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Thread: Solar Panels

  1. #76
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    ^Without lengthy explanations, the answer is sadly no. Won't work, Trust me, Kate, I investigated every possible solution. I initially was waking each day with a song in my heart at the thought of seeing the last of Batelec. Alas, not to be.

  2. #77
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    I live in Thailand and am not connected to the grid. We have only solar power for everything. It is a 15kW system with batteries and a generator for backup. Is your land too small for setting up a scaffold for the panels?

  3. #78
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    I own a fairly large lot next to the house, and could use that, I guess. Thought of it, but was just disgusted with the process by then. I do have the obligatory generator.

  4. #79
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    Putting the panels on the ground have advantages, like easy to clean. It would also be cheaper than mounting on th roof. When we were about to start our house build, three years ago, the power company, PEA. graciously said they could pull a single phase cable from the nearest point, by the main road, to our property border. That would be 1100Meter and still over a 100M from the house. And it would cost 750.000THB, about 1,2 Million PHP! That would include future price increase and power outages. We declined their offer. They thought we did not have an alternative as we are out in the sticks. They were wrong.

    Our system cost about the same but is 3 phase and runs anything we want, including 4 AC. During nights we have many lights outside, around the house and on the perimeter wall. The system has been running over a year without a single problem and no power outs.

    Do you know what size system you would need?

  5. #80
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    ^Thanks for your input. I don't know the system size without checking with my wife, who just left for the airport. I will investigate further once she returns, along the lines you've suggested.

  6. #81
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    Ok, talk later

  7. #82
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    Racin, your set up sounds impressive. Could you post up a couple of photos of what you have, please?

  8. #83
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    ^Great idea. Would help me out in explaining it to my folks as well.

  9. #84
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    Ok. 4 pics (if it works) First the roof of the battery room with the panels. There are eight more over my head where I stand. Second the same fron another angle where you can also see the hot water heater. Third the battery room. The big black box is the 360V 18kW inverter. When I took the pics the wall was not yet repainted after the first system, which was not good, hence the grey gaps. The black ah-meter is just because I want to see how much we use. The cabinet with the door ajar is the ATS for the generator. Fourth pic the generator to the left of the batteries.

    The system is 3 phase 360 Volt, 15kW

    Solar Panels-img_8195-jpgSolar Panels-img_8706-jpgSolar Panels-img_8269-jpgSolar Panels-img_8729-jpg
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Solar Panels-img_8729-jpg   Solar Panels-img_8269-jpg   Solar Panels-img_8706-jpg   Solar Panels-img_8195-jpg  

  10. #85
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    ^Jesus. That's an elaborate system. Looks like it would power a village. Now for the tough question.....how much start to operational?

  11. #86
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    Impressive indeed
    I am all for a small footprint but whe planning my build a dozen years ago the additional infrastructure would need 30 years to break even, today possibly half that so just as I expire my widow gets free juice.

    I have the inclination and space but many countrys have tampred either taxing "green " people or not allowing you off grid.

    Anyway good luck with your project and thanks for great pix

    If you wsh to can you estimate how many years to recoup your investment please
    Quote Originally Posted by Latindancer View Post
    I just want the chance to use a bigger porridge bowl.

  12. #87
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    That looks like something that you would see on a survivalist compound. Amazing.

  13. #88
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    Indeed with superbloc walls Freezer 2pcs 3 fridges my bill is 800 bahts c $25 a month , quoted similar figure for the gear plus no free expert installer so would be aged 120 before I break even

    I'm still keen for environmental reasons and self sufficiency a decade ago cuts were common, very rare these days.
    Luckily a v cool design and nights below 22 10 months a year up here mean we rarely use fans and AC only pm Songkran to July

    I hope newer battery technology isn't gaged by the corruption and PEA/EGAT guys

    If I was building from scratch I'd certainly do it, altho the winter days would mean a lot of panles/batteries

  14. #89
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    I wanted to delete this post but cannot find a button fo rit. Should be here with Edit but cannot see it
    Last edited by Racin; 22-11-2018 at 06:42 PM.

  15. #90
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    Quote Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton View Post
    ^Jesus. That's an elaborate system. Looks like it would power a village. Now for the tough question.....how much start to operational?
    How much what? sorry do not understand. Time or?

  16. #91
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    Quote Originally Posted by Racin View Post
    How much what?
    How much was the cost from the moment you started the project until it was operational or fully functioning. The total cost.

  17. #92
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    ^Correct.

  18. #93
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    It looks wonderful, Racin.

  19. #94
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    Quote Originally Posted by bsnub View Post
    How much was the cost from the moment you started the project until it was operational or fully functioning. The total cost.
    If you go back to my post #79 you will see the sums there. The cost includes everything except the generator.

  20. #95
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    Quote Originally Posted by Neverna View Post
    It looks wonderful, Racin.
    Thank you. It works very well so we are pleased with it.

  21. #96
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    From Racin's earlier post.

    it would cost 750.000THB, about 1,2 Million PHP!
    Our system cost about the same but is 3 phase and runs anything we want, including 4 AC

  22. #97
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    Quote Originally Posted by Racin View Post
    If you go back to my post #79 you will see the sums there. The cost includes everything except the generator.
    Thanks. Must have skipped over that part. So, around USD 25,000. Which, at the cost of power and of running my generator during the frequent outages, would pay for itself in 8 years or so.
    Last edited by Davis Knowlton; 22-11-2018 at 07:33 PM.

  23. #98
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    And maybe you could do with a smaller system? We are using AGM sealed batteries. If you choose flooded batteries, they are cheaper but you need to keep an eye on fluid level. And not have them inside the house you live in. But 8 years return time is very good. And how much is it worth to have no cutouts or electricity bills.
    For us, return of investment was not an issue. We built a new house and if we wanted to go on grid, it would have been similar cost as the solar system. Choice was easy.

  24. #99
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    Quote Originally Posted by Racin View Post
    But 8 years return time is very good.
    Not when you are as old as Davis.

  25. #100
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    Flooded cells require a very well-ventilated battery room to avoid hydrogen explosions.
    Don’t wear wool when checking electrolyte levels (probably not an issue in the tropics...) to prevent static discharge ignition.

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