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eetdrt88
Senior Nomad
Posts: 986
Registered: 2-20-2005
Location: Az/Ca/Baja
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solar help in S.F.
...can anybody down there reccomend a place or person in san felipe who is knowledgeable about solar and can help me upgrade my current operation to
get more power...any help would be much appreciated
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wornout
Senior Nomad
Posts: 595
Registered: 10-24-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja California
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Mood: No Bad Days
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| Quote: | Originally posted by eetdrt88
...can anybody down there reccomend a place or person in san felipe who is knowledgeable about solar and can help me upgrade my current operation to
get more power...any help would be much appreciated |
Jim Smith, in El Dorado, or Solar Express, in town, are about the only two games (licensed ) in town.
However, not being one to hold back advise, what do you mean by upgrade?
Off the top of my head, I would suggest investing in a tracker (if you have enough panels and batteries at this time). It will boost your charging
about 30%. Of course there are other things depending on your setup and you budget.
This Space Available, E-Mail Me If Interested.
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eetdrt88
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wornout...
right now I have one small panel about 4'x3' and one small battery that runs the lights on my trailer...what I would like is enough power to run some
appliances like a coffee maker and small refrig....just wondering how many more panels and batteries I will need to get that much power.....btw that
jury duty bit is a hoot
[Edited on 4-13-2006 by eetdrt88]
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bajalou
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Coffee makers and frig take LOTS of elect power. Major change to run them.
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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eetdrt88
Senior Nomad
Posts: 986
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Location: Az/Ca/Baja
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Lou...
when you say major,what are you talking in $$$??
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
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Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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eetdrt88..realistically, you will spend around $2500 to solar-run a coffeemaker and a small electric fridge with solar power...both of these take
considerable amounts of power -- panels, inverter/controler, wiring, etc. Solar power is not cheap, but it is satisfying.
Visit this site for lots of info and a better answer to your power question:
http://www.wind-sun.com/smf/index.php
Do not let the initial cost discourage you....once it's over you are home free.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
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Tracker Economics
Keep in mind when considering a tracker vs. additional panels, the cost of a tracker is roughly equivalent to the cost of additional panels to achieve
the same increase in charge capacity. Trackers have moving parts, motors, etc. My next door neighbor has had a tracker for a few years and there is
the occasional problem in addition to the required maintenance. To me, the deciding factor is how much South Facing roof space you have available.
In my case, I have far more than I would ever need for panels.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
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Coffee maker!!!!! You need lots of batteries and the required inverter for high energy appliances (coffee maker, hair dryer and other heat element
items). Plus You can have all the panels in the world and it won't help you in the morning when the sun is not up deyond the horizon. (many a day I
have lost batteries until 8-9 in the morning because my wife insisted on the drip coffee maker) - but I also remember she is always right.
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jerry
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Posts: 1354
Registered: 10-10-2003
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id get a gas refer and a 3 kw gen set at big lots for $288 that will take care of your problem cheep compared to solar then add the solar to take care
of the little things
jerry
jerry and judi
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eetdrt88
Senior Nomad
Posts: 986
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Location: Az/Ca/Baja
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actually I have a propane rerfrig. in there but it isnt working...someone said something about turning it upside down,anybody ever had luck with that
method???
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
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There are a couple places in town that repair propane fridges. Puerta RV is one. I use a RV type that is old enough it doesn't have a elect control
panel. I think you're still only part time at this time so I don't think the large solar array, battiries etc would be the way I would go. I'd
probably upgrade panels, battieries so I could run a 1500W inverter for TV etc. (I live in a solar area) A couple of golf cart batteries and a couple
panels if it's generaly weekend use. Coffee on the old cook stove works pretty good also.
I know you can sometimes reserect propane friges by lying them down and turning them but don't remember which side/order to do it.
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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Roberto
Banned
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| Quote: | Originally posted by MrBillM
Keep in mind when considering a tracker vs. additional panels, the cost of a tracker is roughly equivalent to the cost of additional panels to achieve
the same increase in charge capacity. Trackers have moving parts, motors, etc. My next door neighbor has had a tracker for a few years and there is
the occasional problem in addition to the required maintenance. To me, the deciding factor is how much South Facing roof space you have available.
In my case, I have far more than I would ever need for panels. |
Have you seen the trackers made by Zomeworks? No moving parts at all, no motors, no energy use. They work by having an oil-reservoir that heats and
cools slightly with the sun's movement, and, due to the resulting change in density of the fluid, changes the balance of the mount, tracking the sun
from side-to-side. Nothing to fail there!
[Edited on 4-13-2006 by Roberto]
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
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Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Zoomworks and other trackers....Wattsun's - Real Goods, etc ..
Zoomworks is an elegant, minimally mechanical system.
I was told by another solar home-owner they cost about $1300 per tracker for a 12 volt system. That figure is not verified. There are some
trade-offs though - it needs the warmth of the sun to make it work.
What that means is two things:
1) it "goes to sleep" at the western extreme of it's track each night and has to warm sufficiently in the morning to toggle east (this can take some
time and
costs you some amount of morning sun)
2) it is less efficient in cold weather or climates (though Zoomworks makes a set of small flanges you can mount to increase bottle heating).
Wattsun's tracker is electro-mechanical. It uses drive screw motors, similar to satellite TV dishes) to move the array. A sensor is mounted on the
top of the array that compares the sun illumination on either side of it. It moves the rack until the sun is shining equally on both sides of the
sensor (they use a prism to accomplish this). This system also incorporates a small ni-cad battery that is used to swing the rack back east at the
end of the day.
There are three trade-offs here;
1) the thing is an electrical devise and prone to lightning strike damage (though they have made
improvements here in the last few years)
2) it uses some of your array output to power itself and
3) it costs more.
One last note: bird droppings on the sensor prism can really screw up it's tracking.
The Wattsun product would be better in a colder climate because it will find the morning sun faster. Either way you'll see highest gain in the summer
and lowest in the winter. This is simply because the sun is up longer in the summer.
There is another company out there who makes an electro-mechanical tracker. Call Real Goods in Hopeland CA and they'll be able to tell you the company
name. This rack has two refinements over the Wattsun;
1) it uses pipe to mount the array so some of the material is available locally and this will save on shipping.
2) the panels are off-set, rather than being a flatplane, and this lets it shed wind between the panels. Good to have in severe storm areas. They
cost about the same as a Wattsun.
Hope this helps.
[Edited on 4-13-2006 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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jerry
Super Nomad
Posts: 1354
Registered: 10-10-2003
Location: loreto
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i have had several gas refers and when they quite i take them out tip them upside down in a pickup and head down a washboard road the let them sit
upside down for a day install and again let them sit upside down for a day and they worked fine one for about 4 yrs others for a shorter time this
only works if the ammonia hasnt leaked out if it has leaked its junk some tim es you can look in the back of the refer insulation if you see yellow
its shot and i know of no place in baja that can recharge the ammonioa
good luck
jerry and judi
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jerry
Super Nomad
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allway make sure your refer is as level as posable
jerry and judi
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
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Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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There used to be a gas fridge 'repairman' named Victor something?.. up around kilometer 72 on the toll road between Ensenada and Rosarito. He told me
that he could recharge with ammonia. I have not contacted him for many years now. I seem to recall that part of his business name was 'Ursala'?
Maybe somebody will recall this fellow and location. I cannot vouch for his expertise or experience.
I also have burped my share of gas fridges over the years...some came back, others didn't. Servels, Sibirs, Crystal Cold, Consul, Dometic,
Norcold...I have had a few. My current Crystal Cold are great...going on 7 years old now. Got those from Fletcher Dunne at appliancewarehouse.com
Very good service and warranty.
For an electric fridge powered by solar, I use a smaller 10cft Whirlpool that I bought in La Paz. It is fairly efficient and uses little power to
keep things cool. When in normal mode, it drawsa about 3-4 amps on my Trace 4500 inverter meters gauge. Also Mabe makes another low-energy electric
fridge. Gas models are of course ideal. Sunfrost and Sol make solar fridges, but have some drawbacks and need lots of panels to operate. Then when
they go bad, it usually means a trip back to the states and a huge repair bill.
[Edited on 4-13-2006 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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wornout
Senior Nomad
Posts: 595
Registered: 10-24-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja California
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Couple of things. First off, get a Coleman Camping Coffee Pot at Walmart. It is just like a Mr Coffee but works on the gas stove.
I live in a solar area just down from Bajalou and ran an electric Mr Coffee for years. What a dumb idea that is on solar because you hit your
batteries, with a BIG draw at their weakest time, first thing in the morning.
I agree on keeping a propane fridge and forget electric. I have a 12v Sunfrost which I bought in 1998, it works great but you have to allocate two
100w panels and two L16 batteries for it (over 300 amps storage). It is well worth it as it is 16cu ft. In 1998 I bought a 5 cu ft electric freezer
at Sears, and there I go again, draining my batteries all day and night (I have 8 100w panels and 8 L16's. Selling that freezer was the 2nd best day
of my live, retiring early was the best.
Years ago I had a propane freezer refilled with ammonia at 'Cool Fun' in Southern California, near Pomona. I understand there is a place in Ensenada
that does this too but don't know where. It cost $500 but I wanted it because it did require 12v for the safety valve like all the ones built in the
90's and on do.
Hope that helps....wornout
This Space Available, E-Mail Me If Interested.
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meme
Senior Nomad
Posts: 756
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: San Felipe,BC
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We have the Sun Frost frig now too & love it!Just recently bought it from folks getting electric down south. Spendy but good to have! We also run
an LG electric frig,it uses little electric and fits perfect in my kitchen! But then Jim just keeps adding panels & batteries to accomodate all
our plug ins! LOl! I do have electric Cusinart coffee pot that brews it into an insulated carafe (like a thermos) so is only on using electric a few
short mins. each morning. Love it, so guess I will always have one!
BTW---- The guy Victor in Ensenda is a crook! Cheated several people here out of hundreds of $$ including us!
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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solar is great way to go...especially when off-grid!
Have been off-the-grid in Baja since 1972 and totally solar-powered home since 1982. Used ARCO panels originally and now 16-120 watt Photowatt
panels..24volt system with 4500w Trace inverter and 16 T-105 Trojan batteries.
3-15cft gas fridge/freezers, 1-10cft electric fridge/freezer, gas hot water, electric clothes washer, microwave, tvs, pcs, fans, many lights, air
conditioning, etc....making about 160 amp-hours daily.
We make gas-stovetop coffee, limited microwaving, and judicious use of yard lights at night. You learn to conserve and buy low power bulbs..very
reasonable at Home Depot. Many other ways to conserve energy...like putting all tvs, etc. on switches to avoid 'ghost' drains at night. It all adds
up rather quickly.
Neighbors have a solar fridge and liked it a lot ..until it quit. Borrowed them the Whirlpool electric unit until they could make repairs to the
Sunfrost or Sol..can't remember which brand. Appears to working fine again.
I remember other people saying that this Victor by Ensenada was not a very savory character. No doubt he is not in business anymore.
Unfortunately I know of no current authorized solar techincians in our area. There will be one or two soon though, I expect.
[Edited on 4-13-2006 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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eetdrt88...
I have bought solar products from these people. Good prices and product. I will be using them to install solar panels and systems on a new 5th
Wheel RV. Reasonable in today's high solar markets.
http://www.discoverpower.com/
Other places I have bought solar and had installations done...Escondido, Ca. at Horizon Solar.
http://www.horizonsolar.com/
These folks did my first solar powered 5th Wheel and the system worked flawlessly for the 3 three years we owned the camper. The system greatly
increased the usability of the camper and also added to our resale price. Ended up selling the unit for exactly the initial cost.
http://www.horizonsolar.com/
[Edited on 4-13-2006 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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