Not sure if you guys ever saw a picture of my setup. I posted it somewhere else some time back but it's not here so...here ya go!!
Been over one year totally on our own (11-2012 to 01-2013) and it's great. Thanks to all at this site and the staff at Midnite for all the help and suggestions.
(http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/plongson/IMAG0105.jpg)
(http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/plongson/IMAG0106.jpg)
(http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/plongson/Array.jpg)
(http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/plongson/IMAG0138.jpg)
(http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/plongson/IMAG0239.jpg)
(http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/plongson/IMAG0318.jpg)
(http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/plongson/IMAG0235.jpg)
(http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/plongson/2011-11-20_11-30-55_424.jpg)
(http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/plongson/BDRanchHouse12-04-2011004.jpg)
Sweet.
I am envious of you guys with the ability to make such a neat and clean install.
Mine tend to be much more crude and usually grown in place.
(http://pics.ww.com/d/461231-2/100_5406.JPG)
I like the iron wildlife, too.
Tom
Wow! Pristine and surgically clean installation, excellent work.
So inspiring it disturbs me when I look at my own installation - what a relief when Tom posted his pic. ;D
Are those PVs on a tracker? they seem almost vertical compared to mine that are almost flat
(sorry just read your sig and they not)
dgd
Very nice, I love it.
Just a little advice Paul, you'd better change these delta arrestors with midnite SPD. I've smoked two Outback VFX with this old Delta stuff.
Erik
Yep Paul,
A very, very clean installation!
Great looking residence, with those great distant vistas, and also love the ferrous wildlife.
Also love that beautiful genset. Very nice work! Have fun, Vic
I'd like it if you would be so kind as to show a picture of the back side of your module array: I'm struggling with some design challenges related to mounting modules, a nearby grove of trees, and this thing called winter.
Thanks for all the kind words. It's been a long road getting to where we are now. We bought the 20 ac property about 10 years ago and lived on it in the summer months in a travel trailer tending a small orchard of apples, pears and cherries, hence the large genset to pump water. There is not many neighbors (closest about a mile) and with no power we immediately found out we needed to get the trailer on solar. That is where I cut my teeth so to say...
As far as a clean install, I've been planning the entire project in my head for years so when you can start from scratch it makes it much easier to have a finished product from the get-go.
Hey SolarMusher, I know exactly what you are saying about the Delta arrestors. I've been thinking about getting rid of them too. What is involved in replacing them? Are they "sized" for the system? If I get that info, I'll call and order some up right away.
dgd, no tracker I just adjust the angle twice a year. Winter is as close to 52* as I can get and summer is suppose to be 14* at my latitude, although it makes such a great perch for the birds and consequently a place for them to poop, I keep the summer angle a bit steeper.
Vern, I will keep you in mind and get a picture as soon as I can. I used an Astro-energy top of pole mount for the array. It was designed for the panels and mounted on the top of a piece of 8" well casing I used for the pole. VERY well made and highly recommended.
Paul
plongson;
The Midnite Surge Suppressors are sized for the voltage they are on. 115, 300 and 600 volt models are in use here. AC or DC. They can be had for less than list from Arizona Wind and Sun.
You can read up on them here:
http://www.midnitesolar.com/products.php?menuItem=products&productCat_ID=23&productCatName=Surge%20Protection%20Devices (http://www.midnitesolar.com/products.php?menuItem=products&productCat_ID=23&productCatName=Surge%20Protection%20Devices)
Tom
Quote from: plongson on January 07, 2013, 10:09:36 AM
dgd, no tracker I just adjust the angle twice a year. Winter is as close to 52* as I can get and summer is suppose to be 14* at my latitude, although it makes such a great perch for the birds and consequently a place for them to poop, I keep the summer angle a bit steeper.
Paul
On a new commercial PV system mounted on a hospital roof I noticed the topmost edges of the PVs had rubber strips. These were the rubber blades you see on the bottom of doors that work as a weather strip to keep water from blowing in. About 40mm tall set vertical. Birds not happy trying to perch as blade not steady enough. I thought it was a great idea where access to panel not easy - to wash off dried bird poo.
dgd
Hi Paul,
One SPD300 on PV side and one SPD300 on each AC leg in your Magnum panel (two for 240V), same knockout diameter as delta.
Very nice set up, you can be proud of your system!
Erik
Hey Erik, I saw another show on NATGEO about mushers and their dogs. A guy hand building sleds for competition and everyday use, guys training sled dogs and lots of other cool stuff. Made me think of you. Got any pictures of you and your dogs?? I think that's way cool...
Hey Paul,
My files were too large, I try it again.
Build my own sleds too... x10, three weeks for each :P! But 15 years after, they are still alive.
Send you a few pics.
Wish the best,
Erik
Two more on James Bay, Northern Quebec.
Erik
That's absolutely amazing. The thought of those dogs, the sight and sounds of that all going on, dogs are wonderful creatures. We have 3 that we rescued from shelters and certain death, and they have become the best companions you can ask for. Mostly I prefer the company of dogs over most humans...LOL
Quote from: plongson on January 09, 2013, 05:33:16 PM
Mostly I prefer the company of dogs over most humans...LOL
+1Me too! We only have one dog, a rescue its like he knows we kept him from the executioner.
(http://pics.ww.com/d/393589-2/Buddy.jpg)
His name is Buddy and that is what he is. Loyal and the heart of a lion in a 40# canine.
Tom
+1 as well below is Buddy he is about 180 pounds. and Maggy she is around 65 pounds.
Hey guys,
It looks like we could start a new thread about why we are living off grid, Solar and Dogs! ;D
Erik
We have room for two more? Here are my three trouble makers, from L to R Jones, Campbell and Zoe. Two Chihuahua's and a JRT, rescued from the streets of Las Vegas. All three weigh less than 25 pounds combined, but all dog to the core.
Then a picture of me and my #1 trouble maker, Jones. Las Vegas was hit hard by the housing bubble and people would just abandon their pets. Some were even found dead inside locked houses with no food or water. I hope they get their "just reward" someday.
(http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/plongson/Pups/photo_zps483aa833.jpg)
(http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/plongson/Pups/IMG_0419_zpsabf5b879.jpg)
More thread diversion and I kind of apologize but I have a soft, mushy spot for dogs in my head, err heart.
Paul;
What a motley crew that is! ;D
Good to see they are properly restrained on the quad so they don't eat the civilians!
Good to see so many dog people here.
Thanks for sharing the photos, everyone.
Not off grid but got the dog! about 60% off grid and counting.
Tom
I just had a thought...If I put them out front of the quad hooked up like that I could be a musher like SolarMusher...LOL :) Whaddya think???
I'm sure they would like it! Try it first with a cat in front of the quad ;D
In Fall, waiting for snow, we train all the different gangs with quad, except that it needs 10 dogs or more to pull it ;D.
QuoteNot off grid but got the dog! about 60% off grid and counting.
Hey Tom,
That's the most important!
In fact, we are off grid mostly because we couldn't have 90 sled dogs in a small municipality.
I always say that the best thing that happened in my life was "the dogs" and the worst was "the dogs" because they leave too soon :'(.
Erik