Chris Johansson
Newbie
Posts: 1
Registered: 11-29-2004
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Solar power consultant/ installer
I am building in Los Barriles and would like to talk to a solar power consultant or installer in the area about doing a grid tied PV system. Our
builder isn't familiar with anyone. Is there anyone I can contact in the southern penninsula?
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dono
Junior Nomad
Posts: 91
Registered: 9-11-2003
Location: Los Barriles B.C.S. Mex
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solar
hi Chris, iam your nieghbor to the north and we are planning on going solar also, but right now we are just running access tubes to roof and plan on
researching costs at a later date. there is an ad in gringo gazette for a solar dealer in san jose. cabo pulmo is all solar and generators, the next
time i go down i will get info on who they use.-----------don
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Anonymous
Unregistered
Posts: N/A
Registered: N/A
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Solar Folks in La Paz
Hi there,
I'm on solar just outside Loreto and I use Acumuladores Orozoco in La Paz. Their number is (612) 123-0303. I bought what I needed and set it up
myself but I'm very techincally inclined. They came to Loreto and gave a a quote on a system that was much more than I needed. If you want something
like that, they'll give a quote, sell and install everything. I didn't want to spend that kind of loot so I just bought components I needed and
hooked it up myself. If you go to their shop or know what you need they'll ship to you, but if you go "all out" they'll deliver and install.
Fly fishin' Pam
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Pompano ??
What was available in Solar Electric 30 years ago ? I bought my first 33 watt Arco panels back in 1982 and they hadn't been out long at that time.
This is not a trick question. I'm just curious.
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El Camote
Senior Nomad
Posts: 514
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Above the clouds
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Mood: y Blues
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Solar Tech. question
Mind if I jump in here and pose a question someone with more solar energy experience may be able to answer?
I just started the process at Thanksgiving of replacing the battery bank on our solar casita. We have a 12 volt system, 880 amps: 4 pairs of 220 amp
6 volt golf cart batts.
I only brought down 2 pairs at Thanksgiving and plan to bring the rest down at X-mas.
Question is, what should I set the high voltage disconnect and low voltage connect at on the Trace C30? I set them back to the factory settings of
14.7 and 13.2 but worry that may be a little high when the inverter's off and no juice being drawn, especially now with only a 440 amp storage
capacity. BTW, we have 6 - 75 watt PV panels.
Also, I seem to remember reading somewhere new batts should be equalized when first put into service, true?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I consider the all time expert (on Nomad) to be Baja Bus (Max)... He is a solar power and satellite communication expert in Elias Calles (south of
Todos Santos).
Here's Max at La Cocina Pacifica resort, which is all solar...
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BajaRob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 722
Registered: 9-15-2003
Location: Bahia Santa Maria y Newport Or
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Mood: Life is good
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Solar Tech question
El Camote,
It appears that your controller is set up in DC load control mode rather than photovoltaic charge mode.The later provides three stage charging ( bulk,
absorbtion, and float ) which results in faster charging. if interested, you may be able to change to charge control by changing the charge/load
control jumper if your C-30 has one and removing the decals @ the potentiometers. That should reveal different scales to set bulk and float values. If
your C-30 is already set to charge control mode you may consider lowering the high voltage disconnect to 14 volts. This will reduce battery gassing
and the resultant loss of electrolyte.
It appears that you are using Trojan T-105s. Trojan does not recommend equalizing until low or wide ranging (+/- .015) specific gravity is detected
after fully charging the batteries. Equalizing helps eliminate stratification of the electrolyte and sulfation of the plates. I have 16 T-105s and
stir them once a month. hope this helps, Rob
[Edited on 12-11-2004 by BajaRob]
[Edited on 12-11-2004 by BajaRob]
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El Camote
Senior Nomad
Posts: 514
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Above the clouds
Member Is Offline
Mood: y Blues
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Thanks, Rob!
I'm pretty sure it's in PV Charge mode, wasn't aware there was any other setting. We had T-105s but I went with another brand beside Trojan this
time with all the same specs although I think they're 225 amps. Makes sense about waiting to stir the batts until they show a need.
16 batts, that's a helluva big system. What are you running with that, a refrigerator? Would love to hear more particulars on your system. Do you
leave the inverter turned on when you're away for a long period? Seems like it might be healthier for the batts to have them cycling somewhat.
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BajaRob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 722
Registered: 9-15-2003
Location: Bahia Santa Maria y Newport Or
Member Is Offline
Mood: Life is good
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Da nada, El Camote
The primary components of our solar system are 16-120 watt panels with 2 combiner boxes feeding a Trace C-60 and a Solar Boost 50 charge controllers.
The inverter is a Xantrex SW 2512. We have an 18 cu/ft electric refer and several large power tools up to 5.5 hp that the system supports. We have
only run the genny once this season after three cloudy days. We always leave the system on with some load when we are gone for the summer. It is best
to let the system cycle. The refer draws about 1020watts a day and the system is producing between 6-7 kw per day. Peak input is 105 amps. Rob
[Edited on 12-14-2004 by BajaRob]
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El Jefe
Super Nomad
Posts: 1027
Registered: 10-27-2003
Location: South East Cape
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This is great stuff, but I only understand about 1/3 of it. I've got a lot to learn.
Rob, might I ask, how much money (ball park) does a system like yours cost to put together?
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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BajaRob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 722
Registered: 9-15-2003
Location: Bahia Santa Maria y Newport Or
Member Is Offline
Mood: Life is good
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El Jefe
The cost of the components listed plus panel racks, wiring. battery interconnects, inverter cables, disconnects, fuses, AC & DC distribution panels
was approx $13K. I really worked the internet for low prices.
and did the installation myself. The local solar dealer would have charged in excess of $25K for this system installed. Our system is bigger than
most people need but we can run a large electric refer, clothes washer. 32" TV with surround sound, 2 computers with sattelite modem, small A/C and
lots more with no worries. At the other end of the scale I intalled a basic system for my neighbor @ a cost of $1680. It consists of 2- 120 watt
panels, C-40 charge controller ( slightly used,) Xantrex 1000 watt inverter ( $70 @ Costco ) and 8 Trojan T-105 batteries. It provides more power than
he is using and usually reachs float before noon. It's a great feeling to be electrically independent and once the initial investment is made, we
don't receive those annoying monthly bills. I estimate payback at 8 - 9 years. Rob
[Edited on 12-15-2004 by BajaRob]
[Edited on 12-15-2004 by BajaRob]
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