Can you add solar to an existing well powered by the power company?
6 months ago
last modified: 6 months ago
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Solar-powered outdoor lighting question
Comments (6)Thanks missingtheobvious, I did check out those old threads already about the "superior" solar lights. Those threads were helpful in that I did learn that the more light-emitting diodes (LED's) in a solar light fixture, the brighter it is, which makes sense. Also found out that the products that have rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries seem to work best. I did look into the solar lights at the two companies that were recommended on those threads, Frontgate and Grandin Road. They actually specify the wattage and number of LED's in their products on their websites. So far, most products from other companies that I've looked at on the net don't list the number of LED's in each fixture. Some web shopping still has room for improvement I think. Unfortunately, most of the products that I liked the look of from Frontgate and Grandin Road are a little out of our price range, as our budget for this project is less than $100. Something to save up for maybe for a future purchase. For now, I'm planning to take a look at an H.D. product in the store that I think may have at least two LED's in one fixture. The lights come in a set of two, and the set comes with four nickel-cadmium batteries, so it's possible that each lighting fixture has two LED's. Hard to tell just from the web, without looking at the box in the store. The product got good reviews on the website, and most of the reviewers were pleasantly surprised with how bright they are. Will post a photo if we end up purchasing the H.D. product and are happy with the brightness. Thanks again....See MoreSolar Power - Heating Cooling Ventilation
Comments (19)Fuzzy, it may be time for you to do a "desired lifestyle & available time to enjoy it" check. You built a GH for pleasure. Please don't tell us it was to feed your family, because the simple truth is that building and operating a small home GH is far more expensive than simply buying fresh veggies and if you are into all natural, there are plenty of shops around these days to accomodate you. In fact, you could shop exclusively at Whole Foods and still not spend what it costs to build and operate a small home GH. Ergo: you built it to ENJOY it and unless you are independently wealthy, the TIME available to you to ENJOY it is when you are NOT working to earn the $ it will cost to operate it. So don't get so wrapped up in gadgets that you end up spending as much if not more TIME messing with the mechanicals than you do puttering with plants. Perhaps it's my age, but the older one gets, the more one appreciates TIME- The Great Thief....See MoreSolar or wind powered water system?
Comments (1)Don't even think of pumping water with solar power. (A wind mill is pretty efficient at pumping water. Storing water is a lot cheaper than storing electricity. I wouldn't even generate power for doing this. It has too many steps. Windmill -> generator -> battery -> inverter ->pump each with its inefficiencies. Depending on your situation, you can either use a conventional windmill directly over the well and use a mechanical linkage, or you can use a windmill that pumps air and use an air lift. (Do a search for pond aeration windmill. Most of them have options for water pumping as well as aeration.) My well pump is 1/2 horse. It draws 5 amps at 220 volts or 1100 watts. This is major power for a solar array. During the summer we use about 300 KwHr/month pumping water....See MoreDo you/would you allow the power company
Comments (32)We've been using a smart meter, that informs the power company of the times of day that the client uses power, and they bill at a lower rate for off-peak hours. Some claimed that their power bill went up, and I heard a figure of something like $20.00 a month from people in different jurisdictions, but that hasn't been our experience. When the landlord heard that it'd cost him about $40.00/month if he installed a separate service in his shop here (he lives elsewhere) ... ... he decided to run the whole thing through the one meter, and that I should tell him how much he owed for the shop. We just adjusted for last year's bill ... and the total was about $3.00 under $100.00/month (and he's happy with paying about 15%). I can't see working myself up into a tizzy about possible radiation that may be coming my way: it seems to me that it's peanuts ... and wouldn't be troublesome if I were to carry the thing around in my back pocket all day, every day. If you want to worry about something - how about the food that's increasingly sourced from all over the world, these days, and produced in factories that undergo what kinds of regulations ... and, supervision? Plus ... I'm of the opinion that much of our food produced and processed in-coutry isn't overseen nearly as much as it used to be: in some cases, they've worked out situations where the processors self-regulate. But to have the women/(men?) roast turkeys at home to bring to a turkey supper at the church ... ... has become a big "no-no"! ole joyful...See MoreRelated Professionals
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