How many car batteries would it take to produce 4kW of electricity for 14 hours?


Posted May 4th, 2010 by admin 3 Comments »
battery backup
. asked:


I am wanting to get a battery backup system for my house at night time. The batteries will be recharged by solar panels during the day.

How much energy does a ROOFTOP wind turbine?


Posted July 7th, 2009 by admin 1 Comment »
battery backup
thinktankthing asked:


…have to produce in order to be linked to the main grid? I’m not really interested in the battery backup system but feel free to include that info as well.

Could you explain these NUMBERS to me like I were a vegetable please?

-generator rpm
-kW
-voltage

Please tell me how they are related and whatever else there is to it. Thanks

Solar Power Eco-Development Engineering Questions?


Posted February 24th, 2009 by admin 2 Comments »
battery backup
mangomuslei asked:


I’m considering integrating solar power systems and components into an eco-development here in Costa Rica. I have some questions in order to budget for these systems:

I cant determine if we need a “grid-tie” system or an “off-grid” system. I believe we need parts from both, or a “hybrid” system. I want to offer solar power as a standalone system with a large battery backup that utilizes the solar power until the batteries are exhausted. When there is no power left from the batteries, it would automatically switch to local power company, only as a backup. It is doubtful that the local government-controlled power company would issue credits for “selling power back to the grid”, so a “grid-tie” system as shown on your packages would not work. The energy from the solar panels would have to route into a large battery bank, not back to the grid. It is also different from an “off-grid system” in that, if depleted, the system would need to automatically switch to local power source.

This solar power system would need “pure sine wave” inverters - capable of supplying energy to any standard appliance as well as a sensitive automation control system with touchscreens in the home. I believe the Magnum MS4448 (http://www.wholesalesolar.com/products.folder/inverter-folder/Magnum_MS4448.html) fits the bill, but I’m not sure.

Finally, I would like to link 7 of these eco-home solar power systems together in order to capitalize on power sharing for a more reliable and robust system - especially since it is likely that at least 1-2 homes would not be occupied (they’re vacation properties) at any given time. I believe that by burying Romex electrical lines between the homes and linking each homes’ bank of batteries would do this… correct? Then, just one of these systems would be linked to the power company to switch over once all batteries are drained - since the charge would be evenly dispersed across all homes…. correct?

I would use locally-bought marine-grade batteries for storing charges in each eco-dome. I’m not sure how many batteries or what type. I would want each 2,000 sq.ft. eco-home to be as self-sustaining as possible on solar power. Assuming a maximum power draw of 500KWhs per home per month, what parts do I need? (I’m looking at the website: www.wholsesalesolar.com for parts to import)

Also, is there a better way of doing this, or do any of these ideas seem unfeasable?

Thanks

Do I leave caps off of the batteries for my backup solar system ?


Posted January 13th, 2009 by admin 2 Comments »
battery backup
J R asked:


The water from the batteries spills over so should I keep the caps on the batteries ? Thanks
Ok so I might of over filled them and I do have a charge controller that is working properly and they aren’t being over charge . I am using the the solar array but not everyday . I know that when I charge a car battery I always remove the top caps by what the instructions say . I do believe I over filled them .

DIY: Given a solar panel and an electrical outlet, how do I power a fridge using solar with grid backup?


Posted January 13th, 2009 by admin 1 Comment »
battery backup
GreenNut asked:


See http://gregable.com/2007/09/apartment-solar-what-is.html

I want to buy a solar panel and some other device X that will let me smoothly power appliances from X. X will use power from the solar panel first, and then from the grid if there isn’t enough. I don’t want a battery system due to the costs, if there is too much power from solar, I’ll just waste it in this system. What is X that I would need to buy or how would I build X?
Some of the answers so far pointed out that my plan is a bad one for cost reasons. I’m well aware that it isn’t going to save me any money. Leather seats in my car don’t make it go faster either. Still, I’m interested in playing with the technologies in a bigger way than a little toy car or something. The DIY part is the main interest, not the saving money or environment.