Starting small (newbie in the house)

Re: Starting small (newbie in the house)

maybe just maybe convert to a grid tie system once it is large enough and I feel comfortable with it.

Rolling your own panels for a learning experience is one thing, but by code you can never use those panels for grid tie. You will need UL approved panels anywhere in the US. These panels can be had at the moment for around $2.40 a watt for prime panels, and $2.20 a watt for UL approved seconds. You will need to buy a charge controller, fuses or breakers as well as battery bank to run your inverter.

Re: Starting small (newbie in the house)

prontow wrote: »

$2.20 a watt for prebuilt panels? I will have almost that much in my home made panels after buying the glass, sealer, and individual cells.
Maybe I need a new game plan after my experiment.

Now you're heading in the right direction! And the prebuilts should output of about 26 volts with no load. The 18 volt panels are often sold as being "self regulated", because their output voltage is so low they are unlikely to ever overcharge a battery. On the other hand, they often won't fully charge the batteries either.

Re: Starting small (newbie in the house)

OH, and regarding : "Going to use a 300w cheap inverter to run some lights."
Believe it or not, I've seen some cheap 300 watt inverters that won't even run TWO 23 watt CFLs at the same time. Was at a buddy's camp. He had two different models, they both did the same thing. Forget trying to run his little TV at the same time. I gave him a little 150 watt inverter I no longer used. It too was cheap, but would run his several CFLs PLUS his TV all at once with no problem. As they used to say, Go Figure. By the way, the 300 watt units in question would run a 1/4 inch B&D drill, even though not two CFLs. Not all 300 watt inverters are equal that's for sure. Not kidding, my Morningstar SureSine 300 Watt inverters, compared to the cheapies, are like jet fighters compared to a motorcycle with a blown engine. Totally night and day, totally and completely different, top quality compared to garbage. Didn't realize how different they could be until I got the SureSine, which right now is running this computer, the TV, inside and outside lights, recharging my cordless drill, AND powering my oil-fired hot water "boiler" furnace, all at the same time! NOT KIDDING! Sure the lights dim a bit for a second or two while the Riello burner comes up to speed, but so what, this is a 300 watt inverter we're talking about, and it's been handling the job for 3 years now. Do that with a cheapie. For one thing, the cheapie would be modified square wave, which could very well destroy the Riello's electronics, and smoke the cordless drill charger.
Not telling you what to do, just giving you some food for thought. Sometimes it's cheaper in the long run to go with quality in the beginning. I didn't, but I learned, and am still learning. Always will be.
Best of luck in whatever direction you go

Re: Starting small (newbie in the house)

Living in Tennessee the tax credit is not good

There is a federal tax credit of 30 percent.

Zeuspaul