[raybbr]

Bingo. However, you are talking wiring, and he's talking consumption. You're both correct.

I understand that. That means this guy's planning to consume only 15KW for a 5200sq/ft house? I don't buy it. If he's truly energy neutral he won't need a feed, right?

[mountn man]

Chances are he'll produce MORE energy than he's using. Power companies are required to buy back your excess (or credit you) so if he does require the utility's power, he ends up being neutral.

Every CIRCUIT in my house must be wired for 15 or 20 amps (except my 220 outlets). The wiring on my 15 amp circuits can handle 20 amps, but my circuit breaker is for 15 amps, the sole 60 watt lightbulb uses about 1/2 amp.

If I counted all my outlets, the wiring to each outlet would probably allow me to run 1000 amps. All the circuit breakers in the box allow me 200 amps. The wiring to the house could probably handle 300 amps.

Potential has nothing to do with usage. A single 60 watt bulb on an outlet able to carry 20 amps doesn't mean the bulb is using 20 amps.

Everything in my house and garage that are plugged in and ready to use would probably draw 400 amps, if they were all on at the same time (except the 200 amp main would pop). And yet occassionally I run over 100 amps.

The only reasons a 5200 sq/ft house uses more power than a 1600 sq/ft house is heating/cooling requirements and appliances lights being used.

A single person in a 5200 sq/ft house, living the same as if he/she were in a 1600 sq/ft house, would use no more electricity for lights/appliances, except if they left lights on in other rooms. If they have a washer or freezer or dishwasher, those appliances use the same electricty whether they are in a 1600 or 5200 sq/ft home.

Built correctly, a 5200 sq/ft home could have the same heating cooling requirement of a typical 1600 sq/ft home built 40 or 50 years ago. Negating extra energy usage.

15Kw usage for this house would mean he's got extra freezers in the house, leaves multiple tv's and lights on throughout the house, and works in the shop in his garage, all at the same time. (while washing and drying laundry).

[Travis T. OJustice]

Not correct, because high demand times aren’t usually times when his production will be at it’s peak. His overall consumption is what’s calculated, not peak. There will likely be time he has to draw from the grid, and time he will feed the grid.

If he was attampting “off the grid” total independence, he’d probably need more generating capacity or a good battery system.