Building new Off Grid Home in Panama

Re: Building new Off Grid Home in Panama

westbranch wrote: »

If the import export business is similar ( Ya I KNOW , it's Panama!) you will need an Agent &/or Customs Broker to handle the paper filing, etc. They also have their connections for freight handlers.

Do they have a 'Yellow Pages " down there?

Ask the Policia?

You guys in the frozen north catch on quick I have to tell you.

Have been trying to get in touch with the customs broker who we used to bring in our few personal effects when we moved here. They do not return emails and are not at work as regularly as one would like. When we got our effects out of customs, it was a Friday. Everything was in order, but we still had a $75.00 charge that went to the inspector and not the government coffers. Have to be careful as well. Can be told one thing and have another happen. Panamanians do not like to put anything in writing if they can help it.

There are no yellow pages as you would know it, nor have I seen any. Most people use cell phones and the cell phone companies do not give out any type of telephone books. Most of my searching for businesses down here has been on the internet, or through word of mouth.

There are no addresses down here either. When you purchase a home or property, the lot is registered, but there is no street address. For our house on the beach it was the last green house on the right as you went towards Ensenada Beach, and just before the local fish market.

The Policia are nothing more than traffic cops and cannot even step onto your property unless you invite them. Should you have an incident, these police show up, and not in a timely manner, and make sure that the perpetrators are not present, or if they are, they will do there best to arrest them. There is a tier above the locals that do have the authority to enter your property without your convent, but this is done only with due diligence, remember the Noriega days. Then there is one more tier, similar to the RCMP, but these boys are not seen or heard from very often, and from what we have been told, you really don't want them around.

Graft is alive and well down here. Traffic violations are a pain to take care of, and the traffic cops know this. You can get pulled over for not doing anything and they can and will ticket you. A lot of people travel with a $10.00 or $20.00 bill in their passports for just such an occasion. Happens all the time. Question one has to ask him or her self is do you succumb, or do you take the ticket and pay it with all the aggravation involved.

There is also the language issue, and the fact that Panamanians see all expats as being rich and will adjust their prices accordingly if they can. We are taking Spanish lessons once per week. Castilian Spanish is not spoken here, and there are differences that are specific to Panama alone.

Panama is not a very educated Country. School is only mandated to grades 6/7, after which it's out and get a job, maybe. Those who go further are generally from the more affluent families.

Sorry for the rant, but believe me, I am trying everything I know in a system that is not that advanced. I do appreciate being reminded of avenues I may or may not have tried or thought of.

It's still a great place to live if you don't weaken.

Cheers

Ernest

Re: Bulding new Off Grid Home in Panama

westbranch wrote: »

In Fiji the trick was to go to the market with a copy of the local paper under your arm, who knew that it was to wrap that fresh fish in after you got all your other shopping done.... ps we had 4 months of tan on board...

With all our moaning, griping and whatever regarding Canada and the US, these are two great countries to live in. However, if you can get with the program, adjust ones naive North American ways, living in another country where it is always warm and where your dollar can go farther, it's a great experience. Lots of good people, both Nationals and expats.

Cheers

Ernest

Re: Bulding new Off Grid Home in Panama

Did some research on batteries from NAWS, Solar Biz, and Wholesale Solar. Looked at other sites for batteries and pricing, but at this moment, no joy. There are probably lots of discount places but you have to be close enough to get to them, or have them delivered cheap. Anyway, thought I'd look at some prices from these two suppliers.

Here's what I have in Panama City (already imported):

L16 6V 420 AH: $500.00 - taxes in and delivered 60 miles to my house - fully charged
L16 2V 1100AH: $435.49 - taxes in and delivered 60 miles to my house - fully charged
Deka 24V Forklift Battery Bank 510AH @ 6hr rate - 803AH @ 20hr rate: $5281.00 - taxes in and delivered 60 miles to my house - fully charged

All three batteries are imported by dealer.

From NAWS:

Crown Forklift 24V Battery Bank 850AH @ 20hr rate: $4073.30
Trojan L16 RE 6V 370AH: $348.00
Rolls L16 6V 400AH: $346.00
Rolls L16 6V 450AH: $403.00
Rolls Industrial 6-CS-25PS 6V 820AH: $1235.00

From Solar Biz:

Rolls L16 6V 450AH: $359.97
Trojan L16 6V 420AH: $321.97
Trojan IND 13-6V 630AH: $989.25

From Wholesale Solar:

Interstate L16 6V 370AH: $269.00
Rolls S-530 400AH: $340.00 (L16 size)
Rolls 6-CS-25Ps 820AH: $1200.00

From NAWS, Solar Biz and Wholesale Solar, I would have to get them shipped to Miami, get them to Panama City, then to my house. I would be responsible to commission the batteries. All costs are incurred by me, and if there is an issue, no one here to go back to.

We shipped 5.3 cu meters of personal effects from Canada to Panama at a cost of $4.5K. We paid by the cubic, not by weight. When it comes to FLA batteries, if shipped dry - not to bad (can be complications when commissioning), if shipped wet - hazardous goods, etc. I have also heard that batteries are costed by volume and weight.

Looking at the numbers, I would suspect that an additional $100.00 per battery would not be out of the ordinary to get each battery here for the L16 variety. For the Crown forklift battery, tack on an additional $1K or better for delivery of two banks - not out of the realm of possibilities considering these are probably shipped wet and are quite heavy. From my perspective, there is not a lot of difference in price when I factor in all the issues.

The company I am dealing with in Panama City commissions the batteries, delivers them and puts them where I want them, and I have a local company to go back to for warranty. They have the hassle of getting them into the country and to me. There has to be something said for this.

As for used equipment in this country, not a chance. I have seen how equipment is handled and taken care of here, and you don't want to be on the receiving end. Since employers supply most if not all work and personal work equipment (clothing, boots, etc.), there is not a lot of caring going on. Buyer beware takes on a whole new meaning down here.

Yes, when you have choices, are familiar with the system, have a good idea where and what you are dealing with, and have a good delivery system to boot - I say go for it. I'm all for shopping around and getting the best bang for my buck.

As has been stated on various threads, you only get what you pay for.

Thought I'd do a little research into this issue.

Cheers

Ernest

Re: Building new Off Grid Home in Panama

Surfpath wrote: »

Ernest,
No need to ship to Miami and then to Panama.

Look up DC Battery Specialist in Miami. They are known for exporting direct to L.A.

Their blurb: "DC Battery Specialists (a division of DC Marine Systems, Inc.) is an established Miami, Florida, USA, based battery supplier. DC Battery celebrates more than thirty-five (35) years of service as a battery supplier to North America, the Caribbean, South & Central America and the world."


http://www.dcbattery.com/

Perhaps they can be of help.

If you import it'll be a challenge no doubt. But it can be done.

Sent an email today, hope to hear back.

Re: Bulding new Off Grid Home in Panama

Thinking of ways to economize and a couple are:

1. Custom combiner box similar to PW's;
2. Make your own cables for connecting panels to combiner box. This would also permit the use of "yellow" 10 gauge wire in accordance with the new ABYC recommendations for ground cabling on boats, and have red cabling for the positive side. Have seen the MCT4 male and female connectors on the web. Considering the number of connections that are made in an RE system, this should not be a huge leap. Another issue this would prevent is crossing the wires when in the combiner box, or wrapping red tape around the appropriate end.

Thought I'd throw this out there for comment.

Cheers

Ernest