I am new to this website and havent looked around to much yet.Im also not sure if im even posting in the right forum.I was trying to figure out things I could use in an attic grow and was wondering if anyone had hooked all there electrical stuff up to solar energy before. I thought this would be a good idea and if there were any cheap solar hook ups you could use instead of having such a high electricity bill.
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Solar Panels
- Thread starter BBc16
- Start date
G
Guest
cheap and solar are two words that don't go together! I looked into solar and it's very expensive to set up, even the DIY set ups are big money. Do a google search on solar and after sorting some you can get an idea of how much money it takes to set up a small system. I think solar is great... I just wish it was a bit more affordable.
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Guest
Yes, solar systems aren't cheap...like 20-25 grand!! However, if you own your own home, one thing that might be considered is financing with your home's equity. You'd want a system to power the whole house so that you can sell elec. back to the power company...make your meter run backward. Some states and power companies have plans that give rebates to homeowners that install these systems which greatly reduces their cost. Plus if you use your equity for financing, you can write the interest off on your taxes (usually). Most folks break even from saving on their elec. bill in 5-8 years.
Boy, if you could swing it..........would be a great way to go.
Wouldn't have to worry about the power Co. wondering why you use a lot of juice for your grow. hehehe!!
Bh
Boy, if you could swing it..........would be a great way to go.
Wouldn't have to worry about the power Co. wondering why you use a lot of juice for your grow. hehehe!!
Bh
NPK
Active member
Yeah, I would LOVE to go solar, too. I looked into it for my house about five years ago but was scared off by the huge price tag.
Still, in addition to the things bipedalhominid listed, you would get a tax break for going solar. Also, 5-8 years to break even from the investment does not sound bad at all! I thought it would take longer than that (though that was before I started growing indoors).
Another benefit: you could sell any excess energy you didn't use back to the electrical company! It's an extremely attractive idea.
Still, in addition to the things bipedalhominid listed, you would get a tax break for going solar. Also, 5-8 years to break even from the investment does not sound bad at all! I thought it would take longer than that (though that was before I started growing indoors).
Another benefit: you could sell any excess energy you didn't use back to the electrical company! It's an extremely attractive idea.
NPK
Active member
Talk about timing: I went to CostCo today and there was a guy from a solar panel company (www.recsolar.com) giving out fliers. Gotta say, it's a compelling idea, one I want to explore a little more.
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G
Guest
And I hope you do end up going for it. You'll generate less CO2 making electricity........it's a good thing!!NPK said:
Bh
The most efficent way to power a grow in your attic would be to put in a large skylight, and use the suns power directly. The size/cost solar system you would need to run even a small HPS would be astronomical.
You need panels, you need expensive batteries, you need a inverter/battery charger, all this stuff is spendy, believe me. A HPS light will drain a large $150 battery in a matter of hours(or less?), how many will you need to keep one light going for the whole cycle? How many $200++ panels will you need to charge each battery in time for the next cycle?
Look at it this way, you would need several times the surface area to cover with solar panels, than you could effectivly light with said Solar panels. I'm not saying it is impossible, its just not efficent at all, you would end up spending $5 to save $1.
You would be better off figuring out how to grow with the sun directly, like with a skylight or a Green house.
And just to make this clear, I am very pro Solar, my small mountain cabin(my home) is completly powered by solar in the sunny months, and still provides a good portion of my power in the winter.
Of course my system is small, but I can tell you that in most homes using alternative energy, you are always making sacrifices in the name of saving energy, cuz you have only a little to play with usually. Hooking up grow lights is unrealistic at this stage of Solar development, IMHO.
You need panels, you need expensive batteries, you need a inverter/battery charger, all this stuff is spendy, believe me. A HPS light will drain a large $150 battery in a matter of hours(or less?), how many will you need to keep one light going for the whole cycle? How many $200++ panels will you need to charge each battery in time for the next cycle?
Look at it this way, you would need several times the surface area to cover with solar panels, than you could effectivly light with said Solar panels. I'm not saying it is impossible, its just not efficent at all, you would end up spending $5 to save $1.
You would be better off figuring out how to grow with the sun directly, like with a skylight or a Green house.
And just to make this clear, I am very pro Solar, my small mountain cabin(my home) is completly powered by solar in the sunny months, and still provides a good portion of my power in the winter.
Of course my system is small, but I can tell you that in most homes using alternative energy, you are always making sacrifices in the name of saving energy, cuz you have only a little to play with usually. Hooking up grow lights is unrealistic at this stage of Solar development, IMHO.
GotTheBlues
Member
solar panels are a bit behind in the evolutionary ladder to be cost and space effective. Solar panels are EXPENSIVE! you would have to keep solar panels for 10 years to pay for themselvs if they last that long
they also take up a lot fo space.
they also take up a lot fo space.
NPK
Active member
you would have to keep solar panels for 10 years to pay for themselvs if they last that long they also take up a lot fo space.
True, but those ten years are going to pass regardless, and you'll be paying the electric company the whole time. As far as how well the panels will last, the outfit I linked to guarantees its panels for 25 years...seems like a win-win proposition to me. And I don't keep much stuff up on my roof, so they're welcome to the space!
they also take up a lot fo space.True, but those ten years are going to pass regardless, and you'll be paying the electric company the whole time. As far as how well the panels will last, the outfit I linked to guarantees its panels for 25 years...seems like a win-win proposition to me. And I don't keep much stuff up on my roof, so they're welcome to the space!
Thanks for all the replies guys. I thought about solar lights but didnt really want people flying about to be able to see into my grow room.Guess I really havent looked into them to much to know if the are tinted or not.Also was wondering if I should make one little room in the attic for just a couple plants, or just leave it all open.
There are options for different opaques, materials usually used for greenhouses could even be used. It is possible, and realistic. This is how they did alot of "Indoor" back in the 60s and early 70s says my dad, a big skylight with a platform under it to get the plants as close as possible.
I think a "bubbled" or "peaked" skylight would be the best shapes.
I think a "bubbled" or "peaked" skylight would be the best shapes.
i have solar panels,inverters,windmills ect. some states have incentives and give you money back after a solar setup is installed .up to 1\2 initial cost.your gonna need like 4000 dollars minimum to just run a tiny light. so far i am only using floros in my greenhouses with my solar.
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Guest
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