capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
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Mood: Sling time!
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hello Nomadians off the grid.....
would any of you who have invested in large scale solar inverter systems for your baja home or complex (like Playa Frambes) care to give a comment as
to on a $ per watt bases your capitalization expenses were??
ie. - if for example you have a 6000W. capable system on your home, considering the hardware costs incl batts bank, panels, inverter and controllers -
what was your expenditure exclusive of say importation costs to Mexico?
up here the range with contractor install labor added seems to go from $5 to $10 a watt of power.
what say you all? 
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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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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i've just seen several units go in
installed for about $7.50 usa per watt
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
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Mood: Sling time!
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gracias Bob!!
another Q - if you are going to co-generate with a utility and feed them energy direct - do you need batts too??
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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Paulclark
Nomad
Posts: 357
Registered: 10-13-2008
Location: Castillo de Arena
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On a 4,000 watt system -- panels $4.50 plus batteries $2.50, plus inverter and other hardware $1.00 plus labor= $8.00/watt
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El Camote
Senior Nomad
Posts: 514
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Above the clouds
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Capitano, You don't need batts with a grid tie-in system. In fact, my understanding is the utility forbids you from sending juice through the line
when the grid is down. I guess the lineman don't like the surprise when they're testing the lines. 
Knowledge is good. - Emil Faber
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
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Mood: Sling time!
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all good. this project is 165,800 SF of roof and panels.
guess i will get an education. the gov't tax and cap rebates are very nice, plus acclerated depreciation at 2 years 100%.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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hookemup
Junior Nomad
Posts: 63
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: pac nw/ cabo pulmo
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Mike, " Home Power" magazine is a great source for off the grid info,plus supplier adds,and back issues on just about everything under the sun.
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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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Hi Mike,
You might pose your question at this site.
http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/index.php
As you know, I have had an off-grid home in Baja Sur for over 30 years. I recently upgraded all my components thru Arizon Wind and Sun. Checking
back, it came in at slightly over $8 per watt. My array consists of 22 Kyocera 130-watt panels ($4.25 w) on trackers with a 24v Trace 4500w
inverter, solar controller, safety fusing, etc. My battery setup is: 16 deep-cycle solar batts. I am making enough solar power that I only run my
12KW generator for maintenance about once every 2 weeks for 1/2 hour.
While they are very competitive in pricing, I went with Ariz W&S because of friends who have received great service. An amigo on the east cape
just installed a rather large system from the same company and he is satisfied. Again, his per-watt-cost was in the neighborhood OF $8.50 -$9w.
The good thing is, there are lots of new off-grid suppliers to choose from..and also new innovations to the industry....a trend that has been
happening for a few years now.
[Edited on 3-13-2009 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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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 capt. mike
all good. this project is 165,800 SF of roof and panels.
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165,000 sq ft of PV panels is not a typical residential install. that's a big project.
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
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Mood: Sling time!
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yeah - it is a luxury concierge RV storage facility i am building - the owner wants to explore loading the steel shade canopies with collectors for
office power, lights etc. and possible cogeneration if he can get the gov't incentives right. we start this in june if permits are ready. under design
now. 310 spaces.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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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 capt. mike
yeah - it is a luxury concierge RV storage facility |
what is "luxury concierge" RV storage? do the RVs get massages? can an RV request the concierge make him a reservation for an oil change? 
there are probably a lot of vendors in AZ that can do your project., the vendors all provide guidance on how to connect to the grid and get tax
credits (in fact, the good vendors do all the paperwork and connections for you as part of the design and as-built documentation)
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sling time!
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what is "luxury concierge" RV storage? do the RVs get massages? can an RV request the concierge make him a reservation for an oil change?
well, yes - in a way.
this is for the well heeled driving the $500K and up coaches. there is a level of service many of them can and will pay for besides simply storage.
i'll have the web site later. ditto the boat owners. and collector cars.
we have 2 solar specialty firms in AZ consulting on it now.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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astrobaja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 952
Registered: 5-22-2006
Location: near San Pedro Martir Park
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Mood: beam me up
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Hi all,
we just had our system installed by a company in Rosarito (I won't mention the name since we are at odds with them now) We went with pretty high end
inverters (outback) and evergreen panels, as well as middle of the road price wise Crown batteries. Our big thing was trying to find someone
qualified to install a system here in baja norte and not have to import all the pieces ourselves. The panels and batteries were just slightly more
than what Arizona Wind and Sun charge so we went ahead with this company. It ended up costing $14 a watt! It was their labor rate of $120 that killed
us! Now that we are arguing over a final bill (for labor that we feel is way overcharged) they are saying they will not support us in future! You live
and learn I guess!
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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What does that mean?
| Quote: | Originally posted by astrobaja
It was their labor rate of $120 that killed us! |
$120 per hr? Day? Job? Pesos or dollars?
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astrobaja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 952
Registered: 5-22-2006
Location: near San Pedro Martir Park
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Mood: beam me up
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Dave,
Sorry I wish it was pesos but it was 120 dollars an hour US!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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and that wasn't discussed before hiring them?
You did expect some extra cost because you are over 100 miles away from Rosarito and up in a mountain on a dirt road, right?
I hope it gets worked out astro... you have done so much to make it a nice experience, you don't want to get too bummed out now.
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astrobaja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 952
Registered: 5-22-2006
Location: near San Pedro Martir Park
Member Is Offline
Mood: beam me up
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David:
Sure we were aware beforehand, but its not like there are a lot of qualified solar installers in Baja norte to choose from! The installer told us he
travels all over Baja. He tried to charge us 9 hours work on a repair of a hydronic line (we were present and it took max 2 hours) so we were a bit
appalled at his greed. So far our worst experiences have been dealing with businesses close to the frontera who deal primarily with gringos, and the
best have been with those further south who do not rely on tourist $$'s.
Like I said you live and learn! For our kitchen we will get a local carpintero, we shy away from those that quote in US $$$'s
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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10-4... Maybe it was his 2 hours on the job... plus the 7 hours round trip drive from Rosarito???
Sorry you got charged so much... I hope it is all worth it when the project is done... we can't wait to come up there and see your place!! 
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