Anyone use solar power?

[ScrubNinja]

green_tea, don't knock it bro. I guess you're thinking more of large growroom situations and I have no comment on that, but I can see uses for this for myself on a smaller scale. And JWP is obviously getting benefit from it. The days here are very short so something like JWP has would let me do clones or maybe veg plants up a bit before putting them outside, since anything like that at home is off my list for a long while.

JWP, thanks heaps for that diagram. Any chance you could elaborate on how it's hooked up to the solar panel as a whole system? Could I theoretically have a self-supporting rubbermaid with solar panels on the lid that I could leave out bush and water occasionally? Cheers

 

[chosen]

As mentioned before too, Greentea forgets that you aren't growing heads of lettuce. The return is much greater and quicker than expected. It is especially viable to be off grid for a portion of the light power usage. As for people who said, why not grow outdoors. Anytime you put something outside you risk security. Growing indoors makes you feel a lot safer than just having your plants sitting outside.

 

[rr14]

yeah, I'd be sketchy as hell with a 4 digit power bill on the grid. I'd rather pay a $500 a month solar bill and be less noticable on the grid (a smaller electric bill).

 

[twojoints]

dont ever sign up for the power companies' 'give back' programs. if your solar system is tied to the grid, you may get some money back for sold power but youll also get yearly inspections on your property. close inspections.

ive always wanted to try those light tubes. theyre just shiny reflective tubes that go from the roof to the ceiling inside. they are like 98% efficient or whatever, i would think if you had like 6 or so in a tight group it would be about the same as growing outside... and as cheap!

 

[green_tea]

I'm not knocking it at all, I think the world, US especially, needs to really work on getting their act together and start reducing power consumption etc.

here is a 5kW complete kit:

http://www.solardyne.com/hompowcomkit.html

total price 44 thousand dollars

now going by their 800kwh/month deal you are looking at saving ~100 bucks a month assuming perfect weather conditions. (thats at 10 cents / kwh which is high I believe)

the cells are warrantied for 25 years.

The time it would take to make up the 44k spent? ~36 years.

This isn't including time value of money, inflation etc.

if I had 44k to spend on solar cells, I think I would rather put that towards a diesel generator. Hell put the 44k into a low yield fund, probably make a good 8% return, which over the 36 years is roughly half a million dollars.

so would you rather have a half a million, or saved 44k on your elec bill over the 36 years?

Im only knocking it because it really is too underdeveloped STILL to even think about dumping money in it. It will never take you off the grid realistically (today at least) and if you are connected to the grid, and selling back, they KNOW how much you sold to them, and they could still calculate how much you were really using if they wanted to.

Now light tubes, THOSE could prove to be really useful. Depending on how much of the spectrum they transfer. And whats even better is if they get hot, you could really easily water cool them no problem.

 

[ScrubNinja]

No worries man. I think if I was growing indoors, the cost of the electricity itself would be a minor worry to me. It's money well spent after all. I'd be using solar strictly in terms of lowering what you're seen to be using and/or varying your usage patterns. They can't realistically track anything from how much you sell back imo. There are too many variables in alternative energies. Sunny days, rainy days, batteries dying, diesel backups. But certainly, the cheapest power is from the grid.

A few hours away, there is no grid at all and I talked to a solar installer and he said even with the huge government subsidies, which I believe were 50% of the cost? and aren't around anymore, you would never, ever recoup the costs from setting it all up.

In other news: I received a large solar panel and battery yesterday! I have a 12v water pump, a digital water timer, irrigation pipes and drippers etc (not to mention a creek out in the bush). I'm just waiting on a regulator and apparently that's all I need to have a self-watering patch. The solar panel is on loan, so I'll have to purchase my own once I get the system up and running.

 

[FrankRizzo]

These things could be a different take on utilizing the sun to grow. If they actually work the way they claim they do they could be awsome. Not much extra heat if any. You could have lights in the room for cloudy days. If you lived in a really sunny part of the country and you used these in a shed it could be a great setup. Not really sure how legit their claims are but time will tell.

http://www.solatube.com/homeowner/

 

[Daemon]

^^That's very interesting!

Also, I spoke with my friend who grew on his sailboat. He said he had several solar panels, both on the top of the cabin and the mast, and powered a 4' 8-lamp fluorescent with them. I have no idea how, nor if he had some other power involved. Apparently he did fairly well, growing enough to keep him happy. Talk about the life, sailing all day while smoking good herb!!

Anyway, he said that he would snap some pics/get the details when he goes out to launch his boat next month.

 

[dubwise]

i would like to use solar power to power my well pump. it's a 600' rock well and i'm not sure how much power it uses, but if my power were shut off due to blackout or inclimate weather, i would like to be able to get good clean fresh water to my home and lab. anyone use solar power to accomplish this?