful waiting for a couple weeks before you do anything.
Maybe give the solar salesman a call. If he knows one of the children is paying attention to this scam, he will look for easier undefended victims.
He can’t.
Thanks, yes that has happened a few times with me after making big purchases on my credit card they locked it until I called to confirm. Well that’s a relief. Thanks
So why put them up in places where they don’t work like the northern states, North Europe etc.? That’s where most are going up.
I agree there are places where solar makes sense, but the green energy cabal has no discernment... because their mission is not about providing the source of energy that makes the most sense for a particular location but to advance and impose their anti fossil fuel agenda.
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