Speaking of solar panels, I get questions from folks all the time about them…it’s amazing how little most people really know about so-called “renewable energy,” and they are extremely confused when I tell them how petroleum oil is the one TRUE renewable energy source we are already harnessing.
I live with an off-grid system for my property; solar, batteries, propane generator for backup/cloudy days…. It requires regular maintenance. The lead-acid batteries (3 dedicated solar batteries, each one weighs over 1500-lbs) require “equalizing” every 45 days or so, where you increase the charge amperage to burn off sulfates and help keep the plates inside clean; when done, top off each cell with distilled water. And these batteries MUST be vented to outside air. The electronics (to convert the DC charge of batteries to useable household AC) are expensive and can fail at any point after 5-7 years; most reliable brands have a current backlog of weeks to months to deliver. We have a CRAPLOAD of heavy gauge wiring run between everything, and the solar panels are mounted to a heavy steel pole set in a LOT of concrete in the ground…the panels are NOT self-tracking, as our winds destroy those mechanisms in a matter of minutes as some neighbors have learned the hard way. So, twice a year the panels must be manually repositioned to catch the max sun charging potential (horizontal in summer time, about 45-degrees in winter time).
Batteries are a whole additional concern. Lead-acid batteries have a very finite lifespan, usually indicated by reduced ability to hold a charge. If one battery fails, it usually takes out all the other batteries. We’re going on 8 years with these lead-acid batteries now, and two of the three show degraded storage capacity. We have them stored in an insulated conex box, so when I get my wrecker we’ll need to remove them and replace with a lithium battery unit. The lead-acid batteries can’t be discharged like lithium units…typically you can only use the top 15% of the lead-acid charge or else you will permanently damage them. So at night you completely turn off EVERYTHING except those items you are currently using; you cannot have any parasitic drains (nightlights, electronics that still have a power light on, etc..) and you have to live by your Remaining Charge Meter installed in your house. If remaining charge drops below safe level, our propane generator (18kW Kohler with Honda V-twin engine) automatically kicks on to charge the batteries….but who wants to hear this kick on at 3am when you’re sleeping with your windows open because air conditioning draws too much amperage to run?
Lithium batteries are GREAT! No venting required, no equalizing every 45 days, excellent life span, you can discharge them considerably with no ill effects, they don’t take up much space, you can connect them directly to your smartphone via BT and whatnot…. But they are expensive and the mining/manufacturing of them requires a whole lot more OIL than what it’s potential output can replace. There’s not enough lithium in the Earth to supply the necessary batteries to fully replace oil & coal for power plants….not to mention the oil necessary for the equipment mining it & the making of the battery cases, etc…. Look up sometime about what all goes into making a lithium battery, it’s eye-opening. But for now, if you can afford one, it’s the way to go. Our neighbors recently upgraded their off-grid system by trading in worn-out lead acid batteries for a new lithium unit (equivalent output of a 17kW generator). It was just over $14k delivered & installed, which is a heck of a good bargain. It’s worth every penny. JUST DO NOT LET IT GET WET!!! You’ll have a nasty fire that you won’t be able to put out. And they were required to inform the local fire department that they had it installed.
Don’t get me started on what a boondoggle wind power is…what a crock. You’ll NEVER get any return on investment from it. The only beneficial wind powered item I’ve ever run across is a windmill for a mechanical water pump (such as AERMotor)….I’m considering switching to one of these for our well pump since we have so much wind, along with an electric back-up. It doesn’t supply water pressure, it just keeps your water storage cisterns topped off, which then use electric pumps to maintain water delivery & pressure.
