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We are constructing our own 'alternative power system'. Like most households around Australia, we have tried our bit at reducing our power consumption, in fact we cut it in half with out too much effort. we then started looking at other methods advertised, such as grid connect systems, insulation, hot water, roof painting, water and energy efficient washing machines. We spent much time investigating the methods available, some through Government subsidy, and came to the conclusion that most were either not efficient, or are Rip-off's. there is much confusion in information given as to the rebate system here in Australia, and how, and indeed when, you will be reimbursed for price inflated equipment, and your energy produced into the grid system. I am a bit of a handyman, good computer skills and not young, we don't have endless supplies of money to throw at inflated or hair brain schemes or useless ideas We have opted to go 'OFF Grid', with a tracking solar system and wind generator. the power produced will be stored into batteries for connection through a inverter to a portion of our house. Simple.... ! We have decided to forget Government support and do the system by ourselves, this way we can inject money as required, watch the project grow and calculate the savings. EBay is a great source of information, and indeed some of the equipment, we purchased the tracker, panels, connecting cables, small inverter, solar controller. on ebay ----------------------------------------------------------------- Solar system: Six 200watt panels on a tracking system will produce about 250-350amps per day in Townsville, one thing to get the head around is 'grid connect system' you will work with watts, battery storage system in Amps. by tracking the sun you increase the capacity of the panel by 30-40 per cent, this is a massive increase and well worth investigating. We have six solar panels wired in banks of 24 volt (two by 12v) by three times, this keeps the Amperage down to a respectable level for the cable need to get the current from the panels to the controller We will have six 200amp batteries divided into two banks making a 24volt bank each time we add a new panel, we will add a battery, this way we can afford to go Really GREEN Wind turbine: VAWT (Vertical axis wind turbine) based on a Lenz2 wing system and a Fisher & Paykel washing machine motor, this system will produce up to 500 watt or 20 Amps (at 24volt) we are hoping to be able to produce about 50-60 watts per day into our battery bank. we used VAWT due to the constant changing direction of the air around our location Hot Water: This will be our last project as we have a 'not so old' service at the moment. but we intend to build our own solar hot water system, plans, designs, ideas, are readily available on the web.
Where we are at the moment: As of February 2010, Our electricity has been reduced this year by over 7 per cent, this by changine light bulbs, turning down the hot water thermostat and shifting some of our demand over to our batteries and solar system, wow looking forward to seeing what will happen when 6 panels are up and running.... We have our Solar tracker up with one 200watt panel on it (the photo shows 6 panels but only 1 is really there.) one 200amp battery, a very small inverter and are running a fountain with the power we produce. (about 40Amps per day) WE have placed our pole in the ground for our wind generator, (the pole is a 'red light camera' tilt over post, set in concrete, we have our Fisher & Paykel motor, have rewired it and are awaiting construction of the mount, pole, and wings. WE have the plans for our hot water system.
Photo of solar tracker showing 6 panels attached. only one is really there. wind turbine pole
Lenz2 wing
Much interest has been shown from the local community in all our projects.
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