Solar Panels

[zman1200]

It is time to start purchasing and installing solar panels at my shop. Many of my associates have invested in this in the past couple of years for their businesses, homes and farms. The wattage charge is still a little high but with power increases looming on the horizon it is time to start. Has anyone on here made this investment yet? and can recommend a reputable dealer. Current windmil designs are too much of a headache.

[lonewolf]

Real Earth Power - Duncansville

Werstil Companies - Hollidaysburg

If you have any construction experience, you would save a bundle to DIY.

I have been looking, but the power generated per square foot in bright sunshine is still pretty minimal. Most commercially available panels don't even hit 18% efficiency.

And we all know how much bright sunshine to expect here in sunny central PA.

[f.sciarrillo]

I was taking a car ride yesterday and saw a windmill in someones yard - It was turning. That was kinda cool ..

http://www.windenergy.com/index_wind.htm

[Lisa]

My husband would LOVE to do solar panels and a windmill...he's been drooling over websites for about 8 years now. Someday we will afford the investment.

[songsmith]

I've chimed in on solar and wind here before.
I think it IS too expensive right now, but I feel it's going to benefit everyone in the future in many ways, and we must put the expense into it.
Firstly, every barrel of oil that goes unused is a slap to the face of the very people who want to destroy us.
Secondly, the sun and wind and streams of water run whether we use them or not.
Thirdly, we're already behind China in this field, and I think that's dangerous.
Fourth, our electricity system is at least 80 years old, and should have been replaced ages ago.
Fifth, a centralized power system is a prime target for terrorism. If a squirrel can turn out the lights on an entire town, what can a dude with an IED do?
Sixth, and most importantly for me, it's really hard for anyone such as government or business monopolies to exert any control over it.
Finally, I think investment in renewable sources will be very profitable when oil concerns manipulate their markets.

I think we should be pursuing all avenues that make us more energy independent, including and especially nuclear power. I think it's plenty safe and efficient, I'd be happy to see a local plant providing good-paying jobs and lots of power.--->JMS

[f.sciarrillo]

I do agree that the cost is a little high. But if you look at it, the investment is a good one. The Government gives you tax credits for it and such. So it should pay itself back sooner than expected.

And yes, with all the resources there we should be taking full advantage of it ..

[lonewolf]

Requirements for tax credit:

Photovoltaic systems must provide electricity for the residence, and must meet applicable fire and electrical code requirement.

Tax Credit: Credit Details: 30% of the cost, up to $500 per .5 kW of power capacity ($1000 per kW)
Expires: December 31, 2016
Details: Existing homes & new construction qualify. Must be your principal residence. Rentals and second homes do not qualify.

March 2010 average price per kW: $4240
Average tax credit per kW: $1000
Average % tax credit: 24%

You can find stuff significantly cheaper than average, but make sure it meets all requirements.

[f.sciarrillo]

Requirements for tax credit:

Photovoltaic systems must provide electricity for the residence, and must meet applicable fire and electrical code requirement.

Tax Credit: Credit Details: 30% of the cost, up to $500 per .5 kW of power capacity ($1000 per kW)
Expires: December 31, 2016
Details: Existing homes & new construction qualify. Must be your principal residence. Rentals and second homes do not qualify.

March 2010 average price per kW: $4240
Average tax credit per kW: $1000
Average % tax credit: 24%

You can find stuff significantly cheaper than average, but make sure it meets all requirements.

Good points ..

[lonewolf]

I'm holding out for nanotech.

http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1329/

[RamRod 1]

I'm a wind guy. Put up a prototype last spring. It makes a few volts but I'm not interested with that right now. I wanted to know how much wind we get at our place so I hooked it up to a "Schwinn" bicyle speedometer which records top speed, average speed, hours running, and distance. I write all that down on the calander every day and then make monthly graphs. Hey, nothing like spending 10 thousand bucks for a windmill and then finding out that you have no wind. So far the wind at our place might be just acceptable. In fact, my blade circumference of 4 feet when programed into the "Schwinn" speedometer formula often does 1700 miles on a good day. (like a free trip tp Florida.) I figure I could pay off a 2000 watt system in savings in about 12 or so years with a 20 year life expectancy wind mill. When it wears out, we've already established the infrastructure like the pole, wiring, inverter, etc. We'll just replace the windmill on the top of the pole and keep going.

Here's my prototype. Notice the tail light. That lets me know if it's running when I look out the window at night.
[/img]

[zman1200]

Dam Andy thats cool,when did you put that up and where ?

[RamRod 1]

Thanks Tom, put it up around last March. The thing has been busted up so much as the motor (or generator) has locked up so I scored a new one on ebay this week. I don't think I'll get it up again for about 3 weeks. Check it out when you blow past the house on your bike. It's in the back yard.

[tonefight]

I was looking into a small windmill with a battery setup and inverter to run my boiler. That way if power goes out at least I'd have heat.
And as someone else said the power system is very old and with deregulation renewing the distribution system is definatly not at the top of the priority list for the power companies, profit is now at the top of the list and that means run the current system into the ground first.

[RamRod 1]

I'm holding out for nanotech.

http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1329/

Okay, I'll hold out for "Nanotech" too but I hope that all that's true. Traditionally the best that solar panals can do is about 15%. These things hit 80%? That would be really GREAT!

I know that I stated that I'm a wind guy but I l also love solar too. I have a remote cabin with no eletriciticy. (Tom knows). I installed a CB radio hooked to a car battery and a 4x9 inch solar cell in 1992. The thing ran 13 years before I needed to replace the battery. I was happy!

The solar cell in center of photo on bottom of roof.

[/img]

[RamRod 1]

I was looking into a small windmill with a battery setup and inverter to run my boiler. That way if power goes out at least I'd have heat.
And as someone else said the power system is very old and with deregulation renewing the distribution system is definatly not at the top of the priority list for the power companies, profit is now at the top of the list and that means run the current system into the ground first.

Tony, I forget where you live. Do you still live in Ebensburg? There are windmill restrictions in some townships and towns. If so wind might not be an option. The President and present Pa. Governor are wind friendly.

Although "deep cycle batteries" are expensive, it sounds like what you want to do could work. In the dalbleing around I've been doing, it sounds like for 4 or 5 grand that you could get the windmill or solar and the parts (inverter, batteries etc) on ebay for a system that could run your boiler and the entire rest of you house for maybe a day or two.
Don't give up.

[songsmith]

Those systems are awesome, Andy! I'd like to see them,I love all that stuff. Does anyone know of any run-of-stream hydro generators around? That intrigues me, too... they don't generate a huge amount of power each on a small brook, but in this area there's often enough head (the steepness of the grade the stream is on) so that you can have several waterwheels on the same stream in just a few hundred feet, and they run 24/7, so it adds up. The environmental impact is slight, too, because you need only dam up an area the size of a pool table if you have the flow, or you can go with an undershot wheel, though they're much less efficient.
The nanotech stuff is pretty intriguing as well. I read awhile back that there are working prototypes for non-silicon-based solar cells that far outproduce current cells, and will cost far less to manufacture in the economy of scale. I also saw solar fabric on the green channel, that you'd basically staple to your roof. I really do have a great deal of faith in renewable energy, I don't think it's a panacea that will solve all our problems, but it's pretty easy to sell something so whiz-bang, and the benefits are numerous. Again, it's pricey now, but my best friend's dad paid $1500 for their first VCR in the early 80's, and $500 for their first DVD player. A CD player was about $500 in the mid-80's, and my first computer (133 mHz, 2Gb hard-drive) set me back $1800. When you can buy solar panels at Harbor Freight, you know 2 things: a) it's popular, and b) the Chinese are making it.--->JMS

[f.sciarrillo]

The more I read about these types of things, the more I like them.

[RamRod 1]

John (Songsmith), you were asking about hydro gererators around here. I don't know of any. I just found a hydro wheel on ebay without the gererator. Check out the photo. You attach the wheel to the shaft of a gererator or DC motor. The water flows through a pipe with a nozzle on the end and squirts on one side of the wheel in the cup of those spoons. Just like a nozzle on the end of a garden hose.

http://cgi.ebay.com/PELTON-TURBINE-FOR- ... 45f1d4c1fd

Here's the most sought after DC motor on ebay used for generating small wind and hydro systems. I took the plunge last week and won this auction. Kind'a expensive but it really works great and I wanted to get my windmill running again. I can get 12 volts just by spinning it with my fingers. My old motor would only do 7 volts with a 1700 RPM drill.

http://cgi.ebay.com/AMETEK-40-VDC-MOTOR ... 335b1a8062

[zman1200]

Dam Andy 2 years ago I could have bought a C-frame motor or generater for $39.99. I checked yesterday they dont even list them any more. missed the dam bus again