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Forum Index : Solar : Solar power only, is anybody doing it?
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yahoo2 Guru  Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1166 |
I think the trick is not to make assumptions based on flawed opinions or ingrained habits. Green is not just focused on using less electricity. I could make a case for having an electric lawnmower based on less pollution and less energy usage. I could then make a case for employing a lawn-care professional with electric tools based on better use of resources and less underused stuff in peoples sheds. If there is no green lawn-care business, maybe I could start one.youtube- solar powered electric landscaper Then I could argue about not having a lawn at all and saving water and cost and time. Every choice we have is not a simple yes or no, there are multiple factors that have to strike a balance. I remember reading Mr money mustache a few years ago suggest selling the house in the burbs and moving closer to work/school/shops and walking and biking for a couple. They countered with the argument that it was too expensive to move. So he found 5 houses in the right area that were cheaper (and better) than their current house to look at, he showed them better finance options that would save them money. It shocked me at the time because it felt like a radical step to me but in reality, it was nothing of the sort, it was just being practical and logical. The big problem is knowing what is possible and sorting the good information from the distractions. Most of the good stuff is not just cutting edge tech, it is the little tricks that makes it work. Ultimately I dont care how long a battery lasts or what it costs or if it is big or small or what chemistry it is, it is the outcome that matters. Is the battery powering my smart phone, driving me to the shops or cooling my food? Why is that important to me? Is there a sweet spot for return on money spent? cheers Yahoo I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not... |
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| hotwater Senior Member  Joined: 29/08/2017 Location: United StatesPosts: 120 |
The numbers quoted are about right for a conventional system. In my system everything is controlled by a single microprocessor which results in a lot of efficiency. I store cold and heat which relieves the battery from being high capacity. If the battery isn't around 13.8V, nothing operates. I say most systems are inefficient because they have no place to put excess energy. Mine is only a camp system and micro generation isn't of interest to most people. I just think it is amazing how much better a system performs if it is treated as a system and not a collection of black boxes. |
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| Warpspeed Guru Joined: 09/08/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 4406 |
[quote] I just think it is amazing how much better a system performs if it is treated as a system and not a collection of black boxes. [/quote] Oh absolutely ! That is the big advantage of first doing some monitoring and data logging, then building up and tuning your own system. [quote]Ultimately I dont care how long a battery lasts or what it costs or if it is big or small or what chemistry it is, it is the outcome that matters[/quote] I certainly care ! If the battery quickly fails, or costs more than I can afford, or its too small, or the chemistry is unsuitable, an unhappy outcome fairly predictable. Cheers, Tony. |
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| yahoo2 Guru Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1166 |
An example of poor thinking from my own life. In 1998 I purchased a new tractor, the machine has $20,000 of tyres on it. I spent a reasonable amount of time thinking as to how to get the best use out of them. One of the decisions I made was to avoid bitumen roads if I could, as that chopped the tread off them very severely. So looking at it almost 20 years later did I make the right decision. No, The tyres still have 80% of their tread left but the sidewalls have cracks that are not worth repairing. I overdid it on avoiding paved roads, the theory was right but the life of the tyre was limited by another factor that I thought would be cheaply repairable but ultimately wasn't. We get the same with batteries in mobility scooters or Gophers as they are called here. The glass mat sealed lead acid battery in them are perfect for the job it doesn't need more range or to be lighter or more powerful. What it needs is to be driven 10-30 km every day for 5-7 years not sat inside on the charger trickling until it damages the vent and boils dry. Here are some comparison numbers I done for a refurbishment and upgrade of a solar system to show if it was worth the effort and money. Upfront costs (the dollars we see going out of our wallet are on the left) and the total cost of ownership is in the red square on the right. This was a 6.5 kw system with the option of a 10kwh lithium battery bank  The cost of the upgrade to go off-grid with the full kit was a touch over $17,000, you can see when we take the batteries out of the upfront cost there is $6500 less interest (middle column) lost over ten years for the on grid battery-less solar options. The fact that solar + power diverter rolls the solar only by 25% in this setup is remarkable because the direct solar usage potential in this business is quite a bit higher than most I have seen. Hotwater, this would be exactly what you are seeing with your diversion system, the automation makes a big difference. I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not... |
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