migrating off grid slowly but modularly... need some tips

[solarface]

....

Mod note - Goodbye for a week - We really enjoy the know nothing know it alls.

If you wish to participate in the forum fine but quit the rants

[whoknows]

to be fair

to be fair not everywhere its illegal to use home made panels,

if panels arent affixed to the house and not tied to the grid system it MOST definitley is NOT illegal, so just wanted to stop spread of disinformation.

[russ]

to be fair not everywhere its illegal to use home made panels,

if panels arent affixed to the house and not tied to the grid system it MOST definitley is NOT illegal, so just wanted to stop spread of disinformation.

The same IP address as solarface - so it is solarface

No one here says you can't use homemade panels for off grid - if you read a bit rather than just comment you would see that.

Affixed to the house or other building is a potential insurance problem.

Can you build panels for what you can buy them for today? No

Can you build a DIY panel that is equal to a factory made panel? No

[whoknows]

to be fair once again

if you buy your own angle aluminum runs about 18 per 36 cell panel (6x6 cells) and have a glass factory in your town (which i do) that sells direct... you can get the low iron tempered solar glass here... for 60 dollars for one 73.5 inch x 73.5 inch.... lets say we go the expensive route and use slygard that's about 40 bucks then for the 36 cells about 13-14 dollars (i got these around 35 cents per watt because i bought in bulk, sealed untouched asian pc cells) oh and junction boxes with ends were included i got 15 included with this + 2000 feet of tabbing wire + 500 feet bus wire. sooo the total for 1 180-200 watt panel would be 60+40+14+18 + my labor (which is free to me) im building a 180-200 watt solar panel for roughly 132 bucks, please show me where i can buy even a sub par 180-200 watt panel for this price and i will love you forever... im not saying EVERYONE can do it cheaper but my math tells me i can and im not trying to be a know it all but you all are coming at me like i haven't done any research whatsoever and are very quick to discount what im saying........ at some point my plan was to have panels and a pretty large bank andleave high drain things on grid.... but i was just throwing something hypothetical out there and was hoping to have a discussion about things not get shot down, sorry if I came across as an asshole... and i never not one time said i could build panels to factory specs.... thats a given, but did anyone even bother to ask my background or experience with similar things or ANYTHING ? you just assume im an uneducated person, i admit i do tend to dive head first and try to figure out the details later, but i honestly am at very least SOMEWHAT informed, and i guess a little more constructive comments would have been better but once again my apologies for taking advice as insults.

[russ]

If you watch closely you can come close to 1$ per watt for a factory made panel with warranty - no way DIY can touch that.

[Sunking]

to be fair not everywhere its illegal to use home made panels,

if panels arent affixed to the house and not tied to the grid system it MOST definitley is NOT illegal, so just wanted to stop spread of disinformation.

Solarface, that is who you are, there is no disinformation. If the solar panel wiring is to be part of your home's permises wiring, there is no code compliant method you can use DIY panels in the USA. I do not care if it is for grid tied or stand alone battery. That is just a fact my friend which you cannot make any argument against.

[Bala]

I think it is you that is not reading posts correctly,

you want almost free?, cheap?, offset your power bill from the grid?, put it however you like,

Fact is that you will not get it from using panels, batteries etc,

i was just throwing something hypothetical out there and was hoping to have a discussion about things not get shot down,

Your idea is not new, many people come to this and other solar forums with similar ideas to save money,

I dont feel your were shot down, your did not get the response you wanted and got upset, people on this forum tend to give it to you straight, but true.

Its good to have ideas, you have spent some money, and been told here to sell what you have and cut your losses. if you still think you have a good thing go for it, its your life, but no need to get upset because you are not getting the answers you wanted.

[Sunking]

Solarface or Whoknows or whatever you are calling yourself today I understand why you are upset and frustrated. But do not come here making us the bad guys. It is not our fault you did not do research before sinking your hard earned money into something that will not work . That is your own fault, not ours. As they say: Education is not cheap. Or my favorite: You have been told, now it is time your learned the hard way.

You got what you asked for.

[russ]

Now banned under two user names - no whiners needed

Just for the record - Neither Mike, Rich or myself work for the forum sponsor.

There are always people trying to be cute who 'know it all' that want to expound their philosophy so all can see how bright they are.

Arrangements that are not safe, not legal, not UL listed and not to code we will not go along with.

Attacking companies or people is another no no. If someone has a complaint that is fine to state but to carry on a rant is not acceptable.

Posts containing no nos listed above will most likely be removed.