Solar generator

froggirl · #1 09/01/05, 04:51 PM

Hi All,
Does anyone have any experience with solar generators? The whole Katrina things has got me to thinking I'd like to have some back up that wasn't dependant on oil, propane, gas, etc. The three things I'd like to power in the event of power loss are:

1. aerobic septic system (constant need of energy)
2. well pump
3. Refer

Lights I can do without but these are the 3 things important to us. I noticed they make solar well pumps but we just installed our well and pump so I don't want to replace it just yet.

Any info or links would be appreciated!

Thanks,
--F.g.

sisterpine · #2 09/01/05, 06:12 PM

well you could buy yourself some solar panels , an inverter, a charge controller, some batteries etc and then you would have power. also solar well pump setups are pretty pricey unless you are indep. wealthy! they are like 3-4 grand from what my research tells me. good luck though, i hope you find a way to make your septic work when the power is out!

froggirl · #3 09/01/05, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sisterpine

well you could buy yourself some solar panels , an inverter, a charge controller, some batteries etc and then you would have power. also solar well pump setups are pretty pricey unless you are indep. wealthy! they are like 3-4 grand from what my research tells me. good luck though, i hope you find a way to make your septic work when the power is out!

It's all so intimmidating for me...wouldn't know where to begin. Seems like there should be something out there that is made to power just a few "appliances". $3000--$4000? Holy cow! We just spent $20,000 on our well so we're tapped out!

--f.g.

Cyngbaeld · #4 09/01/05, 06:28 PM

Just wondering what happens to an aerobic septic if the power is out? Does it just mean no flushing for the duration? Or does it mean the whole system goes bad?

Maybe get some sawdust toilets set up for emergency use?

Pump water to a cistern while you have power and then use a 12vdc pressure pump from the cistern to the house pressure tank.

Refrigeration is a BIG power hog. I would not even consider running a regular refrig on solar. Either get a propane fridge or a super efficient one that was made for solar.

froggirl · #5 09/01/05, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyngbaeld

Just wondering what happens to an aerobic septic if the power is out? Does it just mean no flushing for the duration? Or does it mean the whole system goes bad?

Maybe get some sawdust toilets set up for emergency use?

Pump water to a cistern while you have power and then use a 12vdc pressure pump from the cistern to the house pressure tank.

Refrigeration is a BIG power hog. I would not even consider running a regular refrig on solar. Either get a propane fridge or a super efficient one that was made for solar.

Well, I would think it just wouldn't "process" as well.

We have a 1000 gal tank so it would be a while for the 2 of us to fill it up but....

Sawdust toiilets are a good idea!

Just seems to me that knowing how I am it would be a comfort to have a few "creature comforts" available if there is an emergency. If only a few things run like normal it seems to make the situation a whole lot more tolerable.

--f.g.

Cyngbaeld · #6 09/02/05, 07:59 AM

Know what you mean about creature comforts.

You might want to put a solar backup system in place to have lights, a small tv/vcr/radio, a personal size fan, etc. If you have electric heat get a wood stove, if you cook with electric get a camp stove and a propane bottle (5gal) and keep it full. The cistern and a 12v dc pump will give you running water. Sorry, but if you don't have lots of cash, refrigeration/air conditioning just isn't in the picture.

If you put in a battery bank and keep it charged from house current you may be able to have some of the comforts without needing a huge solar backup. That is what I am hoping to get done.

Jim-mi · #7 09/02/05, 12:28 PM

You must have some well for $20,000.
1.-how deep is it..?
2.-what size pump is in there..?

Gotta know these factors to determine what you would need to solar power it.
Well drillers most allways sell up in pumps. In other words if all you needed was a 3/4hp pump for your water needs, I'll bet you he sold you a 1hp pump instead---"I just happen to have one on the truck"--(he just made more profit)
My point is that it takes lots and lots of electrical energy to make those pumps work.........meaning lots of $$$$ for a solar system.
There are many efficient well pump options to choose from, but darn few drillers even know about them. Instead they prefer to sell the other power eating other stuff. (Profit)

This is NOT to discourage you from getting into solar, but the items you stated you wished to solar power will need a bunch of $$$
Start small and power a light or two to find out how solar can work for you.

froggirl · #8 09/02/05, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim-mi

You must have some well for $20,000.
1.-how deep is it..?
2.-what size pump is in there..?

Gotta know these factors to determine what you would need to solar power it.
Well drillers most allways sell up in pumps. In other words if all you needed was a 3/4hp pump for your water needs, I'll bet you he sold you a 1hp pump instead---"I just happen to have one on the truck"--(he just made more profit)
My point is that it takes lots and lots of electrical energy to make those pumps work.........meaning lots of $$$$ for a solar system.
There are many efficient well pump options to choose from, but darn few drillers even know about them. Instead they prefer to sell the other power eating other stuff. (Profit)

This is NOT to discourage you from getting into solar, but the items you stated you wished to solar power will need a bunch of $$$
Start small and power a light or two to find out how solar can work for you.

Don't EVEN get me started on our well and the guys who drilled it

you can check it out here: http://homesteadingtoday.com/showthread.php?t=84377 The well issue wasn't resolved until about 2 weeks ago but that's a whole other topic.

It's 314 feet and we chose a Grundfos Cu301...no pressure tank...all electrical..push of a button type thing...1 hp needed at Grundfos' recommendations because of depth. Thing is it only added $395 to the price. The $20,000 included sales tax and from what I can find out, that's pretty standard cost for our area.

Good info, thanks. Maybe I'll look to some sort of storage alternative although we were trying to avoid it.

Thanks for all the good info!
--F.g.

rambler · #9 09/02/05, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by froggirl

...no pressure tank...all electrical..push of a button type thing...
--F.g.

I think you have good info on the solar - a wind power system can work if you have a windy location, but not cheap either. I'd get into a small solar setup for a couple lights & learn from that, powering heavy electrical motors is _very_ spendy with photo cells, good luck on that as others have said.

So, to hijack the thread off on the other topic:

What do you mean no pressure tank???? Never heard of such a thing. Can you explain that more? Are you feeding a cistern, or how the heck do you get by without a pressure tank??????

--->Paul

froggirl · #10 09/02/05, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler

I think you have good info on the solar - a wind power system can work if you have a windy location, but not cheap either. I'd get into a small solar setup for a couple lights & learn from that, powering heavy electrical motors is _very_ spendy with photo cells, good luck on that as others have said.

So, to hijack the thread off on the other topic:

What do you mean no pressure tank???? Never heard of such a thing. Can you explain that more? Are you feeding a cistern, or how the heck do you get by without a pressure tank??????

--->Paul

Sorry Rambler...I should've been more specific. We do have a pressure tank but it's not the 80 gal big-boy set up. See our system here: http://www.grundfos.com/web/HomeUs.n...ag/PAVA-526KFY

Nope, no cistern.
--f.g.

rambler · #11 09/02/05, 04:50 PM

Hum. A 2 gal pressure tank. Sure seems your pump would kick on & off a lot, tho the 'brain' may keep it on once on & adjust flow instead of pressure. Would seem to use more electricity this way. Whatever I guess, never saw nothin' like that, so best not look like a stubborn old man & poo-poo something I haven't seen.

--->Paul

Fire-Man · #12 09/02/05, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler

Hum. A 2 gal pressure tank. Sure seems your pump would kick on & off a lot, tho the 'brain' may keep it on once on & adjust flow instead of pressure. Would seem to use more electricity this way. Whatever I guess, never saw nothin' like that, so best not look like a stubborn old man & poo-poo something I haven't seen.

--->Paul

Me Too Rambler---------Sure seems the pump would be "Rough" on a solar set-up with all that starting. My pump draws about 2500 watts on start-up, then runs on around 1200 watts------so I bought a Big tank--80 gal I think, that way it want start-up as much. Randy

boxwoods · #13 09/02/05, 05:06 PM

I'm in NY and a 300 ft well here with all the stuff was $6000. How did they warrant such a price?

arky64 · #14 09/02/05, 05:23 PM

fg
wow 20,000 that is alot i paid $650 to get mine hammered 100 ft., and about another $500 for the rest. i have a 40 gal. press. tank. i have an old aeromotor windmill that i got from a guy in w. ok. $1200 for working mill with pump. i have it setting over my well house and can drop the rod in if i need to. i don't have enough wind to power always but in a pinch i could get buy and i can sure fill storage tanks with it. ed

texican · #15 09/02/05, 10:40 PM

froggirl,

having lived on solar, my advice is to stop thinking about 'powering' appliances...for a small outlay of several thousand, you can run a few lights, radio, or a small tv, for a few hours....................If you want a 'civilized' middle class type existence with all the toys we're used to having...think 10K or 20 or even 40K...solar ain't cheap, and then there's the constant 'monitoring' of the system...overuse your battery bank, and you've burned em out...do that a coupla times and you got boat anchors...

But I'd still recommend you learn more, and get a panel, controller, and a small battery...and expand as funds allow

They do make dc powered deep well pumps, that'll work on a panel or two...but they're several times higher than the equivalent ac pump....basically they pump when the sun's shining...OR, you can rig your controller on your main house array to send the excess power to the water pump...you just need someplace to store the water...like in a very high place, so that once the pump isn't 'powered', gravity will feed the water back into your home.

sisterpine · #16 09/02/05, 10:52 PM

f.g. i can relate to being "tapped out" . We spent 8 grand on a 6" by 380 foot dry hold last fall. That is for the hole only, no casing, no piping , no pump etc! just broke my heart.

Jim-mi · #17 09/02/05, 11:11 PM

Ok so you've got an SQE.
That is good equipment.
But I have a hard time agreeing with the idea of the pump turning on darn near every time you want a glass of water.
Thats a good pump, but still a lot of solar $$$ to make it work.

My water system is; a standard 220vac well pump. A 100' well. When I'm generating a good amount of power---PV or Wind I turn on the deep pump to fill my 350 gallon storage tank. (auto shut off when full) The big tank is un presurized.
For the house pressure system (40 lbs ) I use a Dankoff Flowlight booster pump fed from the big tank, into an 80 gallon pressure tank. The booster pump is 12vdc and is VERY efficient.

Bottom line; Yes, solar and wind can deliver all the water you can use................but it does take a few $$$ to do so.!

froggirl · #18 09/03/05, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxwoods

I'm in NY and a 300 ft well here with all the stuff was $6000. How did they warrant such a price?

I know, crazy, huh??....I guess since we live on an island, there are only 3 folks that drill in the area and know the area so the price is easy to fix for them. Funny thing was the guys I used had a flat rate system and the other ones I contacted did it T&M and the bids were only $500 apart...go figure. Our Septic cost us $12,000 and that's not bad for around here!
--f.g.

froggirl · #19 09/03/05, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler

Hum. A 2 gal pressure tank. Sure seems your pump would kick on & off a lot, tho the 'brain' may keep it on once on & adjust flow instead of pressure. Would seem to use more electricity this way. Whatever I guess, never saw nothin' like that, so best not look like a stubborn old man & poo-poo something I haven't seen.

--->Paul

LOL! At least you have an open mind! I'll definately keep an eye on the electric bill and see how it pans out.
--f.g.

froggirl · #20 09/03/05, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arky64

fg
wow 20,000 that is alot i paid $650 to get mine hammered 100 ft., and about another $500 for the rest. i have a 40 gal. press. tank. i have an old aeromotor windmill that i got from a guy in w. ok. $1200 for working mill with pump. i have it setting over my well house and can drop the rod in if i need to. i don't have enough wind to power always but in a pinch i could get buy and i can sure fill storage tanks with it. ed

The whole wind idea is very interesting to me...I'd like to look into it more.
--f.g.