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ArroyoTaxi
Junior Nomad
Posts: 88
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Los Barriles
Member Is Offline
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Solar Power
Hey Nomads - any of you have solar panels? if so, what kind, how much and what are your experiences with it? Thanks in advance for any info. cheers.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Mood: Full Time Residents
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first you NEED to deceide what voltage you are going to use
12 or 24 or 48
then buy the correct voltage solar panel so there is no need to wire smaller vooltages together
thats first
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Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6742
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
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Bob and Susan have the most sophisticated system I've seen on this forum. Try a search here and you'll see what is popular and what works the best.
You'll want to decide what your needs will be and then ask questions as you build your own solar system.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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larryC
Super Nomad
Posts: 1499
Registered: 8-11-2008
Location: BoLA
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Arroyo
The best prices I have found on panels lately are here: http://sunelec.com/
As far as the voltage is concened, you do not necessarily have to buy panels to match your systems voltage if you get an MPPT controller. A good mppt
controller will down convert your panel voltage to match your system voltage whether it is 12, 24 or 48 volt. If you are just going to put together a
small system for a few lights then an mppt controller probably would not be worth the expense. If you are putting together a system to run a house
with an elec refer then it would be worth the expense.
Anyway you asked about panels, I bought 6 of the 190 watt panels with cosmetic blemishes from Sun Elec and am very happy with them. I see now that
they have 200+ watt panels now for less than $2.50 a watt. Thats a better deal than I got 2 years ago.
Hope this helps,
Larry
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Doug/Vamonos
Nomad
Posts: 418
Registered: 6-19-2006
Location: Bahia de los Angeles
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I inherited a 12-volt system when I bought my place. It has three panels - two 80 watt and one 100 watt, or thereabouts. The panels feed four Trojan
105 6-volt batteries that are wired in series for 12-volts. This is a very simple system that works fine for my needs. I am rarely there for more than
three or four days and the batteries power up my fans, lights, stereo, and water pump in the trailer. I also use a generator for the coffee pot and
microwave. Fridge, water heater, and furnace run on propane. Like I said, this is a minimal system for a trailer.
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beercan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 670
Registered: 4-3-2005
Location: North of da Bear
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy to be in Baja
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A good experience here
I have a 100% solar house. I have 8--160 watt panels feeding an Outback inverter/ MX-60 controller and 8- L-16 batteries set up for 48 volts. My home
has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths with garage. I have a new 20 cubic ft refrigerator, and 2 -7 cubic foot freezers along with satellite Television --35 ",
Hughes Satellite internet and other misc. electrical appliances including a well pump.
I installed this myself 4 years ago and have had no serious problems since that time.
* libs, all about choice until you choose different
* B. Hussein Obama - an Empty Suit for Empty Minds.
* Annoy a liberal - Work hard and be happy!
* Arguing facts & truth to libs is like bringing a warm smile to a gun fight.
* Lets win the War on Terror
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BCSTech
Senior Nomad
Posts: 584
Registered: 4-16-2006
Location: Todos Santos, BCS / Placerville, CA.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Carpe Manana
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| Quote: | | Originally posted by soulpatchI also have 8 US215 batteries which are not nearly as nice as the L16's |
You should probably stick with the smaller batteries. 520 watts in panels is not enought to support a stack of eight L16s without a
lot of help from your gennie.
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astrobaja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 952
Registered: 5-22-2006
Location: near San Pedro Martir Park
Member Is Offline
Mood: beam me up
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Hi ArroyoTaxi,
Our panels are 9 X's 195 Evergreens feeding a Outback MX80 and 2 Outback inverters (although I have yet to use the slaved secondary one),
and 12 X's 395 Ah 6 volt Crown batteries.
The rosarito company that installed our system was way too pricey, the panels are available through Arizona Wind & Sun for $825 if you buy 10.
Our system runs all the lights, 25 squre foot fridge/freezer, modem/computer, tv, guest house, and a kickass home theatre with a big subwoofer and 7
channel 260 watt amp.
We do need a bit more battery storage if I am to use the home theatre at night without having to run the gen, so far we have not needed to run the
gen in the 5 months with the system.
Heres Arizona Wind & Sun website:
http://store.solar-electric.com/hiposopa.html
\"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.There is another theory which states that this has already happened\"
Douglas Adams
our website: http://bajadarkskies.com |
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k-rico
Super Nomad
Posts: 2079
Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by beercan
I have a 100% solar house. I have 8--160 watt panels feeding an Outback inverter/ MX-60 controller and 8- L-16 batteries set up for 48 volts. My home
has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths with garage. I have a new 20 cubic ft refrigerator, and 2 -7 cubic foot freezers along with satellite Television --35 ",
Hughes Satellite internet and other misc. electrical appliances including a well pump.
I installed this myself 4 years ago and have had no serious problems since that time. |
How much does a system like this cost, +/- ?
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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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Our solar array consists of 20 Kyocera panels, KC-120s, KC130s, and KD135s. They are divided into two combiner boxes which feed two C-60 charge
controllers via fused disconnects. The panels are 12 volt and it was a very easy matter to wire them in series when I upgaded to a Xantrex SW4024
inverter. After seeing 3 of our neighbor's Trojan L-16s fail after 3 years I decided to stay with smaller batteries. After 5 years of service my
Trojan 105s were still going strong. I sold them for about 60% of what I had paid and replaced them with 20 Energizer 220 amp golf cart batteries from
Sam's Club in Yuma. The cost including core charge and tax was $70. On a good day we bring in about 12KW and have enough to power an 18, 22, and 4
cu/ft refers, 2- 32" tvs, 3- computers, etc. For those cloudy days we have a Yamaha 6500 diesel and Honda 7000i gas gensets. Solar panel prices have
been dropping of late.
[Edited on 7-4-2009 by BajaRob]
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BCSTech
Senior Nomad
Posts: 584
Registered: 4-16-2006
Location: Todos Santos, BCS / Placerville, CA.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Carpe Manana
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It's been said that "Solar batteries never die - they're always murdered first..."
The most common mistake we see in solar installations is too many batteries...
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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this is true BUT...
you MUST have ENOUGH
i see too many people with lots of solar panels but only a couple of batteries
then they wonder why they dont have enough power to run the 300 watt big screen TV
dont buy small batteries
the load is too hard on them
you need LOTS of water space between the cells and plates
and dont think that just because you have solar its done
it takes work to keep the system running correctly
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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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Everyone has a right to their opinion regarding large L-16 size vs small T-105 size batteries. I have lived in a solar home for 8 years and installed
and repaired over 30 systems other than my own. After three of my my neighbors had their L-16 battery banks fail at three years I would not consider
using them. Two of them had professional monthly maintenance so that was not the issue. With monthly maintenance including cleaning, equalizing and
topping off with water, the smaller batteries should last 8 years or more. No brainer. Energy Star appliances are a must. Our new Sony 32" flat screen
only uses 135 watts. Our refers use just 1 kw.
[Edited on 7-6-2009 by BajaRob]
[Edited on 7-6-2009 by BajaRob]
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MitchMan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1856
Registered: 3-9-2009
Member Is Offline
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How much would it cost today to purchase and install a proper solar system in a 900 sq ft cinder block house in La Paz? Could this installation
actually support the power required for minisplit air conditioners, a 27 inch TV, and normal inside and outside lighting?
[Edited on 7-5-2009 by MitchMan]
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beercan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 670
Registered: 4-3-2005
Location: North of da Bear
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy to be in Baja
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I have almost $18,000.00 total -complete
| Quote: | Krico
How much does a system like this cost, +/- ?
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* libs, all about choice until you choose different
* B. Hussein Obama - an Empty Suit for Empty Minds.
* Annoy a liberal - Work hard and be happy!
* Arguing facts & truth to libs is like bringing a warm smile to a gun fight.
* Lets win the War on Terror
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beercan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 670
Registered: 4-3-2005
Location: North of da Bear
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy to be in Baja
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It could ---$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Anything is possible ----I bought all my equipment from Arizona Wind & Sun
| Quote: | by mitchman
Could this installation actually support the power required for minisplit air conditioners, a 27 inch TV, and normal inside and outside lighting?
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* libs, all about choice until you choose different
* B. Hussein Obama - an Empty Suit for Empty Minds.
* Annoy a liberal - Work hard and be happy!
* Arguing facts & truth to libs is like bringing a warm smile to a gun fight.
* Lets win the War on Terror
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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"Our new Sony 32" flat screen only uses 135 watts"
you sure...
sony 32" 150watts
speakers 10 watts
tv box 10 watts
it all adds up...total 170 watts
still...pretty good
nice choice
i wish i had purchased a bigger tv
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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$18k should include
8 - 175 watt panels
charge controller
8 - t16 420 amp batteries
all wires
nice set up installation
and 3500w inverter
you're right on the money #$$$$
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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no solar system i know of
can support the mini-split air conditioners
if you find one TELL ME FIRST!!!
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MitchMan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1856
Registered: 3-9-2009
Member Is Offline
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$18,000 USD...wow, that's expensive! It would take well over thirty years to recoup that cost, never mind the additional cost of upkeep.
I guess the reason for going solar is to be green for conservation's sake alone or as the alternative to a gas powered generator if you don't have
access to city electricity.
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