Comments on: Can you run an entire home strictly on solar power?

By: hillbillynamedpossum

hillbillynamedpossum — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:56:59 +0000

well there are big things you need to think about…..

you will need a propane or kerosene powered fridge

if you have a well you will either have to have a huge pressure tank or a gravity flow system and defiantly a generator to rum the well on

you wont have any a/c

you ll have to heat with wood, or propane whichever you use will have to be gravity fed (no electric blower)

you ll need a gas water heater or (wood)

its a doable thing but you will have to give up every day convinces

my best to you,
Possum
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By: Tankk

Tankk — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:44:59 +0000

The thing is you need to have a fuel (kerosene, diesel, or gas) generator for back up
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By: greatguy

greatguy — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:10:59 +0000

Well, I think it should be possible, im sure it will be much more economical than the $30,000
the big question is: how much sun do you get?
sunlight would roughly have an incident power of 1000 W/m^2, and if u have a solar cell efficiency of say 12% that would give you 120 W /.m^2
also, u dont have to use solar cells for all your purposes:
build your hot water tank on a tower, make it to be out of some metal and paint it black, that would give you really hot water. ( you may need to cover it with insulation at night, or build two tanks, one to heat the water in, and a lower insulated tank to transfer the water once it is heated)
also, you can do your cooking on solar power, the cooker will look like a wierd contraption consisting of various lenses and mirrors, but it can be done, you can design it yourself with some basic knowledge of physics, i have built models in school projects which cook really great food. ( it may require a small opening on your kitchen ceiling, and apparatus mounted on your roof.)
finally, i would strongly advocate the use of solar power, and encourage you to use it, as it is THE cleanest way of energy, and THE solution to the world's upcoming energy crisis.
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By: aditigsamai

aditigsamai — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:26:59 +0000

hi, they are doing it in my city in India, i am sure you can do it too, i understand that the batteries would last at least 20 years

A housing project called Ravikiran, a set of 25 houses fitted with BIPV (building-integrated photo voltaic) is being build in Kolkata, India. Each house will not only manufacture its own power, thus saving 2.1 KW of power from the grid, but each house will also feed 2,500 KW/hr annually into the grid. i have not been able to locate a website but heres a blog link http://www.swaveda.com/blog.php where someone has posted an article and the the site of the govt org developing the project is http://www.wbreda.org/contact.htm maybe you can find out how they go about it.
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By: fathead

fathead — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:40:59 +0000

There are ways to do it but in the end it will cost more than $30k to do it right. For example, if you want to avoid the efficiency hit of converting 12, 24, or 48 VDC to 110 VAC you will have to use low-voltagle lighting and appliances. A split system might work better; 12V lighting and inverter for running standard appliances. To bank enough energy for an average KWH consumption rate will require quite a few cells. If you figure $50/15W cell you can see it adds up quickly.
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By: MOT

MOT — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:54:59 +0000

feasible if you don't need a/c, or water well.
LP frig, LP heat, wood heat etc…, batteries for light OK, but you'll need real juice to turn the big boys ( 220 COMPRESSOR & PUMP MOTOR)
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By: N

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:38:59 +0000

it is possible but the initial cost will be expensive- over time it will pay for itself with the money you save on bills and of course is great for the environment, if only more people were keen on it
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By: g_man

g_man — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:13:59 +0000

You can, but the expense is so great that you will never recoup it !
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By: iswd1

iswd1 — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:05:59 +0000

It is, in theory, possible to do this. Batteries store the power the solar panels collect during the day, to be used at night. Consider though, solar power is very expensive in itself. Maybe not quite 30K, but it's up there . You might also want to check out wind power. Some of the larger wind silos they have now a days can produce a tremendous amount of power.
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