John lets start over. First thing you need to understand is battery systems are incredible expensive, and solar is a very mature technology. Solar panels are like CRT TV's, they have been around so long time since 1839 and th elast major leap was in 1941 during WW-II when transistors invented. As a mature technology there are no major leaps to be had, only small refinements. The solar panels of the late 1950's are essentially the same as today.
But here is what you really need to grasp before you do anything, it is the most important thing to know. Anything you take off-grid, and I do mean anything, is going to cost you 5 to 10 times more the rest of your life vs buying that power from the utility. The reason is endless battery replacement cost.
Here is an example of cost and physics. Let's pretend you want to take the smallest of loads off the grid, your home lighting. Typically that amounts to about 2 Kwh per day. Utilities depending on which state you live in charge as low as 7-cents per Kwh, and democrats like paying 25-cents per Kwh In other words just 14 to 50-cents per day. Let's assume you live In Sleepyville USA with average winter Solar Insolation 3 Sun Hours, and your local utility charges the national average of 11.1 cents per Kwh. Here is what it takes:
Panel Wattage = 1000 watts = $1000 to $2000)
40 Amp MPPT Charge Controller = $350 to $400
Good 5 year 24 volt 420 AH 600 pound Battery = $2000 to $2500
Premises Grade 500 watt True Sine Wave Inverter = $500
Your initial cost is going to be around $4500. In 5 years the system will have generated 3650 Kwh. That brings your first 5 year Kwh cost to $4500 / 3650 Kwh = $1.23 per Kwh or just over 10 times more than the utility would have charged you. Now it is time to replace the 600 pound gorilla battery setting in your garage at even higher cost. Lets say $2500 (I used $2200 initial) Your next 5 year cost is $2500 / 3650 Kwh = $.68 per Kwh or just over 6 times what the utility charges.
So you are retired on a fixed income. Can you afford to pay 10 times more for electricity to keep your kids from inheriting any money?
Care to guess what it would cost to take a power hungry appliance off the grid? You don't have to do you? It would be foolish to even consider it.
But here is what you really need to grasp before you do anything, it is the most important thing to know. Anything you take off-grid, and I do mean anything, is going to cost you 5 to 10 times more the rest of your life vs buying that power from the utility. The reason is endless battery replacement cost.
Here is an example of cost and physics. Let's pretend you want to take the smallest of loads off the grid, your home lighting. Typically that amounts to about 2 Kwh per day. Utilities depending on which state you live in charge as low as 7-cents per Kwh, and democrats like paying 25-cents per Kwh In other words just 14 to 50-cents per day. Let's assume you live In Sleepyville USA with average winter Solar Insolation 3 Sun Hours, and your local utility charges the national average of 11.1 cents per Kwh. Here is what it takes:
Panel Wattage = 1000 watts = $1000 to $2000)
40 Amp MPPT Charge Controller = $350 to $400
Good 5 year 24 volt 420 AH 600 pound Battery = $2000 to $2500
Premises Grade 500 watt True Sine Wave Inverter = $500
Your initial cost is going to be around $4500. In 5 years the system will have generated 3650 Kwh. That brings your first 5 year Kwh cost to $4500 / 3650 Kwh = $1.23 per Kwh or just over 10 times more than the utility would have charged you. Now it is time to replace the 600 pound gorilla battery setting in your garage at even higher cost. Lets say $2500 (I used $2200 initial) Your next 5 year cost is $2500 / 3650 Kwh = $.68 per Kwh or just over 6 times what the utility charges.
So you are retired on a fixed income. Can you afford to pay 10 times more for electricity to keep your kids from inheriting any money?
Care to guess what it would cost to take a power hungry appliance off the grid? You don't have to do you? It would be foolish to even consider it.
Comment