Solar power question

[bulletpaluza]

I am thinking about running my shop at the house on solar power battery backup. Do any of you guys know a good website or person to call and ask questions?

Smaller shop 16x20
One window ac unit and six 4ft shop lights
I have an electric panel already wired and outlets through out the shop I want to hook into he panel running nothing major just lights and a/c
I only spend a few hours a night or a few hours a day (depending on what time of year) sometimes I don't don't go out to it for a couple days or up to a week at a time.

What do I need how many battery's how many and what what panels?

or who do I need to call?

 

[batoncolle]

In for info. I can tell you I recently researched setting up solar setup as a generator so I could power my well and fridge in the event of a power outage. My criteria was running it for a week max, and it was going to run $15k minimum which is ridiculous.

In your case the lights should not require much, but the AC unit probably will. I talked to several companies, and I'll have to dig them up, but essentially you need to have enough batteries where you're only running them down to about 1/2 before recharging.

 

[JamesG]

Watts kill in solar power systems. In trying to run hi watt and amphour devices, which any kind of heat moving device is going to be, you either need a really big solar array, a big battery bank, or (okay AND) are willing to adjust around limited use time. All of it gets pretty expensive, to the point where you start trying to save a watt here and a amp hour there with LEDs and DC powered devices.

 

[Gimmeguns]

Don't forget you get 30% of the installed price back from the federal government. The state subsidies have been gobbled up by the in the know good ole boy net work. These network(s) of solar panels ( large arrays like off hwy53 in Gordon county) soak up all the required ga power credits, so when someone tells you ga power will pay you for you power generation, they are incorrect.

 

[Gimmeguns]

Look up DAsolar- they service north ga. Solar costs are down 53% from 2010 costs!

 

[batoncolle]

Don't forget you get 30% of the installed price back from the federal government. The state subsidies have been gobbled up by the in the know good ole boy net work. These network(s) of solar panels ( large arrays like off hwy53 in Gordon county) soak up all the required ga power credits, so when someone tells you ga power will pay you for you power generation, they are incorrect.

Yeah even with the tax credits, it still wasn't worth it to me. You'd think as hard as the libtards have been trying to push "clean" energy, it would've have come down in price somewhat, but it's still ridiculous.

And I drove past one of those solar arrays on 96. Besides being a an eyesore, it was a complete waste of good land. I couldn't believe how large it was, and it was on both sides of the road.

 

[offbeat404]

http://www.bluepacificsolar.com/emergency-solar-backup-power.html some good info there

 

[Gimmeguns]

Yea, ga power agreed to purchase x amount of kilowatts, so instead of 2,000 homes getting paid for their power, just a couple guys with those large arrays get paid.... Not too mention all the excess power your system puts back in the grid is basically free to the power company. They are even trying to get every residential home that has solar tied to the grid would have to pay a monthly grid access fee $40

 

[Joab]

In for the info

 

[biker_bill]

I have a little set up here at the house to keep a camper battery and some LED driveway lights working.
That alone was probably $100 or a little more not counting the battery.
Don't forget you would also need room for the batteries.
Anyway I'm in for the scoop, but it sounds costly to me.