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[WILLIAM <billymegab AT yahoo.com>]

Don,
   
  What is your solar set up.  I'm at the point where I would like to go solar 
and reduce as much of my electrical needs as possible.  In the summer I could 
probably be off grid totally but would need it in the winter (the joys of a 
northern climate).  My first goal would be to install a solar hot water 
system.
   
  William    

Don Bowen <don.bowen AT earthlink.net> wrote:
  At 6/23/2006, you wrote:
>Compared to a tradition CRT and a 300 watt constant power supply in a 
>desktop the energy needs of a laptop are tiny in comparison.

Most laptops are in the 50-75 Watt area. I can run the laptop and cell 
phone chargers, DVD player, and LCD TV on a single 175 Watt 
inverter. Since much of my power comes from the sun that is an important 
consideration.



Don Bowen Awl Knotted Up KI6DIU
http://www.braingarage.com

My travel journal
http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html 
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>From don.bowen AT earthlink.net  Mon Jun 26 09:35:04 2006
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Subject: [Homestead] Solar was: computer use
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At 6/26/2006, you wrote:
>Don,
>
>   What is your solar set up.  I'm at the point where I would like to go 
> solar and reduce as much of my electrical needs as possible.  In the 
> summer I could probably be off grid totally but would need it in the 
> winter (the joys of a northern climate).  My first goal would be to 
> install a solar hot water system.

I currently have 250 Watts in two solar panels, Trace 35 Amp PWM 
controller, and 220 AH storage in two T-105 6 V batteries.  My first setup 
used a single panel, two group 24 marine batteries, and a cheap PWM 
controller.  All that did was kill batteries so I replaced the controller 
with a Trace.  My panels are not angled toward the sun, they are mounted on 
the roof of the trailer but they can be angled if I plan to stay somewhere 
for a while.

I do not have the room for solar hot water but again if I park I will build 
something.  If you have the sunshine, solar hot water is one of the most 
cost effective ways to use the energy of the sun.  There are cheap low 
efficiency designs out there but they are cost effective because they are 
cheap and homebuilt.



Don Bowen              Awl Knotted Up        KI6DIU
http://www.braingarage.com

My travel journal
http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html  
>From billymegab AT yahoo.com  Mon Jun 26 09:55:41 2006
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From: WILLIAM <billymegab AT yahoo.com>
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Thanks Don,
   
  I'm going to start setting up my system so that helps me understand what I 
need.
   
  The solar hot water is definitely a lot of bang for the bcuk.  My current 
system  is simply let the sun heat up the water in 100' of black hose.  Gets 
the water really hot on sunny summer day.  Anything more sofisticated is a 
step up !!   :>)  

Don Bowen <don.bowen AT earthlink.net> wrote:
  At 6/26/2006, you wrote:
>Don,
>
> What is your solar set up. I'm at the point where I would like to go 
> solar and reduce as much of my electrical needs as possible. In the 
> summer I could probably be off grid totally but would need it in the 
> winter (the joys of a northern climate). My first goal would be to 
> install a solar hot water system.

I currently have 250 Watts in two solar panels, Trace 35 Amp PWM 
controller, and 220 AH storage in two T-105 6 V batteries. My first setup 
used a single panel, two group 24 marine batteries, and a cheap PWM 
controller. All that did was kill batteries so I replaced the controller 
with a Trace. My panels are not angled toward the sun, they are mounted on 
the roof of the trailer but they can be angled if I plan to stay somewhere 
for a while.

I do not have the room for solar hot water but again if I park I will build 
something. If you have the sunshine, solar hot water is one of the most 
cost effective ways to use the energy of the sun. There are cheap low 
efficiency designs out there but they are cost effective because they are 
cheap and homebuilt.



Don Bowen Awl Knotted Up KI6DIU
http://www.braingarage.com

My travel journal
http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html 
_______________________________________________
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>From don.bowen AT earthlink.net  Mon Jun 26 10:36:18 2006
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At 6/26/2006, you wrote:
>
>   I'm going to start setting up my system so that helps me understand 
> what I need.

Keep in mind it is a system and that keeping it in balance is important and 
better for the check book.  Start with your intended loads.  What do you 
want to power?  I power several hours of reading lights, laptop power 
supply, occasional LCD TV and DVD player, water pump.  In the winter the 
heater fan but that out runs the batteries.

Get batteries to support your anticipated load.  Getting too much battery 
is just expensive, getting too little will kill batteries and also be 
expensive.  LA batteries have a reduced life expectancy when discharged 
below 50%.  Depending un your climate you will need storage for days of 
overcast.

Next on the list are expensive panels.  You need enough to charge the 
batteries but not over charge them.  A good charge rate is C10 or about 10% 
of the AH rating.  For my 220 Ah battery bank, C10 is 22 Amps.  Two panels 
gives me a maximum of 18 Amps.  I have a 35 Amp controller for future 
expansion but I do not have the room for another battery bank.  Over 
charging a battery also shortens their life.

My system.  Two panels with a 6 hour average daily charge time gives me 
just over 100 Ah as 18 Amps, close to the C10 rate.  Usage is somewhere 
around 80 Ah so I can go almost two days.  I wish I had more room for 
another battery bank.

For AC power I have several small modified sine wave inverters.  Some RVs 
use a single unit, usually 1000 Watts.  That is too much draw on a battery 
which does not like discharge rates much above C20 or 44 Amps in my case 
which is just above 500 Watts.  1kW would require another battery bank and 
more panels to keep them charged.  All inverters have an overhead current 
draw and the larger the inverter the larger the overhead.  Small inverters 
reduce this loss.

I have two 175 Watt, one 200 Watt, and one 400 Watt inverters.  I do not 
think I have used the 400 but it was a gift.  I can run the laptop, cell 
phone charger, DVD player, and LCD TV off a single 175 Watt unit.

For backup I have two Honda eu2000i generators.  I have two because one 
will not run the air conditioner.  There is no way I can run the A/C with 
batteries.  Here in Houston I discovered that A/C is a must after trying to 
sleep without it for most of the week.  I use the eu2000i because it is 
very quiet and I made the combiner myself for $26, far less than the $200 
Honda wants.  Next step is to build a auxiliary fuel tank.

Remember a Watt not used is a Watt you do not have to pay to generate.



Don Bowen              Awl Knotted Up        KI6DIU
http://www.braingarage.com

My travel journal
http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html  
>From lurine AT softcom.net  Mon Jun 26 13:11:54 2006
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Subject: [Homestead] Speaking of solar, was computer use
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A whole "village" is being built "green" in China by an American engineer. 
The houses are a combo strawbale and a pounded dirt brick.  They are going 
to be solar.  This guy figures if this works the Chinese will figure a way 
to produce solar panels that everyone can afford.  His timetime is between 5 
to 10 years max.  If the solar roof tiles can be made cheaply, then I can 
see lots more folks going at least partial solar.

Of course, one might run up against the same thing that is going on with 
Brazil's ethenol--100% tarif to protect the totally subsidized corn 
producers here.  Instead, Brazil is selling all their surplus to China. 
Heaven forbid that the American consumer be able to buy anything at a 
reasonable rate or that corporate welfare be given a poke from competition!

Lynda
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "WILLIAM" <billymegab AT yahoo.com>


> Don,
>
>  What is your solar set up.  I'm at the point where I would like to go 
> solar and reduce as much of my electrical needs as possible.  In the 
> summer I could probably be off grid totally but would need it in the 
> winter (the joys of a northern climate).  My first goal would be to 
> install a solar hot water system.
>
>  William