EcoRenovator - View Single Post

nibs · 08-11-11, 06:54 PM

We have about 445 watts (rated) Photo Voltaic solar panels and 6 - 6volt golf cart batteries, with two controllers, and a 1750 watt inverter to convert the 12Volt power to 110 volt AC.
We do use the power to make coffee in the morning and to run our computer, we use it for all lighting we have mostly LED lighting with some CFL's and some florescent tubes. Total cost for our set up today would be about $2,500. The only reason we can justify this expense is because we live full time in an RV and often do not have grid power available.
Using solar power is fantastic, but as others have noted, if you have grid power available in all likely hood it is the lowest cost of any power you can get.
You might use your $$ resources more effectively to heat hot water by direct sunlight, and use the warmed water to warm your house, and for domestic hot water. Other really good ways to save power is to use electric bikes, scooters, cars, lawn mowers, these cut down the use of fossil fuels. Even though some utilities burn oil and coal to generate your electricity, they produce much less pollution than your gas engines, for the same amount of power.

08-11-11, 06:54 PM	#10
nibs Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 206 Thanks: 1 Thanked 18 Times in 17 Posts	We have about 445 watts (rated) Photo Voltaic solar panels and 6 - 6volt golf cart batteries, with two controllers, and a 1750 watt inverter to convert the 12Volt power to 110 volt AC. We do use the power to make coffee in the morning and to run our computer, we use it for all lighting we have mostly LED lighting with some CFL's and some florescent tubes. Total cost for our set up today would be about $2,500. The only reason we can justify this expense is because we live full time in an RV and often do not have grid power available. Using solar power is fantastic, but as others have noted, if you have grid power available in all likely hood it is the lowest cost of any power you can get. You might use your $$ resources more effectively to heat hot water by direct sunlight, and use the warmed water to warm your house, and for domestic hot water. Other really good ways to save power is to use electric bikes, scooters, cars, lawn mowers, these cut down the use of fossil fuels. Even though some utilities burn oil and coal to generate your electricity, they produce much less pollution than your gas engines, for the same amount of power. Last edited by nibs; 08-11-11 at 06:56 PM..