12vman? Can You Help Pls?

[rantinraven]

http://www.mysolarbackup.com/

That is a link that I got from a site that I frequent that sells a solar powered generator as they call it. I hate sales sites that are designed like this as I normally tend to think they are a scam. From what I understand ( I could be seriously wrong) The site sells a battery in a box that is attached to outlets, a solar panel and a charge controller for roughly $1497.00. I like the set up as it means I could plug things in that I want to run off solar and not run anything I don't want to. However the "generator box" only contains one battery.(that part really confuses me) My question is could I build something similar so that I can only plug in what I want to to run off solar? And could I build it cheaper? The specs that I can see are 1800 watt solar backup generator, 75 watt solar panel, charge controller, and 50 feet of cable. It would be wonderful if we could go somewhat off grid on the appliances that I know run alot. I would love a way to simply plug something in and have it run off solar, as I can't afford to switch the house over to full solar.

[crafty2002]

I am not the 12vman, but I would say stay away from it.
I didn't read it all, but enough to see they are leading you way out there.
To start with how is he going to generate 1,800 watts from a 75 watt solar panel.
If you had 8 direct hours of sunlight that would only be 600 watts a day.
A 1/10th HP electric motor used about 75 watts an hour. And that about what a fireplace blower would use so it would run it about 8 hours without sunlight.
Forget the fridge/freezer. The battery would be zapped in no time. I think 12volt will agree with me.
JMHO
Dennis

[rantinraven]

That's pretty much what I figured as it seemed too good to be true. Dennis do you know if we could build something similar? (I think I may be completely confused on how this solar thing works.) I understand the madness all the way until it gets to my breaker box and then I am stumped. Maybe I am making this thing more complicated then it really is. But I do like the idea that you can just plug some things that you need to run in a outlet. Is that part possible/plausible? I knew enough to know that the fridge was a "NO" lol but the plug things into an outlet part really makes me happy. Unless of course I am making this much harder than it is?

[PaulNKS]

I'll add to what Dennis wrote. I have been off-grid since May 1998. You can do the same for less money.

You can do this:
1. 85 watt panel - $482
2. Charge controller - $210
3. 6 Deep cycle batteries - $570.

That will give you the potential for a more power for a couple hundred less. Or spend about $1450 and upgrade from an 85 watt to a 115 watt panel. I have 160 watts in panel and 8 batteries and I do okay. I have to be careful, but I do okay and have never run out of power. But I am the only one living here and I'm very conservative with my power. I use a laptop for less power and never have more tha one light on at a time. My light uses less tha 4 watts.

Paul

P.S. I hope 12vman chimes in.

They have boxed it in a kit and renamed it a solar generator for better marketing.

[johnjmw]

A small system like the one advertised would not power much for long. Small fluorescents would last a while. The problem with this type of system in my opinion, you would have to make sure everything with a big draw would have to be turned off along with everything with phantom loads (everything with a clock, remote control and those black boxes). They will drain the batteries even when turned off. For occasional emergency power I'd go 12vdc.
I was going to say more but my wife just said it was time to get ready for church.
John

[PaulNKS]

A small system like the one advertised would not power much for long. *Small fluorescents would last a while. *The problem with this type of system in my opinion, you would have to make sure everything with a big draw would have to be turned off along with everything with phantom loads (everything with a clock, remote control and those black boxes). *They will drain the batteries even when turned off. *For occasional emergency power I'd go 12vdc.

John is right. *I have switches on everything so that power to all items with phantom loads have the power shut off. *Anything like TV, *newer stereos, digital clocks, satellite boxes, most ovens and ranges with clocks and timers, microwaves, drip coffee makers, laptop, DSL modem, etc.... However, my phone and answering machine draw power straight from the batteries so that I don't have to keep the inverter on 24/7 which saves power. They all draw power even when turned off. *One doesn't draw much, but when you add them all up hour after hour after hour..... then they are a big drain.

I was going to say more but my wife just said it was time to get ready for church. *
John

Ahhh... someone listens to his wife? LOL LOL

Paul

[12vman]

Good info and advice, guys. ;)

Me thinks I'd like to see a video of Mr. Heid making only 1 pot of coffee with that thang.. LOL.. Whata bunch of hype!

Buyer Beware! These kinda folks feed on the uninformed. A 75 watt panel isn't going to power a whole lot.. Especially in Ill.

"Sound to good to be true?" YEP! ;D