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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Solar OR Wind - Solar AND Wind???
We are looking at our options for power at the new place until we get on the grid and was just curious as to Nomads thoughts and experience of using
solar vs wind or solar and wind generation together?
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BigWooo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 579
Registered: 1-2-2007
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A lot depends on when you will be on the grid and what you plan to power.
If you plan to provide solar/wind power a regular size one to three bedroom home, the initial investment will be substantial. I wouldn't use that as
a "temporary" solution. I would only do solar or wind if you plan to use that instead of being on the grid.
That said, if you want to use solar to run just a few lights and maybe a water pump until you get power, that can be done at a pretty reasonable cost.
Generators are noisy and a pain, but if you don't have long before power comes to your home a generator would probably be the cheapest and easiest
option.
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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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where is the "new place"???
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wiltonh
Nomad
Posts: 302
Registered: 2-2-2007
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Here are a couple of interesting links when considering solar.
The first link lists the prices on many different solar panels.
http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/solar_panels.htm
The second link allows you to calculate how much power you can really get.
http://www.roofray.com/
We live in an RV in Baja during the winter on solar. The first step is to decide just how much you want to run. I use a Killawatt meter to determine
how much a given appliance or light takes to run per day. You then total them all up and you have a goal to shoot for.
Some loads are not easy to modify but lighting is one that can be changed a lot by going to CCFL or LED lighting. We use a CCFL when we need a large
area lighted and LED lighting for reading lights. In an RV, switching from a tail light bulb for a reading light to an LED light can save up to 90%
on power.
A laptop takes a lot less to run than a desktop but it still uses a lot of power. We have found that using a DVD player and a small LCD screen takes
about 1/3 as much power to show one movie when compared to a standard laptop. There are new laptops that will run movies in a power saving mode (IE
Linux) rather then booting into Windows. I have not compared the power for one of those yet.
Wilton
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Edguero
Nomad
Posts: 112
Registered: 6-13-2006
Location: O\'side/Punta Final
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I run both, 4800 amp hours of batteries, 4 - 130 watt panels and a 400 watt wind generator and a Honda 3500 watt EUi generator for backup.
I have an electric fridge, lights both AC & DC, fans and entertainment stuff,
We are typically there 2-3 weeks at a time 4-5 times a year and do okay with power but we start getting low towards the end.
The heat in the summer seems to be the hardest on the system.
When we leave everything is turned off except 2 panels and always have a full charge when we return.
Hope this helps.
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
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The new place is on the Pacific coast just west of San Quintin and north of the bay.
CFE is scheduled to come over our way in the first half of 2009 so nothing long term is needed. We will just need some power to help us through the
finishing stages of the place next year to run some power tools/pump. I had thought of just using a generator but wanted to look at other options. I
probably will still look at some solar/wind options to use even once on the grid.
Just interested in your opinions here - thanks!
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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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just get a generator...the quietest possible
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18388
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGringo
The new place is on the Pacific coast just west of San Quintin and north of the bay.
CFE is scheduled to come over our way in the first half of 2009 so nothing long term is needed. We will just need some power to help us through the
finishing stages of the place next year to run some power tools/pump. I had thought of just using a generator but wanted to look at other options. I
probably will still look at some solar/wind options to use even once on the grid.
Just interested in your opinions here - thanks! |
capital cost of wind and solar is high, so if only planning to use for a short time, then not economical -- use a petroleum fuel engine/generator.
if coastal, solar is sort of inefficient due to coastal haze/marine layer; and winds in your area have low average speed, so wind turbines not too
efficient either. talk to manufacturers and have them provide power output estimates based on your local wind and solar potential.
solar PV is not too efficient, but thermal solar is quite efficient, so definitely consider a solar thermal system to heat water (solar thermal water
heating is very cheap relative to PV electric).
[Edited on 11-9-2008 by mtgoat666]
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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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Definitely agree with the thermal solar idea and I am already working on that!
The area does have pretty constant breeze but I will do some checking on average speed, etc.
Thanks for the input...
edit - just noted that I am now a SENIOR nomad. Or is that a seņor nomad???
[Edited on 11-9-2008 by BajaGringo]
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