On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 10:38:18AM -0600, Michael Torrie wrote: > > Regular UPS units use normal, sealed leadacid batteries. Anyway, going > solar is a neat idea. Let us know how it works out and how the > economics fly. Are you planning, then, an off-grid system?
I thought they were "gel cells", but looking at Wikipedia, I guess they're essentially the same, except the cell chemical is different, and the lack of needing to add water. I don't know about the power draw differences between the two, though. It'll be hybrid. Eventually, I would like to go 100% off-grid, but that might be a bit. Looking at 220W panels for roughly $500 makes it very attractable for my wife and I. Not only solar, but I've looked at a gas generator as well. Gas is cheap, and the generators are inexpensive, so that could work in an emergency for a day or two worth of power (as long as I can keep feeding it gas). I'm in contact with someone else in Ogden who is meeting 1/4 of his power needs with only 6 175W panels. He's planning on getting 3 additional panels. He's mentioned some unique wiring schemes with the batteries (parallel, vs serial, vs hybrid wiring). And the tax credit makes it worth the initial cost. > In some cases solar power (or even wind) is really complicated. You can > arrange to sell electricity back to the grid, and then draw from the > grid during no sunshine periods, making the grid act as a sort of > battery for you. But in most states the politics are such that while > you can make your net electricity rate 0, but you have to still pay the > line fees. So being completely neutral with the electrical company is > quite difficult. I don't know anything about selling the power back. For the time being, I'm just concerned about minimizing my power bill. I'm sure there's all sorts of politics involved, good and bad. I guess time will tell. But I would imagine just paying for the line feed would be cheaper than my monthly bill. Maybe not. I'll look into it. -- . O . O . O . . O O . . . O . . . O . O O O . O . O O . . O O O O . O . . O O O O . O O O
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