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Post by mediadogg on Oct 12, 2019 13:04:09 GMT
I have 6 6v 235ah deep cycle batteries and 12 100w panels...... I also have a few lights, radio etc but that is about it....... The most of what I do is during the day when the panels are producing the most power..... The other day it was over cast and drizzling rain...... My batteries were at 12.7 by 11:00am..... Now it wasn't heavy over cast but it was cloudy..... So I believe it's set up correctly..... Now that's what I call good planning. Capacity that exceeds daytime running needs that allows for overnight storage. Enough solar panels to keep the batteries healthy in low sun conditions, and a life-style that uses no more that you can generate. You are "THE MAN". (Figurative expression of course.)
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Post by tattoo on Oct 12, 2019 13:16:49 GMT
Now that's what I call good planning. Capacity that exceeds daytime running needs that allows for overnight storage. Enough solar panels to keep the batteries healthy in low sun conditions, and a life-style that uses no more that you can generate. You are "THE MAN". (Figurative expression of course.) Thank you............ That was my plan from the beginning............ It's amazing what you can do with what I have............
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Post by mediadogg on Oct 12, 2019 14:03:30 GMT
It's the "life-style" part that kills me. My house, with all its gizmos, gadgets and appliances, uses 18KWH / day, even when we are not here!!!
So, I have no chance of going off-grid without a massive life-style change or a massive unrecoverable expense. That is the part that most people forget, and what makes your accomplishment more impressive. It takes a lot of discipline to do it.
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Post by tattoo on Oct 12, 2019 14:34:31 GMT
It takes a lot of discipline to do it. It's not really that hard once you get use to it........
Something that I read really stuck with me when I was researching those couple of months about solar power......
You can ONLY use HALF of what you make each day....... If your off grid and you live like that it's real easy........
On a sunny day most of the year I can make an average close to 2 kwh a day and that's a lot of power to use if you want to........ On a partly cloudy day 1.1kwh on average............
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Post by tattoo on Oct 12, 2019 14:35:42 GMT
It's the "life-style" part that kills me. My house, with all its gizmos, gadgets and appliances, uses 18KWH / day, even when we are not here!!! WOW that's a lot, But most Houses take that to run them.............
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Post by mediadogg on Oct 12, 2019 17:37:19 GMT
It's the "life-style" part that kills me. My house, with all its gizmos, gadgets and appliances, uses 18KWH / day, even when we are not here!!! WOW that's a lot, But most Houses take that to run them............. That's why I want to downsize. Kids are gone. I'm tired of lawns, fixing pipes, moving furniture around, painting, etc. Maintenance is non-stop, year-round. I want to go smaller, easier, cheaper. Relax, watch movies, tinker with my solar setup and ease on out gracefully through my golden years. Oh well, I guess I would probably miss the status quo if I did that. "Let sleeping dogs lie" as they say.
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raydas
Solar Devotee
Posts: 166
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Post by raydas on Oct 12, 2019 18:11:29 GMT
I am wondering why you chose to go with 6V batteries. The wiring is probably not that complicated to put the six batteries in parallel, and have it in a 12V set up. Since each battery is ~40Ah, I would imagine the price of the battery is quite high. Also, in your set up, if one of the batteries goes bad, do you have to shut the whole system down to replace the bad battery. Not sure what the advantage is, with 6V batteries. Not knocking you, just curious.
I am not planning to go off grid, just trying to see how much I can accomplish with the panels that I do have, with not the perfect sun spots. Also I am very cost conscious, at some point it just cheaper to use grid power.
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Post by tattoo on Oct 12, 2019 18:31:05 GMT
Also I am very cost conscious, at some point it just cheaper to use grid power. The grid is not really cheaper when it cost 6K just to get the grid to you.......... You see where I'm going with this? ? ?
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Post by tattoo on Oct 12, 2019 18:47:02 GMT
I am wondering why you chose to go with 6V batteries. The wiring is probably not that complicated to put the six batteries in parallel, and have it in a 12V set up. 6v batteries are NOTHING to set up......And the price of my 6v 235ah batteries compared to the cost of the small 100ah batteries you have mine are cheap in comparison. Plus remember I built my system 3+ years ago so a LOT has changed in batteries....... And yes if one of my batteries were to go bad they recommend changing them all..... But with 3+ years and counting I should change them all anyways......
It's ironic that you ask, I just checked my batteries yesterday with my hydrometer and they were all at 1300........ So I'm good to go, you don't get any better than that.................
I wouldn't have a Li battery in my system if they were given to me at this point........... They have way to many problems for me to want any....... 10 years from now maybe.....
Yes I know you have an AGM battery
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Post by tattoo on Oct 12, 2019 18:52:39 GMT
Also, in your set up, if one of the batteries goes bad, do you have to shut the whole system down to replace the bad battery. Sure I do and so do you.............. If not you should.................
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Post by tattoo on Oct 12, 2019 18:57:19 GMT
Not sure what the advantage is, with 6V batteries. Not knocking you, just curious. There is no advantage... That's just what I bought, and at the time I bought them that is what was recommend back then for the system I started with.......
I started with 4 100w panels and 4 6v batteries..... Then it kept growing to what I have now............
It's a power source just like your 12v battery is...........
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Post by tattoo on Oct 12, 2019 19:09:03 GMT
That's why I want to downsize. Kids are gone. I'm tired of lawns, fixing pipes, moving furniture around, painting, etc. Maintenance is non-stop, year-round. I want to go smaller, easier, cheaper. Relax, watch movies, tinker with my solar setup and ease on out gracefully through my golden years. Yea it's tough to do especially with today's modern family,
It's damn nice these cool mornings to just sit and drink coffee and watch the birds and the other wild life.......
Hope you can get there some day....... One can always wish................
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raydas
Solar Devotee
Posts: 166
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Post by raydas on Oct 12, 2019 19:44:07 GMT
Out of interest about 6V batteries, I went to batteriesplus, and they have that for $114.99. Not sure what the "215AH at 20 hour rate" means. If it means that the battery is a 215AH battery, that sounds like a very good deal. Lets see, you put two together in series, to get 12V, that means you have a 12V 215AH set up for $230. So, what am I missing here?
I forgot to add, this is a golf cart battery, not sure what that entails. Did not show what the size is, just guessing, maybe a couple hundred pounds, not even sure what to compare it to, for size.
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Post by tattoo on Oct 12, 2019 20:06:59 GMT
I forgot to add, this is a golf cart battery, not sure what that entails. Did not show what the size is, just guessing, maybe a couple hundred pounds, not even sure what to compare it to, for size. Yea I forgot to say I live in a golf cart......
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Post by tattoo on Oct 12, 2019 20:08:39 GMT
Lets see, you put two together in series, to get 12V, that means you have a 12V 215AH set up for $230. So, what am I missing here? I don't know? ? ? What are you missing? ? ?
I paid $78.00 a piece which included tax...........
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