Off-Grid electricity

[Andrew]

Hello,
I'm wondering is anyone is off the electric grid and making your own electricity.
My place is a few miles from the nearest lines and I need some eletricity for the farm house.

I'm going to have to generate my own electricity.

Is anyone else doing this already? I sure would appreciate any advice.

Thanks,
Andrew

 

[sidney411]

I've heard those big wind mill looking things make a lot of energy, but I'm sure they cost a ton to put up. What about a generator?

 

[CircleA]

If you always have wind - the the wind power models are a good options.
I don't know if the rebate programs are still available. But after i paid 10K to have Pg& E bring power to my place, i talked to a guy that said a wind powered unit would have cost me 20K with a 50% rebate from the state or feds, ( i forget which).

but you might want to check that out - will make the cost more in line with getting power "on the grid".

Alex

 

[4-H fanatic]

You sould get a generator but that would take alot of diesel to always have it runnign.

 

[preston39]

andrew,

The wind sounds promising based on what I have read. If your area has a high level of wind avg.(that data is available based on your longitude/latitude position)it may provide a good return on your investment. With some of the new composite materials used today they are much more efficent than before, I am led to believe.

I notice you are in Texas, don't forget passive solar, also. Check with your local electric provider...I think it is a green ...something...plan...whereby they will buy the excess from you...no matter how you produce it.

 

[Andrew]

Thanks for the replies.

I have a generator that provides 120/230V - 30 amps and runs on gas. The problem is the noise and the fact that its not permanent nor renewable.
I've done some research on power generation and I think I will end up with a 7ft diam. wind generator going to a bank of 20- 12v industrial batteries. They're less than $1500.00 new w/o the pole. I get lots of wind as my property is on high ground. I think I will also need at least 45 watts of solar just in case the wind is less than 7mph.
I've found an 120/230 inverter that's over $3K.

The pricing I've gotten comes out to about $7K doing it all myself. I got a bid from as local reseller to do it all for $13K so I think I'll just do it myself.

The eletric coop gave me a bid of $25K to bring the line to my place but I have to get easements from at least 2 neighbors. That's the reason I'm looking into generating it myself.

I've experimented with a couple of batteries and a 12v 5watt solar panel. I get enough juice for a super-efficient 15watt light bulb for 3.5 hours with just one little 12v battery.

I was just wondering if anyone else has tried it and what problems they've run into.

Thanks,
Andrew

 

[dun]

Depending on the size of the wind turbine you might want to go spend a few hours sitting around where there is one up and running. I've only hunted in areas with the turbines and could never get used to the contstant sound. I would also be concerned with the maintenance aspects. Seems like the ones that I was around spent about half the time down for maintenance /repair. At least there wa some one working on them, maybe just doing PM or killing time. Don't know for sure, never asked.

dun