Old (early 90’s) scan of solar/PV component invoice pricing!
Prices are much lower 30 years later! 👍👍😊 (and that is without adjusting for inflation!)
Tag Archives: solar
48V DC generators (gas and propane) and off-grid AC generator links
Our new house is coming along nicely and we will continue to live off the grid. As such, it is nice to have a backup charging solution for batteries in the event of super cloudy weather over the course of multiple weeks. Here are some resources toward that end: DC generators: AlphaGen Portable 3.0kw Portable 36/48Vdc Generator Systemhttp://www.alpha.ca/web2/products/generators/item/alphagen-portableCompact portable generator lets you deploy power when/where you need itDC technology requires no UATS (Universal Automatic Transfer Switch)No need to disconnect or
Propane generator available at Lowe’s
A big winter storm is headed this way and as such the local Lowe’s was almost sold out of generators! I found this out while picking up some flooring at the service counter. Sitting on a cart near the counter was a pretty cool portable propane generator, I will let the photos speak for themselves: I had no need of a generator as our solar panels at home were getting plenty of sunlight and our batteries were fully charged, woot.
Sample wilderness cabin solar setup
NOTE: If you’ve read this blog long you probably already know that my family lives of the grid. So when my good friend K asked me for sample info about a very basic solar setup (for a wilderness cabin that would only be sporadically used on weekends for lights and radio etc.) I was happy to respond… Hola K! Here’s the solar checklist that we spoke about earlier, with these components your dad would have a basic solar setup: NOTE: I recommend a
Off the grid solar system maintenance
This morning I performed a couple simple maintenance tasks for our off-the-grid solar system: Washing the solar panels This is actually optional maintenance, as you don’t have to wash your panels. However, keeping solar panels clean and free of dust etc. can appreciably boost your power output. After washing the panels (it has been pretty dry and dusty lately) I had about 10% more electricity being generated. Woot! Adding distilled water to the batteries Flooded lead acid* batteries periodically require distilled
Why are solar panel prices so low right now? [answers]
Here is one explanation as to why: The PV Module Supply Glut | Renewable Energy News Articlehttp://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/06/the-pv-module-supply-glutPV module prices have dropped 70% since 2008, when the financial crisis sent demand tumbling, with Chinese multicrystalline silicon module prices currently as low as $1.49 per… Thanks to: RealSolar at Twitterhttp://twitter.com/#!/RealSolarAbout · Help · Blog · Status · Jobs · Terms · Privacy · Advertisers · Businesses · Media · Developers… Green Maven- The Green Search Enginehttp://www.greenmaven.com/Green Search – Search over
PV photovoltaic skylights: energy production & UV reduction together
Image source: OnyxSolar, please visit their site below… My long time buddy, and most excellent architect, John Odom forwarded me an interesting email about PV skylights. He tries to keep me abreast of the latest architectural trends and while “BIPV” or Building-integrated photovoltaics has been around for a while, it is DEFINITELY a popular topic today! Here’s a brief intro to the subject of BIPV and its components: Skylights – an integral feature of modern architecture We are probably all familiar with skylights
Sample Off the Grid Solar Power Systems and Costs
Going off the grid A friend’s dad is serious about going off the grid and doing it with solar. This man has worked hard for a long time and is ready for a new challenge, I think part of that challenge is to be more self-sufficient and independent. There is definitely something to be said for being self-sufficient. 🙂 I am not going to get into the merits of on-grid vs off-the-grid, but I can say that for particular situations