-=> TOM WALKER wrote to WAYNE CHIRNSIDE <=-

 ->  If I had oh say 4,000 dollars to throw at it
 ->  I could go entirely solar for my power needs here
 ->  and the last generation of photovoltaics would last me
 ->  15 years. 15 x 12 = 180 months 4,000/180 works out to
 ->  under 23 dollars a month for electric.

 TW> That figure dosen't check out on any system I have looked at. That
 TW> would really be a Bare Bones system. And In Florida I will bet it could
 TW> Never really run the AC unit.

I included a high efficientcy single room AC unit in my calculations.

I did a LOT of research into this out of curiosity
and Florida Power must by law buy back any excess power you
dump synchronized back onto the grid.
I was also planning on making my own power inverter.

It's all impractical for me to do considering physical limitations
these days and financial constraints but it was an interesting
mental challenge to design such a system.
There's some stuff out there on this at www.homepower.org IIRC.

 TW> And rembember unless you want the system to shut down as the sun goes
 TW> down what about the Battery bank and it's support structure?

 Did not forget the deep discharge batteries either.

 TW> A system I looked at or my house, NO A/C, would cost about $12,000
 TW> Now I could pare that back but then it would be little more then the
 TW> Refigerator and Lights. I am too old to become a Mountian Man living in
 TW> a back country cabin like that.

The system I was envisioning used X-10 computer controlled
power moduals and a preset program of power management.

Not quite mountain man style living but then too
I've got gas here for cooking.
If I had an electric stove to deal with all bets are off for my
minimalist managed system.

For the large part AC and the refridgerator consisted of
2/3rds of my anticipated load with the rest going for T.V.,
computer and high efficientcy flourescent lighting.                            
        

What I _did not_ include in my pricing was an approved
solar - power grid synchronization interface that
would make the whole thing work quite smoothly.
Likely a fairly high ticket item I'm guessing so add
another 6 - 800 dollars for that.
 
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