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Forum Index : Solar : How much! Are you kidding me!
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Well, today I got a "Offer for network connection" from Ergon, the local electricity supplier. See, I've recently bought a block of land, and need some electricity to do stuff with. So to enquire about getting the power connected, I had to fill in a application to Ergon. The application alone cost me $250! I just wanted power connected to the first post in my property, it's the cheapest option, and I planned to go underground from there to the house, about 150meters away. There is a power line going past the front of my property, but it's HV ( 11,000v ). The closest Ergon pole is about 20 meters away. Ergon's price to get the power connected to the first pole is, wait for it, $12,299! That's after their contribution of $8,300, so the whole project was over $20,000 And it wont get done before May 2012! For that price I would expect it done tomorrow. Screw them. So, I'm now thinking I need to go totaly off grid. I plan to use gas for cooking, solar and gas for hot water, so domestically I dont use a lot of power. My worry is the workshop. I do have a 6kva generator I can fire up to run the welders, so that will get me out of trouble, but eventually I would like a system that can supply my workshop. And I would like something I can suppliment with wind and hydro. Plus a battery bank of course. I guess what I'm looking for is a RE supplier in the SE Queensland region that I can deal with. Any suggestions? Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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norcold Guru  Joined: 06/02/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 670 |
If you can go for a 48v system with a 4000 watt plus inverter(continuous) that will run a 140amp MIG welder and 2.5hp air compressor(not all at once). Probably not recommended by suppliers but it works. Shame the Remote Household scheme isn`t still running. If it costs $30,000 plus to have power to your house you`d be probably eligible for a 50% subsidy on the solar system. Chances are this scheme may be reintoduced as we get closer to an election. Cannot advise on a supplier down your way but if you find a experienced one they will know the ins and outs of Govt. subsidies. Just don`t scrimp to save costs now as have seen many regret going with 24v and a small system down the track. PM me if you wish and I will send details of my system and what it will run. I got off the grid originally when Ergon quoted me $72,000 to supply(1.5km) although I have a HV line cutting through the centre of my property 100m away of my residence. We come from the land downunder. Vic |
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| windlight Guru Joined: 03/03/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 331 |
Glenn I could put you onto a good web site where a few people have off grid experience, might help. Allan of FNQ "I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it" - (Act II, Scene IV). |
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shawn Senior Member  Joined: 30/03/2010 Location: New ZealandPosts: 210 |
Don't kid yourself Glenn, you know what you have to do!!! get your hands out of ya pockets and get to work. And after its all built you will get years of power, and stuff those big power companys the more of us that go offgrid the better. |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Glenn You are better to go for it yourself as involving separate companies will double the cost (their profit) and you do not have to deal with any authorities or petty officials. System costs 20 x 200 watt panels $4500.00 4 KW system Inverter 24 or 48 volts <$1000.00 6KW continuous 24 amp AC outlet Fork lift battery 48 volt 1000AH $6000 Can be reconfigured for 24 volt 2000AH MPPT Regulator $500 may need two, or use cheaper non MPPT regs. Racking cost Steel RHS and bolts $300 Wire to connect panels and junction boxes battery leads etc. $400.00 A couple of meters $50 All for around $15,000 Doing it this way you can be fully independent. Any rebate or discounts you can get RECS etc. are a bonus Foolin Around |
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mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
Hello Glenn, Thats an incedible amount of money just to set a transformer and run 80 feet of wire and put a meter on the pole. I've read before on the forum that this is evidently a common practice over there...here it's pretty much a free thing as long as you don't need a pole. What do they do with all the money??? I would think that at that price, that not very many people hook up. 12,000 would go along way towards solar and wind. Regards, Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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Bryan1 Guru Joined: 22/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1344 |
Hi Glenn, We were faced with the same problem when we bought the farm but just to get to the boundary was $70K and we were told we had to go underground from there which is all solid rock, and would of cost near the same all for a 10 amp service. Now for my workshop I converted my machines back to 3 phase and installed Delta VFD's on each machine. It was too easy to bring out signals to a remote power board where i have variable speed, forward/ reverse and E stop etc. On my bridgeport mill I put a single pulley on a new 2hp 3 phase motor and setup the Hz output to 100 Hz. I set it up for a ramp up to start and brake to stop and it does work a treat. I've since converted both of my lathes over and the next job is converting my surface grinder. Also I have a 3hp VFD which I have setup as a remote for powering all my other machines as I need them. Going from single phase to 3 phase output the biggest one can get is 3hp but one can tweak the setting into thinking a 2hp is a 3hp motor. I was lucky as my old work sold the VFD's and I got them for a real good price. But if you are interested I can talk with my mate at Mechtric who sell the Delta VFD's and hopefully get you a cheaper price. It will cost a bit to setup but one can have have a full machine shop off the grid with peace of mind if the grid goes down you'll still be going. Regards Bryan |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Thanks for all the tips guys, taking it all in. Allan yes could you post that link. Finances will dictate how I build the system. The local council are making life difficult, as I'm buying a 2nd hand house, I need to pay a bond, somewhere between $10,000 and $40,000. Once the house is complete ( septic, water, power ) and livable, I get the bond back. Quite frankly, I dont see why the hell I should have to pay a bond at all, but anyway. So it means I have to spend as little as possible to get these systems in place, and then upgrade once the bond is returned to me. So the plan is to buy a good inverter, Selectronics or similar, but a small battery bank and only a few panels. Just enough to keep it all alive and the council satisified I have power. Then I'll add more panels and batteries later to increase the capacity. Yes 48volts is the way to go. Latronics have a 5kw/15kw peak inverter for about $5,000. Selectonic inverters seam much more expensive. I'll ask about the rebates and RECS. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| windlight Guru Joined: 03/03/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 331 |
Glenn a few points to remember: Do it once and do it right. Selectronics or Latronics I have both. My current grid interactive Selectronics will auto start the back up genie (if I had one, it's manual) can be controlled/programmed from my computer etc, happy with both of those units I have owned (two different systems) but I have also have a 24V 3Kw Latronics that ran my cool room without a problem so either. Remember with batteries they are quoted at 100 hour rate and we use them at the 10 hour rate so my 1600 A/h batteries become 930 a/h for charging purposes and overnight available Kw. Up here I run 2 air cons 24/7 so overnight has to be managed to try to stay within the top 30% (my choice taking into account the blond factor). I am happy to run a DG to achieve my battery management goal, but remember charge efficiency on the top 15% of battery charge is horrible (charge inefficiencies). charge efficiencies Look carefully at solar panels, current technology is very good in cloudy conditions, second hand panels will be a disappointment. Welcome to off grid, just remember my first point, oh and that web site, RE site Allan of the jungle FNQ "I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it" - (Act II, Scene IV). |
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philb Regular Member  Joined: 05/07/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 96 |
That is totally insane! Robbery without a gun! I've been complaining about having to pay $3000 for a hook up fee. That's for 800 feet of poles and wire. The REC claims that is what it cost them. Maybe. I'm still going to forgo the power company's kind gesture and put in solar panels and wind power even though it will cost three times that amount. I like the idea of fixing the price of power for the next 25 years. The REC here will allow me to put power on their grid, but will not pay me for any excess power I generate. Plus, it has many pieces of red tape attached. philb |
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| windhistory Newbie  Joined: 14/11/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 8 |
Hi , a ' budget estimate' from Powercor (cent vic via Castlemaine) was 22k to go from pole via transformer to a pit nearby....100m from proposed house site. Estimate dated 10/10. Has a share component of aprox 9k which to my joy hangs in for 7 yrs till 2014. Have a 7.9m wind tower but no w/gen as i live interstate at the moment. Tower of 8m> requires a permit. Have a 4 blade Dunlite and a Direct drive D49 Freelite in the air at my parents place. These oldies however are not let to run unsupervised...1950 would probably cover the original year of manufacture of either unit. As to a remote build (interstate) please email me as so i can rant about the red tape. Have spent around 2k and still only about half way through planning permit application!! (Mt Alexander) Cheers Michael 0401045429. |
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| mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
Hello Glenn, It sounds like you have a few stiff challanges ahead of you, by the way, did you get the water pump going? (Hope I did'nt open a can of worms here.) I ment it in a good way. Closed impellor pumps are generally used when more pressure is required/ less volume...open impellor just the opposite. Its December here now and winter is licking at my heals...still lots to do before weather closes in entirely, I'm assumeing that summer is afoot over there. You know what they say..."plan you'r work and work you'r plan", tackel the problems one at a time if you have to, and before you know it you'll be in good shape. all the best, Regards, Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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Trev Guru Joined: 15/07/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 640 |
Hi Glenn, I just sent you an email. You can compare my prices. I have 48v system with Latronics inverter 7000w. I am a fan of Latronics. The factory and service is on the gold coast. They do have a very quick turn around time for repairs. I have had my camper 1800w inverter repaired twice. You just never know when a cockroach will get in the wrong place. Of course the cockroach don't do it twice. LOL. It is his mate that has to have a go at the excitement. I have electric cooking, electric hot water etc. Personally I would not go gas. We are grid connected, but you don't need the grid to have an electric stove. Solar hot water will have to be, because you can't buy electric hot water systems anymore. I am not changing mine until dies though. I have just had another 2kW approved to be connected to the grid as well. Sometime in the near future for this one. Trev @ drivebynature.com |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Thanks Trev, send you an email. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| domwild Guru Joined: 16/12/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 873 |
Glenn, Sorry to hear you are up for a lot of mullah and like Allan, I can forward a link to a forum for you. From memory the transformer cost us $3,000 as it is shared with one neighbour and I cannot remember the cost of pole+meter box. Councils are duplicating and triplicating most essential services and need to have their wings cut a bit to stop this bureaucratic empire building. Councils are triplicating education by running PC classes, the same with police patrols, the same with environmental controls, councils pay for the GP in areas where the state health dep. removed them and the list goes on. On one sheep station I flew for the diesel was only switched on for the washing machine, lights were on batteries, fridges were kerosine fridges and cooking was done with wood. No welder or compressor or freezer. Taxation as a means of achieving prosperity is like a man standing inside a bucket trying to lift himself up. Winston Churchill |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
I'm actually happy I've decided to go totaly off grid now. Been doing my research and it looks like $12,000 can buy a decent system. I means a bit of work on my part, building the battery racks, mounting solar panels, etc, but its worth the effort because I'll save a bundle long term. Looking at a Latronics 7kw inverter. Its big, but will supply all my needs. Trev has one and tested it with his new welder, not a problem. A 1300 watt solar array to get started, and good old lead acid wet cells, I dont mind a bit of battery maintanance, remind me of my days as a apprentice servicing the Telecom battery rooms. I can build the battery monitoring gear too. Actually looking forward to it. Just paid a Ergon power bill, and it good to think soon I wont have to pay those anymore. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Glenn I like your choice of old wet cell as I have found them to be more reliable in the longer term the new SLA and GELL cells do not stand up to the test of time, many of the old wet cell banks i serviced years ago where 20 years old and still going at times under adverse conditions. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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