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jakecard
Nomad
Posts: 141
Registered: 7-13-2011
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Solar Equipment: Where to Buy?
I want to start pricing and comparing solar equipment for an off-grid house. Any information or tips on getting the best performing, most reliable and
cost-effective system for the money?
For those who have purchased entire systems, where did you make your purchase?
Is online purchasing a wise option? What brand names would you recommend I search?
Are complete systems available for purchase in Baja? If so, how do the prices and quality compare to systems sold in the U.S.?
In the coming weeks I plan to walk through several San Diego, CA, retail solar stores to have a look around, but I thought it would first be worth
getting ideas from Nomads in order to better understand what questions I might ask.
Thank you in advance for any replies.
Jake
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3540
Registered: 8-27-2003
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Here's my experience
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=53252#pid6262...
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vandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 538
Registered: 10-10-2003
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I keep looking at sunelec.com, just to keep a nice freezer on the beach.
I've got the cost down to $600-$900.
That will buy a lot of ice!
2 batteries
200+-watt panel
MPPT charge controller
inverter
freezer
cables and connectors
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Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6742
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
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There are a few good places that are on line but also have show rooms. I'll try to find out where a few of my neighbors bought their systems. For a
one bedroom place your probably looking at a 3000watt to 4000watt 24 volt system. Here's what I have and most people here have at least this large of
a system.
6- 120 watt panels, 8- L-16 batteries, 1- 60amp controller, 1- 4000watt inverter. I installed shut off switches on each leg of the system and over
sized cables. I think you should plan on about $10,000 or a bit more. I just bought 4-L-16 batteries (US Battery) for just over a grand.
Here's a starting point. Sun & Wind in AZ - http://www.solar-electric.com/
[Edited on 8-27-2011 by Russ]
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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beercan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 670
Registered: 4-3-2005
Location: North of da Bear
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Mood: happy to be in Baja
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That's where I have bought all my stuff
But my last couple of conversations with them, are larger panels , 120's are "out" and L-16's aren't being recommended.
They sold me an Outback 48V system 6 years ago and it has performed flawlessly . I installed it all myself.
* 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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Russ
Elite Nomad
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Location: Punta Chivato
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I suppose that a 48 volt system is more efficient and with the OutBack controller it doesn't mater which system you're charging. I have a 12+ year old
2440 Trace inverter and I like the 24 volt set up. If I have a couple of bad L-16's, as I have now, I can get enough hours on 4 batteries to keep the
fan and light going during the night. I have 4 new batteries in the pipe line and I hope I can make it on just 4 until then.
I'm curious... What is being recommended instead if the L-16?
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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beercan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 670
Registered: 4-3-2005
Location: North of da Bear
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Mood: happy to be in Baja
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L-16's ????
I think this is the last quote that I got from Pat--
it says Cr-395 Crown 395 AH and they also quoted 185 Watt Kyocera panels .
* 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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larryC
Super Nomad
Posts: 1499
Registered: 8-11-2008
Location: BoLA
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I find the best deals at Sun electronics for solar panels. I usually buy the larger 200+ watt panels. They also have complete systems, but many times
it is cheaper to shop around different places.
http://www.sunelec.com/
Larry
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Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6742
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
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Went to the Sun & Wind site and took a look at your batteries.
http://www.solar-electric.com/cr395amdecyb.html
The hipe on Trojan & US batteries is similar. I would call them L-16's. They are in the middle of the price range. I'm trying the US batteries
this time. The hipe on Trojan said 10 year life. After more than 20 batteries that's never happened. So for $130 less per battery I'm switching. Maybe
try the Crown battery next.
I wish that there was something on the market that was as good as lead acid batteries and cheap.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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bonanza bucko
Senior Nomad
Posts: 587
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Airport Bum
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The best place I have found is Thesolarbiz.com. They do business over the telephone and they are super knowledgeable about all aspects of off the
grid solar power. They take the time to answer your questions completely and verbally and they will do a great deal to educate you if you need
that....I did.
We have a house at Gonzaga Bay with a very adequate solar system that is wired as a 24 V system. We have 10, 170 watt panels, an MPPT charge
controller by Xantrex, a Magnum energy 4000 watt full sine wave inverter/charger and 8 L-16 batteries by Surette-Rolls.
We have 36 amps of 120V AC that supplies power for a 2500 square foot house with TV, Sat internet, two fridges and a freezer plus all the stuff you
have to add.....pumps for water pressure, power for control of point of use propane hot water heaters for bathrooms and kitchen....microwave..and even
my wife's hair dryer. We usually are recharged by about noon every day and we only have to top off the batteries with a generator after about two and
half days with no sun...that has never happened.
I would guess that we have about $10,000 invested in this system...but we did all the work with friends locally.....had to because we are remote.
Because of that the advice and education we got from TheSolarBiz was vital.
This is our second system. It has been operating flawlessly for the last four years. Our first system was installed..by us...in 2001. That was
before MPPT charge controllers and the need for full sine wave power which we now have. If you are not familiar with MPPT charge controllers you need
to be educated before you set up your system...they operate on the "overhead" between the voltage that you have your panels wired for and the voltage
of your batteries by measuring the difference every 60th of a second and then reducing the voltage coming into the controller from the panels to a
voltage just above the voltage of the batteries (is goes up as they recharge) and, thus, increasing the amps incoming....VW=A and etc. Talk to
TheSolarBiz if this is obscure to you.
Our first system was...at the time...pretty state of the art...Trace controller, inverter, smaller panels and Interstate batteries. We outgrew it
because the inverter was not full sine wave as needed by computers and water heaters and because the Interstate batteries only lasted five years on a
7 year "guarantee." The Rolls batteries are more expensive but we have friends who tell us the guarantee....10 years I think...is good.
There are changes and improvements in this stuff all the time and you may find that there is better gear than we now have because it's four years
old.....again..Talk with TheSolarBiz.
The prices we got from them were also very, very good. Example: We bought our 8 Rolls L-16 batteries from them but they are in New Mexico and the
batteries are heavy (about 120#/each) and shipping could be saved by having them delivered by a supplier locally here in San Diego. So we paid
TheSolarBiz their price which was about 80% of the local price but the local dealer put the batteries on my truck
so I could haul them to Gonzaga Bay!!...he wondered how I had gotten that price!
I'm sure some of the suppliers mentioned above are very fine. I found, however, that TheSolarBiz had the best combination of human beings who knew
what they were talking about and a willingness to spend time telling you what you need to know and price/service etc.
Lemme know if you need more input. I get my jollies working with this stuff.....it is very neat.
BB:-)
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Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6742
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
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bonanza bucko, I'm totally impressed with this site. I compared prices, not including shipping, and found them the best, so far. I'm still browsing
their site and it has everything I've looked for. This is one I'll add to my favorites. Thanks
http://www.thesolarbiz.com/default.htm
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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I agree, the people at thesolarbiz are excellent, I bought my Outback inverters and charge controllers from them.
Larry
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bonanza bucko
Senior Nomad
Posts: 587
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Airport Bum
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Need to correct my post above. The formula is VA=W...not VW=A. W/V=A and W/A=V...I have fat fingers and can't type.
BB:-(
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RichBaja
Banned
Posts: 165
Registered: 5-8-2010
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Bonanza Bucko, Any ideas how much it would cost to get an off grid system to just run a regular refrigerator with a freezer?
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by RichBaja
Bonanza Bucko, Any ideas how much it would cost to get an off grid system to just run a regular refrigerator with a freezer? |
That will depend on the size/efficiency of the fridge/freezer and how hot it gets at your part of the world in summer. The hotter the temps, the more
the compressor will run. I would talk to any neighbors you know that have one running now and use that for a comparison...
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ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
Registered: 4-15-2006
Location: Loreto
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Mood: Retired and Loving it
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First do the math. You need to figure out how many watt/hours per day of power you will use, then work backward to determine, batteries, panels and
inverter size.
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jakecard
Nomad
Posts: 141
Registered: 7-13-2011
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Thank you again for each of your replies.
With so many companies in the solar market place offering such a wide variety of (ever-changing?) technologies, what is the deciding factor on which
brand-name(s) to buy?
Is it just down to one's individual budget? Do significant differences in quality exist between the various manufacturer's products? Or do they all
perform about the same?
Jake
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bonanza bucko
Senior Nomad
Posts: 587
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Airport Bum
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Jakecard:
I would ask TheSolarBiz those questions. Their business is built on customer product knowledge first and sales second....they don't want anyone to
buy something they are sorry they bought....I trust them and they have earned the trust.
The guys above who said you need to make up a power "budget" before you buy are all correct. ie..how big a fridge, how hot a day etc. But there are
lots of fun and interesting ways to skin that cat. Example: You can buy a $1500 Sunfrost fridge or you can go to Home Depot and buy a $200 chest
freezer and then go to The Keg Works and get the gizmo that lets you set the temperature that that freezer runs at the...TA DA!...you have $250 chests
fridge. Mine has been running for four years...no problema...muy bueno! BTW...chest fridges and freezers are best in hot Baja because the cold air
doesn't "spill out" when you open the door.
The only advice I can give you beyond getting the facts from somebody you trust like TheSolarBiz is to not buy something cheep (well...other than that
$200 chest freezer above)...don't buy cheap solar panels or a goofy brand inverter or charge controller. Stick to the brands carried by TheSolarBiz.
BTW...I don't work for them...I don't get any benefit from them. I think, however, that they are the ONLY business in the solar field that I know of
who have figured out that a customer's knowledge and satisfaction is worth more than sales in the long run.
BB :-)
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RichBaja
Banned
Posts: 165
Registered: 5-8-2010
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Bonanza Bucko, thanks for your reply!
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larryC
Super Nomad
Posts: 1499
Registered: 8-11-2008
Location: BoLA
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGringo
| Quote: | Originally posted by RichBaja
Bonanza Bucko, Any ideas how much it would cost to get an off grid system to just run a regular refrigerator with a freezer? |
That will depend on the size/efficiency of the fridge/freezer and how hot it gets at your part of the world in summer. The hotter the temps, the more
the compressor will run. I would talk to any neighbors you know that have one running now and use that for a comparison... |
So true, I have a 18 cuft sears that during the cooler months uses about .9-1kw a day. But in the hot months that number triples to 2.9-3 kw a day. I
measured this with a kill a watt meter. Something to think about when your are planning your system.
Also I would highly recommend a true sine wave inverter. I burned up 2 compressors using a msw xantrex inverter. I switched to an Outback tsw inverter
6 years ago and no more problems with the compressors.
Good luck with yours.
Larry
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