Maybe I should start with a very basic expandable system

Re: Maybe I should start with a very basic expandable system

It is a tough way to go--Starting small and growing over time... In general, I would suggest that you can "up size" a system by about a factor of 2x before you have consider virtually starting from scratch. Plus, some components (like solar panels) are only available for a few years then the next "bigger, cheaper, better" panels come along--And many times, you cannot add them onto the same MPPT charge controller because of Imp/Vmp mis-matches (or the original panels cost 2x what the current panels would cost).

So, you could start with something small like this:

BB. wrote: »

Add this link to our Solar Beginner Post:

Emergency Power

Basically a very long thread that starts from the beginning with a few vague requirements through design and assembly for a "portable" solar RE off-grid power box.

And here is another example by Mike90045 called the Solar Monolith:





Update pictures/information here.

-Bill

Then--I would go along these lines (assuming you have local blackouts from storms that only last a week or two worst case):

1. Conservation: Not matter what you do later--Understand your loads, reduce power usage (insulation, Energy Star Appliances, Laptop vs Desktop computers, etc...). You will save money on your Grid Power, and a whole lot more on your emergency/backup power.
2. Figure out Battery AH/Voltage to support a minimal set of loads (frdige, lights, radio, computer+sat--Etc.)
3. Buy a Battery Bank that meets your above needs (probably start with an inexpensive set of flooded cell batteries--your "training bank").
4. Buy an Inverter/Charger or Inverter+AC battery charger
5. Buy a Genset that supports above AC Charger + battery bank (too big, drinks fuel; too small, may not meet your needs). I like the Honda eu2000i ~1,600 watt family. Quiet and efficient with smaller loads.
6. Buy a Charge Controller + some solar panels
7. Buy more solar panels (as finances allow)

Before you buy the first thing... Run through all of the above calculations (size your battery bank and voltage, size your inverter/charger, size your genset, etc.).

Personally, unless you have some very specific needs (like 1 month of backup power in summer with A/C, well pump, etc.)--I like to go small with power needs. A Honda eu2000i genset will run from 4 hours to ~9+ hours on 1.1 gallon tank of fuel. It is much easier to store/recycle 2 gallons of fuel per day for 10 days (say 20 gallons) than to run a genset that will drink 0.5-1.0+ gallons per hour (the typical 7.5-10kW home backup generators).

Also, fuel type (propane, diesel, natural gas, gasoline), storage and if available in an emergency (natural gas in an earthquake--My SHTF situation).

You may end up with several sized/costed paper designs. Play with those first (and ask questions/make plans) based on which one you will/can implement.

Long term--Batteries last 5-10 years or so, inverters/charge controllers 10 years or so, etc... And stuff breaks.

Here, because of earthquakes (and possibly other areas with hurricanes/etc.)--I am not sure I would want to spend a whole bunch money in a fixed installation if it was in a metropolitan area. If the home/cabin/farm is out in the middle of no-where--Then it may make sense to build the independent homestead.

For heating--Look at Solar Thermal (even places with snow on the ground can use solar heating). And look at solar stoves/ovens for cooking (if you do not have a supply of wood in your area/farm.

Solar Shed and other Solar Thermal Links
www.sunoven.com (just for information--don't know anything about them)

Note that solar thermal does lend itself very nicely to Do It Yourself type projects (home made collectors, thermal storage tanks, plumbing, etc.). But they do require service (leaks, air locks, pump problems, etc.).

-Bill