With the recent prolonged power outages in NJ, I was wondering if this would be a viable alternate power source. There are companies offering low-cost (free?) installation here in NJ where you get a monthly bill for the power you use from the solar system.

 

Let me know what's your experience if you have one installed in your home.

 

Thanks!

solar water heaters basically adds to your existing water heater with another water tank

as for electricity you'll need some type of storage capability such as batteries.

Pm recessed filter i think he might still be out of power but when he gets it back i am sure he will respond to you. He works for a company installing solar power.

There should be tax breaks for installing solar power and solar heating.

 

I have a couple of solar panels, you need batteries and a charge controller it goes like this

 

Plan # 1 Simple, least expensive

Solar panel (s) >Charge Controller,Batteries > Inverter (to take 12 volt to 120 volt) - or by pass inverter

 

 

Plan # 2. Expensive, Needs professional installation, an electrician, and inspection

 

Many hi voltage Solar panels > Grid tie system fed into Power Meter & Main circuit box .

(Solar panels put out 120 volts and are fed into the power meter and the power company buys excess power from you that you don't use. Your meter can run backwards. This can be used in conjunction with batteries so you can charge during the day and run off the batteries at night)

 

 

An addition... wind power might be more feasible in some areas, unlike solar power...wind power can generate power at night. People have set up solar and wind power combinations...

 

 

http://en.wikipedia....ectrical_system

 

A grid-tied electrical system, also called tied to grid or grid tie system, is a semi-autonomous electrical generation or grid energy storage system which links to the mains to feed excess capacity back to the local mains electrical grid. When insufficient electricity is generated, or the batteries are not fully charged, electricity drawn from the mains grid can make up the shortfall.

 

When batteries are used to store, the system is called battery-to-grid (B2G), which includes vehicle-to-grid (V2G).

The one thought that occurs to me is that the times of the year when you are most at risk of a power outage are also the times of year with the least amount of sunlight [in terms of hours per day]. Also, the days tend to be pretty dark prior to, during & immediately after the really big storms.

Pm recessed filter i think he might still be out of power but when he gets it back i am sure he will respond to you. He works for a company installing solar power.

 

I think this just answered your question..

Solar is more a benefit when hooked to the grid. Depending on application I have had clients with $0 at the end of the yr to the utilities, and some that get cks sent to them.

The ones that get paid, it's kind of a scam but, the rate is based on off peak hrs.

 

Generator is better for emergency, solar for economy.

 

No, I am not an installer, just a contractor with clients that have solar.

 

 

I think this just answered your question..

 

Yes, it did

Solar is more a benefit when hooked to the grid. Depending on application I have had clients with $0 at the end of the yr to the utilities, and some that get cks sent to them.

The ones that get paid, it's kind of a scam but, the rate is based on off peak hrs.

 

Generator is better for emergency, solar for economy.

 

No, I am not an installer, just a contractor with clients that have solar.

 

Thanks for the info. I already have a generator planned in the next few weeks when it comes back in stock. I just wanted to know if a solar system is viable alternative for standby power.

 

I might play around with a smaller system with enough juice to power lights and small electronics.

he has not been working for them all that long yet so i do not think he has solar pannels installed at his house so his power being out has nothing to do with how solar helps in a power outage all i ment was he would be the person i would ask solar power questions because he works installing them.

Grid connected solar systems (generally) require an interlock that shuts down the panels in the event of a grid power failure. This is for the safety of those working on the lines upstream of your solar system.

 

Non-grid connected solar systems use an array of batteries that the panels charge during the day in order that you can rely on the battery power at night.

 

I'm not aware of a grid connected system that has a battery array for backup, but after this $hit$torm, it may just be available because someone now will be willing to pay extra money to have their solar system as a backup as well as having it grid connected.

 

My two cents...