NW-Bound
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- Joined
- Jul 3, 2008
- Messages
- 35,712
As mentioned in another thread, I will describe a simple off-grid solar system that should be helpful for people who face frequent power outages, such as the current blackouts in California for powerline fire prevention. Such a system should be sufficiently powerful to run a refrigerator, several lights, and various electronic devices such as a TV and PC, laptops, etc... And it should have sufficient storage capacity to run the above overnight.
Here's a system that will give you 2,400W output max, and a usable storage capacity of 3.2kWh, with the major components costing $2K total.
How do you relate the Watt and kWh numbers above? My big 30 cu.ft. fridge draws only 280W when the compressor runs. A large modern TV draws less than 100W. A laptop draws perhaps 30W. Anything that you plug into a wall outlet is limited to 1500W max by definition. LED lights draw a few watts each.
That means you can run a microwave oven, or an induction portable cooktop, or a toaster oven (but only one at a time), in conjunction with your fridge and your lights and electronics. And you can sleep through the night without the noise of a generator.
I will describe the following items further, but here they are and their costs.
Solar Panels 327W x 6 ($108 x 6 = $648, shipping extra)
Solar charger / AC charger / inverter - 2400W ($618)
Lead-acid batteries 3.2kWh storage ($88 x 8 = $704)
When not having an outage, you will want to use the power from this system to reduce the utility bill. In a place like San Jose, it is expected to provide 3,400 kWh/year, which is worth $408 at 12c/kWh, or $816 at 24c/kWh. However, with this off-grid system, you have to manage to use all of that power to reap the benefits, because it is not grid-tied and you cannot sell the surplus.
Here's a system that will give you 2,400W output max, and a usable storage capacity of 3.2kWh, with the major components costing $2K total.
How do you relate the Watt and kWh numbers above? My big 30 cu.ft. fridge draws only 280W when the compressor runs. A large modern TV draws less than 100W. A laptop draws perhaps 30W. Anything that you plug into a wall outlet is limited to 1500W max by definition. LED lights draw a few watts each.
That means you can run a microwave oven, or an induction portable cooktop, or a toaster oven (but only one at a time), in conjunction with your fridge and your lights and electronics. And you can sleep through the night without the noise of a generator.
I will describe the following items further, but here they are and their costs.
Solar Panels 327W x 6 ($108 x 6 = $648, shipping extra)
Solar charger / AC charger / inverter - 2400W ($618)
Lead-acid batteries 3.2kWh storage ($88 x 8 = $704)
When not having an outage, you will want to use the power from this system to reduce the utility bill. In a place like San Jose, it is expected to provide 3,400 kWh/year, which is worth $408 at 12c/kWh, or $816 at 24c/kWh. However, with this off-grid system, you have to manage to use all of that power to reap the benefits, because it is not grid-tied and you cannot sell the surplus.
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