Homemade Electricity?

[Mr_Mark]

A friend who is a real "tree hugger" (not really but he is big on recycling) sent me this link, http://www.Earths-Renewable-Energy.com/ seems like it might be a smart investment with summer coming up, running the AC all day last summer was a real pain, put a ig bdent in the wallet, hoping this will knock down the bill and give me some more betting money

 

[ProPokerPlayer]

I dont have time to read the whole thing but this 1st testimonial and the fact it says its built for less than $200 leads me to believe this thing wont power much at all....

Hi Michael,

How are you? I have attached a picture of my latest solar panel. It's an 80 watt panel

80 watts is maybe 2 light bulbs....wont do much for your A/C usage at all. You might could run it all day and power a couple of security lights at night but not much else...

 

[ParanoidAndroid]

I dont have time to read the whole thing but this 1st testimonial and the fact it says its built for less than $200 leads me to believe this thing wont power much at all....

Hi Michael,

How are you? I have attached a picture of my latest solar panel. It's an 80 watt panel

80 watts is maybe 2 light bulbs....wont do much for your A/C usage at all. You might could run it all day and power a couple of security lights at night but not much else...

Agree 100%. This is one of the secrets that the tree-huggers won't tell you - going to solar power is really, really expensive. Most people don't realize that even a small system for a tiny house, small refrigerator, one computer, one small TV, etc will run about $15000. Your average home, with an average family, will run close to double that. When you break it down over the lifetime of your home, its still not economical to leave your current provider. Fact is most electricity companies use natural gas (not coal) because its just so readily available which means that its damn cheap. $30000 still buys you A LOT of energy for the local co, solar just can't break that barrier.

 

[OccamsRazor]

I bought a pamphlet once about homemade electricity but step 4. 'Put a an unfolded paperclip into an electrical outlet.' Left me with an unattractive perm.

 

[Mr_Mark]

Agree 100%. This is one of the secrets that the tree-huggers won't tell you - going to solar power is really, really expensive. Most people don't realize that even a small system for a tiny house, small refrigerator, one computer, one small TV, etc will run about $15000. Your average home, with an average family, will run close to double that. When you break it down over the lifetime of your home, its still not economical to leave your current provider. Fact is most electricity companies use natural gas (not coal) because its just so readily available which means that its damn cheap. $30000 still buys you A LOT of energy for the local co, solar just can't break that barrier.

Android & PokerPlayer you guys make some very good points, I just shot him an email right now asking him questions like this.... still waiting for his response

 

[Romanowski]

the ROI on solar paneling will become more attractive as the solar efficiencies improve.

not to mention the raw materials to make a panel will see a reduction in cost with production improvements etc

give it literally 1-2 years, to make economic sense to use panelling

with all the incentives companies are looking to hit market with higher and higher efficiencies

 

[TheWolf]

interesting

 

[ParanoidAndroid]

the ROI on solar paneling will become more attractive as the solar efficiencies improve.

not to mention the raw materials to make a panel will see a reduction in cost with production improvements etc

give it literally 1-2 years, to make economic sense to use panelling

with all the incentives companies are looking to hit market with higher and higher efficiencies

The only problem with this is that the solar industry has been saying this for *years*. They're always promising that cheaper installations are right around the corner, but they haven't happened yet. Bottom line, going solar is still a very expensive proposition.

 

[Mr_Mark]

so the answer i got from him was he only lives with his gf they have a 3bed 2bath house and spent about $500 on all the equipment, spent a weekend hooking it up

he claims when he is not home and the electricity he is generating but not using gets sold back to the electric company, and there has been months when he actually received a credit on his bill for $128. but he said that they were on vacation almost the whole month and were home maybe 3 days

may not be the answer to true economical solar power but it sounds like a good start

 

[TheGift]

The only problem with this is that the solar industry has been saying this for *years*. They're always promising that cheaper installations are right around the corner, but they haven't happened yet. Bottom line, going solar is still a very expensive proposition.

I do believe the prices did drop in the lat 20 to 25 years. It costs roughly 40-60 thousand to install a roof solar power system 20 years ago. I do believe it runs around 24,000 thousand now. I do believe that site is bullshit though. I don't like the way they try to grab you when closing the site. When more competitors start installing these panels the prices will drop. Like anything else, it will be a cut throat industry when it gets more in demand.