Post by mistermic on Sept 5, 2011 3:55:56 GMT -6
With a little thought and ingenuity you could make your own power like me, and store it too. Here are a few things to look at, and consider.
Windgenerators:
www.windenergy.com/
I have two of these, they work great!
And I have one of these as well:
www.affordable-solar.com/store/solar-panels/Kyocera-KD240GX-LPB-240W-Solar-Panel
There are many different types and voltages and sizes of batteries, I use two types, marine deep cycle 12 volt. Four of them, and also four 6 volt fork lift batteries wired to make 13.7 volts. SO, two different battery banks each independent of the other. One is charged by just one wind generator, and the other is charged by a wind gen AND the solar panel in the picture. Which makes for plenty of power. Wiring configuration: Series, Parallel which doubles the voltage. 6 to 12 volts but the actual voltage when measured is 13.7 volts roughly, which is fine for most 12 volt applications.
Make sure you have adequate ventilation for your battery bank and keep them cool as well. Basement applications or the garage are good places to setup the bank. Charging batteries produce explosive gases so be careful and vent, vent, vent!
What is a solar charge controller?
Why do I need one?
A charge controller, or charge regulator is similar to the voltage regulator in your car. It regulates the voltage and current coming from the solar panels going to the battery. Most "12 volt" panels put out about 16 to 20 volts, so if there is no regulation the batteries will be damaged from overcharging. Most batteries need around 14 to 14.5 volts to get fully charged.
Do I always need a charge controller?
Not always, but usually. Generally, there is no need for a charge controller with the small maintenance, or trickle charge panels, such as the 1 to 5 watt panels. A rough rule is that if the panel puts out about 2 watts or less for each 50 battery amp-hours, then you don't need one.
For example, a standard flooded golf car battery is around 210 amp-hours. So to keep up a series pair of them (12 volts) just for maintenance or storage, you would want a panel that is around 4.2 watts. The popular 5 watt panels are close enough, and will not need a controller. If you are maintaining AGM deep cycle batteries, such as the Concorde Sun Xtender then you can use a smaller 2 to 2 watt panel.
Some of the solar panels come with the wiring and the charge regulators if bought in a "kit". The windgens have the charge regulator built in.
It is expensive to first get started and buy all the accoutrements needed, for example I have just about $5,000.00 invested in everything but after about 3-5 years it (the systems) pays for itself.
Batteries last for years if you keep checking the water levels, and the solar panels should last about 50 yrs. The windgens are manufacturer guaranteed for 3 yrs. And replacement blades are $100.00 a set of three. Blades should last about 10 years even in the sun.
Here is how you convert D.C. power to A.C. power so you can plug in your lamps and a microwave oven, radio, etc.
www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100644927&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=100644927&ci_kw={keyword}&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googleads-_-pla-_-100644927&ci_gpa=pla&locStoreNum=4702
I have two of these 1,000 watt inverters and a 400 watt inverter that runs a laptop and a small LED lamp. You can run quite a few things on two, kilowatt inverters. I even mow my lawn with a Sears electric lawnmower plugged into an inverter (takes almost the whole 1,000 watts too LOL)
LED lights:
www.ledtronics.com/
They come in a variety of bases and voltages.
www.ledlight.com/12-volt-led-lights.aspx
Hooking all this up is easy if you go slow and pay attention to detail, OR have a friend who is a hamradio operator or a handyman/electrician? Buy them dinner and a bottle of their favorite hootch and get started. There is also a ton of material about solar and wind power on UTUBE, so take advantage of that as well.
SOOOO, be safe and have fun being semi-independent from the power company, and if the power does go out you will have what you need to get by for a week or two.
PEACE!
Windgenerators:
www.windenergy.com/
I have two of these, they work great!
And I have one of these as well:
www.affordable-solar.com/store/solar-panels/Kyocera-KD240GX-LPB-240W-Solar-Panel
There are many different types and voltages and sizes of batteries, I use two types, marine deep cycle 12 volt. Four of them, and also four 6 volt fork lift batteries wired to make 13.7 volts. SO, two different battery banks each independent of the other. One is charged by just one wind generator, and the other is charged by a wind gen AND the solar panel in the picture. Which makes for plenty of power. Wiring configuration: Series, Parallel which doubles the voltage. 6 to 12 volts but the actual voltage when measured is 13.7 volts roughly, which is fine for most 12 volt applications.
Make sure you have adequate ventilation for your battery bank and keep them cool as well. Basement applications or the garage are good places to setup the bank. Charging batteries produce explosive gases so be careful and vent, vent, vent!
What is a solar charge controller?
Why do I need one?
A charge controller, or charge regulator is similar to the voltage regulator in your car. It regulates the voltage and current coming from the solar panels going to the battery. Most "12 volt" panels put out about 16 to 20 volts, so if there is no regulation the batteries will be damaged from overcharging. Most batteries need around 14 to 14.5 volts to get fully charged.
Do I always need a charge controller?
Not always, but usually. Generally, there is no need for a charge controller with the small maintenance, or trickle charge panels, such as the 1 to 5 watt panels. A rough rule is that if the panel puts out about 2 watts or less for each 50 battery amp-hours, then you don't need one.
For example, a standard flooded golf car battery is around 210 amp-hours. So to keep up a series pair of them (12 volts) just for maintenance or storage, you would want a panel that is around 4.2 watts. The popular 5 watt panels are close enough, and will not need a controller. If you are maintaining AGM deep cycle batteries, such as the Concorde Sun Xtender then you can use a smaller 2 to 2 watt panel.
Some of the solar panels come with the wiring and the charge regulators if bought in a "kit". The windgens have the charge regulator built in.
It is expensive to first get started and buy all the accoutrements needed, for example I have just about $5,000.00 invested in everything but after about 3-5 years it (the systems) pays for itself.
Batteries last for years if you keep checking the water levels, and the solar panels should last about 50 yrs. The windgens are manufacturer guaranteed for 3 yrs. And replacement blades are $100.00 a set of three. Blades should last about 10 years even in the sun.
Here is how you convert D.C. power to A.C. power so you can plug in your lamps and a microwave oven, radio, etc.
www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100644927&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=100644927&ci_kw={keyword}&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googleads-_-pla-_-100644927&ci_gpa=pla&locStoreNum=4702
I have two of these 1,000 watt inverters and a 400 watt inverter that runs a laptop and a small LED lamp. You can run quite a few things on two, kilowatt inverters. I even mow my lawn with a Sears electric lawnmower plugged into an inverter (takes almost the whole 1,000 watts too LOL)
LED lights:
www.ledtronics.com/
They come in a variety of bases and voltages.
www.ledlight.com/12-volt-led-lights.aspx
Hooking all this up is easy if you go slow and pay attention to detail, OR have a friend who is a hamradio operator or a handyman/electrician? Buy them dinner and a bottle of their favorite hootch and get started. There is also a ton of material about solar and wind power on UTUBE, so take advantage of that as well.
SOOOO, be safe and have fun being semi-independent from the power company, and if the power does go out you will have what you need to get by for a week or two.
PEACE!