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ron in new mexico
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2019 6:42 pm

Post by ron in new mexico »

I know it is not cost efficient, but I have other reasons to explore solar. Does anyone have any suggestions as to a solar hook up, that may provide charge for a PHEV, Preferably something on amazon.
This is the USA so we are on AC as opposed to DC. I would guess a solar panel to a series of batteries with a inverter, is the way to go for home solar. But was considering only the car. Perhaps in a emergency some part of the home, perhaps a TV, but nothing beyond that.

djbobbins
Posts: 132
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2017 7:57 pm

Post by djbobbins »

Not sure how domestic battery prices have developed over the last 18 months, but when I had my solar panels installed in the UK last summer there were two key factors which put me off the idea of getting storage at the same time.

Firstly, the batteries don’t actually improve your resilience (in the UK at least) since as soon as the grid supply is interrupted, the battery automatically isolates itself. This is to avoid back-energising the network and frying some poor grid company employee who is doing some work somewhere.

Secondly, the payback period (even without considering time value of money) was north of 15 years. Bank returns are pretty poor right now, but I didn’t fancy investing a few thousand pounds in something with payback that long - not least because a static lithium ion battery has a liquid electrolyte which an esteemed battery specialist colleague of mine advised has a best case life of around 12 years.

Your costs of energy and therefore payback would be very different but the resilience issue may be worth checking out in more detail.
ron in new mexico
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2019 6:42 pm

Post by ron in new mexico »

Yes thank you for the reply. I have been considering solar for other reasons, as I live rural, and our electrical supply is not dependable at times. If I was to install a system, I may do the install myself, with solar panels a inverter and batteries. This would be quite pricy, I am guessing around three thousand or so, in USD. A good lithium ion runs about 800 or so for just one. But it is more a safety and security issue than a get my money back thing.
Just toying with the idea really. For now and perhaps for ever, it would just be a back up, and possibly a supply for my PHEV. I think I would need at least four big panels, batteries, a inverter and the hook ups to do even that.
I have a power cut off apparatus already installed in the home for generator use. It is the same problem, if a generator is on, you may shock a line repair person without one.
In theory I could simply use the power supply plug in from solar batteries as opposed to a generator I think. It takes a normal, in the states, 240 volt plug. My 240 cord is about 30 feet long. And perhaps if I ever feel the need I could expand it from that. Electricity here is dirt cheap, in this state(every state has their own companies). My total bill is typically all year under 50USD per month, even with the PHEV which added about 10 to 15 to it.
ron in new mexico
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2019 6:42 pm

Post by ron in new mexico »

Lithium I have heard has at times a low temperature issue. Below certain temperatures they will not operate. As I live at altitude most of our winter is below 0C during the day and every night. We hit 30 or so below at least once each winter. The Honda PHEV will not even operate below a certain very low temperature around that, with lithium. The new Toyota AWD prius hybrid uses a nickel based battery for that reason.
So perhaps the cheaper but less lasting batteries would be best, but I do not know on that.
ron in new mexico
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2019 6:42 pm

Post by ron in new mexico »

Remember now...... the apparatus is called a power transfer switch. Mine is manual. which means when I use generator power(or then I think solar) I have to flip the switches, to supply power to the house when the generator is on. Which automatically shuts off the return power to the supply line grid. If I did a connected to the grid solar, of course I would have to have a different set up to include new metering I guess. A way expensive proposition. I think that would be a upping the price to around 10,000 USD, electricians and all.
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