Boat Solar Power System Works in House
After moving off the boat and into a house, I was totally taken aback when our first electric bill came. My first thought was that it was high because we used all that electricity in the move in and set up. The second and third bills were also high. I unplugged everything that I could and made sure things were turned off when possible. I replaced all the incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs and LED bulbs. An electrician friend checked the place for any problems that could be the cause of what I though was a high bill. Nothing outrageous was found. The house just used a lot more electricity than I liked.
The boat has both solar panels and a wind generator. They charge the boat's batteries that supply electricity for the boat. The 12 volt system runs the lighting, refrigerator, our fans, our computers, TV, and navigation system. Everything but the A/C and the hot water heater ran off the batteries. At the dock, we plugged into shore electricity for the A/C and hot water heater. The house could use solar panels to charge a bank of batteries the same way.
The cost of a commercial home solar panel system and the batteries needed to tie in to the grid was way out of my reach. A 12 volt system like that on the boat was affordable. I started with a 45 watt solar panel kit from our hardware outlet store. The kit contained the three solar panels, a voltage regulator, two 12 volt dc light bulbs that have a standard lamp base to them, and wiring. I used two deep cycle trolling motor batteries that I had to complete the system. This kit solar panel system was affordable. The solar panels are mounted on a wheel barrel like cart so they can be moved and positioned to get the best angle to the sun. This lets the panels produce the most power. About once a month they need just a little repositioning. The battery charging station is outside in the car port. The gives good ventilation and easy access to the batteries. The panels and batteries are heart of the system. To complete the system, a two wire 12 volt line was run up to the attic and run the full length of the house. The line was run in PVC conduit and is labeled 12 volt line on every section of conduit just for safety. Next, 12 volt ceiling mounted LED lighting units were mounted in most of the rooms of the house. Marine and RV stores have a good selection of these fixtures. The fixtures were wired in to the 12 volt line and the house had 12 volt LED lights. The size and brightness of the fixtures were picked for the areas they lit. Bright lighting was used in the kitchen, halls and bath rooms got smaller units. One DC line was run into the living room. The two DC light bulbs were put in to Table lamps and these lamps are wired in to the 12 volt system. A DC to AC converter connected to the 12 volt system can run small AC items. A master switch by the car port door turns on or off the 12 volt system. When we leave in the morning it goes off, and is turned on when we get home. This lets the solar panels charge the batteries up easier. The system worked. Another panel kit and battery was added and the system did not flatten as much. The system, as is, costs about $275.00 and it paid for itself in less than six months. Putting switches on the ceiling fixtures so they did not run all the time would also help extend the battery life between charges. The cost and work to add switches is not worth the effort to do that at this time.
The 12 volt system does 4 things for us. First, our electric bill is lower. Second, we have lights when there is a power outage. Third, my trolling motor batteries are always charged and ready to go. Fourth, and last, it drives the guy next door nuts (that is worth it by itself).
10:38 PM
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