Just signed papers for Solar

[Nashville Cat]

I know you did. Im just trying to keep it fresh in you mind. LOL.

I honestly think its the right time to do it Derek. As we all know, the rise in EV will be a rise in individual family power requirements, resourcing, and infrastructure rework. The consumer will of course pay for this in rising elec prices. And if there's anything we've learned from recent Govt decisions, the GOVT would rather push through a bad decision rather than say they are wrong or put a hold on something till it gets better. I foresee prices will rise for these products as demand rises over the next few years. Shoot, now we are hearing (especially in FL) that the power companies are trying to put a stop or limit renewable energy for consumers. They are / will be losing consumers and that means less money for them and less money for them to rework infrastructure to support EV and power station upgrades. Which again means they will charge even more for the remaining consumers.

Stay off-grid. A lot easier and avoids govt interference. Plus grid-tied is more complex.

 

[kmakar]

I know you did. Im just trying to keep it fresh in you mind. LOL.

I honestly think its the right time to do it Derek. As we all know, the rise in EV will be a rise in individual family power requirements, resourcing, and infrastructure rework. The consumer will of course pay for this in rising elec prices. And if there's anything we've learned from recent Govt decisions, the GOVT would rather push through a bad decision rather than say they are wrong or put a hold on something till it gets better. I foresee prices will rise for these products as demand rises over the next few years. Shoot, now we are hearing (especially in FL) that the power companies are trying to put a stop or limit renewable energy for consumers. They are / will be losing consumers and that means less money for them and less money for them to rework infrastructure to support EV and power station upgrades. Which again means they will charge even more for the remaining consumers.

I'll add just another thought to that as well. It's been my concern that the government who's been giving tax discounts for people going solar will tap into those people to help feed back to the grid, making it a requirement for getting a discount. I refused to take any tax breaks or inform anyone that I installed solar (in fact it's hidden from the street and can't be seen), so I don't ever intend on feeding back to the grid. My power, I'll do what I want with it. If others decide that they are ok with paying for high electrical costs and not planning for the future in the event of grid failure, it's not my problem, and while everyone else was having fun, I was planning for what I see as inevitable. The grid will fail at some point, there is no way around it.

 

[Derek69SS]

I will be on grid, but if I do battery backup, we'll be able to keep heat, freezers, sump pumps and lights on if the grid goes down.

I do enough welding, running big air compressor, shop work, etc at night that I wouldn't be able to go fully off-grid without adding a lot of cost. Some days I use a LOT of energy.

 

[kmakar]

I will be on grid, but if I do battery backup, we'll be able to keep heat, freezers, sump pumps and lights on if the grid goes down.

I do enough welding, running big air compressor, shop work, etc at night that I wouldn't be able to go fully off-grid without adding a lot of cost. Some days I use a LOT of energy.

You'd be surprised how well a good battery bank can do.

I do alot of work at night as well, welding, big compressor, A/C in the garage running (as well as the house) and everything like normal (cooking, doing laundry, using the dryer, running the dishwasher, well pump, water heater, ect).

I have 1,000 AH of LiFePO4 batteries and by morning it's usually at about 65% (or 35% DOD) and will easily charge the battery bank fully by 2pm, and start the cycle all over again. Cloudy days is where I've had the problem, but I'm adding another solar array above Lisa's she shed (another 4,080 watts), so that should help on cloudy days. I know, the next questions is how much did my batteries cost.... right about 19k shipped to my door, and they should last about 27 to 29 years based on my calculation of never going below 50% depth of discharge.

You've decided to go solar and that's going to help you out immensly. In the future you may elect to keep it the way it is, or jump to the next level, but for now it was a big step. Congrats!

 

[Derek69SS]

I talked to my cousin (the installer) yesterday. Panels have increased in price 30-40% since we signed the lease agreement a couple months ago.
Fortunately, he already had the panels ordered so we got in just before the big price increases.

I have decided to do a battery as well, which should keep my lights, pumps, freezers, heat, etc. on in case of the rumored rolling blackouts and power shortages.

Also, on the subject of being prepared, I have bought an extra 500gal LP tank as a reserve to keep the heat on all winter if we have LP shortages.
I should be well prepared for volatile energy markets before we go into the winter.

 

[kmakar]

I talked to my cousin (the installer) yesterday. Panels have increased in price 30-40% since we signed the lease agreement a couple months ago.
Fortunately, he already had the panels ordered so we got in just before the big price increases.

I have decided to do a battery as well, which should keep my lights, pumps, freezers, heat, etc. on in case of the rumored rolling blackouts and power shortages.

Also, on the subject of being prepared, I have bought an extra 500gal LP tank as a reserve to keep the heat on all winter if we have LP shortages.
I should be well prepared for volatile energy markets before we go into the winter.

Well done! Never put all your eggs in one basket. You should be good to go. Now you need to stockpile food for the long haul. Rice, beans, and anything that can keep for a long time. Some canned goods will last for 2 years.

 

[Derek69SS]

Well done! Never put all your eggs in one basket. You should be good to go. Now you need to stockpile food for the long haul. Rice, beans, and anything that can keep for a long time. Some canned goods will last for 2 years.

I have a small stockpile of food. I'm trying to space out my buying sprees so it doesn't all expire at once. I'm due to buy a bunch again real soon.
Mostly cans of beans, chili, soups, fruits, and vegetables. Also trying to pick things we'll use up when the expiration dates near, and don't need to be desperate to eat it...

 

[kmakar]

I have a small stockpile of food. I'm trying to space out my buying sprees so it doesn't all expire at once. I'm due to buy a bunch again real soon.
Mostly cans of beans, chili, soups, fruits, and vegetables. Also trying to pick things we'll use up when the expiration dates near, and don't need to be desperate to eat it...

You should plan for between 1 to 2 years for everyone in your family, but take into consideration your growing boys and they will begin to eat much more soon.

When my boys were younger (and my daughters too), we'd go through 3 lbs of meat, 3 lbs of vegetables, and 5 lbs of potatoes every night for dinner. Now they are on their own, but we planned for them too, so we have enough food to feed them and their fiancés.

We have 2 years of food with rice and beans to bring up the rear (about 3 years of rice and beans) in case things get even worse or we can't get anymore food.

 

[Derek69SS]

You should plan for between 1 to 2 years for everyone in your family, but take into consideration your growing boys and they will begin to eat much more soon.

When my boys were younger (and my daughters too), we'd go through 3 lbs of meat, 3 lbs of vegetables, and 5 lbs of potatoes every night for dinner. Now they are on their own, but we planned for them too, so we have enough food to feed them and their fiancés.

We have 2 years of food with rice and beans to bring up the rear (about 3 years of rice and beans) in case things get even worse or we can't get anymore food.

Fortunately, I have family who farm and live in the middle of farm-country... being close to the supply chain is in my favor in that regard.
I tend to believe local communities and churches will come together if the time comes...

I don't want to be dependent on others, but I don't think I need to worry as much as someone who lives in the middle of a major city about the ability to acquire food.

 

[Derek69SS]

Construction has started.

 

[kmakar]

How many panels?

 

[Derek69SS]

60 panels

 

[kmakar]

Wattage of each?

 

[Derek69SS]

400 watt

 

[Nashville Cat]

400 watt

Good grief, you can run anything with that much power !
But you probably need 100 more panels to catch up to Kevin's brother.
Interested to see your batteries once they get done.

 

[bikeron]

Derek is starting his own private utility company...

 

[Molly's 70]

I'm hoping he can send an extension cord my way. Things are getting expensive.

 

[kmakar]

On a good sunshine day, those sixty 400 watt panels will generate 19.2kw (normally generates at 80%) and on a cloudy day (not overcast) they will generate about 2.4kw (at about 10%), and given a decent sized inverter and battery storage, you should be able to easily still run everything.

 

[Derek69SS]

First panel is up, and construction will be completed today.
Inspection and some setup stuff needs to be completed yet before it can start producing, but it will be live in a week or two.

 

[kmakar]

What about the batteries?