Visitor map by Ipligence.com

WATCH BILL XAM LIVE EVERY NIGHT AT 6:30 PM, EST ON THE ANIMAL FEEDER SETUP SHOW!

Disaster planning should be part of every single household across America, strike that, the world. When disaster strikes, people die or lives are changed. In times of plenty, forego the Playstations and buy extra food. You can explain a lack of toys better than a lack of food to your children.

Three years ago, our home caught fire. I spent time in intensive care and almost died, thus I know from whence I speak. 

As we go into our third season of "This Old Shack", disaster planning and survival episodes become more important. After all, that's what alternative energy is - the ability for you to survive without an infrastructure. All of our episodes of This Old Shack and our new show, "CSI:SALINE" will reflect this in 2009. Oh, of course there's going to be laughs and beer drinking - this survival crap is depressing to think about.

So, practice your fire drills with the crumbcrunchers, practice evacuating yourselves, your pets, your neighbors. Learn how to use a fire extinguisher. And watch our videos!

WATCH BILL XAM LIVE EVERY NIGHT AT 6:30 PM, EST ON THE ANIMAL FEEDER SETUP SHOW!

Watch our webcam

NAVIGATION

Home
Energy News Feeds
DiaryDex
Energy blog
This Old Shack
Cheap solar water heater
A trip to the cabin!
Xantrex Charge Controller
Death of a battery
About the system
Photos of my system
Battery bank setup
My generator updated
Generator article reprint
Generator buying tips
Battery wiring
Installation
Wiring the cabin
Appliances for cabins
Building your own panels
Handy conversion formulas
Gas mileage (Dodge Dakota)
Privacy policy - please read!
Sitemap 4-8-07
Links
Earthquake/vocano activity

But why solar power?

There were several reasons for the switch:

  • Sprinkle of rain = power failure.

  • Giving a little back by not using so much.

  • Independent living.

Benefits:

  • Renewable power.
  • Learning about solar power.
  • Own stock in the solar panel company. :-)
  • I like batteries.
  • I can sit around smoking a cigar because I'm an energy mogul!

Drawbacks:

  • Maintenance.
  • Installation.
  • Bunch of black glass panels sitting around.

sunset_over_ypsi1.jpg (389444 bytes) Northern Michigan Solar Cabin

 

 

About the system

Updated: 09/20/2009

With the advent of 2008 and the new season of This Old Shack, we have updated the battery bank to 5 group 31 (110 amp hour) batteries. We are also using only wet cell batteries now, checking the condition of each cell with a hydrometer (a turkey baster like thing with floating balls that shows you how much charge is in the battery cells) The new bank is doing very well and the solar panels are able to keep the charge at full when we are not at the shack. We're using the same batteries but have reconfigured the bank so the batteries with the lowest specific gravity are in the center of the bank. Our charging regimen is also new and has sped the charging times by 20% or so. We have three charging options. First, the solar panels, which keeps the bank topped off when we aren't at the shack. Second, the new 2.4 kw generator has a 10 amp 12 volt output. We connect  that to the weaker center battery. Then we use the Schumacher Smart Charger at 20 amps through the ends of the bank.

The batteries are connected in parallel, which keeps the volts at 12 and adds the amps of the batteries together.

bankconnection.jpg (40565 bytes) Here's how a Parallel connection of batteries works.

 

 

 

[March 5, 2006] Points to ponder

  • Keep it simple – Complexity lowers reliability and increases the need for technical support.
  • Understand system availability – Achieving 99+ percent availability with any energy system is expensive.
  • Be thorough but realistic when estimating the load. Many system "failures" have been the result of underestimated loads. Remember if you have 10 amp hours only 5 or 6 of them can be used!
  • Check local weather sources – Errors in solar resources estimation can cause disappointing system performance.
  • Know what hardware is available and at what cost. Tradeoffs are inevitable. The more you know about hardware, the better you can make decisions. Shop for bargains, talk to dealers, ask questions.
  • Know the installation site before designing the system. A site visit is recommended to determine component placement, wire runs, shading, and terrain peculiarities.
  • Install the system carefully – Make each connection as if it has to last 30 years—it does. Use the right tools and techniques. The system reliability is no higher than its weakest connection.
  •  Plan periodic maintenance – Photovoltaic systems have an enviable record for unattended operations, but no system works forever without some care.
  •  Calculate the life-cycle cost (LLC) to compare photovoltaics to alternatives – LCC reflects the complete cost of owning and operating a system. 

Email Me