Solar panels installed in June 2009
If it looks like these panels were not purchased all at the same time it’s because they weren’t. I bought them as I could afford them. The bottom four were purchased first. When I wanted more I was told that Brazil was buying all they could make…just wait a few months. I didn’t want to wait but found some compatible ones built by Solar World right here in the US.
I wanted to be able to produce my own electricity for “just in case” scenarios. Since we get all our water from a well, if the power grid goes out, we can’t get water. While the power doesn’t go out very often, when it does, we are without both water and electricity for several days. I wanted to be able to power those ‘critical load’ items like the well pump, a few lights, the refrigerator and freezer. Plus I wanted to prove that solar power can be used even in cloudy climates in states that are “north.” I live on the Oregon Coast. If it works here, it can work in 75% of the US.
In fact, this system works so well that in the summer time, I have so much extra power I can run my printing presses with it.
This is a sticker I apply to everything I print with solar electricity. I would be surprised if any other printers in the US could claim that.
During the rainy season it’s a different story. Our rainy season is roughly mid October to late May, so it was a big surprise when we had an unexpected sunny day a couple days ago. We had had rainy weather for about a week and my batteries were down. The meter said I was a MINUS 109 amp hours. I was going to have to do some serious charging.
Minus 109 amp hours before noon
The charge controller shows we have 34.3 amps coming in right now. If we can keep that going, it’ll take a little over 3 hours to charge up. I hope the sun stays out.
Minus 57.9 Amp Hours at about 2:20 pm. We are catching up while producing power at the same time.
We’ve already produced 134 amp hours and the sun is still shining!
170 amp hours produced by the end of the day.
The sun stayed out and the batteries are full. Not bad for an autumn day.
Adventures in Natural Beekeeping 
Good for you. Germany, a country not renowned for its sunshine, is leading the world in terms of numbers of solar PV installations.
Germany has a great program. From what I’ve heard, the banks offer low interest loans for solar installation. The utilities buy back any electricity produced over and above what the homeowner uses at several times the wholesale rate…thereby encouraging strict conservation of electricity. In many cases the buy-back program can pay for the loan. By doing this the country can avoid the high cost of building nuclear power plants by using renewable energy. It’s a major win-win for everyone. I wish the US would adopt such an outstanding program.
Great job on the solar! I am currently getting estimates for solar for the farm – we hope to be 100% solar powered by next June! Us Jersey beekeepers sing the praises of our solar fence chargers – Do you have bear problems in Oregon?
So far I don’t have bear problems but I know beekeepers that have had problems. I don’t think I’ll get that much honey in this area, but I’m new at this and could be wrong.
Congrats on thinking about going 100% solar power. Initially I wanted wind power. Then I started reading about the 30/300 ‘issue.’ The turbine must be 30 feet (9 meters) ABOVE anything within 300 feet (91 meters). In my case I would need a tower about 100 ft (30 meters) high. I hate ladders so the thought of climbing a 100 ft tower to service the thing was just too scary for me.
Solar energy = no moving parts. I love it! And no issues with bird, bat, or bee kills.
Inspiring! We are going to investigate a small solar roof unit for the SF Bay Area.
You’ll be surprised how much electricity you get from it even when it’s cloudy and when the sun pops out it’s fun to watch the amps rev up.
I bought the first batch of solar stuff from Sierra Solar near Sacramento. Solar oven, solar flashlights, and solar panels. They were very knowledgeable and helpful every step of the way.
Good luck with it. Let me know if I can be of any help.
Pat
Such an interesting blog….not just honey bees but everything else that someone might want to know about. I love it…I now have a shortcut on my desktop so I can read everything.
Thanks for looking at it. I debated whether to start another blog about gardening and solar, but it’s just too confusing for me. I think everything works together as a sustainable living effort. It’s a journey and we have a long way to go, but it’s fun trying new ideas.
I like the combination of everything….they all tie together in the long run.