EcoRenovator  

Go Back   EcoRenovator > Improvements > Conservation
Advanced Search
 


Blog 60+ Home Energy Saving Tips Recent Posts Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-01-19, 05:27 PM   #151
u3b3rg33k
Apprentice EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Rustbelt, USA
Posts: 114
Thanks: 5
Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts
Default

From what I've seen the used tesla 24V modules can't be beat on $/kWh.

u3b3rg33k is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-19, 12:51 PM   #152
randen
Uber EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Strathroy Ontario Canada
Posts: 657
Thanks: 9
Thanked 191 Times in 129 Posts
Default Anyone working toward off grid

Spring maybe in full swing here in Southwestern Ontario. Our home spends most time off grid. A lot of days have been quite overcast but we manage to collect enough power. A few more panels will be installed shortly as we have the room for them. As well the quest for a Tesla pack will continue. Oddly I have seen packs for sale from $16k to $20k but I can purchase a complete lot drivable salvaged Tesla for $24K

To help the case some wind is being explored.

The truck has always gotten its charge at the shop. I finally purchased a portable charge cable for the S10 Electric Truck. Today its saddled up to some solar power at home. With clear blue sky the house batteries are charged by 10:00am. So a little surplus of power today. The car was totally charged yesterday.

Today my father-in-law and I ran errands all morning in the little truck. Charge and repeat.

It can be done

Randen
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0876.jpg
Views:	318
Size:	370.8 KB
ID:	8636  
randen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-19, 09:12 AM   #153
randen
Uber EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Strathroy Ontario Canada
Posts: 657
Thanks: 9
Thanked 191 Times in 129 Posts
Default Any one working toward Off Grid

Fellow Eco-renovators

This huge project is nearing completion. The addition of another 3.5 kws of solar panels is complete.
During this summer we have been off the grid for 95% of the time. The pesky 5% seemed to be always a day when some clothes needed washing/drying while the car had been charging with an overcast condition happening after say 2:00 pm. Although the sky is still bright the batteries were loosing ground slowly discharging. After supper had been cooked over the electric cook top by about 11:00 pm and the heat-pump air-conditioner winding down the remaining charge was not sufficient to power us through till morning.

It seemed quite apparent that some additional power in an reduced sunlight condition would help greatly. The consistent household power requirements seem to be up to 3.2 kw. With the additional panels in a lower solar input at 7:00 pm I'm seeing 5.6 kw so the batteries are still full.

Now for the question " does this all make financial sense"???? I need to go back to 2009 when I almost couldn't afford my energy costs. $11000.00 / yr (furnace oil + Electric cost)
We installed solar hot-water heating and Geothermal heating/cooling. The cost for this change was about $32000.00 which reduced my annual energy cost to less than. $5000.00 so in 5 yrs. was my return of investment. I think that this is exceptional !!

For the solar off grid system my cost roughly $35000.00 (batteries, inverter and 14.5 kws of panels) If we may consider that I'm able to supply 90% of my energy costs that puts my Return of investment at <8 years.

But wait, There is More!!!!! I'm driving electric vehicles. I haven't bought gasoline in 3 yrs. and I charge these mostly on sunshine. For accounting purposes which column should I put this??? OK I would spend upwards of $4500.00/yr. on gasoline. Should this be in the cost of transportation column with the cost of the vehicle or used for ROI on the cost of the vehicle. your call

Suffice its an energy cost that's not coming out of my pocket.

One funny incident. I use the electric truck (1998 Chevy S-10 EV) for my business delivering my tools. The capital cost ($4788.00) for the lithium batteries was in the column "vehicle repair & maintenance" was flagged by the accountant. I asked her to compare the previous years fuel cost with the year she was looking at. Ding... ok the company spent $54.00 for fuel this fiscal ( I borrowed a vehicle) Soooo for the for-seeable future you will have no costs for fuel. CORRECT

Randen
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0932.JPG
Views:	258
Size:	136.5 KB
ID:	8663  
randen is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to randen For This Useful Post:
creeky (08-04-19), Daox (08-04-19), Mikesolar (08-07-19), zorander6 (08-05-19)
Old 08-04-19, 02:21 PM   #154
Daox
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
Default

Awesome results Randen!
__________________
Current project -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
&
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Daox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-19, 09:10 PM   #155
pinballlooking
Super Moderator
 
pinballlooking's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SC
Posts: 2,923
Thanks: 172
Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts
Default

CONGRATS!
I Love the results
__________________
Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Solar Install 12.5 Kwh-
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Mini Split installs -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

EV Chevy Volt -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
pinballlooking is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-19, 01:32 AM   #156
oil pan 4
Land owner
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NM
Posts: 1,026
Thanks: 12
Thanked 127 Times in 107 Posts
Default

Buying gas sucks.
oil pan 4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-19, 08:49 AM   #157
gasstingy
Journeyman EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Arab, AL
Posts: 491
Thanks: 109
Thanked 49 Times in 43 Posts
Default Great Job

I've enjoyed mostly lurking through this thread. I have high hope to add some off grid solar (we have 6810w rated grid tied solar) so that I can have backup power when the grid fails.

I love driving electric as well. We have a Bolt, but lack of accessible fast charging infrastructure in the Northeast AL, Eastern TN area means road trips are in our pickup truck. I have hope that either fast charging will expand, or that I can buy the wife a Tesla. Tesla Superchargers are available in the directions we would road trip.
gasstingy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-19, 01:18 PM   #158
CrankyDoug
Apprentice EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 100
Thanks: 6
Thanked 14 Times in 11 Posts
Default

Well my 6.4kW batch of solar panels is still stacked in storage. I'm still wondering how to put them up without the resulting property tax increase robbing me of any energy savings. The idea one of you mentioned about putting them on a trailer seemed like the best approach until about a month ago. My neighbor said the county tracks improvements from an airplane. They photograph a grid pattern of the entire county each year. From the sky a trailer mounted array would still look like a permanent structure. 440 sq.ft. of panels is going to be too much for a trailer. I could get about half of them on the roof of my 5th wheel camper but then I wouldn't be able to move it or sell it.

I've been quite impressed with the two window shakers (about 450W each)that run 24/7 this time of year. Our 2300 sq.ft. home has so much thermal flywheel effect that we are keeping the house between 71F and 78F with a cooling load of less than 900W. My upper limit of comfort is 78F so I'm happy so far. Today will be the first time this summer that I have to fire up a third window unit, and then only if we don't get a thunderstorm this afternoon.

The best thing we did to reduce cooling load is to move almost all our cooking outside on the balcony.
CrankyDoug is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-19, 01:59 PM   #159
pinballlooking
Super Moderator
 
pinballlooking's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SC
Posts: 2,923
Thanks: 172
Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts
Default

How much do you think it would raise your taxes?
I am glad SC does not do that.
__________________
Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Solar Install 12.5 Kwh-
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Mini Split installs -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

EV Chevy Volt -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
pinballlooking is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-19, 03:54 PM   #160
CrankyDoug
Apprentice EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 100
Thanks: 6
Thanked 14 Times in 11 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by pinballlooking View Post
How much do you think it would raise your taxes?
I am glad SC does not do that.
Hard to say but not wanting to find out after the fact. Perhaps what I need to do is talk to the assessor. That in itself poses some risk. I do know my neighbors have been gouged for small DIY projects at several times actual cost.

I bought the lot next door for $12.5K. The next year I cleared some trees and assessment went to $22K, then $24K. This year it went from $24K to $35K in one jump. And this in a declining market.

The Kia plant cost us an initial $1.3 billion plus ongoing taxes from which they are exempt. Our county failed to account for the tax burden of all the secondary infrastructure. Georgia, in general, seems to be suffering from declining revenue because we aren't the only county taking a hit.

CrankyDoug is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:13 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Ad Management by RedTyger
Inactive Reminders By Icora Web Design