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ManyTracks - Alternative Energy with Steve Schmeck and Sue Robishaw
Hi and welcome to the ManyTracks alternative energy page. We're firm believers in using the sun and wind whether it be for electricity or power, heating or cooking. We have solar electric panels, a water pumping windmill, a solar food dryer, and a solar cooker. It's not an abstract theory, it's a wonderful way of life. A wealth of information on alternative energy can be found in the pages of Home Power Magazine, both in print and online at http://www.homepower.com. If you haven't visited them yet, you'll want to. We started out with solar electric for our power needs in 1981 with a simple system of two panels and a marine battery. As you can see above our system has grown some. But it still does the same thing, providing the electricity for our lives and lifestyle here on the homestead. And the wind has pumped our water since 1978. We've grown from there. Listed below are some sources for alternative energy information and equipment. To help get you started on your own solar electric system, or to just provide you with a bit of information on a simple setup, along with a bit of humor, following is an excerpt from Sue's book, "Homesteading Adventures, A Guide for Doers and Dreamers", written with a LOT of assistance from Steve. Power For the People - The Sun & Solar of Electricity - - - Chapter Twelve "Hi there JJ. What are you working on so vigorously in that garbage can? Looks like quite an aerobic way to take a bath." "I'm not taking a bath, these clothes are. At least that's the way it's supposed to work. I casually mentioned to CindyLou that she'd save a whole lot of money if she'd stop going so much to the laundromat. All I meant was that she didn't have to have things so darned clean all the time. A little dirt never hurt anyone. Well, one thing led to another and this is her idea of a low powered homestead washing machine. Seemed a lot easier when we were talking about last night. Especially when I didn't figure on me doing the powering. Anyway, I think these things are washed enough. Been working on them with this plunger for probably an hour." "You have not, JJ. It has only been a few minutes. Just because we are living close to the Earth does not mean we have to wear Her all the time. Hello Sue. How do you like our new washing machine?" "Quite inventive, CindyLou, seems like it would work just fine. You don't have to worry about many parts wearing out." "How about me? This body's not getting any younger you know and it can wear out just fine let me tell you. And if I keep this up I'm going to be so wrinkled you won't be able to smooth me out ever!" "Oh JJ, you are not that wet nor have you been working that long. Keep plunging for at least a few more minutes then we can put the next load in." "Next load? You said you only had a little laundry to do! How many loads are you planning to hit me with anyway?" "Only three. And it is not mine, it is ours. Here is a basket to wring the clothes into when you are done. It is such a beautiful day to be doing laundry is it not? This is much better than going to the laundromat. I am glad JJ thought of it." "This is not exactly what I had in mind when I suggested you do the laundry at home, CindyLou! There, that is enough. Come help wring these things out. Boy are they heavy when they're wet. A body could get a hernia wringing out laundry." "Have room for another set of hands? I'll wring a few for you. Makes you appreciate the old hand wringers doesn't it. We had one for awhile. And we did enough laundry by hand to appreciate the washing machine." "I would also like to have a washing machine like yours, with the wringers on the side. But we have to have power to run that. And I do not like the sound of that gasoline engine. JJ has been reading about solar electrical systems. But I think it will be a very long time before we have our own. JJ insists he has to do more research. And I do not understand it all that much myself." "Well now, I'm thinking maybe it won't take as much research as I thought. Maybe we can get going on our own electrical system real soon. Reeeealll soon." "I agree that you need to do your research well before installing a solar electric system, or wind or hydro. But it doesn't have to be a complicated system, especially to begin with. You can always add on later, as you have more time and money. That's how we did it. It's nice to have a little electrical power help now and then. And the gasoline generator is a good incentive for getting your own solar system hooked up. As is doing laundry by hand and dealing with kerosene lamps. It makes a few other homestead chores easier too." "I would like to have the electricity from the sun but I think those solar panels will not look good on the front of the cabin. JJ says I can not have them on the back but I do not see why not. It is light on the back as well as on the front. I think he is just being difficult." "I am not, CindyLou. I told you, you have to have sun shining on your panels to make them work and the sun does not shine on the north side of our cabin. You can't have them on the back of the cabin." "Well, if they have to be on the front then get them in brown. I do not think the blue will go well. Not that your panels are not very nice looking, Sue. But I prefer brown." "I don't think you have that choice, CindyLou. They don't come in different colors. Most of them are blue; it has to do with what they are made of. Except for some older used units which were brownish. But when you think of the alternatives the color doesn't seem so bad. I do know what you mean though. The usual romantic vision of a cabin off in the woods doesn't include large glass panels across the front! We had our solar electric panels near and on the house for many years before we moved them out into the field for better sun. And you know, now I miss seeing them on the house! They grow on you. Especially when you start using that sun generated electricity. I'm still not fond of the look of the large solar heating units on the front of our house. But when that heat pours in when it's 10ø outside and we can bank the fire I love them!" "I suppose I could get used to the look. Let me get the next load of clothes in our garbage washer so you can get to plunging them, JJ. I do want to get them hung out while it is still sunny." "I say all this cleanliness is hurting me a whole lot more than a little dirt ever did! So how soon could we get our solar system up and running, Sue? I've been pouring over all those Home Power magazines Steve lent me but there are so many ideas I hardly know where to start. There's some pretty nice systems in there! Hey, hold on there, CindyLou, you put much more in there and I'll have to rig up a weight to help me! You know, the laundromat really didn't cost that much money now that I think of it." "You said you wanted to build muscles, JJ. I am just helping you out. Now do not slop so much water out. We do not have that much rainwater saved up and we have to rinse yet. The laundromat does cost too much money, I have come to agree with you on that. You had a very good idea to do our laundry at home. You do come up with some good ideas sometimes, JJ." "Yeah, thanks. You sure you don't want to build up more muscles yourself?" "My muscles are already doing very well. And I am not tall enough to do a good job of plunging. We must share the chores as they fit us. I have also looked at some of the Home Power magazines, Sue, and I do not see where we can afford many of those systems. And some of them are talking about running many appliances. We have need of just a little bit of electricity. Except in the winter when it will need to make a lot of heat." "First of all, the panels which produce electricity and the panels which produce heat are two quite different things. And generally it isn't at all efficient to produce heat via electricity. Except for short spurts such as a hair dryer. How about if we talk about the electricity producing solar panels first. Then we can look into solar heaters later." "Well, electricity is what I'm interested in right at this minute, not heat! There's quite a lack of the first and more than enough of the later around here right now." "OK. I'll give you an idea for a basic photovoltaic (i.e. solar panel) system. How much usable electricity you can get from this setup will depend on where you are located, both geographically and site specifically. And what Mother Nature is doing with the weather. You need sun to shine on your solar panels in order for them to convert that sun energy into electricity for you to use. So one of the first things to consider is your site. Look at where you think you want to put your solar panels. Consider a number of different places. Track the sun's pattern and draw sun charts. Few sites are 100% great. You will probably have to figure and think and compromise. But that's half the fun! There is a nifty devise called the Solar Pathfinder that can help you chart your site for direct sun for every month of the year. It's an easy way to choose the best site for your own array. And the folks who make and sell these are homesteaders too. You can buy one or you can check with a nearby alternative energy dealer. Most offer a site survey service. When you're done with the laundry we can bring ours over and check out your site. You can also make your own sun charting device. There are instructions in The Passive Solar Energy Book by Edward Mazria. Or you can just observe your site over a year's time. You want to put your solar array where it is going to get the most sun when you need it most. That is generally in the winter months when the days are short, the sun low, and you're usually using more power, such as for lighting. Most systems use a gasoline generator to help get them through the worst of the winter months, which for us is November and December. Not only short days but very cloudy ones. Usually the closer to your home, and the batteries, you can place your panels the better. The farther away you get the more expensive it is going to be, for larger wire or more equipment. Though that may be the better choice for more and better sun. Now this is just an overview of a fairly simple system so I'm not going to get into details of all the equipment you can use in a solar electric system. Pages can be, and are, written about all that. And you've been looking at one of the best sources of information around, Home Power magazine. This is an area where I'm all for JJ's idea of research and more research. Because it's not a armchair project, it's definitely for those who want to get involved. You need to know what you're doing, or get someone who knows what they are doing, in order to install your system safely. Don't get me wrong, it can, and is, a do it yourself project too. I think you won't have any trouble doing your own system, JJ. You have enough basic understanding of electricity. And you're willing to learn. That's what will make it affordable when you're on a tight budget. So what might your Homestead System include? I can show you a
drawing which might help you understand it better, CindyLou. The heart of the system is the batteries. If you want to know how long someone has been involved in alternative energy just ask them how they started. You'll probably get a variation on the tale of "Well, I had an old car battery and wired it up to run a few tail light bulbs for lights and a radio. When it ran down I'd jury rig it up to my truck and charge it up while I ran into town - or - I'd haul my battery over to a neighbor's house to charge it up." And since the battery was never intended for that kind of use it would soon die and another old battery put into service. We started that way, though we used the 12 volt marine deep cycle battery. They last longer than a regular car battery. But they're still not the best, no matter what their name or advertising suggests. Some lucky (smart) people started right off with a good home system battery - the golf cart battery. Available, recyclable, relatively inexpensive. With good care they can last 5 to 8 years. And they can limp along much longer than that when necessary. The golf cart battery is a 6 volt battery so you need two, or sets of two, for your 12 volt system. One set will give you a 200 amp hour battery bank for about $150. To help the batteries to a good, long life plan on not using more than 50-60% of that capacity. So with one set of batteries you can figure on about 110 amp hours of usable energy. You need a good place to put your batteries. I know, many people, us included, got by just fine sticking them under the kitchen counter or wherever. But batteries can be dangerous things. Just because they're common doesn't mean you shouldn't recognize, and respect, their power. They can explode. Now this doesn't happen often. It's not something to get carried away worrying about. Just use common sense. A simple enclosed box with a vent to the outside (batteries give off explodable gasses when charging) will do just fine. Keep in mind though that you want to easily be able to access the batteries for checking the water levels and adding distilled water when needed. And keep a good supply of baking soda on hand near by just in case a spill should occur. If you take good care of your batteries they'll give you years of good service. Now the showy part - the photovoltaic (solar) panels. They come in many brands and sizes, new and used, big and small. They each have their pluses and minuses but mostly one is as good as another. The regular new panels (roughly 50-90 watt units) come with a guarantee of at least ten years, some twenty. No one knows how long they will last, they simply haven't been around that long. Used panels can be a good option. They usually don't give as much power for the size as new ones do, but they still produce the power. The panels we bought in 1981 are producing just as much power today as they did then. As I said, there are many options. We'll start with a 64 watt new panel which will cost about $450 and puts out about 3.8 amps of power in full sun. You'll need a good rack for your panel. They can be purchased new or you can make one yourself. You want it to be sturdy but it doesn't have to be expensive or fancy. It can mount on your roof or on a pole, or between two poles. The easiest way is to mount the rack at one angle which would be a compromise between the best angles of each month of the year. Usually the choice is to aim it for optimal spring/fall sun. Or you can make the rack with a simple adjustment that you would set two or four times a year to aim the panels more directly at the moving sun. Or you can go all the way and make it fully adjustable to follow the sun all year. In practical use though this isn't necessary. Usually a twice a year adjustment will make enough of a difference to be worth while but not be too much of a hassle. The control panel for a system such as this can be fairly simple. A Schottky blocking diode between the panel and the batteries will prevent bleeding of your battery power back into the panels (and into the night) when they are not charging. Cost is about $5. You should also have a disconnect, such as a 25 amp SPST switch ($7) between the panel and battery. Another disconnect should be installed between the battery and all loads, along with an automotive type in-line fuse. You will also want a minimum metering of at least an inexpensive digital multi meter which you can get for $30-40. You need to keep track of your battery voltage to monitor how full, or empty, your batteries are (power wise). The meter also comes in handy for various other checking and monitoring chores. Additional in-line meters are nice to have. I'd recommend one or two if you can swing it. An Emico analog amp meter (to monitor your 12 volt use) is about $24. And simple volt meters (analog, digital or LED) can be purchased for $18 to $50. Put your meters where they can be easily seen. Not only for regular monitoring purposes but for the meter reading mania that comes over folks with home power systems. Then there is the wire. An essential, important, and sometimes overlooked part of the system. Twelve volt systems require larger wire than 110 volt. There are plenty of wire charts around, and articles in Home Power and alternative energy catalogues, to help you decide the size and wire to use. The main considerations are distance from one component to another, system voltage, and amount of amperage running through the wire. Whoever you buy your components from will be able to help you with this. For this system we're going to plan on the panels being within forty feet of the batteries. We'll size the wire to handle our anticipated future system of two modules (total of 7.4 amps). So, 80 feet of #8 USE wire at about $30 should do us. This wire will connect the panels to the battery. Battery interconnects to connect the two 6 volt batteries together to form a 12 volt battery can be 2 gauge, two cables for $12. For our current system lighter cables would do but for the price we might as well go with the heavier wire and be prepared for future upgrades. You will also need appropriately sized wire from the battery to the loads, such as lights and radio. Now, there isn't much chance of overcharging your 220 amp hour battery bank with one 3.8 amp module if you're using the power now and then, and monitoring it regularly. But if you'll be leaving the system for some time without using power or monitoring it then you'll want a charge controller to prevent the PV module from overcharging your battery. This gets more important as you add panels and additional charging capacity. An 8 amp charge controller is around $60. So what can you run with one or two PV modules? That depends on your use. You can get a whole lot more hours of lighting if you use efficient lights and turn them off when not in use than if you have incandescent bulbs on all over the place. There is a very direct cause and affect here. A closet or pantry light that gets turned on and off often but runs briefly can be a low wattage incandescent. A light that is on for a hour or more at a time should be a fluorescent or compact fluorescent. Lights needed for only minimal illumination such as an entryway or hallway can be small amperage bulbs. Don't use any more light than you need and put it where you are going to use it. And, of course, turn it off when it's not needed. This goes for any and all electronic appliances. Conservation is the most important part of the alternative energy system (or for that matter, any energy system). If you don't use it, it doesn't have to be produced or transported in the first place. So spend some time looking closely at your electrical use, and how you can reduce it. To give you an idea, Steve and I lived comfortably for ten years on two panels (older 2.2 amp models) running lights, radio/tape player, computer, printers and small tools. For many years we simply reduced our use in the short-sun days of winter and went back to candles and kerosene lamps for lighting. In the summer we had more than enough power. At some point we purchased a gasoline generator to run the washer and the larger power tools. The generator also anemically served as a backup battery charger in the winter. Until Steve made his own, much better, gasoline battery charger using an old car alternator and the engine from our tiller. Over the more recent years our power usage has gone up. Especially by the computers and related equipment since that is a good part of our livelihood. We also wanted to get away from using the gasoline generator. So little by little, piece of piece we added to our system. Now we have twelve solar panels, all of the older types, or a total capacity of about 28 amps with two battery packs of six golf cart batteries each. We also have two inverters to run the 120 volt equipment. Now we only have to run the gasoline generator occasionally in a particularly cloudy November or December. Some years it doesn't run at all. Our goal is to dismantle it for good. Along with lights and computer equipment we run power tools, washing machine, flour grinder, and occasionally in the summer, an electric lawn mower to knock down a path or two around our place. An inverter is probably one of the first options you will want to consider for your system. So far we've been talking about a simple 12 volt system. That means all of your lighting, tools, appliances that you want to run will need to be 12 volt. Unfortunately, 12 volt lights are more expensive than 110 volt ones. And the tools and appliances are often inferior as well as more expensive. But 12 volt systems are simple and straightforward, and we run all of our lights, radio, washer and flour grinder and some power tools on 12 volts. However, to run 110 volt appliances and lighting you will need an inverter to change the 12 volts from your batteries to the 110 volts they need to run. The down side is that it is one more piece of equipment to buy and be dependent upon. But today's inverters are very reliable and efficient so it is a reasonable option. You can still get the square wave inverters like our old TrippLite which used to run, with a quite annoying buzz, our sewing machine and small power drill. And for certain applications they are an appropriate, inexpensive solution. But for most home power use you will want a modified square wave inverter. This will run most things just fine. There are many models and brands and they all have their pros and cons and loyal users. You can check out the Home Power Things That Work and other articles and talk with your supplier for recommendations. Intended use and price will probably dictate which one you will choose. They come in all sizes and many shapes. You may also want to consider a true sine wave inverter. Especially for special applications such as a laser printer which require that "cleaner" power. They also run some other appliances better. We have a 1300 watt modified square wave inverter which powers the computers, bubble jet printer, power tools, sewing machine, vacuum cleaner. And a 500 watt sine waver inverter for the laser printer and scanner. Inverter technology is changing all the time with larger, more efficient models. Look closely at your needs and get the model to fit. No use spending more money than necessary. For years we made good use of a small 100 watt modified sine wave inverter to run the computer. Remember, however, an inverter does not produce more power, it just helps you use it. No use buying a 2500 watt inverter for a 1200 watt sized system. But with the efficiency of today's inverters many people are choosing to run their entire place through an inverter. That way you can use more commonly available 110 volt wiring and lighting and appliances. This is certainly an option to consider. But we're talking small and inexpensive here. Your basic 12 volt system for a small cabin/home. If there is a particular 110 volt appliance or tool that you want to run, without running the gasoline generator, you can buy an inverter just for that, say to occasionally run a power drill or a computer. Small 150 to 250 watt inverters cost about $100 - $150. Another important aspect of your system is labeling. Do a lot of it. Make it easy, make it readable. Do it for someone who has no idea what your system is all about. Assume that someday someone else will need to walk into your home and be able to figure out your electrical system. Of course you will want to make sure you understand the system yourselves, as well as does anyone who will be staying in your home. You are the power company You want to make your system a safe and workable one. So what is the total cost today for a one module Homestead Solar Electric System? Assuming you are doing the work yourself maybe $750 to $1000. Where to get the equipment and more information? Well, you already have one of the best sources for information in the Home Power magazines. Even if you weren't going to be doing the work yourself I'd recommend reading as much as you can about the subject. And that's the best place I know to get information on suppliers. Send for catalogues, talk with the dealers. You want to find a dealer you are comfortable working with whether mail order or in person, then work with them. When you add up prices for the same components including shipping and handling you'll find little difference in the total price of a system among most dealers. Service is by far the more important. You'll want to deal with someone who can help you, within reason of course, and someone you can trust. I think attitude is more important than price. For a local dealer you can look through the Home Power magazine to see if there is one listed who is near you. But for much of the country you'll probably have to do some asking and checking around. Many alternative energy businesses are small and regional. They aren't going to have big budgets for advertising and probably get almost all of their business word of mouth. Another good source for A.E. information are the many regional energy fairs being held throughout the country. The largest is the annual Midwest Renewable Energy Fair in Amherst, Wisconsin, which isn't all that far from here. Held the Summer Solstice weekend this is a three day affair packed to overflowing with workshops, displays and events (and people!). There are many other good regional fairs too. I think the most important thing is to actually get started. Don't wait until you can afford your dream system. Start with what you can. Even those who are hooked into the grid can put one small circuit on their own PV system. They will find themselves with lights and radio when the rest of the neighborhood is blacked out with a power outage! And those who are running from a gasoline or propane generator really have a treat with a battery system which allows them to turn on a light or watch TV without that generator guzzling fuel and roaring away in the background. PV power is not costless, but it is quiet! And, it will let you use your muscles for something else other than plunging clothes, JJ! Not that I think this is a bad way to use your muscles or your time. But come winter you might appreciate an electrically powered wringer washing machine. Looks like the laundry is done. Nice job, JJ." "Whhheewwww! Yep, a solar electric system is next, CindyLou, no matter where we put it. Just think, reading all night without being bugged about using up the candles. And a washing machine and electric dryer and corn popper and coffee maker and microwave and waffle maker and large screen TV and stereo in every room and lights and whirlpool bath and more lights and . . ." "And moving out. Grab that basket, JJ, let us get these clothes hung up before nightfall." "You want me to move? Gee, no respect for this old body. You never even give it a chance to set up. A body's got to set up once in awhile in order to creak properly you know. And I was just kidding. I know we can't have all that stuff. Or want to, or want to. Unruffle there. Though hot waffles in the morning . . . OK, OK. Sure glad you didn't run those clothes lines very far away. Even though I'm likely to hang myself some night wandering around in the dark." "Use a forked stick to hold the lines up when you're not using them, or when you're done hanging up the clothes. That way they can be low enough for CindyLou yet high enough to get under. As far as what you can run with your solar electric system, JJ, it's only going to work if you're conservative you know. I think you better think on the order of a few lights and radio and an occasional larger load. You'll have to sit down and decide what is important to you and what will fit your budget. But I think you'll be happier popping your popcorn by hand in a pan, and pancakes are just as good as waffles. They're both pretty easy, and you can make them using what power you already have, called human muscles. It's inexpensive, and better looking, too!" "Well now, I have to admit this old body is getting some pretty good looking muscles, if I do say so myself. Not bad, not bad at all. And I must say my pancakes are something to wake up to, so it's been said." "As long as you keep hanging up laundry, JJ, you can say whatever you want. And since you mentioned it, I would be very happy to wake up to pancakes on the table tomorrow morning. Yes, that is a very good idea you have there. I am looking forward to that very much. Do you want to come over for pancakes early tomorrow morning, Sue?" "Now, CindyLou, that's not quite what I said! I'm sure I didn't . . ." "Thank you, CindyLou, but I think I will pass, it sounds like a private breakfast. And I had better be getting back. Let us know if you have any questions on your solar system. See you two later." "Yep. Now, CindyLou, it's not that I don't want to make you pancakes but getting up first early in the morning, well, you know this old body needs its sleep, it's not getting any younger you know, and . . ." Copyright © 1997 by Susan J. Robishaw For alternative energy information and supplies contact: Home Power, POB 520, Ashland OR 97520, 916-475-0830
[alternative energy magazine] Electron Connection, POB 203, Hornbrook CA 96044, 800-945-7587
[direct and mail order sales, installations, consultation] Backwoods Solar Electric Systems, 1589 Rapid Lightning Creek Road, Sandpoint ID 83864, 208-263-4290; 8:00 - 5:00 PST Weekdays [mail order supplier, send $3 for catalogue] info@backwoodssolar.com - http://www.backwoodssolar.com Alternative Energy Engineering, P.O. Box 339, Redway, CA 95560 (800)777-6609 [mail order supplier] Solar Pathfinder - www.solarpathfinder.com - Cliff & Darlene sell the best tool for finding a good location for solar panels. SolarPathfinder, 3680 Hwy 438, Pleasantville, TN 37147 (931) 593-3552 pathfinder@mlec.net Midwest Renewable Energy Association, 7558 Deer Rd, Custer WI 54423,
715-592-6595, info@the-mrea.org, Updated 3/9/2001 Copyright © 1997 by Susan J. Robishaw |
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