While it may be off topic, the thing is I've had a bunch of people ask me what I did. So while I could start a new thread it seems many of the people who want to know more are on this thread, so, if it is okay, I'll post "what I did" here---
All I did was some research and bought the following:
Solar Panels with wires - $3,000 (from Discount Solar on the web, California based supplier)
Wood for solar panel frames - $50
Solar Regulator - $100 (from Discount Solar)
Inverter 5500 WATT (used) - $800 (It came with cables too!)
Batteries - $800 (from local battery outlet, known as 6 VOLT golf cart batteries, I put 4 in a pod for a 24 VOLT system, with 2 pods)
TOTAL - $4750 approximate
Back up generator - $500
The inverter converts the 24 VOLTS DC into regular 110 Volt house current. All of our house is wired just like any other house. Sure we use low energy bulbs. Anyone who does not is a tard.
So, for less than $5500 we have been off the grid and by doing so we saved (1) the $15,000 they would have charged to bring power to our new home. Three Years of electric bills, so far (at least $1800 or more). And, the satisfaction of self reliance---PRICELESS.
The other key of course is----conservation. We do not waste. We do not have “scardy cat lights” like most of neighbors who have huge lights on their barns or on posts in their yard because they are “a-scared-of-the-dark”… We also do not use a lot of wasteful appliances and kitchen gadgets. Yes, we have a food processor and blender and Kasia uses her hair dryer, but we use them smartly. We even have one of them-there-new-fangled washing machines!
We use about 2500 watts of electricity per day. Check your electric bill to see what you actually use on an average daily basis and then go on a conscious effort to conserve for a month or two and then see what you actually use on a daily basis. Adjust your off-the-grid, make-your-own-power system to what you actually use AFTER you consciously go on a regime to conserve. Most Americans use 9,000 to 10,000 watts a day! Anyone can slash their utility bill dramatically if they just use a little effort. They just have to try and stop wasting power. I walk into people’s houses who want me to help them and I say—why is that on? Why is that plugged in? Why is that on? And 99% of the time the people do not even realize they have all this stuff on but they have always done it so they just leave stuff plugged in or on even though they do NOT get any benefit from it. Crazy. But true.
We have been making our own power for about 3 years. Plus, when ice and wind storms come we have electric power when everyone else does not… what is that worth?
Last edited by Yogi 000; 03/26/08 09:44 AM.
