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Rukai

Building my own Solar System

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Rukai

 

 


About to start another solar project, too.

 

Solar project? Are you planning to build your own solar panel?

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Parrothead

paul ;ur working all the time;

diferance is ur not paid for it hourly :yahoo:

 

If I were to ever be paid hourly, I would go broke. :P

 

 

Solar project? Are you planning to build your own solar panel?

 

Although I have most of the parts to build a single solar panel, no, my intention is not to build a solar panel. I have a system up at our farm, running lights and small appliances. It has been operational since Oct / Nov of last year. 

 

I had a little system at our previous apartment. I never did anything with it after we moved to this house. But, since we have been here a while now, and it seems we will stay for some time, I want to build a system here to run my electronics. I have the batteries, the inverter, and several solar controllers. I need to determine what I am going to run with it, before I go buying more panels, though. 

 

This time, I am considering going with a pole mount for the panels. 

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Rukai

I would love to build my own solar power so I can get free electricity. I bet there are some pros and cons building your own solar panel, but it's sure cheaper than buying one from a store or online.

Edited by Rukai

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jimmyboy

unless it don't work.

i seem to recall an article on how to do it elsewhere in this forum though.

there are some great designs out there for homebrew wind turbines if you live at the beach-perfect.

 

some of the chinese wind turbines now use the neodymium magnets to great effect.

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Parrothead

 

 


I bet there are some pros and cons building your own solar panel, but it's sure cheaper than buying one from a store or online.

 

I disagree. I just replied to another member, in THIS THREAD, regarding the same thing. Today's panels, especially for those in the west, can be delivered to them for under $1.00 USD per watt. Give it a bit more time. They will come down even more, I assure you. 

 

If you wish to have a grid-tied system, home built panels are illegal to be used. The ONLY option you would have, would be to use them in an entirely off-grid system. 

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Rukai

 

 


unless it don't work.

 

Experience is the best teacher  :D

 


I disagree. I just replied to another member, in THIS THREAD, regarding the same thing. Today's panels, especially for those in the west, can be delivered to them for under $1.00 USD per watt. Give it a bit more time. They will come down even more, I assure you. 
 
If you wish to have a grid-tied system, home built panels are illegal to be used. The ONLY option you would have, would be to use them in an entirely off-grid system. 

 

I remembered watching part of a video where you can build your own solar panel for 300 usd. I was like, I'm doing that when i move out the U.S. :)

 

Why is using home build panels illegal to use? Is this only in Cambodia?

Edited by Rukai

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Parrothead

 

 

Why is using home build panels illegal to use? Is this only in Cambodia?
 
In my opinion, there are too many mistakes that can be made during construction of home made panels, to attach them to a grid. 

 

For a grid-tied system in the west, they would be illegal to use. I don't know what would be legal, or illegal, in Cambodia. I do not even know if they offer an option of having a grid-tied system. Generally speaking, people use solar here for the same reason we do, because the grid is not available where they live. Our farm is 5 kilometers from the mains. 

 

Personally, knowing how the grid is in some countries in Southeast Asia, I wouldn't want my array attached to the grid anyway. The power our array harvests and is made available for our use is much cleaner and is more stable than what comes from the mains here. 

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luigi

What are you using for storage? Wet cell? AGM? My limited solar experience is having them on my live aboard. I was using Trojan 6V deep cycle. Maintenance was always an issue. Boat at anchor constantly vaining to windward. Xantrex inverter & controller.The problem with wind power aboard is the constant noise. Not an issue if home install.

Now I just invest in some solar & wind turbine cos.,Canadian & Chinese. Check out Ming Yang.

 

There is a small island in the middle of the Fl. Keys named No Name Key. I can't make that shit up. Up until the first of 2014 there was no power to the island. Everyone had solar or gensets or usually both. Nothing like listening to a diesel genset drone on & on during a quiet summer evening. Some wanted tied in to FKEC, some did not. A battle ensued.

Now some have, some don't.! How difficult can that concept be?

L

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Parrothead

What are you using for storage? Wet cell? AGM? My limited solar experience is having them on my live aboard. I was using Trojan 6V deep cycle. Maintenance was always an issue. Boat at anchor constantly vaining to windward. Xantrex inverter & controller.

 

I use 120AH Flooded Lead Acid batteries. I got them off an English guy early last year, before he went home to the UK. He was a coder and had purchased them, and an inverter / charger to keep his computer running during the pain-in-the-arse frequent power cuts we had down in Sihanoukville. 

 

I have 240 AH at the farm, on a 300 watts array with a MorningStar, ProStar 30m PWM controller. I just bought two others from the farm, same size and rating, to use with my new Kid MPPT controller. I have a 1,500 watts inverter, a 700 watts inverter, and a 150 watts inverter. The large one is here at the house, the smaller two are at the farm. 

 

I have a few other controllers, one exclusively for lighting circuits. I also have two Chinese off-the-wall brand controllers I got for like $10 to $15, total. I got them mainly to see if they were worth 2 cents. 

 

Now, I just need to build up my stock of solar modules to start chargin' some batteries. I don't need a lot here. Just enough of an array to keep the batteries charged for use about once per week or two, for an hour or so at a time. 

 

 

The problem with wind power aboard is the constant noise. Not an issue if home install.

Now I just invest in some solar & wind turbine cos.,Canadian & Chinese. Check out Ming Yang.

 

I'm not real big on wind turbines, primarily due to the number of fly-by-night guys who are involved in wind. I have seen stuff they promise works well, yet fails miserably once put into service. 

 

I think I am going to stick to solar projects. I honestly don't think we get enough wind here anyway, to justify having a wind turbine. 

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