Electricity
MAKING YOUR OWN POWER !
Yes, we can , Yes, you can, in fact We all can make electricity, BUT ( and that's a big BUT), keeping it, is as hard as holding on to your spending money when your'e standing in a candy store. Difficult to say the least ! Many tell us they want to make electricity and sell it back to the power company, (more on that below), but most realise that if your structure doesn't need too much, you don't have to make too much, thus their energy systems cost, is far less than the systems, that attempt to sell excess electricity to a utility company.
1.) Most rural locations are membership corporation electric utilities, they only pay 4 cents or less on average per kW and they charge on average, 4 to 8 times, what they buy electricity for. Doing the math, my company normally sizes the system to be stand alone ( off-grid ), so it has batteries that last on average 100 years when the right ones are client chosen. They're called nickel iron batteries and they cost a butt load of money, but they last longer than everything else we have seen, so we don't suggest any others. They sell many sizes normally from 100 amp & up systems, and 12 volt to 48 volt is common. With the freight from China, your looking at about 10 grand today, to get them delivered to your door, in the lower 48 states, ( WW-3 not withstanding!).
2.) Mount the equipment on the ground ( for easiest servicing) , build racks that can track the sun ( or not as you only get solar between 9 Am - 3 PM), plus your'e getting older ground mounting is better too and you don't want to climb up on the roof and work on anything in bad weather and that's when it always goes down.
3.) Our systems designs are often smaller than you may find in conventional homes because our home designs need about 50% less electricity to operate, than the conventional structures do, so our only answer to how much will it cost is: "it depends". If you build a conventional structure you will need lots more power, so we suggest for those adding an off-grid power system to those homes, just have a small system, only to run the lights you need for a few days, when a storm comes through, and maybe the ref. too for a few hours a day, so 3500 watts might do the job and a couple 100 amp batteries, of 12 volt maybe wired 24 volt of the best deep cycle Trojan Batteries you can afford, will do that, and at about $2000+ and you will want 4 at a minimum to develop 48 volts for larger systems. (12 volts takes a minimum of 1 battery, but it overheats easily). With solar panels, batteries controller, inverter, racks, wire, breakers, etc., figure 25 to 40 grand installed for you for a conventional home system, BUT with a Georgia Adobe system many can get by with a minimum system costing under $5,000+ (depending on the buildings needs) all because small systems are all that's normally needed and that just cost less to create. For tax savings questions, please go ask an accountant.
4.) Batteries ? They last forever, if you die young.
This all really depends on your experience level, the quality of what you buy Etc.
Replacement cost? More, lots more !
We ourselves are not importing not importing from China as we refuse to order products from that communist country. Nickel Iron batteries, are what Thomas Edison actually invented, in the early 1900's ( perhaps the only thing he personally actually invented ?), but they are the best battery available if you van find some. Lithium is costly (they are mostly nickle too) and only last 4 to 8 years depending upon the experience of the system operator, but plain Nickel Iron batteries, may very well last hundreds of years, ( we just don't know yet, but many of Edison's original batteries are still working batteries today).
5.) Solar panels last about 20-30 years on average, (or at least they should), but --- they have parts called diodes, that may only last a day, a week or years ? Most last a long time without trouble, but be sure and ground those panels well, as without this, lightning will wipe out a panel array in a second !
Study up on the options (double faced, single faced, high watts, low watts, and so on to make your system complete and division into two systems, sometimes is a good plan for the system, in case of lightning striking one of them ( at least you have the other) , and be then ready to repair yourself what lightning strikes or whatever GOD sends as electricians can be expensive. Replacement cost will depend upon lots of factors so no body knows. you likely won't need the panels in 20 years due to new tech changes "that may get released" ( but then again this week (0-/21/2023) NASA just said there we no such thing as Aliens from outer space, so a coverup about future power systems is likely to continue and the Solar array maybe your friend for life.
GENERATORS
Yes ! You Want One Or Two !
As it turns out we can make electricity faster than we can store it as electricity. Storing power as other forms such as in water, weight, to turn a water turbine, or storing energy in Thermal Mass such as you building or even apart from the structure in a large SAND BATTERY (Google that one) is quite promising to those in need of storage devices that cost vastly less than electric batteries, then again, it's work, and it's still somewhat ( for Sand) experimental so proceed at your own caution and expect some expense you don't have with standard off-grid electric systems.
Guess what, if you live where the PSC - Public Service Commission requires, that the local Utility Company bring electricity to your home meter base, it's a lot cheaper to electrify a home,( Permits required too), but mains power is still cheaper per Kilowatt kW than off-grid costs and then you could build an off-grid system, with all your lottery winnings !
More on this subject will be posted later . Call us at 706-363-6453 (M - F 10 AM - 5 PM) for needed Equipment quotes, and be prepared to pay in advance with order, through bank to bank transfers, as our suppliers want their money that way these days too, and credit card charges are at least 3% extra, and bank transfers are only $18. to $20 each, currently at most banks, so this is less money out of pocket (OOP) for us all.
NEW SOLAR PANEL SALE IN OUR ENERGY SYSTEMS PAGE - CLICK HERE ->SOLAR