I'm just getting started and could use some advice.

Posted by Mike Vettori on June 24, 2003, 09:37:47 AM

I'm just getting started and could use some advice.
I'm building a shed in my back yard and would like to experiment by powering it with solar. I'm looking for a simple configuration that would allow my to have a single flourescent light (30w) inside, a flood light or two outside (100w ea.), a bug zapper (40w), and a single outlet for occassional use.

Using the tutorials in the Alternative Energy Store site (which is excellent by the way!), I have determined that I'll need a single Uni-Solar 32 watt solar panel ($187), A MorningStar SunSaver Charge Controller, model 20L-24 ($94), and four Trojan T-105 batteries ($320).

With that, I have four questions: 1) Do my estimates look accurate, 2)What is a low cost inverter that would do the job, 3) I had trouble using the tutorial to figure out the best gauge of wire, what should I use, and 4) Without the inverter, I'm already at $600. That's getting expensive to simply add some power to a shed. Is there a more cost efective way to do this or am I overestimating something?

 

Posted by Maverick Brown on June 26, 2003, 04:50:45 PM

Re: I'm just getting started and could use some advice. (Reply #1)
1. You did not mention how long the stuff would be operating. But a single 32W panel seems small.
2. The charge controller seems ok. Always try to go a little bigger so it last your upgrade cycles.
3. For a starter system, four Golf Cart Batteries can be bought from Sams Club for $45 each. I did, they work, same size, no shipping...
4. Inverters can be 400 - 1000W cheapies form Walmart, Sams, Home Depot. Try http://www.vectormfg.com/site2/vectormfg/default.php?cPath=22
5. Cables. Use 10ga from panels to charger. Buy Car Jumper Cables and cut them to fit from Battery to Inverter. You should build a plywood box to hold batteries and mount inverter on outside of box, like on the left or font, etc.
6. Homepower Mag can help. www.homepower.com
 

Posted by Thomas Allen Schmidt on June 28, 2003, 10:40:32 AM

Re: I'm just getting started and could use some advice. (Reply #2)
There is no inexpensive way. One way as opposed to another may be less expensive. When you figured up how much you had to spend on it did you figure in the amount that conventional power would cost you for the shed, for the rest of your life, and what it would cost you to have an electrician install a 20 amp circuit from your house? A rule of thumb is that whatever it would cost for conventional power paid out over a lifetime is what it would cost for independent power all at one time. Lets say I paid on average $100 a month to my local power and light company. Thats $1200 a year, times 40 years. Thats $48,000 (its a lot more than this when the real world cost is figured in) that I would have to spend on a renewable energies powered, off grid home. This is in a perfect world of course. I over simplfied just to give you an the idea.
 

Posted by Gerry Dionne on June 29, 2003, 06:35:11 AM

Re: I'm just getting started and could use some advice. (Reply #3)
>I'm building a shed in my back
>yard and would like to experiment
>by powering it with solar. I'm
>looking for a simple configuration that
>would allow my to have a
>single flourescent light (30w) inside, a
>flood light or two outside (100w
>ea.), a bug zapper (40w), and
>a single outlet for occassional use.
>
>Using the tutorials in the Alternative Energy
>Store site (which is excellent by
>the way!), I have determined that
>I'll need a single Uni-Solar 32
>watt solar panel ($187), A MorningStar
>SunSaver Charge Controller, model 20L-24 ($94),
>and four Trojan T-105 batteries ($320).
>
>With that, I have four questions: 1)
>Do my estimates look accurate, 2)What
>is a low cost inverter that
>would do the job, 3) I
>had trouble using the tutorial to
>figure out the best gauge of
>wire, what should I use, and
>4) Without the inverter, I'm already
>at $600. That's getting expensive to
>simply add some power to a
>shed. Is there a more cost
>efective way to do this or
>am I overestimating something?

The answer to your question is no,your are not overestimating, and the experience you will get out of this is that this equipment is expensive no matter which way you go. If you have electrical power in your house dig a small ditch and bring the power to your shed. It will cost you more money and aggravation to use the alternative energy (solar panels, charge controller, inverter, battery bank,) not to mention the equipment and time to maintain the batteries than use the grid electricity to power your shed for 100 years. The only time you want to use alternative energy is when you are so far away from grid power that you have no choice.

 

Posted by Maverick Brown on July 04, 2003, 08:59:19 AM

Re: I'm just getting started and could use some advice. (Reply #4)
I think the key to your success is in the first sentence. "I would like to experiement" Go to www.hompower.com and order a couple back issues, maybe the latest CD. Read up on what you need to setup your power requirements in your shed. Play with it and have fun. Will it be more economical with Solar, probally not. Can you just buy a 100 foot 12 ga extension cord and string it out to your shed? Yes. Is that fun? You decide what your intentions are and do what you want...

Thanks and have fun.

 
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