I've been on a clean energy kick since high-school, before it was popular, and while gas was $0.75 a gallon. I was always hungry for squeezing every last ounce of energy out of anything as efficiently as possible. Finally, I made the solar plunge. I now have a 5Kw system with 24 Sharp 240w panels and 24 Enphase micro inverters attached to the grid. I've been glued to my energy output screen online.
Although I'm new to the grid, I've been making many home improvements for some time in making my home as energy efficient as I can. All my lamps are now LED. I've used Insteon devices to make my home aware of open doors and windows, and alerts the home lighting systems so we have a visible account that a door or window is open.
I'm now looking to augment our solar with wind to continue pushing power after peak efficiency of the sun is no longer available to the solar array. I'm considering instituting a small battery array that the windmill will charge, and with a charge controller, keep a soft and steady output to one of my micro inverters. Since the micro inverters are not designed for heavy watts and variability of wind, the battery bank and charge controller will filter it.
My son and I created a windmill composed 100% of household re-purposed materials from DC car vacuum (motor/generator) to plastic bottles and PVC for posts and blades, etc. It actually works, but doesn't spin fast enough to even provide one volt. Likely I'll need need to augment it with a step-up gear or pulley to get the motor spinning faster. It's just a fun experiment to work on for now. I've discovered that my old Makita battery powered drill already has all the step-up gearing required for my next implementation, but has significantly more resistance. I plan to build a VAWT windmill this time with larger blades to accomodate the extra resistance. This generator I've been able to attain 5v from testing.
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1
NEW to residential Solar! Just got mine two weeks ago
Started by supersleeper, Jul 06 2012 01:43 PM
7 replies to this topic
#3
Posted 06 July 2012 - 03:47 PM
Very Nice
Congratulations on your new solar array and very good call on integrating micro inverters into each panel. This will maximize your arrays potential, keep us updated on your wind progress and thank you for sharing your positive experience.
Lastly welcome to the forum and keep us updated on how effective your array is at cutting costs and going green.
Congratulations on your new solar array and very good call on integrating micro inverters into each panel. This will maximize your arrays potential, keep us updated on your wind progress and thank you for sharing your positive experience.
Lastly welcome to the forum and keep us updated on how effective your array is at cutting costs and going green.
#4
Posted 06 July 2012 - 10:59 PM
Congratulations! I wish we had the money to pursue some of these things like solar. It's great that you've been able to put your ideals into action.
Your homemade windmill reminded me of the book "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" by William Kamkwambe. Have you read it? It's about a young man in Africa who determines to bring electricity to his family home. He educates himself about wind power. Then, sets out to build his own windmill with only the parts he can find locally and that he can afford. It's a true story and pretty fascinating. I was amazed at how with little schooling he was able to self educate himself about windmills and the science behind it. If you're not familiar with the book, here is a link: http://www.williamka...a.typepad.com/#
Your homemade windmill reminded me of the book "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" by William Kamkwambe. Have you read it? It's about a young man in Africa who determines to bring electricity to his family home. He educates himself about wind power. Then, sets out to build his own windmill with only the parts he can find locally and that he can afford. It's a true story and pretty fascinating. I was amazed at how with little schooling he was able to self educate himself about windmills and the science behind it. If you're not familiar with the book, here is a link: http://www.williamka...a.typepad.com/#
#5
Posted 06 July 2012 - 11:13 PM
I think if you can combine your windmill with your solar panels, you would be set for life. How high is your windmill? I think it would be better to use a smaller but taller windmill than using a big one but can't place it higher because of the weight. As for the spin, I think you should check if the blades are light enough or positioned in a right angle with the wind. You could also put oil/grease in the gears so it would be easier to spin. Have you also placed a small tail rotor? I don't know what it is specifically called but it is what you attached at the back of your windmill that will follow the wind's direction.
#6
Posted 07 July 2012 - 02:06 AM
Congrats and good for you. ;)
It is nice to know that more and more are now having their residential solar energy source installed.
I also want to have my own solar or wind power source but right now where I live and due to the cost of solar panels, it is not yet possible.
It is nice to know that more and more are now having their residential solar energy source installed.
I also want to have my own solar or wind power source but right now where I live and due to the cost of solar panels, it is not yet possible.
#7
Posted 07 July 2012 - 10:07 AM
That's some awesome and intense work there! Nicely done and I'm very happy for you to make such dreams into a reality. You give me hope that perhaps I can get there one day myself. Although, I admit I am also curious how you got your solar panels up and running? How expensive are they to start? I would very much like to look into this as an option when I have my own home. For now I rent. I do dream of a day however were we are solar powered all around.
#8
Posted 07 July 2012 - 01:01 PM
QH, we rent as well. I doubt my landlord (my brother) will put up solar panels since he doesn't have them on his own house. With so many people renting because of the economic downturn of 2008, I wonder if this will slow solar installations. You have to own your dwelling in order to install it.
It is too bad that solar is not a required element on new housing and apartments. California is moving towards that goal, but it is still a few years off. I think next year all new housing will be required to be "solar ready", but they will not be required to put on panels.
Does Germany or any other country require solar panels on new buildings? I'm curious since Germany especially has put so much more effort into promoting solar that the US has.
It is too bad that solar is not a required element on new housing and apartments. California is moving towards that goal, but it is still a few years off. I think next year all new housing will be required to be "solar ready", but they will not be required to put on panels.
Does Germany or any other country require solar panels on new buildings? I'm curious since Germany especially has put so much more effort into promoting solar that the US has.
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