Solar power backup

[GOVT1911]

Anyone have any experience or good links for info on building a small (2-4 12 volt batteries) solar charged battery setup for emergency lights etc? I've been searching online and found a few, but the info on them differ so much from other sites.
I'm interested in putting together a fairly inexpensive solar charged battery storage system for use during emergencies (storms, power outages, etc). Just looking to power some lights and/or other 12v items to make the time a bit more comfortable.

I'm moving back to NC in a couple months and have been thru several hurricains/storms with power outages there, just trying to be a little more prepared.

Thanks

[jrayborn]

With the very little amount of digging I have done it looks like the two biggest factors in solar is cost, followed by cost.

See, most generic deep cycle batteries are good for only about 5 years, maybe you get lucky and stretch them to 7 or 8. At about $70-$80 each, and seeing that for even a VERY limited system you will need 3-4 this is a fairly large cost ( I am probably being VERY conservative). So just for cheapo batteries its like $280 or so. And that isn't even getting into the high end batterie's made for this kind of application, those are expensive, but work a lot better, unfortunately the service life is still around 15 years.

Then solar panels. Wow the sky is the limit here. If all you want is say one large 50ish watt panel and charge controller to keep them topped off you could probably get something somewhere around $300?? Maybe more or less, I'm not 100% sure, but there is a service life on solar panels too (I think) and there is actually a lot of other cost's that nickle and dime you. 2 guage or larger wire is pricey.

Anyway I have looked into it all of about 2-3 hours on the internet and figured I'm a lot better off with with a nice generator. It seems to me unless you are ready to jump into solar big time its just not worth it, and even then you had better live in the southwest .

There is a lot of info out there if you are interested try http://www.solar-electric.com/ they have quite a lot on solar and batteries etc.

Hope this helps.

Jon

[FortunateSon]

I designed and built a solar/wind power system for my home here in Montana. We lived with no power company for 8 years and loved it. The battery is the weak link to the system but the life expectancy can be doubled by proper care and charging.Electric clothes dryers and hot water heaters are not dooable with solar, but propane fills the niche nicely. Otherwise, we had all the "luxuries". A generator to top off the batteries and run heavy loads (like laundry) is a good investment. Your local auto parts store can probably save you a bunch on batteries as they have trucks bringing their orders in and shipping batteries is expensive. Trace L16's are the workhorse battery and good for your first set. Hydrocaps for your battery are a good investment also. If you have electric service to your home and purchase the proper inverter (turns the battery or solar oanel 12v into 110v) you can sell your excess power back to the power company.

[GOVT1911]

Thanks. I've been doing some digging myself and have pretty much come up to the same conclusion as you. Gonna take a bigger look at a generator. Since I'm not looking to "go off grid", just be covered for a few days to a few weeks of the grid being down, a gen looks like the best answer.

I'm going to keep looking into solar/wind power though because I like the little bit of independance it can provide.

John

FortunateSon,
Where ya at in MT? I'm from Clancy and want to end up back Home in MT when I get out of the Army. Man, I miss that place and the people!

[ggiilliiee]

best set up ive seen was a old lawn mower ...remove blade put a pulley on the shaft ...cut a hole in the deck of the mower mount a GM 120 amp single lead alternator to the deck and hook her up to the motor shaft ......fast btt recharges ....minutes instead of all day charges ....run your invertor off the alternator....for the high wattage 110 stuff .....and has its own trolley to move it around with ......

[Da Nerd]

Originally posted by ggiilliiee
best set up ive seen was a old lawn mower ...remove blade put a pulley on the shaft ...cut a hole in the deck of the mower mount a GM 120 amp single lead alternator to the deck and hook her up to the motor shaft ......fast btt recharges ....minutes instead of all day charges ....run your invertor off the alternator....for the high wattage 110 stuff .....and has its own trolley to move it around with ......

http://www.webpal.org/webpal/b_recovery/3_alternate_energy/electricity/lawnmower/generator/generator.htm

[FortunateSon]

GOVT - outside of Eureka. There are a few FalFiles guys in Libby too. Thanks for your service!

[jerrymrc]

I have a small set up. 40W panel I built myself. about 500Ah of gel-cell and a 650W UPS. This is mainly for the pellet stove. I learned they do not like the power to go out while burning.

I also have a 12A controller for if I get a bigger array and a couple of cheap 800W inverters. The panel was about $110 to build myself and the Batteries I get free every 24 months because we have to swap them out. The UPS was a freebe because the battery died.

You can build a small set up for not much money.

[mortgun]

I built a battery charger using a 3.5 horsepower lawn mower engine and a GM alternator. I use it to charge the battery in my truck camper during hunting season, when I'm camped in the woods.

I mounted it on homemade brackets to make it as small as possible. I used a light weight (sheet steel) pulley on my motor that has an aluminum flywheel. There is no need to make this unit heavier or more expensive with a large mass pulley. The armature of the alternator acts as a flywheel.

I put a trailer connector on it so I could unpliug the camper from my truck and plug the camper into the generator.

My generator will run for about 75 minutes on a tank of gas (about 1 quart). It's a lot cheaper than running a 360 cubic inch V8 to charge my camper battery.

[ephv]

For about $200 you can get a solar powered charger for auto batteries. A solar charger for small batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9v) is about $150. Good idea for the guys who plan for SHTF.

[hktome]

3 weeks ago I bought what is referred to as a solar "shed light " its a 8" fluoresent bulb and a 3"x5" plug in panel that has a swivel mount base fixture with a pull cord on it. comes with mounting hardware, cost $29.95 and uses 3 AAA NI-CD rechargable batteries which were included, if you had to you could read by it, but as advertised its purpose is to light out buildings, tool sheds, outhouses and the like-Im seriously thinkinking I need couple more! available at www.harborfrieghttools.com or www.northerntool.com hope this helps

[Treborer]

For low - use systems and mobile stuff these people have some good deals:http://www.ctsolar.com/

[Starvin]

Just purchased three 65 watt solar panels for 150.00, now I am trying to figure out what it will take to put them to use. First thing I discovered is "bring lots of money". I still need to buy a controller, inverter (much $) and lots of batteries(more $). Beginning to wonder if I did the right thing buying the panels. Any suggestions? I am all ears!

[jerrymrc]

Originally posted by Starvin
Just purchased three 65 watt solar panels for 150.00, now I am trying to figure out what it will take to put them to use. First thing I discovered is "bring lots of money". I still need to buy a controller, inverter (much $) and lots of batteries(more $). Beginning to wonder if I did the right thing buying the panels. Any suggestions? I am all ears!

At that price you stole em. I got a BP 12A controller for about $39. 700W inverter will run $49. Now the battery cost is the one that you need to do alot of searching on. Most will say (and I agree) that there are some of the 6V ones that work very well. Someone will chime in on the ones to get. I run a bunch of Gel-cells since I get em free after they have been on standby for 24Mo.

Gel-Cells are nice since they require no upkeep but are very $$$