Anyone else without electricity?

Sitka wrote:

I wonder what it would cost to go solar off grid?   The pay back timeline may shorter than I think.

I've seen 4.5 KWH systems for about $9000.  If you have any experience pulling wire, installation doesn't seem all that difficult.  If the terms "inverter" and "transfer switch" are just so much gibberish, you'll want to secure the services of a licensed professional.

I have also seen subsidy and rebate programs.  My suspicion there is that you would purchase a solar power package from an island company who would do the install.  Expect the initial price to double, though you should recover some of that from the subsidy/rebate.

Rey is correct that you would want a battery.  When the grid is up, your solar panels will engage in "net metering" which means that if you produce more power than you use, your meter will run backwards.  In effect, your solar cells are just one more power generating plant contributing to the grid.  However, when the grid goes down, your solar cells will do nothing.  To fix this, you run the power through a battery.  In normal operation (with grid up) you do net metering.  When the grid goes down, you power your house off the battery and use your solar panels to keep the batteries charged.

The Tesla battery that Rey mentioned looks pretty good.  It's lithium, not lead cell, so no nasty gases.  If I recall, a battery runs about $5000.  Don't know how long they are expected to last.

In short, low-end cost looks to be about $15,000.

I plan on installing just such a system.  While the initial price is a little high, there's no need for a generator, and I expect my electric costs to be near zero (apart from the basic charge).  I'll also install a solar hot water heater, a cistern for potable water (through a reverse-osmosis filter) and greywater landscape irrigation.  My goal isn't to live "off-grid" but merely to be both economical and prepared for either service interruptions or price hikes.

Update: Found the link for that solar package.  http://www.solarelectricsupply.com/kyoc … lar-system

olddawgsrule wrote:

Especially for Rey, being I have now seen his view, I'd be thinking a Wind Generator.
Your open to the Easterly's that are fairly constant.
And since you have cloud cover on a daily basis (and the wind seems to be blowin' at night there), it looks to be a decent alternate.

Well, as long as you don't need a tall tower that is. That's where the real expense of a Wind Gennie is.

That is something to consider the main one is if the neighbors will make a fuzz about it or not. At that altitude (1,00 feed above sea level) wind is fairly constant at about 15 miles an hour mostly from the east. I will consider it when it is time, thanks.

Sitka wrote:

Interesting,  where can I get more info on this idea?

http://insideevs.com/cant-wait-afford-t … build-300/

Sitka wrote:

Interesting,  where can I get more info on this idea?

There's quite a few on YouTube;
This guy did a 7kwh for around $900 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzqf9_ … oJrmewEMsg
Lookup HB Powerwall, he has a bigger one going.

When my friend has his done, I'll post it up. I'm making a small version to learn by.
Costs to build and all.