Solar / Wind generators?

[03mustangdude]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Raider-1600-Watt-Wind-Turbine-Generator-24volt-9-blade-/270736020294?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f091fd346

why is this one so cheap then?

[ceyko]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Raider-1600-Watt...item3f091fd346

why is this one so cheap then?

Looks cheap to me compared to other residential ones I've seen. I'm not guru though.

[ceyko]

A lot of interesting posts in this thread, learned a little more about solar. We're moving eventually, I may have to reconsider it when that time comes.

How does that stuff work in place of a backup generator too? I assume the solar would be less effective over time in a storm - where in theory if a wind mill does not get blown away, it should just keep on providing power.

[Lone Sailor]

Well if it helps, my FIL lives completely off the grid with his solar system, and he doesn't have a ZOMGWTFBBQ amount of panels either. Then again, he doesn't draw a ton of power, lives simple and is good at conserving. He does have a generator though, I believe gasoline powered, and if I am not mistaken he has only had to run it a total of a couple of weeks in the last 8 or so years in the dead of winter when it was near or below zero and the wood stove was just not keeping up. He has the generator direct wired into the house via his shop, also where the batteries are located. Again, this will all depend on your battery setup(how many), how much power you can hold(How big the batteries are), versus how much power you need per day, plus how much recharging your batteries are getting or going to get(less sunny days equal less power being stored).

[03mustangdude]

isn't their a way to tie batteries into your electricity to make sure you use them first before anythin?

[LANTIRN]

You would definitely want nickel iron batteries. They are bad ass from what I have read, and have a long history to prove it.

http://www.nickel-iron-battery.com/

[Lone Sailor]

isn't their a way to tie batteries into your electricity to make sure you use them first before anythin?

I believe they make a low level switch which would close the circuit leading to the breaker box for the other electricity source. Something like if the batteries get down to say 20%(or whatever you predetermine you want it to be) then the switch would flip to open the circuit on the batteries and close the alternative electricity circuit.

[03mustangdude]

ok so for example you get a big battery for $150
you get the tie in invertor for $200 ( http://www.amazon.com/Ensupra-Grid-I...3443204&sr=8-2 )

and you get the solar panels for 270 ( http://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-50048...3443293&sr=1-1)

so for nice round purposes lets say entire setup costs you 500

now if you pay 10 cents a killowatt and produce only at best 60 amps per hour 8 hours a day roughly, you wont even hit a kilowatt in a day?


am i missing anything?

[YALE]

These guys are from Austin, and they estimate ROI, find every little tax credit for you, and do free estimates:

http://www.meridiansolar.com/