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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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Rob,
you've seen my system, it's basic but works very well. I just relocated my panels up onto the new patio roof and wired them to the batteries with 10
guage construction cord/wire temporarily. The run is about 20-25 feet from the panels to the battery bench. Once the new house is near completion, we
will be upgrading with more panels and more batteries.
What wire would be best?
Just got back from San Quintin (6 days at El Pabellon Camp), great time.
Where are you?
We'll be back in Santa Maria for Labor Day. Fingers crossed for no storms...
[Edited on 7-10-2007 by BajaWarrior]
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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viabaja
Nomad
Posts: 277
Registered: 10-6-2003
Location: Georgia
Member Is Offline
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Yes, supplemental only with solar/battery bank and yes they can be a bit noisy! However, it free power! Why burn fuel? When the wind picks up either
steady or at least in gusts - I'm putting 10 to 30 amps back into the bank. During the winter it's handy with short days. It allows me to continue
with the blender & movies!
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Wind Power
The Air-Power Series (Currently Air-X) cost roughly the equivalent of (1) 130 Watt Solar Panel. They can be shutoff unless needed. I NEVER turn mine
on unless I need the supplement during Cloudy or Night conditions. IF the wind is up enough to make the unit worthwhile, the neighbors should all
have their windows shut, anyway.
Whenever someone asks what a good output for the Wind Gen is, I say "about five amps". When they look at me with a puzzled
expression, I say "Oh, the output can be up around 40 amps, but if the wind's blowing hard enough to generate more than five amps, it's a lousy day".
We do have quite a few of those, though, especially in the Winter.
The noise isn't that bad for the AIR Series, anyway, except for that one of Chris'.
Just kidding.
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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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Yep, there's nothing wrong with extra amps anytime, but when my previous neighbor had a wind generator, it was a happy day when the props fell apart
on that noisy thing. The worst part was the built in brake when it got going too fast.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
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The question to ask is whether money is better spend on more solar panels or one (or more) wind generators. And, in most places in Baja, you will find
you will get more amps/$ with more panels. It's not hard to figure out - get the specs for the wind generator you have in mind, get the wind
statistics, and figure it out.
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Getting a Charge
I'm pretty sure that the Wind Gen will put out more at night.
Although I'm using (6) KC-120s on my main array and have (4) in the garage for the future, I consider the amount spent on the Wind Gen a good
investment. There are plenty of Cold, Cloudy Winter Days when I see as much charge from the Wind unit (usually around 25 amps) as I do from the Six
Panels. Adding one more panel on those days would not make much difference.
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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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Hey Chuck
The easiest way to get the watts off the roof is to install a combiner box on the roof. Each set of panels wires into the box with #10 AWG UV
resistant wire. I installed 2 combiner boxes with # 2 AWG wire in seal tight conduit to our 2 charge controllers. Voltage drop is less than 1%. The
combiner boxes have fuses that protect each input.
We are in Panguitch, Utah ( east of Cedar City ) and will soon be joined by Jerry & Kathy Hewitt. We just spent a week with 6 Baja neighbors in
Prescott.
When you upgrade your system you may want to check with Discover Power ( formally Solar Electric Inc. ) near you on Santa Fe. The owner, Damian, has
always matched the lowest price that I could find.
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LarryK
Junior Nomad
Posts: 99
Registered: 8-26-2003
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I total agree with Bajabob. Go to http://www.discoverpower.com/ they are in San Diego, great people to work with. Also check with the people at http://www.specialtyconcepts.com/special_home.html Their Regulators are bullet proof. Give them a call and they will hook you up with a local
dealer.
[Edited on 7-11-2007 by LarryK]
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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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Thanks for all the input guys. Actually Discoverpower is in my community, bought most of my gear there. But you know, they say the wire size is not
that important and they use the same wire as I used as my temporary wire, 10 guage construction cord. My regulators are Trace as well as the Invertor,
so I'm good there, just need to wire permanently when I add the new panels and switch out the batteries now 5 years old, going from 14 to 16-20
batteries.
But I do keep hearing over and over that wire size is critical when avoiding a voltage drop. I do have to wonder why the size of wire is so critical
though when the wires coming directly from the panel are so small, in fact 10-12 guage. Not arguing here, just wondering what some of you guys are
using. I happen to have some 6 guage temp power cord direct burial or exposed that I have been dying to use, have 200' of it.
Thanks Rob for the tips, you've got a sweet system, very proffesional looking, see ya in the fall.
Anyone know how good the 6 volt golf cart batteries at Costco are? They are the same weight as the Trojan and the Powerstrides I'm currently using.
The price is $63 each, no core charge. But are they quality?
[Edited on 7-11-2007 by BajaWarrior]
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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| Quote: |
Anyone know how good the 6 volt golf cart batteries at Costco are? They are the same weight as the Trojan and the Powerstrides I'm currently using.
The price is $63 each, no core charge. But are they quality?
[Edited on 7-11-2007 by BajaWarrior] |
Thought I read somewhere that they are made by Johnson Controls, which makes Optima, Varta and a few other brands. Cant speak to their capabilities. I
have Trojans on my boat.
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Costco
Since my original Battery Supplier of Interstate Batteries went out of business, I've been using the Costco Batts for replacements for the last two
years. No complaints, but it hasn't been that long.
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805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajadock
Anyone analyze the financial return on investment for solar electric? I did it for my last home in Colorado and it appeared to be a 10year ROI, but,
that was 10 years ago. |
I heard in Ojai Ca it was 15 years.
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Bajalero
Nomad
Posts: 316
Registered: 11-24-2003
Location: todos santos/ rcho san diego
Member Is Offline
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Baja Bob mentions the Kyocera KC-130 panels and speaking of which does anyone know if they are produced in Baja ? Seems I remember reading or hearing
they have or were going to build a plant in TJ or maybe Mexicali
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wondering what is next???
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajalero
Baja Bob mentions the Kyocera KC-130 panels and speaking of which does anyone know if they are produced in Baja ? Seems I remember reading or hearing
they have or were going to build a plant in TJ or maybe Mexicali |
That would be great news...Kyocera is the brand I use and think they are very good.
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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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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Kyocera manufactures the KC-130s in Japan and Baja. The ones made in Japan have sealed J boxes and plug ends on the + and - leads. This makes it very
easy to wire the panels in series to make 24 volts. The panels made in Mexico have the original J box with a hindged door.
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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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the Kyocera 130s are made in tijauna but you cannot buy them from the factory there...i tryed
they MUST be imported to the USA then reimported to mexico...go figure
the price is higher in mexico than in the USA even with the import fees
these are the units we chose...not too big and not too small
currently we have 12 and another 14 arrive today from the border
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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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| Quote: | Anyone know how good the 6 volt golf cart batteries at Costco are? They are the same weight as the Trojan and the Powerstrides I'm currently using.
The price is $63 each, no core charge. But are they quality?
[Edited on 7-11-2007 by BajaWarrior] |
I just came back from our local Costco and they don't carry nor did they have any clue about a 6v golf cart batt.
Couldn't find anything listed in costco.com either. Anyone have any more info. on this? At which warehouse have you bought these batteries? That's
a great price - I just paid about $90. for the same thing in a powerstride several months ago and I need one more! 
Knowledge is good. - Emil Faber
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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I've seen and bought the batteries from the Carmel Mountain Ranch and Poway Costcos.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaWarrior
Anyone know how good the 6 volt golf cart batteries at Costco are? They are the same weight as the Trojan and the Powerstrides I'm currently using.
The price is $63 each, no core charge. But are they quality?
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Lead-acid is stable proven technology and I would doubt much difference in quality given same weight per amp. Key is you've really got to baby them.
Most folks don't.
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
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Dave is correct - ESPECIALLY when it comes to deep-cycle batteries, weight (as in the thickness of the lead plates) is the determining factor for
quality.
As far as babying goes:
1. don't overcharge them (a three-phase charger will take care of that).
2. don't let them sit discharged for long periods.
3. keep water in them.
That should pretty much take care of the batteries.
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