tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686829448547770092.post1290948667886133989..comments2023-08-15T06:33:53.114-07:00Comments on Bison Prepper: consuming to invest 15James M Dakinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01382139289994087931noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686829448547770092.post-43112298277214449302015-04-08T16:37:36.599-07:002015-04-08T16:37:36.599-07:00Hi Gary in 'bama:
If you have one big batter...Hi Gary in 'bama: <br /><br />If you have one big battery bank equal in capacity and weight to your collection of small batteries, you will pay less money AND get better power performance. This is even with a 12v system! If you can scale up to 24v for your battery bank, and get an MPPT controller for your panels (now able to be in series for higher voltage), even better. Don't forget fuses, manual disconnect and circuit breakers to save your house from fire. <br /><br />Morningstar SS-15L MPPT will charge a 24v battery at 15A from 400W of panels (you can put 600W of panels on the controller and get a few extra hours of 15A charging). Spend a little more and get a Midnite Solar KID controller or a larger MPPT Morningstar. <br /><br />The way to keep your batteries working a long time is to monitor the status of the batteries with a hydrometer and a good voltmeter. Keep a log. You will know exactly which battery and cell is going bad well before your lights go out. You may even be able to save it.<br /><br />I have found a number of low-cost manufacturers who sell 24v input LED pwm (dimmable) LED controllers. You don't need an inverter for LED lights. Inverter is for pumps and motors at the end of an extension cord, but only when-needed then OFF. <br /><br />pdxr13Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686829448547770092.post-70221309598356016992015-04-08T13:14:18.444-07:002015-04-08T13:14:18.444-07:00I've always seen 10k hours rating. But of cou...I've always seen 10k hours rating. But of course you need back up no matter what.James M Dakinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382139289994087931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686829448547770092.post-41845732379231336252015-04-08T10:02:11.286-07:002015-04-08T10:02:11.286-07:00I have had about 2 out of the dozen I installed go...I have had about 2 out of the dozen I installed go out on me over a 4 year period. They were bargain basement when I got them *the manager messed up and thought they were CFLs*. So I don't think LEDs are a permanent thing, but just 3 or 4 spares per bulb should last most of a lifetime.JJGreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06708302086326564665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686829448547770092.post-40380808188185134482015-04-08T06:10:33.336-07:002015-04-08T06:10:33.336-07:00It ain't even panel cost, but the inverter and...It ain't even panel cost, but the inverter and batts. Oh well, at least panels are that cheap.James M Dakinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382139289994087931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686829448547770092.post-37549008660736400632015-04-08T06:07:22.221-07:002015-04-08T06:07:22.221-07:00so, the Chinese are more concerned about honoring ...so, the Chinese are more concerned about honoring a warrenty in 20 years they "trick" the panels to get those numbers? US companies can't make a product that lasts half that, like a refrigerator. Just saying.James M Dakinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382139289994087931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686829448547770092.post-51973690651452225482015-04-08T06:04:54.868-07:002015-04-08T06:04:54.868-07:00Don't see her for an hour...what is the proble...Don't see her for an hour...what is the problem? :)James M Dakinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382139289994087931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686829448547770092.post-75512797674551125452015-04-07T18:06:43.489-07:002015-04-07T18:06:43.489-07:00Double damn, explains why the ones in the master b...Double damn, explains why the ones in the master bath go out all the time, after all it's where my wife lives much of the time. Ya know, I hit that room in the morning and 20 mins later I'm outta there for good. Her? She gets in there and I won't see her for an hour or more. ghostsniperhttp://www.upyerz.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686829448547770092.post-31701918309116410402015-04-07T15:59:37.008-07:002015-04-07T15:59:37.008-07:00A 400 watt solar panel set up has been my goal. Li...A 400 watt solar panel set up has been my goal. Lighting should be 12 volt skip the need for an inverter for lights. I prefer independent circuits example 100 watts 1, 12 volt 125 amp hour battery for lights, laptop radio 19 inch TV.200 watts 2 t115 6 volt in series 1500 watt inverter for heavy load items, microwave, drills, wheat grinder. the last panel could be dedicated to a sunshine freezer or added to one of the other circuits. Cost 1200 + or - ,about a Honda genset . 60 to 90 kilowatts per month over 24 months =72 cents a kilowatt hour at 5 years its down to a quarter .Gary in Bamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095999376990912465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686829448547770092.post-3427438762045540502015-04-07T14:53:48.778-07:002015-04-07T14:53:48.778-07:00So those cheap Chinese panels I bought work great....So those cheap Chinese panels I bought work great..... Renogy....... Bought a set that came with a charge controller.... But get this..... The 12v that has a nominal rating of 18v with a 25 year warranty..... Achieves that warranty by starting out at 22v.... Which caused the charge controller that came with it to fault on high voltage...<br />.. So..... Check the voltage on a Sunny day and cover part of the panel or put on a dcdc voltage regulator to protect your charge controller! Ugghhh.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686829448547770092.post-8128149749827418142015-04-07T13:27:14.394-07:002015-04-07T13:27:14.394-07:00LED's are pretty much lifetimeLED's are pretty much lifetimeJames M Dakinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382139289994087931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686829448547770092.post-76552175873493521662015-04-07T13:19:58.889-07:002015-04-07T13:19:58.889-07:00I didn't realize CFL's had such short live...I didn't realize CFL's had such short lives. Damn!James M Dakinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382139289994087931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686829448547770092.post-1199228099564173602015-04-07T11:13:16.796-07:002015-04-07T11:13:16.796-07:00Great post Lord Bison. I did notice that LED house...Great post Lord Bison. I did notice that LED house type bulbs are down to $3-$5 a piece depending on how many in a pack. I will get one to check out and hopefully buy more. Yes the CFLs suck ass. The biggest problem is the ballasts only last about 1000 cycles. A year or less in most rooms.<br /><br />Yes solar panels and batteries. Have several options all calculated out. I still think I will go with slightly more capacity than just lights. My old neighbor did some tinkering and tested it with a Kill-o-watt meter. The one that you plug your appliance into that tracks usage? He super insulated a dormitory sized fridge (cant do that with a frost free type) and got the usage down to some ridiculous low level of usage. I need to call him about that. I'm thinking a chest type freezer could be pretty efficient. Just think ice and being able to keep meat longer. Can always use your methods as a back up.<br /><br />You do have me thinking about shrinking my power needs and getting a smaller set up that I can buy now. I was thinking of a 500 to 1000 watt array (which suddenly seems excessive) but perhaps I will recalculate my plan. <br /><br />As always, inspiring post and amazing hair.Nightshifthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16463940857394060911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686829448547770092.post-59787505435726514262015-04-07T08:26:26.124-07:002015-04-07T08:26:26.124-07:00Solar + LED is the best long term solution for lig...Solar + LED is the best long term solution for lighting and light weight electronics (say a radio and or small laptop). The biggest two holes are the charge controller (or inverter) and the batteries. Well maintained lead acid batteries last maybe 10 years if you are lucky. Which is why as soon as you can move to the Edison Nickle Iron type batteries (new ones are made here in the USA!) and store extra charge controllers and inverters in a Faraday box. BUT you don't have to have those expensive things to start with, they are add-ons that you get once you are saving $50-$100/month on your power bill.<br />There is NO reason not to have the LED bulbs. Sure they cost 2 - 3x more than CFL, but the added power savings and lifespan more than make up for it. JJGreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06708302086326564665noreply@blogger.com