Australian Politics Forum - Offgrid solar power

barryfromthebush Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 702 Bum Chum Gender:	Offgrid solar power Feb 17^th, 2019 at 8:21pm Has anyone had any experience with off grid solar? I already pump from the river and irrigate with solar and now I want to go further and tell power mob to shove there bill up there arse. Any experience appreciated.
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Bias_2012

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Re: Offgrid solar power
Reply #1 - Feb 18^th, 2019 at 4:37pm

barryfromthebush wrote on Feb 17^th, 2019 at 8:21pm:

Has anyone had any experience with off grid solar? I already pump from the river and irrigate with solar and now I want to go further and tell power mob to shove there bill up there arse.

Any experience appreciated.

Not much, just charge car batteries with those SuperCheap Auto solar panels when the vehicles are not used for a while. Those panels work quite well but they need time to charge the batteries

My next project is to see if I can get a 12V fan running off a solar panel and battery for my eco loo. The fan I have at the moment is 240V and runs 24/7 forever

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barryfromthebush

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Re: Offgrid solar power
Reply #2 - Feb 18^th, 2019 at 4:55pm

Bias_2012 wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 4:37pm:

barryfromthebush wrote on Feb 17^th, 2019 at 8:21pm:

Has anyone had any experience with off grid solar? I already pump from the river and irrigate with solar and now I want to go further and tell power mob to shove there bill up there arse.

Any experience appreciated.

Not much, just charge car batteries with those SuperCheap Auto solar panels when the vehicles are not used for a while. Those panels work quite well but they need time to charge the batteries

My next project is to see if I can get a 12V fan running off a solar panel and battery for my eco loo. The fan I have at the moment is 240V and runs 24/7 forever

Hi mate.

I have a pallet (5kw) of 325w panels that I sell with my solar pumps that I was going to run though an "easysolar" inverter charger.

The batteries are my biggest concern, there are a lot of gimmicks out there and i think the old style flooded lead acid are the way to go. Interested in any first hand experience though.

Worked out I would need about 20kw hours to run the little AC in the bedroom in summer too keep the discharge down to 20%, in winter I would only need 1 battery as everything is LED or off.

Given where I am sunshine is no issue!
Cheers

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Johnnie

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Re: Offgrid solar power
Reply #3 - Feb 18^th, 2019 at 4:58pm

barryfromthebush wrote on Feb 17^th, 2019 at 8:21pm:

Has anyone had any experience with off grid solar? I already pump from the river and irrigate with solar and now I want to go further and tell power mob to shove there bill up there arse.

Any experience appreciated.

Why would you? how many times have you been without power and for how long and what has been the inconvenience, the power companies pay compensation after being without power for any significant length of time.
Sola panels are a must but batteries cost megabux and have to be replaced, as yet they are not proven as to how long they will last and if they will blowup.
A good generator to run the essentials for $700 is the go if you can't do without power.

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barryfromthebush

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Re: Offgrid solar power
Reply #4 - Feb 18^th, 2019 at 5:03pm

Johnnie wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 4:58pm:

barryfromthebush wrote on Feb 17^th, 2019 at 8:21pm:

Has anyone had any experience with off grid solar? I already pump from the river and irrigate with solar and now I want to go further and tell power mob to shove there bill up there arse.

Any experience appreciated.

Why would you? how many times have you been without power and for how long and what has been the inconvenience, the power companies pay compensation after being without power for any significant length of time.
Sola panels are a must but batteries cost megabux and have to be replaced, as yet they are not proven as to how long they will last and if they will blowup.
A good generator to run the essentials for $700 is the go if you can't do without power.

I like being self sufficient. Pay off time is 5 years at current power prices. Flooded Lead Acid are not as dear as you would expect and if you take care of them the will last a lot longer than 5 years by which time you are ahead.

EDIT: Ive already got a diesel 3 phase genny that will run the whole house and shed.

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Johnnie

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Re: Offgrid solar power
Reply #5 - Feb 18^th, 2019 at 5:16pm

barryfromthebush wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 5:03pm:

Johnnie wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 4:58pm:

barryfromthebush wrote on Feb 17^th, 2019 at 8:21pm:

Has anyone had any experience with off grid solar? I already pump from the river and irrigate with solar and now I want to go further and tell power mob to shove there bill up there arse.

Any experience appreciated.

Why would you? how many times have you been without power and for how long and what has been the inconvenience, the power companies pay compensation after being without power for any significant length of time.
Sola panels are a must but batteries cost megabux and have to be replaced, as yet they are not proven as to how long they will last and if they will blowup.
A good generator to run the essentials for $700 is the go if you can't do without power.

I like being self sufficient. Pay off time is 5 years at current power prices. Flooded Lead Acid are not as dear as you would expect and if you take care of them the will last a lot longer than 5 years by which time you are ahead.

EDIT: Ive already got a diesel 3 phase genny that will run the whole house and shed.

What would be the outlay for you to get the power you need? solar panels and batteries included. I hear it takes a lot longer than 5yrs to get your money back.

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lee Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 21533 Gender:	Re: Offgrid solar power Reply #6 - Feb 18^th, 2019 at 5:24pm Solar panels are generally 20 -30% efficient, and that depends a lot on time of year, whether they are at a fixed angle or tracking. I saw a simple tracking system some time back used water pipes. As they heated they "tracked", I guess they tracked back when cool.
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barryfromthebush

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Re: Offgrid solar power
Reply #7 - Feb 18^th, 2019 at 5:33pm

lee wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 5:24pm:

Solar panels are generally 20 -30% efficient, and that depends a lot on time of year, whether they are at a fixed angle or tracking.

I saw a simple tracking system some time back used water pipes. As they heated they "tracked", I guess they tracked back when cool.

probably not worth the expense being up north. To put it in perspective in sunny conditions I get 26000L of water per day pumping 25m of head and through 1.8km of 2 inch greenline with 4 panels.

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barryfromthebush

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Re: Offgrid solar power
Reply #8 - Feb 18^th, 2019 at 5:42pm

Johnnie wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 5:16pm:

barryfromthebush wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 5:03pm:

Johnnie wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 4:58pm:

barryfromthebush wrote on Feb 17^th, 2019 at 8:21pm:

Has anyone had any experience with off grid solar? I already pump from the river and irrigate with solar and now I want to go further and tell power mob to shove there bill up there arse.

Any experience appreciated.

Why would you? how many times have you been without power and for how long and what has been the inconvenience, the power companies pay compensation after being without power for any significant length of time.
Sola panels are a must but batteries cost megabux and have to be replaced, as yet they are not proven as to how long they will last and if they will blowup.
A good generator to run the essentials for $700 is the go if you can't do without power.

I like being self sufficient. Pay off time is 5 years at current power prices. Flooded Lead Acid are not as dear as you would expect and if you take care of them the will last a lot longer than 5 years by which time you are ahead.

EDIT: Ive already got a diesel 3 phase genny that will run the whole house and shed.

What would be the outlay for you to get the power you need? solar panels and batteries included. I hear it takes a lot longer than 5yrs to get your money back.

Roughly $2300 for the panels (I get a good deal buying in bulk for pumps) $2900 for the inverter/charger and $2700 for 600AH of FLA batteries. Power bill at the moment is about $500 a quarter including workshop. given most of the use is in the day I can run directly off solar most of time without worrying about battery draw down.

I got priced on a system from a local solar installer and they wanted $17k installed for a 20kwh system but with only like 3kw of panels, doing it yourself saves a shite load.

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Johnnie

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Re: Offgrid solar power
Reply #9 - Feb 18^th, 2019 at 6:15pm

barryfromthebush wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 5:42pm:

Johnnie wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 5:16pm:

barryfromthebush wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 5:03pm:

Johnnie wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 4:58pm:

barryfromthebush wrote on Feb 17^th, 2019 at 8:21pm:

Has anyone had any experience with off grid solar? I already pump from the river and irrigate with solar and now I want to go further and tell power mob to shove there bill up there arse.

Any experience appreciated.

Why would you? how many times have you been without power and for how long and what has been the inconvenience, the power companies pay compensation after being without power for any significant length of time.
Sola panels are a must but batteries cost megabux and have to be replaced, as yet they are not proven as to how long they will last and if they will blowup.
A good generator to run the essentials for $700 is the go if you can't do without power.

I like being self sufficient. Pay off time is 5 years at current power prices. Flooded Lead Acid are not as dear as you would expect and if you take care of them the will last a lot longer than 5 years by which time you are ahead.

EDIT: Ive already got a diesel 3 phase genny that will run the whole house and shed.

What would be the outlay for you to get the power you need? solar panels and batteries included. I hear it takes a lot longer than 5yrs to get your money back.

Roughly $2300 for the panels (I get a good deal buying in bulk for pumps) $2900 for the inverter/charger and $2700 for 600AH of FLA batteries. Power bill at the moment is about $500 a quarter including workshop. given most of the use is in the day I can run directly off solar most of time without worrying about battery draw down.

I got priced on a system from a local solar installer and they wanted $17k installed for a 20kwh system but with only like 3kw of panels, doing it yourself saves a shite load.

So it is only $2,700 for the battery you need?

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Bobby. Moderator Online Australian Politics Posts: 122096 Melbourne Gender:	Re: Offgrid solar power Reply #10 - Feb 18^th, 2019 at 6:27pm dear Barry, you would have to be very careful about lead acid batteries. They give off hydrogen gas when over charged which can explode from the slightest spark or flame. I would go for an approved lithium ion battery system with proper, smart electronics controlling everything.
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Johnnie

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Re: Offgrid solar power
Reply #11 - Feb 18^th, 2019 at 6:42pm

Bobby. wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 6:27pm:

dear Barry,
you would have to be very careful about lead acid batteries.
They give off hydrogen gas when over charged which
can explode from the slightest spark or flame.

I would go for an approved lithium ion battery system
with proper, smart electronics controlling everything.

I would go for Barrys batteries, at least they are proven and basic, probably not for the inner city dweller with not enough space or knowhow to maintain, they sound cheap!

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Bobby.

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Re: Offgrid solar power
Reply #12 - Feb 18^th, 2019 at 6:46pm

Johnnie wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 6:42pm:

Bobby. wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 6:27pm:

dear Barry,
you would have to be very careful about lead acid batteries.
They give off hydrogen gas when over charged which
can explode from the slightest spark or flame.

I would go for an approved lithium ion battery system
with proper, smart electronics controlling everything.

I would go for Barrys batteries, at least they are proven and basic, probably not for the inner city dweller with not enough space or knowhow to maintain, they sound cheap!

I know someone who had a lead acid battery blow up in his garage -
it was not a pretty sight and he was lucky that
he wasn't blinded by sulphuric acid.
All the clothes he was wearing were destroyed by acid.

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« Last Edit: Feb 18^th, 2019 at 6:53pm by Bobby. »

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Johnnie

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Re: Offgrid solar power
Reply #13 - Feb 18^th, 2019 at 6:58pm

Bobby. wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 6:46pm:

Johnnie wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 6:42pm:

Bobby. wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 6:27pm:

dear Barry,
you would have to be very careful about lead acid batteries.
They give off hydrogen gas when over charged which
can explode from the slightest spark or flame.

I would go for an approved lithium ion battery system
with proper, smart electronics controlling everything.

I would go for Barrys batteries, at least they are proven and basic, probably not for the inner city dweller with not enough space or knowhow to maintain, they sound cheap!

I know someone who had a lead acid battery blow up in his garage -
it was not a pretty sight and he was lucky that
he wasn't blinded by sulphuric acid.
All the clothes he was wearing were destroyed by acid.

We all have one in our cars.

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Bobby.

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Re: Offgrid solar power
Reply #14 - Feb 18^th, 2019 at 7:01pm

Johnnie wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 6:58pm:

Bobby. wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 6:46pm:

Johnnie wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 6:42pm:

Bobby. wrote on Feb 18^th, 2019 at 6:27pm:

dear Barry,
you would have to be very careful about lead acid batteries.
They give off hydrogen gas when over charged which
can explode from the slightest spark or flame.

I would go for an approved lithium ion battery system
with proper, smart electronics controlling everything.

I would go for Barrys batteries, at least they are proven and basic, probably not for the inner city dweller with not enough space or knowhow to maintain, they sound cheap!

I know someone who had a lead acid battery blow up in his garage -
it was not a pretty sight and he was lucky that
he wasn't blinded by sulphuric acid.
All the clothes he was wearing were destroyed by acid.

We all have one in our cars.

That's right and they are all on a proper charging system
which prevents overcharging.
There is also a fan in the front of the car radiator that disperses any hydrogen gas.

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