Solar Experts

[Alchase]

Following along!
I am totally curios what it would cost you to install solar?

Everytime I run the math, I come up with 10-15 years to recoup the cost, and by then you would have to replace everything and basically start all over again.

[kselkhunter]

Following along!
I am totally curios what it would cost you to install solar?

Everytime I run the math, I come up with 10-15 years to recoup the cost, and by then you would have to replace everything and basically start all over again.

From a cost perspective, Solar is hard to pencil out for states as far north as Washington.  Especially since states like Washington and Oregon have such cheap electricity compared to other states.   For southern states with more annual sun exposure and higher electricity rates, it pencils out well.   California, Hawaii, Arizona, etc. is a total no-brainer for solar.


Panels last longer these days and have longer warranties, so wouldn't have to replace after 10 years.  But your point on payback is valid, and varies by state.

[Hilltop123]

Following along!
I am totally curios what it would cost you to install solar?

Everytime I run the math, I come up with 10-15 years to recoup the cost, and by then you would have to replace everything and basically start all over again.

https://www.backwoodssolar.com/learning-center

This learning center page, is really nice for giving you an idea whats involved. It gives you 6 diffent examples, in varoius sized systems.

[Hilltop123]

Just tally up the fuel cost, from the last 2 years..

[Hilltop123]

Fred, what are you using for refrigeration?

[Alchase]

Following along!
I am totally curios what it would cost you to install solar?

Everytime I run the math, I come up with 10-15 years to recoup the cost, and by then you would have to replace everything and basically start all over again.

https://www.backwoodssolar.com/learning-center

This learning center page, is really nice for giving you an idea whats involved. It gives you 6 diffent examples, in varoius sized systems.

Thank you, that is a handy source.

[Machias]

Fred, what are you using for refrigeration?

Rtic cooler and a block of ice!

[Machias]

I just took my old system (trace) out of my place and installed a new 8KW system from outback.

There was nothing wrong with my old system just that it was not big enough for my usage.  I will be putting the whole thing up for sale here but I can send you the information on it before I put it up here. Inverter, charge controller, switch to turn the generator on when battery level is too low. I would recommend getting new panels, mine are 15 years old and the newer panels put out more watts but there is technically nothing wrong with my panels either.

Sure, please let me know.  Thanks

[Russ McDonald]

I have around 50 repeater sites about 50% are solar powered only around 6 have thermal electric generator back up.  The picture here is of a site that I have 9 155 Ah batteries with 3 165 watt 12 VDC panels.  Batteries are all tied in parallel so 155 Ah x 9, 1395 Ah of batteries.  Panels are tied in parallel 165x3 495 watts.  Total amount of watts for the batteries is 16740 watt hours.  All the calculations show that what I have is not enough solar to total charge the batteries up to a good float level or mantain it there.  You  want a system where you have a larger charging system from your solar than your batteries is what I have been told by solar experts.  Yiu also wany to look at a 24 or 48 VDC system.  They are more efficient and have much larger output panels.

Sent from my SM-N976V using Tapatalk

[Rainier10]

My old and new system are true sine wave. New system cost $32,000 installed.  I had the 8 Trojan batteries.

The reason I had it installed rather than DIY was I didn’t have the time and I got a tax break of 26% of the system cost. $32,000 system = $8,320 tax credit. At the end of this year if my tax burden is $30,000 I only have to pay $21,680 in taxes.  Also there is no sales tax on the $32,000.

[Buckmark]

Fred, what are you using for refrigeration?

Rtic cooler and a block of ice!

I'm surprised you don't have a propane powered fridge...

I do like following along on your threads about your place and what your doing 

[Hilltop123]

Fred, what are you using for refrigeration?

Rtic cooler and a block of ice!

I'm surprised you don't have a propane powered fridge...

I do like following along on your threads about your place and what your doing 

Have you priced a propane fridge? I have bought two, in the 16 years we have lived here. The last fridge we bought is electric, and our system is supporting it. But I push my system. This hillbilly, likes luxury.

[Rainier10]

Following along!
I am totally curios what it would cost you to install solar?

Everytime I run the math, I come up with 10-15 years to recoup the cost, and by then you would have to replace everything and basically start all over again.

From a cost perspective, Solar is hard to pencil out for states as far north as Washington.  Especially since states like Washington and Oregon have such cheap electricity compared to other states.   For southern states with more annual sun exposure and higher electricity rates, it pencils out well.   California, Hawaii, Arizona, etc. is a total no-brainer for solar.


Panels last longer these days and have longer warranties, so wouldn't have to replace after 10 years.  But your point on payback is valid, and varies by state.

When grid power isn't an option then solar makes sense.  With that said, I now have solar and both of my neighbors have solar.  All of our systems were around $30k each.  For the $100k we could have all gone in together on bringing power to our places and increased the property value of every lot around us.

[Buckmark]

Fred, what are you using for refrigeration?

Rtic cooler and a block of ice!

I'm surprised you don't have a propane powered fridge...

I do like following along on your threads about your place and what your doing 

Have you priced a propane fridge? I have bought two, in the 16 years we have lived here. The last fridge we bought is electric, and our system is supporting it. But I push my system. This hillbilly, likes luxury.

Yep new they are not cheap at all, i was thinking more of a used one out of an RV..... I know someone that has a off grid cabin and picked one up for a few hundred bucks from a wrecked rv and has been using it for years

[Rainier10]

Fred, what are you using for refrigeration?

Rtic cooler and a block of ice!

I'm surprised you don't have a propane powered fridge...

I do like following along on your threads about your place and what your doing 

Have you priced a propane fridge? I have bought two, in the 16 years we have lived here. The last fridge we bought is electric, and our system is supporting it. But I push my system. This hillbilly, likes luxury.

Yep new they are not cheap at all, i was thinking more of a used one out of an RV..... I know someone that has a off grid cabin and picked one up for a few hundred bucks from a wrecked rv and has been using it for years

This is where we got ours.  They are priceless once you have one.

https://bensdiscountsupply.com/propane-refrigerator/crystal-cold-refrigerators/