Oct202010
INSTANT SURVIVAL TIP: In the Market for a Solar System? Buyer Beware!
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Many individuals and families are choosing to install a home solar system. Some choose this as a way to ‘go green’, others want to have the option of grid-free power. It’s tempting to jump on this bandwagon because what could be cleaner or cheaper than energy from the sun? All those rebates and other alluring offers from power companies and the government make it tempting to jump into solar head-first.
There’s a very good reason, however, to approach a solar system with caution. What most consumers don’t realize is that most solar systems are tied to the electrical grid. When the grid goes down, your solar power disappears. Typically, when a solar system is installed, one of the last steps is to connect the solar panels to the building’s electrical panel. Yes, you will get “free” solar power on days when there’s enough sun to generate that power, and when there’s not, electricity will flow into your home from the power company, but either way, your solar panels are hooked up to the same power grid as your electrical system.
Is there an option? Yes. Michael Cox of Survival Solar Systems says, “It’s possible to have a solar system wired separately from the grid through an inverter/battery bank, if you will. They do not need to be tied to the grid to function. The panels may be wired in separately from the grid power through an inverter or charge controller, storing the electricity in a battery bank and thus be autonomous. It’s also possible to have a stand-alone system to certain outlets only through an inverter, then the power can go off at will, and you will still retain your solar electricity.”
He goes on to say, “Some set-ups even have two sets of electrical outlets next to each other, one side for grid power and the other side for solar. In either case, no matter what the grid does will not affect you.”
So why don’t more people go for an off-the-grid system? All those enticing incentives that make solar more affordable apply only to the grid-tied systems! Solar energy can be a thing of beauty. Just be sure to thoroughly research any system you’re considering if being off the grid is important to you.
© 2010, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.
(22) Readers Comments
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Stephanie
Another reason people go towards grid tied systems is because the batteries are expensive and take up a lot of room.
Billie
Or just install a transfer switch… either automatic – Expensive… or manual – not QUITE so expensive…. but it separates your solar from grid quite nicely…. along with protecting line men working up strem from your system when power goes down!
mama4x
I have to say I simply do not understand why someone would want to invest in solar panels and then still rely on the grid!
karen604
I have a friend who wired his home to having every other outlet tied to the panels. He used the A outlets when there was sun and B ones when there was none. In his climate he would not have easily gone completely off grid.
GoneWithTheWind
The reason they tie to the grid is because special interest groups have forced electric utilities to buy the electricity at high rates. Solar power (PV) is so inefficient and so expensive that it must be subsidized by taxpayers and ratepayers. Then too adding the additional costs of batteries wiring to be off grid increase to cost of the system.
The best option is to go with something small and relatively inexpensive. A good low end size is 45 watts of PV panels with one battery up to about 200 watts and three batteries. This won't run any of your appliances but it will power a couple of LED lights, a TV, radio or computer for a few hours each night. The costs would be between $300 and $1000 off the shelf.
Sarah
Please keep in mind that "regular" electricity is supplied by coal and natural gas – two giant recipients of government "special interest" subsidies. It is more a matter of priorities and political will than the science.
Fla SD
Currently, most people (wrongly) focus on the costs/expenses of "whole-house" or "off-grid" solar systems.
First, the the "cost" is somewhat of a long-term wash. If you do the math (and I have done it at least a dozen different ways,) it takes about 20-30 years for a QUALITY solar system to even break-even. (I think it's more like 30+ years, because you would still need to replace batteries and have SOME maintenance costs over time?…)
Whereas, you could simply take the same amount of money, and invest it into utility stocks that pay annual dividends, and offset your electric bill annually via dividends (thus, free power.) e.g. as prices increased, so would your returns — so, it would "balance" — regardless of where supply/demand goes.
Sure, with your own whole-house off-grid solar system, you would have the warm-fuzzies about a lower carbon footprint.
But, ECONOMICALLY-speaking, it's essentially a "wash."
And, it's a LOSS if your system is "tied" to your property (and you sell the property before 30 years/break-even.) Who KNOWS where life will take us in two years — much less 5, 10, 20, or 30 years?
The JUSTIFICATION for a whole-house-scale, off-grid-style, TAKE IT WITH YOU system, is the Peak Oil situation. When oil supply can't keep up with demand, and prices begin to skyrocket — way, Way, WAY up!!! You will be wishing you owned a solar system then!!! Even if you invest in the utility companies — when the oil goes dry — the utility systems will shut-down. Or, when the economy crashes due to hyperinflation, and no one is paying their electric bills, the utility companies will start losing money, go out of business, and become state/government-controlled.
THIS is the REAL "value" of your own solar system. With pending hyperinflation running our direction, the current prices of solar systems is a BARGAIN (compared to what they will cost when hyperinflation takes hold.)
I refer to it as the 9,000%-off sale!!! (Everything is cheap now — cheaper than it will be during hyperinflation times.)
Tips: Start with QUALITY components, but start small. e.g. get ONE top-of-the-line solar panel. Get six new, quality Trojan 6-volt golf cart batteries. Get a decent-quality charge controller/inverter. Then, plug the system into your home as an augmentation (to start.) Annually, try to add another panel, and another 6-bank of batteries to your system. GROW it — as you would grow your food storage/supply (over time.)
Solar-living also changes your consumption patterns. You become more energy-conscious, and energy-efficient. It literally changes your life and your lifestyle. So, you don't end-up needing as big of a system as you thought you needed.
Ideally, you also have a dual-source system. (e.g. solar augmented by something else — like wind, or hydro-electric.) If you live near some sort of stream or such, hydro-electric is even BETTER than solar OR wind systems (because it truly functions 7×24, and water systems can generate MORE POWER than solar or wind systems.)
Remember, keep whatever system you buy/build somewhat "transportable." None of us know what our future brings. But, it would sure be nice to take our investment with us to our next/new home!
Peace.
Fla SD.
TheSurvivalMom
Good advice re: solar power. Paying massive amounts of money to install one on a house whose future value is anybody's guess has never sounded like a good idea to me. Having the ability to run a refrigerator, medical equipment, maybe a few fans, and lights could be a life-saver in many situations. Of course if your home is the only one in the neighborhood with lights, well, that presents a different type of survival scenario.
MasterPo
Even without inflation/hyperinflation solar is not bargin to install.
I've looked into solar many times for my house. A good quality, brand name system will cost about $50,000. Even if I qualify for all the rebates and tax credits that would still only pay for about half the system. I'm still down $25,000. And in any event I would still need to lay out the $50k first then wait to [maybe] get back rebates and credits.
It's so funny that at every home show I've attended, all the time right next to a solar company is a bank's booth offering home equity loans!
TheSurvivalMom
Not only that, Po, but with home values going down, it would be crazy to put out that kind of money. The solar system might be worth more than the actual house at some point! Michael Cox over at SurvivalSolarSystems.com suggests smaller applications of solar power — a solar refrigerator, for example. It really makes a lot more sense.
NM Retired Vet
Yah, no kidding. I'd be more inclined to recommend the small 12v type stuff, if I could afford it. Small items also fit the need for mobility, should issues require it. A backpack sized set of gear will still run one somewhere in the neighborhood of a couple thousand, depending on what exactly you get, but it's far more versatile than a whole house setup. Not as likely to give you away being the only place in the neighborhood with lights, too…as long as you're diligent with not advertising, that is:P
Mary Kathryn
Call me a sissy, but the thing I worry about most living in the deep south is a loss of air conditioning on those HOT, HUMID summer days. I'd breathe a lot easier if I knew a way to get at least one room cool. Any ideas for how to run a small window a/c unit?
An American Woman
You can have a (cooler room) by building up a foot of dirt all along that one wall.
It will be an eye sore- but you will be cooler in the one room. Maybe invest in the (very large adobe bricks) and re-brick & insulate) all along that one or two walls… And a hand crank wind up celing fan. 
I hate hot weather too and am in Texas where it gets real hot too… lol I am always trying to think of ways to cool off that wont cost a fortune. lol
Ryan
goalzero.com has some awesome portable/backpack sized setups. Certainly with a look if it is something you are interested in.
Puppy_Parent
One thing to keep in mind is that the cheapest electricity is the power that you don’t have to generate or buy in the first place. Before buying anything (including a generator), replace your power hogs with energy star appliances. That way, you won’t have as much of a power requirement when you get around to buying your power source. Start with your refrigerator.
Solar_power
I sell solar in Michigan and really do not understand why so many insist that solar is expensive and takes forever to recover cost. First off buying fossil fuel power has a return of investment (ROI) of never. Costs will always increase. We have been selling solar thermal systems for over 30 years. people have been heating their household water for 70% annual savings, heating their seasonal pools for $0 from start-up for 15-20 years. Solar electricity has in the last few years become so efficient that as soon as you are grid-tied you start paying no money to the utilities. Here in Michigan the utilities are not forced to pay higher rates then they charge. We have many households getting no energy bills immediately, depending on the size system they install. All of them report that they will pay off their system in 5 to 10 years and that is with the money they would have paid the utility. The utility is using that green energy for their state renewable portfolio or selling it to other states, businesses and groups for far more then they are paying out. In Michigan a grid-tied household sells their solar generated power to the grid. The utility deducts the power used and at the end of the year if the homeowner used less then generated they get a check back. Only a few of these homes have opted for a battery back-up systems and that is their choice. The utility company will not allow a solar system that will produce more energy then a household used the year previously. If the home owner is charged 0.16 cents per kWh they are also paid 0.16 cents/kWh for what they generate. Renewable energy can be bundled to sell on the open market and some states are paying 2.40 cents/kWh. No body looses by installing solar, unless you live in the dark.
Gary Wolf
I’m going to be Setting up a solar system here pretty soon! I would like to point out a couple of DIY options that go along with what you have written!
I have a small solar setup as it stands. it’s a 45 watt kit. it’s connected to a couple of car batteries! Then i have a 450 watt inverter connected. (I caught the inverter on sale at harbor freight for 50% off) it set me back $20 so the way it works… The solar charges the batteries. The inverter gives me house power. what we do is run the sewing machines and a couple of living room lights off of this setup. In the future i’m going to get some bigger solar cells and get what’s called a “plug n play” grid tie inverter. OK i just made this easy! I just put a pic on my blog of how it works! here’s a link that might help if you have any questions feel free to ask! http://www.stoopidis.com/2012/08/on-and-off-grid-solar.html Thanks, Gary
Deborah Gibbs
Yup we actually have 8 of those 45 watt kits Gary. We want to increase our batteries to 2 sets of 5. That is more than enough to do the things we are using it for now. We might change that in the future. Here is a question for ya…we are reading “One Second After” and we were wondering if an EMP would knock out our solar system…what do you think??
Deborah Gibbs
Would a solar system be destroyed by an EMP?? Just wondering lol
Cindy B
I’m also wondering about EMPs and solar power. Can anyone comment on this? thanks
Rick E.
The answer to the question of EMPs and solar power is the photovoltaic panels would probably NOT be damaged. They have solar panels in space on various satellites. Radiation seems to affect the panels negatively, while they seem to be impervious to the EMPs that occur naturally outside of our atmosphere.
The load controllers would be damaged, and the computer box that controls the system would be damaged without Faraday Cage protection. I hope this has helped a little!
idn
I have a great setup for power outages if you have no generator. This setup lets me run a 13 watt CF bulb for about nine hours of constant use, so basically two evenings. I use the Stanley power stations, usually two a day. I get light to read by, and they have USB ports, and A/C outlets from the built in inverter. One I will use mainly for lights and USB charging cell phones, ipod touch, even a laptop but it eats a lot of power up. A second one gets used to power my wireless modem and I can get online. I tend to use the Ipod Touch to save energy. It can also be used to power a cordless phone. A DVD Player can be used to watch a movie at night too. I have even powered my electric motor for the Victorio Deluxe grain mill! All that will use up most of two Stanleys in a day. Here they are on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-PPRH5-Professional-Built-In-Compressor/dp/B0051SO7JQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1366774848&sr=1-1&keywords=stanley+power+station
As for powering them when there is an outage. They can be wall charged while you have electricity…can take up to 48 hours with a trickle charge…solar is way faster… it takes about five hours or so, in decent sun, even worked on slightly overcast days. I LOVE these panels, and Instapark is a great company with good customer service and no wait on the phone. Just plug and play using the cigatette lighter type adapter. I have two, so I can charge two power stations at a time:
http://www.amazon.com/Instapark-PowerBox-Fold-n-Go-Solar-powered-Controller/dp/B007VWW8X2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366774654&sr=8-1&keywords=mars+100+solar
A pricey layout, but you can get away with one Stanley and one panel, you don’t have to use so much energy as I do! It will not power the fridge, furnace or well. We just got a generator for that, but I will still use the Stanleys and conserve the propane. Or what if, like during Sandy, we couldn’t get gas or propane. A little bit of light, and the ability to charge cell phones and USB things, or watch a movie, makes a long power out more comfortable.
Sorry to be lengthy, but I also recently got a 1000 watt inverter and was able to power a mini food processor and a stick blender and a small TV! Not the coffee maker or microwave on low, but I think that may be a limitation of the Stanley. Time to try a little battery bank next!