Solar, Wind Power, Off Grid Living

[Einsteinguy]

I am working on a system for off grid living. I will be buying solar cells. Batteries, Generator, And my Favorite Building Wind Turbines. Going to work on 1 KW system going to 5 KW. Here are a few websites I have found in this area.

http://www.scoraigwind.com/
http://www.mikeswindmillshop.com/
http://www.otherpower.com/

If there is interest I will keep this thread updated with my progress.

Einstein

PS : This is what we need to do to Oil Companies

 

[Einsteinguy]

Photovoltaic (Solar)

Photovoltaic (Solar)

Over the past five years photovoltaic panel technology has advanced to make the panels more efficient while the price per watt has dropped considerably. But even more importantly, solar power is a means of de-centralizing power producing capability. Putting solar panels on your roof is comparable to having a generator on your roof -- except that it is silent and totally non-polluting. Photovoltaic technology has become so reliable that solar panels now typically come with a 25-year warranty.
Beyond Oil Solar

Solar power cost about $4.00 to $5.00 per watt. I will list some locations I have found to buy solar cells

This is the cheapest one I found $3.39 per watt
http://www.discountpv.com

http://www.beyondoilsolar.com/index.htm
http://www.fords-mtm.com/index.htm
http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/solar_panels.htm

Einstein

 

[Guest]

You told me you were doing something like this. You Einstien guy! Looking forward to see what comes of your creations. Hope it all works out.

Blatant

 

[Guest]

wow great shit man.

I wish i had the smarts to put together a solar system for my house. You know just something to run a 1k lamp. What is the expected cost of this system completed?

 

[Joemutt1978]

Very interested,

Keep us posted!

 

[Guest]

There are many small systems that could be used to power a 1k lamp and associated eqpt. These smaller systems come with their own electrical panels, distribution wiring, and solar panels. All one has to do is mount the system and hire an electrician to do the wiring. Try google on solar power. As other posters said the cost per watt is cheap nowadays. The cost would well offset the useability and savings, as well as the stealth factor!

Avid

 

[Einsteinguy]

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Fossil fuels such as gasoline, diesel and coal all produce airborne pollutants. Even methanol and "natural gas" create noxious fumes. Some of the major pollutants created from these fossil fuels are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and methane. All of these pollutants contribute to smog and also play a major part as culprits behind acid rain and global warming.

Hydrogen fuel is a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels. Wind, solar and hydro power can produce hydrogen fuel that is 100% pollution-free and 100% renewable. Hydrogen can be made from water, and when burned, turns back into water.

How is hydrogen made from water, and what happens when hydrogen is burned?

Most of us already know that water is composed of two parts hydrogen, and one part oxygen . The hydrogen atoms are separated from the oxygen atoms through a process called "electrolysis" and then compressed into fuel tanks. When the hydrogen atoms are subsequently burned as fuel, they recombine with oxygen atoms and turn back into water. Electricity can make hydrogen, and hydrogen can also make electricity. Hydrogen fuel cells are actually hydrogen batteries that generate electricity.

Huge oil spills are becoming very common, killing all sorts of aquatic life. If hydrogen fuel were spilled in large quantities it would evaporate instantaneously and the only by-product of hydrogen fuel is water.

Pollution from ships, planes, automobiles and factories has created smog all across the U.S. Hydrogen fuel emits no pollutants that contribute to smog.

Depending on the Middle East for oil weakens our national strength. With hydrogen, the U.S. could be energy self-sufficient.

Our government spends billions of dollars each year to defend access to oil in the Middle East and billions more to finance oil exploration.

Oil imports drain $1 billion from the U.S. economy, every week, according to U.S. trade balance sheets.

Changing to a hydrogen-based economy would create thousands of new industrial and scientific jobs. Building plants, manufacturing parts and selling equipment would all be investments that stimulate jobs and growth.

Fossil fuels will eventually run dry. Hydrogen is renewable, therefore it's unlimited.

Hydrogen fuel does not contribute to acid rain, ozone depletion, or global warming.

A hydrogen fuel cell operates like a battery. The chemicals are very simple, just hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen and oxygen atoms are joined together to produce water and electricity.

A hydrogen fuel cell consists of two electrodes sandwiched around an electrolyte. Oxygen passes over one electrode and hydrogen over the other, generating electricity, water and heat. Hydrogen is fed into the "anode" of the fuel cell. Oxygen (or air) enters the fuel cell through the cathode. Excited by a catalyst, the hydrogen atom splits into a proton and an electron, which take different paths to the cathode. The proton passes through the electrolyte. The electrons create a separate current that can be utilized before they return to the cathode, to be reunited with the hydrogen and oxygen in a molecule of water.

Since hydrogen fuel cells rely on chemistry and not combustion, its emissions are virtually zero in comparison to the cleanest fuel combustion engines.

Hydrogen fuel cells can be made in a vast quantity of sizes. They can be used to produce small amounts of electric power for devices such as personal computers, or be used to produce high voltage powers for electric power stations. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are an attractive alternative to regular battery-powered vehicles. They can be refueled quicker and even run longer between refueling.

http://4hydrogen.com/index.html

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.04/hydrogen.html

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/july-dec03/hydrogen_10-20.html


Einstein

 

[Pactivist]

This dream is not yours alone, i long ago set my sights on some off the grid living. as it is a little pricey to get started, our start up date keeps getting pushed back. My families aim was always to be as independent as is possible in this new millenium, we grow as much of our own food as we can, do all building and repairs on our home ourselves, I mean hell, I do live up here with all of the Amish, and other than electricity, they already got the shit down! so good luck Einsteinguy keep us posted.
P.S. have you ever considered a small home hydropower system? these can be set up pretty easily and cheaply, the key to that though is location...location...location. peAce pacT.

 

[The Hashasin]

Im with you all the way on this one Einstein, I used and built many Solar powered systems both portable and static loacations for Greenpeace International ;-) It's the way foward now with the cost dropping all the time and less prohibitave for folks like you and I, nice thread...

 

[amsterdame]

Great thread and info, Einstein. I've been thinking for awhile how I might convert to renewable energy sources. $$ is the issue for me too, so it'll be excellent to follow you through your project and hear your recommendations on resources/suppliers. This is definitely a thread for our times! Thank YOU!

A*dame

 

[I.M. Boggled]

Tutorial on Wind Energy

Tutorial on Wind Energy

produced by the American Wind Energy Association
http://www.awea.org/faq/
Manufacturers website links (wind power)

I'm building (come spring) a partially off-grid strawbale home in a constant medium to high-wind area with wind power to be the primary electrical source. Phone and water is currently available to the property.
The electric company would like 15,000 dollars (U.S.) for the privilege of running a power meter to my property so they can start charging me accordingly. That harsh financial fact makes the alternative energy sources very attractive. My initial backup system will be a propane fueled generator.
Einsteinguy, informative thread with some good links, Thanks.

 

[sow_your_seeds]

hi where i live we can dump back into the system and pull power back when we need it. the good thing is not bateries. the bad thing is ......i think ......they still know how much power you are using, so i am not sure. man i want solar tho. 300+ days of sun a year it is almost stupid not to.
sow your seeds

 

[Guest]

The companies that produce the diesel generators provide all the electrical inter-connect needed for either fossil fuel or solar powered equipment. Just get a bunch of deep cycle marine batteries and a electrical panel with two-way power flow, and you have it. Storage for use during peak periods and useage during off-peak periods. Some vey simple systems out there, you can build yourself with a solar panel, marine battery, a electrical panel connection and you have it. The more batteries the more storage you have. All you need is a dc/ac converter and a ac/dc converter.

Avid

 

[Jah]

Right on

Right on

I've been researching this for a while now too. I want to build a 3K system from scratch. There are ready made portable systems capeable of 1.5 relativly cheap. I'll get the info and get back to this .

 

[nugs]

http://www.realgoods.com/ Take a look at this company they have everything from solar to hydro..

Peace
N

 

[Guest]

A good day to all.

I am new to this site, so hello, but not to these idea's and growing. I agree with what was said by other's, please keep the post alive, as many do need to learn about this alternative source of power.

I am learning about it my self. I have an area that is out in no where land and I am not sure the cost to get power to it yet, but it get's 320 plus day's of sunshine and a nice constant wind, so I could take care of myself.

I know I would like to follow this thread, check out some of the link's posted, and share with other's on what I am doing.

I know I will need help as this is a new area to me, but doable.

Very interesting subject and it is perfect for the time we live in now.

grow safe.

realhigh.

 

[Jah]

The future

The future

This thread can,t die it is the future of growing. Think about it, hydro is the #1 factor keeping people from growing enormous crops. Anyone can make a hundred clones but Lighting them up is completely different story.

 

[tragic1]

I think this is a great thread. Everyone should be considering options like this. This is slightly off topic but I found this cool site.www.greasecar.com

It's an alternative to using gasoline for your vehicle. It's fairly cheap too. It only costs about $700 to convert your vehicle. You could save that on gas in the first couple months.

 

[Einsteinguy]

Wind Power

Wind Power

Starting to work on my Windmill.
This project is large. I will be building a Power Shed. Adding Solar Panels, Wind Turbines,Generator (Propane)and Battery Bank. This project will cost between 5,000 and 10,000 Dollars. Small price to pay for lifetime of Free power.

There is allot of options out there for wind turbines. Some of my friends have said "Why build a wind turbine when you can just buy one?"

Most Wind turbines on the market today produce useable power at 28 MPH .
Anyone can build a windmill to produce power @ 28 MPH.

Windspeed for startup is also a large issue. If you create power @ 28 MPH does it really matter what windspeed the blades start turning.

Also most wind turbines on the market today will loose power the faster the wind goes over 28 mph. This is called the power curve and all wind turbine will have one.

The Wind Turbine I am building will be able to produce useable power at 8- 12 mph windspeed with a startup of 2-3 mph

Here are some pics of my work also note the DP Mazar I grew







Thanks for all the interest. I think we all can come together and change the world.

Einstein

 

[Guest]

solar power

solar power

Have you seen the windmills outside Oakland Ca? beautiful. Wind power is easy to harness as well as solar power.

I used a solar panel with a deep cycle marine battery, and a voltage converter to generate 12v dc or 110v ac. Enough to power a RV, with lights and power. Just one solar panel from the Navajo Indian reservation. Cheap and easy. I used a fan to throw away excess power I could n ot use. Now you can be electrical panels that can be connected to your home electrical incoming electricl panel allowing you to use solar panels, along with deep cycle marine batteries to use power 24/7. Cool.

Avid