Last edited by a moderator:
-
Join the MyBroadband community
South Africa’s biggest forum. Discuss, discover, and connect with thousands of members.
-
Question of the Day: How do you normally pay for purchases in stores?
A quest for cheap solar and wind power
- Thread starter rpm
- Start date
upup
Executive Member
The solar is not that expensive, but then come the batteries and 12v to 220v inverter.
And batteries will last less than 10 years.
So its more the storing of the stuff.
And batteries will last less than 10 years.
So its more the storing of the stuff.
porchrat
Honorary Master
R18 000 is a crazy sum.
Anyone else made the move? What did it cost you?
Anyone else made the move? What did it cost you?
Terencek
Expert Member
I live in the bush away from the grid, and have run my home business and my life only on solar power for seven years now. In the process I have made every mistake you can, but I think I've finally got it together now. So perhaps my input might help?
Yes the initial capital outlay is high -- though nowhere near the 18 grand quoted just to get your laptop hooked up to the sun!
Here are a few indications: we are two people, living in a modest bush cottage. All our lights (around 15) are 12v (caravan style); my laptops run directly off 12v using one of those step-up converters sold by HiFi Corp et al (approx R200 -- and it makes no sense to use an inverter for this, which is hugely wasteful).
We have satellite TV, a DVD recorder, a modest audio system, cellphone charging, alarm system, rechargeable vacuum cleaner and drill and more. What we cannot do on solar unless we beef up the system at huge expense, is laundry (we have a nearby facility), cooking (we use gas) and fridge (ditto). And resource-hungry appliances like 'real' vacuum cleaners and microwaves are of course out, ditto heaters or aircon.
What it costs is largely what you want to pay. Our 'modest' system works for us:
* Three 80-watt solar panels @ R4K each
* Six 105-Ah deep-cycle batteries @ R1K each
* A 500-watt inverter to boost 12v to 220v where needed, @ R600
* A solar regulator to stop over- or under-charging @ R1K
TOTAL less than R15K for a medium-sized system, plus wiring and (your own) labour. But you can start MUCH smaller, e.g. one panel, one or two batteries.
Given the good sunlight we get in most parts of SA (320 days a year where we are!), you could easily run a laptop all day on a barebones system -- say around 10 grand --, and anything you add on top is a cushion for rainy days or extra appliances.
Generally, desktop computers are out because of the power drain (mainly the monitor) -- though that said, we do watch a few hours of TV each night on a 70-watt LCD TV.
Our system can handle up to four days without sun before protesting, and that's with our normal usage (incl. my laptop which runs uninterrupted all day).
This might give anyone else out there an indication of what's possible. And all without Eskom and its hassles, its bills. And dunno about you, but I absolutely LOVE the idea of harvesting free energy from nature!!
Yes the initial capital outlay is high -- though nowhere near the 18 grand quoted just to get your laptop hooked up to the sun!
Here are a few indications: we are two people, living in a modest bush cottage. All our lights (around 15) are 12v (caravan style); my laptops run directly off 12v using one of those step-up converters sold by HiFi Corp et al (approx R200 -- and it makes no sense to use an inverter for this, which is hugely wasteful).
We have satellite TV, a DVD recorder, a modest audio system, cellphone charging, alarm system, rechargeable vacuum cleaner and drill and more. What we cannot do on solar unless we beef up the system at huge expense, is laundry (we have a nearby facility), cooking (we use gas) and fridge (ditto). And resource-hungry appliances like 'real' vacuum cleaners and microwaves are of course out, ditto heaters or aircon.
What it costs is largely what you want to pay. Our 'modest' system works for us:
* Three 80-watt solar panels @ R4K each
* Six 105-Ah deep-cycle batteries @ R1K each
* A 500-watt inverter to boost 12v to 220v where needed, @ R600
* A solar regulator to stop over- or under-charging @ R1K
TOTAL less than R15K for a medium-sized system, plus wiring and (your own) labour. But you can start MUCH smaller, e.g. one panel, one or two batteries.
Given the good sunlight we get in most parts of SA (320 days a year where we are!), you could easily run a laptop all day on a barebones system -- say around 10 grand --, and anything you add on top is a cushion for rainy days or extra appliances.
Generally, desktop computers are out because of the power drain (mainly the monitor) -- though that said, we do watch a few hours of TV each night on a 70-watt LCD TV.
Our system can handle up to four days without sun before protesting, and that's with our normal usage (incl. my laptop which runs uninterrupted all day).
This might give anyone else out there an indication of what's possible. And all without Eskom and its hassles, its bills. And dunno about you, but I absolutely LOVE the idea of harvesting free energy from nature!!