Can one purchase propane appliances such as Refrigerator,Freezer, and an air conditioning unit in Baja or should one import such items, duty free on
the first move with an FM 3 ? or--- is electric just as good, probably more expensive to run but less expensive to buy.
Electric is cleaner , faster and just better.
beercan - 3-21-2007 at 02:52 PM
If you are serious and want to live there any amount of time --bite the bullet and install a complete solar electric system.
With the price of fuels continually rising, it will save you $$$ in the long haul.awfulart - 3-21-2007 at 02:59 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by beercan
If you are serious and want to live there any amount of time --bite the bullet and install a complete solar electric system.
With the price of fuels continually rising, it will save you $$$ in the long haul.
Good idea and that will probably be what I do. Bob & Susan (Los Frambes) have done that and I plan on reviewing what they did. I believe they
had some recommendations.
PM me and I can give you avery competative
beercan - 3-21-2007 at 03:16 PM
and reliable source.
WIND????
bajaguy - 3-21-2007 at 03:16 PM
I see a lot on here regarding solar for generating electricity. What about a wind power application to supplement or boost the solar???Bob and Susan - 3-21-2007 at 08:00 PM
windmills are too noisyand...
dangerousbajaguy - 3-21-2007 at 08:19 PM
A windmill pumps water and is noisy, a wind turbine produces power and is relatively quiet.....and not dangerousBob and Susan - 3-21-2007 at 08:23 PM
solar is quiet...
when you live where no unnatural noise is why make noise...
i just got back from southern california (hell) now there is noise!!!!Roberto - 3-21-2007 at 08:34 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
I see a lot on here regarding solar for generating electricity. What about a wind power application to supplement or boost the solar???
Wind power is great, as long as your location supports it. Most locations on the East Coast (Cortez) side of Baja do not. Pacific side might be ok.
You need to check your needs vs. the available "supply" of wind.
P.S. You are going to have a hell of a time supporting A/C with anything besides a generator on the Sea of Cortez. The cost of solar panels/wind
generators vs. the demands of an A/C unit for any size dwelling just aren't there.
[Edited on 3-22-2007 by Roberto]bahiamia - 3-21-2007 at 08:50 PM
I second Roberto on his response....especially since the winds here are very fickle and it's usually an "all or nothing" type of situation.
For wind generation, you need steady, predictable conditions...day after day. At least here in Bahia, on the Sea of Cortez side, it's not the best
option for backing up your solar.
Depends on where you plan to be and if there is already power available there. Or do you want to be off the grid and totally self sufficient? The
variables and options change accordingly.Bob and Susan - 3-22-2007 at 06:16 AM
i've talked to several about their "windmills"
they are noisy
kinda like an airplane prop
they have bearings that go out ALL the time
it cant keep spining forever...it should though
they are dangerous...those blades are sharp when rotating
we old guys aren't as agile as when we were young...
it's hard to get out of the way ...fast
a good "quiet as possible" generator is the BEST back-up for solar
why sufferBajaBruno - 3-23-2007 at 06:30 AM
I worked on a wind system a number of years ago on the Mexican coast just north of Belize. The turbine drove a small resort and was designed and
installed by several engineering professors, and US government employees at Sandia National Labs. It was reviewed and a paper written about five
years after installation. Although the information is dated, the general concepts would be helpful for anyone contemplating putting one of these
systems near a saltwater beach. The report can be found at:
I didn't find the turbine noise to be objectionable, since it is incremental to the wind velocity and when the wind is quiet, the turbine is
quiet, and when the wind is making a racket it tends to drown out the turbine noise.
Any direct current system needs quite a bit of maintenance by someone who is enthusiastic about performing it. Better than me telling the story,
take a look at the paper.
Good luck.
Wind Generators
MrBillM - 3-23-2007 at 10:33 AM
Wind Generator noise is OK when it's coming from YOUR Generator and too noisy when it's coming from the NEIGHBOR'S. The worse the relations are
between you and that neighbor, the worse the noise becomes. Funny how that works.
I've used an AIR 400 for about Seven Years Intermittently. Still on the original bearings. Their replacement recommendation is Ten years of Normal
Service, Five years of Severe. The bearings are two "6302" the most common Automotive bearing in exisitence and are relatively simple to change using
care. The Poly-Carbonate Blades are extremely tough and the breakage is usually the result of Bird Strikes. Vibration transfer is significant so it
should never be anchored to the dwelling.
The noise level is only significant when the wind level is fairly strong. When that happens, you're usually inside with all of the windows closed. I
was once asked what the best output was and I replied "about five amps". When the questioner expressed surprise at the low output, I said "Oh, no.
It'll put out about 40 amps, but at anything above five the wind is too miserable to be out in". A little Wind humor.
Nowadays, the only time I turn on the Wind Gen is during windy, cloudy weather and at night since I have sufficient Solar year-round for any Sunny Day
usage.Bob and Susan - 3-23-2007 at 10:41 AM
and...
now there is noise!!!!