Solar Panels

20194 Views 57 Replies 22 Participants Last post by Viking, Jan 30, 2021

TechAdmin

Discussion Starter · Oct 18, 2008

Anyone running solar panels?

If so please tell us what brand, how much, where you bought them from and how much energy they produce.

Would love to hear feedback from solar users.

1 - 20 of 58 Posts

netandtim

· #2 · Oct 18, 2008

I've done some research into solar panels for the farm. Pretty good link is

www.builditsolar.com

I've also read through some alt power forums to read first hand experiences.
Always something to learn.

NaeKid

· #3 · Oct 18, 2008

I have several solar panels - some are small and good for keeping the charge up in a vehicle battery if it isn't running daily. The small ones are 1.5watt and use a small two-pole connector.

My 3 larger solar panels are 13watt each and I connect them via power-ports (cigarette lighter style) to my trailer. They are good enough for keeping my batteries topped up and my electric cooler and furnace going for days and days - as long as the propane in my tanks hold out.

I am planning on adding a 1000 watts worth of panel to my trailer and doing a triple-battery system with isolators between them so that I can put a small electric heating blanket around my water tanks so that they don't freeze up in the cold of winter.

TechAdmin

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 18, 2008

Have you looked into costs Naekid for the 1000w panel or know which brand your going to buy?

NaeKid

· #5 · Oct 19, 2008

Dean said:
Have you looked into costs Naekid for the 1000w panel or know which brand your going to buy?

The 1000w solar panel retails for around $1000 (cad) which includes the control systems so that you don't boil the batteries dry. With the 1000w panel, it should provide sufficient power to run small inverters directly without using a 12v deep-cycle battery in the middle.

For my next house, I plan on running several solar panels to 12-volt deep-cycle batteries which will power my whole house in the same way that RV living can be powered for years via batteries and solar re-generation. I also plan on harnessing wind-power as the prairie winds could keep the house charged most of the time.

TechAdmin

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 19, 2008

Have you found a retailer yet for the 1000w panel?

NaeKid

· #7 · Oct 20, 2008

Dean said:
Have you found a retailer yet for the 1000w panel?

Virtually every RV shop in and around Calgary carries solar panels and the control systems. Solar energy is very big here in Canada - combined with super bright LED lighting systems, you can light your house for days on a single charge. The RV shop that I got my Evolution E1 trailer from is called RV Lifestyles .. again, a local retailer. Go to their on-line store and start looking around page 911 to 913 to see some of the stuff that they have on their site.

There is a company that makes LED based lighting combined with solar panels for bus-shelters. Another company that makes road-way signs that, again, use solar panels to give motorists messages as they drive past (Solar-Tech is the manufacturer). Another company makes solar-powered intersection turn-signals ...

Finally - there is a system that I found out about (have their brochure around here somewhere) that is an automatic power-system-controller. What it does is reads the voltages on the battery system and will take power from the solar panels first to charge up the battery system. If it is too dark for too long, it will fire up a self-contained generator for just as long as it is needed to charge up the battery system, then shut it back down again.

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Lowdown3

· #8 · Oct 28, 2008

1000 WATT panels? Sure you don't mean 100 watt?

Lowdown3

· #9 · Oct 28, 2008

Youtube video series talking about AE systems specially geared towards survivalists

Parts 4 and 5 show a basic system you can put together for around $2,000. which is VERY CHEAP as far as real AE systems go.

Lowdown3

NaeKid

· #10 · Oct 29, 2008

Lowdown3 said:
1000 WATT panels? Sure you don't mean 100 watt?

I have to visit my RV dealership tomorrow anyway - I'll take a picture of their display showing the solar panel and the systems that go with it. If I remember correctly, it stated 1,000watt (but, I could be wrong).

Last Mohican

· #11 · Oct 30, 2008

FYI

Just outside of Philly ( Fair Hills ) they are getting ready to hook up 14 acres worth of highly efficient solar panels to help power the city and surrounding areas. I think it was around 2,000 or so panels. I made the stancions at work to hold those panels up this past summer. Pretty big project. We are supposed to be working on a much larger solar project if we get the contract. I've also made solar panel mounts that attach to existing roof structures.

NaeKid

· #12 · Oct 30, 2008

Last Mohican said:
FYI

Just outside of Philly ( Fair Hills ) they are getting ready to hook up 14 acres worth of highly efficient solar panels to help power the city and surrounding areas. I think it was around 2,000 or so panels. I made the stancions at work to hold those panels up this past summer. Pretty big project. We are supposed to be working on a much larger solar project if we get the contract. I've also made solar panel mounts that attach to existing roof structures.

What kind of power do you think will come out of that solar farm? kW/h?

Lowdown3

· #13 · Oct 30, 2008

A single panel that's 1,000 watts would have to be huge-normous. It might have been an array with multiple panels, totaling 1,000 watts.

The Kyocera 130's we run are probably 4' long by almost 3' wide

NaeKid

· #14 · Oct 30, 2008

Found a FAQ on solar power from a company here in Alberta. If you surf their site, they have lots of information that is very usable!

Boyd Solar's HomePage: Alberta's Experts in Renewable Energy

Boyd Solar: Alberta's Experts in Renewable Energy - FAQ

peallen

· #15 · Nov 8, 2008

Solar

There was a ? asked who uses solar
I have 8 -208 watt sharp panels total of 1664 watts and a 400 watt wind turbine installed by Gardner Engineering and Alternative Energy Services out of Odgen Utah

Peter

TechAdmin

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 8, 2008

Peter can you share more information with us please.

Cost of all of it, are you off grid with the wind and solar setup, do you store the energy or is it direct use?

Tex

· #17 · Nov 9, 2008

peallen - How many kwhours do you get out of your system in Summer and Winter? What type of tower did you use for your wind generator? Did you get any tax breaks or state or federal incentives? How do you tie it into your house? Are you on or off grid? Sorry for all the questions. TIA

Donald

smithbell81

· #18 · Oct 25, 2011

I have found that solar panels have become essential part of our economy in saving electricity. I know it has some remedies but think about only benefits it giving to us by providing pollution free zone. Solar power could be next source of energy for consumption and we all going to depend on it.

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Nadja

· #19 · Oct 25, 2011

I don't find that solar panels save elec so much as they make elec for us that live so far out that their is no grid tie available. I survive on about 18 panels, 18 trojen T-105 batteries, Trace 2512 pure sine wave inverter, 4 trace c-60 charge controlers and a swea 500 watt wind gen. I also have 3 gas gennies for back up , when days like today will not produce much solar due to mostly cloudy.

Naekid, I don't think I have ever heard of a 1,000 watt solar panel. It would be huge and much easier to break due to the strain on the large sheet of glass. Even if they made such a monster, you would be far better off splitting that into about 4 panels to relieve strain , and also to not be putting all your eggs into one basket. The best bang for the buck right now would be shuco 245 watt panels , selling here retail for about $585.00 each. 24v only of course . By splitting your wattage into 4 seperate panels, should something happen to one , you will still have 3/4 of your system still up and working. If something happens to your single monster panel, your finished

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bevanwillson

· #20 · Nov 5, 2011 (Edited by Moderator)

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