Comments on: $600 gets your house on solar power http://www.off-grid.net/2005/10/10/600-gets-your-house-on-solar-power/ renewable energy,survival,save money,self build,Green homes,Solar power, cheap power, 12 volt, Solar panels, Wind power, peak oil, Batteries, Inverter, Generator, Rainwater harvesting, survivalist, prepper, self-sufficient, vans, yurts, yachts, RVs Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:54:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: jerome http://www.off-grid.net/2005/10/10/600-gets-your-house-on-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-373520 jerome Wed, 17 Aug 2011 02:40:02 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=487#comment-373520 i am now determined to become my own, if small, power utility ! i am now determined to become my own, if small, power utility !

]]> By: Inexpensive DIY Solar Power http://www.off-grid.net/2005/10/10/600-gets-your-house-on-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-367979 Inexpensive DIY Solar Power Sat, 18 Jun 2011 03:35:50 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=487#comment-367979 [...] We all know that outfitting a house with solar panels is not cheap right now. Harnessing enough sun to be able to live completely off-grid costs many thousands of dollars, up to many tens of thousands depending on how much electricity is needed. But do we really need to go from 0% to 100% clean energy in one go? That’s not usually the way things are done; we usually do incremental changes. The idealist will say that it’s not fast enough (and might be right), but the realist will say that the mainstream has more chances of going for it if it’s not too radical and expensive, and that the power of numbers is hard to deny. So the question is: Do we really need to go 100% solar at once? What is the least you could pay and still end up with enough solar juice to run some things around the house? The Off-Grid weblog answers that question. [...] [...] We all know that outfitting a house with solar panels is not cheap right now. Harnessing enough sun to be able to live completely off-grid costs many thousands of dollars, up to many tens of thousands depending on how much electricity is needed. But do we really need to go from 0% to 100% clean energy in one go? That’s not usually the way things are done; we usually do incremental changes. The idealist will say that it’s not fast enough (and might be right), but the realist will say that the mainstream has more chances of going for it if it’s not too radical and expensive, and that the power of numbers is hard to deny. So the question is: Do we really need to go 100% solar at once? What is the least you could pay and still end up with enough solar juice to run some things around the house? The Off-Grid weblog answers that question. [...]

]]> By: chrissy http://www.off-grid.net/2005/10/10/600-gets-your-house-on-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-283323 chrissy Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:00:30 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=487#comment-283323 my question is,we now live in a 1,600 sq ft home,we would like to run a fridegerator,wash machine,dryer,2 tv's,some power tools on occasion,air conditioner,juat a regulor typycal central air cond unit on top off the house,lights,microwave,dishwasher, what or how many killowatts would we need,and would two 2,00 watt inverters be enough? also i dont have a clue on how the connection process works,like once everything is hooked up how does it connect to appliances and air conditioning unit is there a box and wires to install,how does it all work?? i know i sound ignorant,but i really dont anything about this and how it works! my question is,we now live in a 1,600 sq ft home,we would like to run a fridegerator,wash machine,dryer,2 tv’s,some power tools on occasion,air conditioner,juat a regulor typycal central air cond unit on top off the house,lights,microwave,dishwasher, what or how many killowatts would we need,and would two 2,00 watt inverters be enough? also i dont have a clue on how the connection process works,like once everything is hooked up how does it connect to appliances and air conditioning unit is there a box and wires to install,how does it all work?? i know i sound ignorant,but i really dont anything about this and how it works!

]]> By: mike ehrig http://www.off-grid.net/2005/10/10/600-gets-your-house-on-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-277446 mike ehrig Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:26:29 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=487#comment-277446 excellent event! gives me a few ideas to expand the system i have. im using a very small 5 watt panel on a 17 foot camper. only used on the weekend. runs 3 12 lights, my computer (for watching movies) recharges the phone and has yet to run out of power using 1- 600 ah marine battery. i would still like more power available so i can run a 12v tv set and a few other items. excellent event! gives me a few ideas to expand the system i have. im using a very small 5 watt panel on a 17 foot camper. only used on the weekend. runs 3 12 lights, my computer (for watching movies) recharges the phone and has yet to run out of power using 1- 600 ah marine battery. i would still like more power available so i can run a 12v tv set and a few other items.

]]> By: RICHARD ADEWUMI http://www.off-grid.net/2005/10/10/600-gets-your-house-on-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-275283 RICHARD ADEWUMI Sun, 24 Jan 2010 08:32:48 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=487#comment-275283 What is the cost to power a 4 bedroom house in west Africa which is what am looking at pls What is the cost to power a 4 bedroom house in west Africa which is what am looking at pls

]]> By: RICHARD ADEWUMI http://www.off-grid.net/2005/10/10/600-gets-your-house-on-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-275281 RICHARD ADEWUMI Sun, 24 Jan 2010 08:30:11 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=487#comment-275281 What is the cost for a 4 bedroom house in west Africa which is what am looking at pls What is the cost for a 4 bedroom house in west Africa which is what am looking at pls

]]> By: Sunshocked » Going solar http://www.off-grid.net/2005/10/10/600-gets-your-house-on-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-273543 Sunshocked » Going solar Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:14:02 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=487#comment-273543 [...] original Treehugger set-up (which is based on a post from Off-Grid.net) promises to keep the initial set-up at under $600 and indeed it [...] [...] original Treehugger set-up (which is based on a post from Off-Grid.net) promises to keep the initial set-up at under $600 and indeed it [...]

]]> By: sol green http://www.off-grid.net/2005/10/10/600-gets-your-house-on-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-268714 sol green Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:30:52 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=487#comment-268714 interesting forum interesting forum

]]> By: Dennis http://www.off-grid.net/2005/10/10/600-gets-your-house-on-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-244950 Dennis Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:08:41 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=487#comment-244950 Nice to hear I don't need to spend $30,000.00 to set up my home...Thanks for all the very useful info... Nice to hear I don’t need to spend $30,000.00 to set up my home…Thanks for all the very useful info…

]]> By: Dennis http://www.off-grid.net/2005/10/10/600-gets-your-house-on-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-244949 Dennis Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:06:46 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=487#comment-244949 Nice to hear I don't need to spend $30,000.00 to set up my home...Thanks for al the very useful info... Nice to hear I don’t need to spend $30,000.00 to set up my home…Thanks for al the very useful info…

]]> By: Wretha http://www.off-grid.net/2005/10/10/600-gets-your-house-on-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-234315 Wretha Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:39:38 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=487#comment-234315 <strong>Kubio</strong>, yes, it is possible to remove the batteries and inverters and charge the grid with solar panels or wind generated power. No, not all of the power companies are required to pay you or credit you for what you put back into the system, it depends on what state you live in and the regulations in force. If they do pay you or credit you, they never pay or credit you the same amount that you pay them, they only pay you what THEY pay, wholesale price per kilowatt hour for the electricity. The other problem with this system is if the power grid goes down, then unless you have your own power storage, batteries, then you are still stuck in the dark with everyone else who relies on the grid for all of their power. I'm not saying that this system is bad, it is a step in the right direction, ieveryone who generates their own electricity on site, would pay less for power even if the power companies didn't credit you for your excess, you would be using your own generated electricity to power your home. By adding storage, you would become much more independent from the power companies, in the event of a power problem, the grid goes down, then you would still have power for your own home. Kubio, yes, it is possible to remove the batteries and inverters and charge the grid with solar panels or wind generated power. No, not all of the power companies are required to pay you or credit you for what you put back into the system, it depends on what state you live in and the regulations in force. If they do pay you or credit you, they never pay or credit you the same amount that you pay them, they only pay you what THEY pay, wholesale price per kilowatt hour for the electricity. The other problem with this system is if the power grid goes down, then unless you have your own power storage, batteries, then you are still stuck in the dark with everyone else who relies on the grid for all of their power.

I’m not saying that this system is bad, it is a step in the right direction, ieveryone who generates their own electricity on site, would pay less for power even if the power companies didn’t credit you for your excess, you would be using your own generated electricity to power your home. By adding storage, you would become much more independent from the power companies, in the event of a power problem, the grid goes down, then you would still have power for your own home.

]]> By: Kubio http://www.off-grid.net/2005/10/10/600-gets-your-house-on-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-234134 Kubio Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:10:18 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=487#comment-234134 hi all, would it be reasonable to remove the batteries & inverters and just charge the grid instead? Would the power company give credit for solar power produced (at the same price/kw), which would then offset the cost of power used? Seems like this way one could spend the money on solar panels and let the power company worry about storage. KK hi all, would it be reasonable to remove the batteries & inverters and just charge the grid instead? Would the power company give credit for solar power produced (at the same price/kw), which would then offset the cost of power used? Seems like this way one could spend the money on solar panels and let the power company worry about storage. KK

]]> By: StephenLK http://www.off-grid.net/2005/10/10/600-gets-your-house-on-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-233359 StephenLK Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:46:07 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=487#comment-233359 Just an introduction. Glad to be here, I'm new. Saying hi to all you all. ;) SLK Just an introduction. Glad to be here, I’m new. Saying hi to all you all. ;)

SLK

]]> By: warlock2 http://www.off-grid.net/2005/10/10/600-gets-your-house-on-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-219172 warlock2 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:16:54 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=487#comment-219172 Hello, I am very excited to learn all this information from all of you great people! I have a project at hand and being a newbie in the whole solar power stuff i need some help from you guys that have been doing this for a while. I am trying to build a solar system for only one reason... a fridge, we own a cattle ranch and the only thing we need to run is a fridge. It is a 8 cubic feet fridge... my question is what would you guys recommend for me to build this system. I know i need about two(2) 80w-100w panels... would the One Aims 800-watt modified sine wave inverter, 12 volts and the One Morningstar 6-amp charge controller, 12 volts work for that purpose? as far as batteries i got a few marine deep cycle batteries so i dont need any. What else would you guys suggest? I am building my own panels from broken cell pieces. Please send any suggestions to warlock2@live.com. Thanks guys! GO GREEN! Hello,

I am very excited to learn all this information from all of you great people! I have a project at hand and being a newbie in the whole solar power stuff i need some help from you guys that have been doing this for a while. I am trying to build a solar system for only one reason… a fridge, we own a cattle ranch and the only thing we need to run is a fridge. It is a 8 cubic feet fridge… my question is what would you guys recommend for me to build this system. I know i need about two(2) 80w-100w panels… would the One Aims 800-watt modified sine wave inverter, 12 volts and the One Morningstar 6-amp charge controller, 12 volts work for that purpose? as far as batteries i got a few marine deep cycle batteries so i dont need any. What else would you guys suggest? I am building my own panels from broken cell pieces. Please send any suggestions to warlock2@live.com. Thanks guys! GO GREEN!

]]> By: Solar Generator http://www.off-grid.net/2005/10/10/600-gets-your-house-on-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-218997 Solar Generator Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:18:52 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=487#comment-218997 [...] I found an interesting article on building a solar panel from blemished solar panels off eBay. I would love to build the panel and incorporate it into something like this commercial product. And it doesn’t sound like it would be too expensive. [...] [...] I found an interesting article on building a solar panel from blemished solar panels off eBay. I would love to build the panel and incorporate it into something like this commercial product. And it doesn’t sound like it would be too expensive. [...]

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