diy solar

diy solar

Solar has been hijacked/co opted. A wakeup?

I dont believe the writing on the wall could be any more clear.

It is my understanding that grid power will be vastly more expensive when >50% of people use EVs and that will most likely take a decade to fix brown out issues and find price parity with the "new world" of electric everything.

Oh and there is that murmur of "extremists" targeting the power grid.

Then there is that pesky carrington event that happened in 1859. Most agree that it will happen again and our magnetosphere is much weaker than in 1859.

When the government starts to mumble about things, it usually is a nice slow rollout to catastrophic end. :)

I have added all the EMP Shield devices I can to my system with the hope it will work. Kinda hard to test it though
 
I started fiddling with solar because of money, with absolutely no idea what I was doing. I mean none. Got straight to the deep end with 44kWp vertical "no shadows" setup with 2x hybrid inverters plus 2x AC coupled GT inverters and ~110kWh LFP/FLA batts + 2x UPSs. I DIYed and ordered everything from China to keep ROI as low as possible (~5years). I hope I have learned something, but probably not.

Now I have 14kWp more panels and 50kVA diesel genny waiting to be installed. I don't think this is about ROI anymore.
 
I started fiddling with solar because of money, with absolutely no idea what I was doing. I mean none. Got straight to the deep end with 44kWp vertical "no shadows" setup with 2x hybrid inverters plus 2x AC coupled GT inverters and ~110kWh LFP/FLA batts + 2x UPSs. I DIYed and ordered everything from China to keep ROI as low as possible (~5years). I hope I have learned something, but probably not.

Now I have 14kWp more panels and 50kVA diesel genny waiting to be installed. I don't think this is about ROI anymore.
Addicted to the march toward self sufficiency? I feel ya.
 
Going solar for many reasons. 1) Electric co wanted $65k to bring power from the street to where our house is. It's a 50+ acre forest property. 2) This area loses power quite frequently in the winter due to storms and trees (power not buried...on poles), so this $65k would only get me so far. 3) Electric grid is aging and we are simultaneously adding increasing loads to it while not building power plants to supply it. 4) Electric rates are skyrocketing due to #3, and will continue to rise way more than the past (less supply, higher demand = more expensive). 5) Governments, like in CA, are shutting peoples power off and performing rolling blackouts because they don't have enough power generation during peak times, and also refuse to generate more. They're getting rid of ICE cars in many western states, in just a few years, and the grid won't be able to handle it, as is. The same governments are also mandating that you get rid of natural gas appliances, which means more electric, which means even more load on the grid.

I won't be having people telling me how much power I can use, and when, and for what. This isn't 1910. We have the capability to create our own. The grid won't be coming on our property, in any fashion. Solar + well + dual oversized septic systems = happy life.
 
It is my understanding that grid power will be vastly more expensive when >50% of people use EVs and that will most likely take a decade to fix brown out issues and find price parity with the "new world" of electric everything.

According to google, the average US household uses around 10-12 MWh / year, and the average EV uses less than 1 MWh / year. Even if every household added an EV, that would increase electricity usage less than 10%. Not only that, but EV chargers have very good support for charging off-peak, and the grid is necessarily sized to peak usage, not average or off-peak usage, so that should have little effect.

Add to that the V2G chargers that are coming online that can actually be used just like home batteries to peak shave, and the obvious additional incentive that they add to install solar panels, and it's very easy (IMO) to come to the exact opposite conclusion that large-scale use of electric vehicle could drastically improve reliability of the grid and decrease costs.
 
Going solar for many reasons. 1) Electric co wanted $65k to bring power from the street to where our house is. It's a 50+ acre forest property. 2) This area loses power quite frequently in the winter due to storms and trees (power not buried...on poles), so this $65k would only get me so far. 3) Electric grid is aging and we are simultaneously adding increasing loads to it while not building power plants to supply it. 4) Electric rates are skyrocketing due to #3, and will continue to rise way more than the past (less supply, higher demand = more expensive). 5) Governments, like in CA, are shutting peoples power off and performing rolling blackouts because they don't have enough power generation during peak times, and also refuse to generate more. They're getting rid of ICE cars in many western states, in just a few years, and the grid won't be able to handle it, as is. The same governments are also mandating that you get rid of natural gas appliances, which means more electric, which means even more load on the grid.

I won't be having people telling me how much power I can use, and when, and for what. This isn't 1910. We have the capability to create our own. The grid won't be coming on our property, in any fashion. Solar + well + dual oversized septic systems = happy life.

I always wanted to do that, but have run out of life time, so will focus on what have and what I can do with it


so I watch this couple in WV who has built their homestead on 75 acres. Their grid estimate was $18k so they went solar for $16 4+ years ago

love watching them build their stuff, 20 videos just on their solar. His is an electrician, or was for employment, now YT is a large revenue stream
1 million subs

 
Last edited:
Nothing.
I wasn't indicting anyone, just asking how it got from there to here

Ummm...

Meaning, someone else's money. Is this pretty much in line with all the anti establishment Woodstockers getting to power, and becoming the establishment?

Is one side of your brain not talking to the other again? :p
 
According to google, the average US household uses around 10-12 MWh / year, and the average EV uses less than 1 MWh / year.

Average miles driven per year is about 14,263 miles. If EVs are going to replace gas cars, they will be driven the same way and distances.

A model 3 gets 4.56 miles per kWh

14263/4.56 = 3.1kWh or 3.1MWh/year. That's a 25-30% increase.
 
Average miles driven per year is about 14,263 miles. If EVs are going to replace gas cars, they will be driven the same way and distances.

A model 3 gets 4.56 miles per kWh

14263/4.56 = 3.1kWh or 3.1MWh/year. That's a 25-30% increase.

do able as we ADD to the grid OVER TIME, but we need to that as we have done in the past
 
do able as we ADD to the grid OVER TIME, but we need to that as we have done in the past

Yep. I just can't stomach an estimate off by 3X.

This article states that the current grid can handle 26 million EVs at 3.8MWh each in off-peak capacity:


Has some other linked sources.
 
According to google, the average US household uses around 10-12 MWh / year, and the average EV uses less than 1 MWh / year. Even if every household added an EV, that would increase electricity usage less than 10%. Not only that, but EV chargers have very good support for charging off-peak, and the grid is necessarily sized to peak usage, not average or off-peak usage, so that should have little effect.

Add to that the V2G chargers that are coming online that can actually be used just like home batteries to peak shave, and the obvious additional incentive that they add to install solar panels, and it's very easy (IMO) to come to the exact opposite conclusion that large-scale use of electric vehicle could drastically improve reliability of the grid and decrease costs.
My quick google search says 4.3 megawatts per year. Translating to 33-40% increase in electricity usage if everyone had an EV.

The elephant in the room is the fact that there are almost twice as many cars in the USA as there are houses.

Interesting point about solar and power backup systems being a lot more feasible with an EV being a backup battery. I would believe that this would only be useful for emergency power as most people would be selling their power to the grid.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2023-12-09 at 17-12-47 how many killowats does an ev use per year - Google Search.png
    Screenshot 2023-12-09 at 17-12-47 how many killowats does an ev use per year - Google Search.png
    20.8 KB · Views: 8
Last edited:
Here’s the move:
An ev to daily with V2L as well as 100kwh+ of home battery integrated into one’s home solar
A diesel tow rig with a couple drums of red diesel at home for the farm equipment, generator, and truck and collect used veggie oil
A Toyota rock crawler with a 22re, propane conversion and an at home 500gal propane tank for the other generator and gas appliances if desired
A Prius for the significant other to daily which also functions as a backup generator for the house via midnite charge controller
4 fuel types, 4 backup sources, multiple use cases, never stranded if one form of infrastructure goes down
(Don’t forget to keep your bike tires pumped up and your shoe laces tight too, heck an e-bike is a great option)
 
Screen grabs from google
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2023-12-09 at 17-40-14 how many homes are in the us - Google Search.png
    Screenshot 2023-12-09 at 17-40-14 how many homes are in the us - Google Search.png
    14.6 KB · Views: 15
  • Screenshot 2023-12-09 at 17-40-00 how many cars are in the us - Google Search.png
    Screenshot 2023-12-09 at 17-40-00 how many cars are in the us - Google Search.png
    24.5 KB · Views: 15
Never started my system wondering how long it will pay me back, not doing grid tie pretty much assured that won't happen, but I don't care about that. We have frequent power outages here, and I was tired of dragging out candles and battery powered lamps, and hoping and praying the power comes back on before our food spoils in the fridges/freezers.

Up until last month we didn't have any battery backup, but now we have enough to last us overnight at least. It's not a lot but it is reassuring to know it's there if we need it. Like tonight we have some storms out west of us, so we're ready. The battery just finished charging up, so we have a full tank, so to speak.

The tax credits were an added incentive I will admit. Plus over the last couple of years the technology has accelerated so much, and now it's somewhat affordable. And addicting..
 
Average miles driven per year is about 14,263 miles. If EVs are going to replace gas cars, they will be driven the same way and distances.

A model 3 gets 4.56 miles per kWh

14263/4.56 = 3.1kWh or 3.1MWh/year. That's a 25-30% increase.
I predict it will be much worse than you think:
Our Ice SUV was x6 the cost per mile of the Kona EV. With the ICE we would limit trips to the city to a few per week (75km round trip) but with the super low cost of the EV, we don't think twice about making two trips or more in a single day. I can tell you the mileage on the EV is nearly double (per year) of our last ICE SUV because the operating costs are so much lower. A round trip in my 3/4 ton Ram is nearly $20, while making the run in the Kona (even paying utility-rates to charge it) is $1.40 Guess which one I take, if I can.

The net effect I will tell you, will be: people will drive more, Perhaps a lot more.
Imagine if that 14,263 miles average use goes to 30,000 per year.
It would be best if the infrastructure needed gets underway sooner than later.
 
Yep. I just can't stomach an estimate off by 3X.

This article states that the current grid can handle 26 million EVs at 3.8MWh each in off-peak capacity:


Has some other linked sources.

You are correct. I was looking at usage in the EU, which apparently is much less.

I see 26 million EVs mentioned in that article, but I don't see where it states that it's all the grid can handle. It says it's only 2.4% of the total grid capacity, and that's the number expected by 2030.
 
I predict it will be much worse than you think:
Our Ice SUV was x6 the cost per mile of the Kona EV. With the ICE we would limit trips to the city to a few per week (75km round trip) but with the super low cost of the EV, we don't think twice about making two trips or more in a single day. I can tell you the mileage on the EV is nearly double (per year) of our last ICE SUV because the operating costs are so much lower. A round trip in my 3/4 ton Ram is nearly $20, while making the run in the Kona (even paying utility-rates to charge it) is $1.40 Guess which one I take, if I can.

The net effect I will tell you, will be: people will drive more, Perhaps a lot more.
Imagine if that 14,263 miles average use goes to 30,000 per year.
It would be best if the infrastructure needed gets underway sooner than later.

You may be right, but not for me, at least until self-driving becomes a reality because I hate to drive! :)

That said, it is also much more enjoyable in an EV, so there's that...

I had to drive my CX-9 ICE today to pick up some lumber, and really hated it!
 
hippees in 1970 turned solar gurus
That’s an inaccurate generalization.
I was born in 1965. I did a ‘science fair’ project in 1978 (that got laughed at, btw- teachers explained how impractical it was :rolleyes: ) that focused on solar and I even created a small homemade solar hot water heater and made several storyboards depicting the efficacy of solar power, one describing passive heating.
And I am as far from hippie as you can get, still take a shower every day, too. :)
Being self sufficient is hard to place a monetary value on. Also have a wood stove
That’s my goal for next summer: unpropane myself except for cooking maybe hot water.
I think I want to have ~2000gals of 190*F water battery.
hippees in 1970
I live in Vermont, grew up in NH
Lotta independence kinda people that don’t look, smell, or sound like the teepee land rover people we had in the woods around loudon, nh ?
still think most of us are independent types.
I do keep track of my ROI but it’s not the sole reason for doing this.
In my circumstances that I chose to change my financial position my initial small system was essentially paid for in three weeks because it permitted me to live essentially cost free. While my total solar panel potential (if I activated them all) is now up to ~5kW of panels, ROI was my secondary motivation. An unanticipated benefit is that I love playing around with this stuff so there’s the hobby factor…
Most of us see the writing on the wall and are trying to prepare as best we can.
In my previous location a neighbor called me. They heard my shop vac running. They stated I was probably the only one in town vacuuming anything because they’d been without power for over six hours….
Prepared? That is a comfort.
grid won't be coming on our property
I have two powerco poles right on my property. Powerco wanted $3500 to connect me. My system’s been paid for a coupla years now because it enabled me living for basically nothing. $3,500 so they can bill me every month? Nope.
the average EV uses less than 1 MWh / year
Most people aren’t average; the average EV is a skewed statistic because the population subset of EV owners do not reflect the average dinosaur fuel owner.
A general descriptor or stereotype as a euphemism is a method of speech to establish context not call out the unidentifiable fictitious members of the stereotype group…
per year is about 14,263 miles.
Math is so… revealing
most people would be selling their power to the grid.
but that will decline as the emerging market we exist in currently becomes mature and is manipulated to maximize profit as the cost/benefit of individual contribution reaches its ‘natural’ price level if spoken in an Adam Smith context.
not doing grid tie pretty much assured that won't happen
✅
 
You are correct. I was looking at usage in the EU, which apparently is much less.

I see 26 million EVs mentioned in that article, but I don't see where it states that it's all the grid can handle. It says it's only 2.4% of the total grid capacity, and that's the number expected by 2030.

Apparently, I read what I wanted to. I couldn't find the source I was looking for that pegged it at around 30 million, and 26 fit too neatly. My apologies.
 
Back
Top