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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
Member Is Offline
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Last year Solar Express, a company in San Felipe selling/installing/maintaining solar systems quit handling Trojan L16 batteries as they had a very
high premature failure rate. Trojan Battery co installed a set at a friends place ant no cost to my friend as a test. They assured themselves that
the total system was in good shape and the panels were adequate for the batteries and load. Haven' heard any more and don't know how long the test is
supposed to last. But Trojan agreed that there were problems with the batteries.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6742
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
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Isn't that nice,bajalou. I've bought over 30 L-16's and they, Trojan, never once admitted they had a problem! Now at over $300 per I'm gonna have to
find a reasonable alternative. Absolutely not Trojan. My newest 8 are going on their 3rd year. Hope I get thru the summer! Averaging about 5 years.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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Paulclark
Nomad
Posts: 359
Registered: 10-13-2008
Location: Castillo de Arena
Member Is Offline
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You cannot economically run a mini split on a solar system. A small 1/2 ton window unit uses 5 amps at 110 volts which equals 120 amp hours over 24
hours (running 100%), which equals 1200 amp hours at 12 volts. A 100 watt panel produces about 45 amp hours per day in the summer. So you need 26 --
100 watt panels to run 1 small AC unit at 100% 24 hours per day. --- if my math is right???
2600 watts of panels at todays price is about $9,000 plus batteries, inverter etc.
I do run a small AC unit in a small insulated bedroom at night, but I watch my comsumption carefully and need to run my generator every couple of days
so I don't overtax my system.
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ArroyoTaxi
Junior Nomad
Posts: 88
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Los Barriles
Member Is Offline
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As usual, the Q&A on this forum is just a goldmine of excellent information. Thank you to everyone for sharing their experience and knowledge.
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k-rico
Super Nomad
Posts: 2079
Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
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| Quote: | Originally posted by MitchMan
$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. |
Yes but beercan's $18K system is running a refrigerator, two freezers, and a water pump, four electric motors. They use a lot of juice, much of it
turned into heat and wasted. Living a hydrocarbon fueled lifestyle on solar panels is expensive.
Plus covering a roof with roofing materials and then covering the roofing materials with photovoltaic panels is perhaps one too many coverings. If the
roofing materials themselves produced a little juice when the sun is shining, and everybody used them, a considerable amount of electricity could be
pooled and distributed. That's the direction things are going.
Invest in rare earth elements (as in the Periodic Table). All the new solar technologies, including wind generators, solar panels, batteries, and
electric vehicle motors use these rare elements. Be prepared for the "rare earth cartel". China has the largest known deposits. Unintended
consequences.
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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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Either go without or run a generator!
The choices were clear--and the costs of buying a good generator and running it many hours each day ---, it was clear to me that the solar would pay
off..........
| Quote: | by mitchman
$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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* 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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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Anyone using a wind generator to supplement the solar? I don't have either just courious.
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Anxious to get south
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| Quote: | Originally posted by TW
Anyone using a wind generator to supplement the solar? I don't have either just courious. |
My next door neighbor had one for a time until it threw a bearing.
Pros: charging at night(when there is wind) charging during daytime (usually a breeze at least)
Cons: (For me) the damn thing could get pretty noisy on warm nights with the windows open. Also it has a braking feature that was very noisy when the
rpm's got too high.
I like panels and fresh batteries.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6742
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by TW
Anyone using a wind generator to supplement the solar? I don't have either just courious. |
Almost every one here with a serious solar system has a backup generator. I hate the noisy things! But, of course, I have one. 
The most popular one is the Honda EU3000 ( http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/products/modeldetail.aspx... ) . Quiet and will run an AC unit at night and charge the battery bank as a bonus.
Anyone running a generator PLEASE! consider you neighbors!
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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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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We always recommend installing a generator to run air conditioning. It doesn't make economic sense to buy a solar system built to run A/C since it's
only needed a few weeks or months out of the year. The rest of the time, your over-built solar system would be idling with excess power that can't be
used, or stored for hot months when it's needed.
BTW, Hondas are good portable generators but we always recommend Kohler propane-fueled power plants especially when powering A/C. The smaller,
portable generators all too often fail prematurely. Kohlers carry a warranty for use as a solar backup. A 17RES Kohler will start and run 5 tons of
A/C. Plus you have a good, solid backup when the sun's not there. Stay away from Onan or Generac.
Power plants can easily be setup to auto-start with most modern Xantrex and Outback inverters when the batteries need help. You can also program in a
"quiet time" to help keep peace with your neighbors.
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Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6742
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
Member Is Offline
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Alan's right. Propane would be nice down here and I think the Honda has a carb kit for propane. I just looked at the Kolher generators and the 8.5
propane would be enough for most applications ( http://www.kohlerpower.com/residential/detail.htm?sectionNum... ). They say they're quiet at 65bd
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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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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propane is good and clean except...
you NEED a BIG tank
maybe another $1000usa
and
you are at the mercy of the propane company to fill
and it's STILL $$$ expensive to run
gas and diesel stink
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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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ANS: Buy the biggest propane tank you can afford.
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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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Many use wind generators--
in fact that is my next purchase this fall. I already have a diesel 6500 Yamaha generator.
| Quote: | by TW
Anyone using a wind generator to supplement the solar? I don't have either just courious.
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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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beercan
before you buy a wind generator...
go to a house that has one...then
set up a chair and listen
if you can stand the whoosh whoosh
then buy one
oh yea mabe take your neighbor and get his blessing
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teadust
Junior Nomad
Posts: 31
Registered: 3-7-2008
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob and Susan
no solar system i know of
can support the mini-split air conditioners
if you find one TELL ME FIRST!!! |
Have you looked at the SolCool or the Solar AC systems?
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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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yes...they dont do what they say they do
i passed... you should too
the numbers dont add up
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
Member Is Offline
Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob and Susan
beercan
before you buy a wind generator...
go to a house that has one...then
set up a chair and listen
if you can stand the whoosh whoosh
then buy one
oh yea mabe take your neighbor and get his blessing |
To be fair you need to do some homework as well. Some wind generators are quieter than others, just like gasoline generators...
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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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Already did home work
There are about a dozen here and very little noise !!
* 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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i'd love to use a wind generator but solar is sooo nuch quieter
if i could put it a 1/2 mile away...let me think on this...
i turned on a fan right now...it made noise
research over
my conclusion : anything that spins in the air has resistance and makes noise
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