This is the small array I use to charge a 12 volt battery that powers lights, my computer ,and my television. The photovoltaic panels usually charge the battery fully by 10:30 or 11:00 every day except on cloudy days when it may take a few more hours. I plan on adding more battery storage and installing more efficient led lighting to get more efficiency from this small system. During the month of August my electrical consumption from the grid was only 375 kwh at a cost of .12 , thats just a little over .50 a day. My goal is to bring that down to per day. When I get the solar water heating system built that should help a lot as right now all my hot water is electrically heated.
9 Responses
i have same panels.
I would not buy another PV already constructed I would get the kit and build an all in one system that removed heat from your panels(increasing gain during peak) use a recirculating pupm that can place that heat into your H2o heating system build this system properly you will have no need for retirement A most of your energy needs will be met B you could sell the panels to offgriders solving many problems increasing efficiency reducing cost.
The problem with a fridge is I don’t see ANY that open from the top like a CHEST freezer. You have done this? Go to the fridge bare foot open the door and the cold comes crashing down upon your feet. Remember this about thermal dynamics you don’t make cold you remove heat when you open a frige standing up it gets filled with heat the unit again goes into overtime removing all that added heat. Greater insulation is just a small solution the entire device is engineered4comfort not common sense.
In the shower one day while adjusting the water temp it occured to me if I were adding cold water to water I had heated was really stupid and wasteful. I found a comfortable temperature for the shower and measured the temp. Thats where I set the water heater and now I just turn on the hot water only take my shower and enjoy the savings.
That freezer idea is so simple and obvious I’m embarrassed I didnt think of it. When it is time to replace the fridge that might be a good idea. until then maybe adding more insulation to the fridge I already have or relocating it to an unheated area for the winter months would be a good start.
I decided to lower the temperature of my electric water heater to 95 degrees F from 120 F This alone cut the energy consumption dramatically.
Sir I have more on this see we all have appliances that are guzzlers compared to what should be we have been so drunk with power that we have hoggs all over the house. Should you want to do a frige on solar you may wish to build a frige like the guy in Australia he took a freezer since they are better insulated and when you open them the cold stays in it open from top. He made the freezer go to 32 degrees rather than colder and was able to reach a goal to run heat pump all off grid.
Perhaps you could get a solar fan to blow cool air under the panel I would get a box fan first just to see just how much gain you could get with it to even see if it were worth it to get a solar fan. They claim if you get a full system that returns energy at peak you could pay for your system in 5 years warranty is usually 20 years meaning potential to make a profit is high.
I have to agree you will save even more when you heat your water with solar. They claim 33% of consumption is heating water. Your panels have a design flaw that if you fix it you can increase your out put 10 % by cooling your panel.You could increase gain even more since he only submerged his panel partially, see the video from greenpowerscience where he did an experiment with these same panels. Remarkable goal my wife uses a hair dryer that alone will boost abill greatly. Love your HHO video.