Replies to post #29971 on SunWorks Inc (SUNWQ)

[DoubleOrNothing985]

Yeah, I have also had trouble with the storage systems. Finding good quality batteries that will last for 15 years or more is expensive.

One company I found is HUP Solar. They have a battery that is made for solar storage, with a high discharge rate and high number of cycles giving it a good life span.

From the research I have found, the best thing you can do is minimize the amount of things that need electricity in the home. With proper window placement you don't need lighting in the day and can use low watt 24 volt LED lighting at night. You can get small refrigerators and electric stoves that run off 24 volt DC. About the only thing that needs a converter is the appliances and useless entertainment crap like PC and TV. Kill the TV and just use a laptop with its own small solar tickler to keep the battery juiced and you won't need that much of an inverter, likewise the smaller amount of batteries and solar panels you will need.

I have been preparing for this way of life by getting rid of most of my "modern conveniences" and going back to manual hand powered things, learning the old ways of doing things, and dreaming of the day I can buy SLTD panels, move out in the middle of no where, build my earthship, raise some chickens, rabbits, and fish in the aquaponics set up....maybe a goat for milk :)

Good luck to all who are dreaming of living off the grid, its a tougher life, but worth the independence!

[markp1950]

I've looked into this. The only problem I'm finding is energy storage.

Batteries work, but they go bad, and get expensive when you factor in replacement costs.

They can be good for a long time. IF you take care of them. Which means not discharging them much below 50%.
But I'm having hopes for SuperCapacitors. They can be charged/discharged many times. I'm having hope for the work of BSLR BioSolar they have a SuperCap tested to 50,000 cycles. Once a day is 136 years. So having a SuperCap between the source and the battery will extend the life of the batteries.
http://www.biosolar.com/biosupercap.php?PHPSESSID=77fd501618509a7fce513493fa729146