On (17 Oct 97) Kyle Hearn wrote to All...
 KH> I am curious about how one would go about powering a house by
 KH> solar power and still use regular appliances and not DC like I
 KH> see in some magazines and about how much I could expect the
 KH> conversion equipment to cost.
You can't use "regular" appliances unless you have lots of money to
spend on more PV and batteries. You can use AC appliances, but they
must be super-efficient. Get a catalog from Trace Engineering in
Arlington, WA. They are the foremost manufacturers of inverters (DC
to AC). Cost depends on capacity and power quality. One of their
best machines, the SW4024, gives 4kW of sine wave power, and costs
about $2500.
 KH> I'd also like to know if there is any way to solar power a
 KH> first floor apt with a western exposure or if it would be
 KH> worth it at all for the time being.
I doubt it. :(  You're eliminating at least half of your solar
window to start with.  Buy one panel and a battery and some meters
and play with it. You can learn a lot and be more ready to put
together your system for your land. But don't expect to power much.
                        Ian
... All power corrupts, but we NEED electricity.                              
 
...  90% of being smart is knowing what you're dumb at.
--- PPoint 1.96
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