This would be a great article for Home Power magazine!
Do you think it's possible to use more LEDs instead of the HID? If so, wouldn't that dramatically lower the number of solar modules you'd need?
You could look into wind energy.Wow talk about inspirational. You have one foot in the future definatly. Nice grow too.
My mind is now in overdrive to the possibility's of using free energy to run a grow op, just don't know if we get enough sunlight in the U.K to do this.
Thanks for showing us your knowledge.
i'm no electricity guy, but watts are watts.
if you replace the HID with LED and the total wattage is the same then you would still need the same panels.
now if you reduce the total wattage then you could reduce the number of panels.
hope that make sense.
Alternative energy used to be my forte for 2 decades. Solar pv can now be had (if you find a decent price) for about as low as $1/watt! Solar used to cost about $1,000 to light up a small light bulb in the 70's (remote fire watch stations or luxury yachtsmen still loved them).
Also look into wind power, they both compliment each other well. When the sun isn't shining the wind is usually blowing. You can cut your battery bank size in half too (2 1/2 days of backup vs 7). Bergey makes some of the best wind turbines, some even outlasted the smokestacks they replaced during an Antarctic storm.
My bro-in-law installed the electric system for the Grand Canyon skywalk and it has a million dollar battery bank. Funny the Indians don't want a maintenance contract, but since deep cycle batteries are extremely durable guess they can top them off and equalize (fully charge) them every few weeks.
How long would it take to rwcoup your investment in the system and start making a profit?
Anyone got a knack for math?
Would love to know....
Really a dream system for a super techie guy like myself. Personally I dream of harnessing the sun and using light control to light dep a room or 2.... again much respext on makin a work of art imo..... looks like a really nice cab... super trick!!!