PV Gap

Alfred Said:

Looking for solar and wind power kits that are under $12,000.?

We Answered:

A typical home needs about a 2000 or 3000 Watt (2 or 3 kW) solar power unit. To power your toaster , it will take 1000 Watts. To power your hair dryer, it takes maybe 1500 to 1800 Watts. A Microwave might be from 800 to 1500 Watts. If you opt for a 1000 Watt system, you may have to walk around with wet hair, and cold sandwiches.
The prices for a complete 2 or 3 kW unit runs about $20,000 to $30,000 installed. Or about $10 per Watt (or about $10,000 per 1000 Watt or 1 kW). With the utility company rebates/ buydowns/ incentives, you may get the cost down to $8 to $9/ Watt. So, you may be able to do install a 1000 Watt system for $12,000, but not sure -- it could be close.

The main reasons being:
1) The solar unit will work well for 6 or 8 hours a day --- but when the sun goes down, your power is zero. So to make it effective, you have to have battery banks. It would require several batteries at about $100 each to store the power during the day, so you will have power at night. Absolutely needed for a stand-alone system if you need power at night. These batteries have an expected lifetime of maybe 5 years or less. They will need replaced in 5 years.

2) The solar unit will provide 12 Volt DC power. Your house uses 120 Volts to run your microwave and toaster and TV. Therefore -- you will need an expensive electronic piece called an inverter. It converts 12 Volt DC power to 120 Volt AC power. This adds to your budget, and it is expensive. And it is electronic -- it will fail at some point. Sometimes it lasts 5 , 6, or 8 years -- then needs replaced -- at considerable cost.

Your thoughts on "wind power" are even more gloomy. Similar issues as with solar. It works when the wind blows at least 7 mph. If the wind is not strong enough, you get no power. And think about it --- a warm summer day is not too hot when the wind is blowing. But the very "hot" summer days --- it is "very hot" because there is no wind blowing. Hot days have little or no wind blowing or else they would be just a "warm day". Hot day means --- no fan or no A/C.

The $12,000 budget could maybe install a 1 kW solar unit, but you would have to give up a hair dryer and microwave, electric oven, electric clothes dryer. Unless you are into a candle light dinner with cold sandwiches, a more realistic solution will cost about $20,000 to $30,000 for a 2 or 3 kW solar unit, with battery backup.

Rebecca Said:

What's an easy beginner - solar power conversion kit?

We Answered:

A solar kit might work for you if you're not ready to invest in a full-scale solar array but you need power for your basic needs in the kitchen.

It is also a great way of getting a simplified start on powering your home with the energy of the sun.

Some of the 'plug and play' models of solar energy kits available today can plug right into an outlet so you can avoid wiring hassles all together.

These solar kits would not involve converting certain plugs to solar power, but they would offset a significant amount of the electricity that you use.

Gertrude Said:

Do it yourself home solar power?

We Answered:

I have been living on a stand alone solar system for about 16 years now, so maybe I can help you out a little. Last week, a friend of mine, called me and asked me to help him find out which of his panels were bad and after spending about 2 hours , we found 3 of them. They are all about 10 years old, and after calling one of the local solar places, found that all three would be exchanged for 90% of the full value, which means that he will be out only about 150.00 instead of about 1500.00. That is the reason that all of us out here in the boonies living off the grid will not even consider building our own panels. Mine have a 25 year warranty on them and the company is very good about it. Yes , the initial cost is going to be high, but years down the road you will be very happy about this choice should you choose to go with it. If you attempt to build your own, you on your own, Forever. Good luck with whatever to choose to do. Rock

Ryan Said:

Kit to convert car to solar power?

We Answered:

You may be twenty or even fifty years too soon. Solar power generates a low amount of electrical current for the size of a solar panel. You could get a unit that would keep your battery charged or run some of the accessories, but to get a one to three ton mass moving with solar panels for the energy required is simply not possible now. The cars you see that are running solar power are essentially ultra light four wheel bicycles and the one I researched had to pull a trailer with the solar panels attached. As the technology gets smarter, there may be a chance in the future of using the sun for transportation power.

Chris Said:

How to set up solar power for your home?

We Answered:

Sounds like the system "Liz" described is kind of cobbled together; you want to install a "listed" solar photovoltaic system, and have it installed in a "Code compliant" manner.

Depending on who or where you purchase your system, they will probably offer to install it for you. This is also a good idea, which will include a warranty on the product and the installation. You want the installation to be done correctly; remember, there is no way to turn off a solar collector. Unless covered with a special black-out blanket, the only way to "turn off" a collector panel is to turn it over; a difficult task on a sloping roof.

You will want to know what additional dead load this will place on your roof structure and be sure that the roof system will support it. You will need to check with your local building department to see what Code requirements you will have to comply with. If your home has a truss roof, you will probably need to have a structural engineer verify that it will support the added weight, or design modifications to the roof framing that will allow the installation of the SP System. You may also have to contend with Zoning requirements. Although a variance is always possible, it can be a very expensive proposition.

Good luck.

Debra Said:

Do you know of any store that carries solar-power model kits?

We Answered:

http://www.goldmine-elec.com/

Tracy Said:

where can i find a solar kit to power a laptop 90 watt 19v 5 amp?

We Answered:

that is a lot of power to expect a solar panel to supply!

you will need a large panel.

I would suggest eBay for the panels and batteries.

Then connect the PANELS to the battery and then regulate the output for the laptop. two 12V wired in series, then a 19v regulator.