Does anyone here have a solar energy system?

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. I have a neighbors who have been totally solar for 15 years

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I've known them for 9 years and are familiar with their system, specs, costs wiring and so on.

I lived without hydro for over 3 years in a trailer, not by choice - lack of $$.

I had a small 45 Watt solar array that charged a small battery for lights, and could use an inverter to charge the laptop and run a drill on sunny days when the input would handle it.

You'd have to have quite a healthy solar array to live as if you were on hydro - stationary panels only get you about 1/3 of the sun available.

However, if you do not have a large property, stationary is the only way to go, usually on the roof.

My neighbors have 100's of acres, so that is not an issue.

They only have 1000 Watts in panels, but it is on a 20' high periscope sort of thing and they manually turn it to face the sun numerous times a day.

There are systems that will electrically "chase" the sun with a small motor - it can be programmed in increments of 1,2,3 hours.

I've even seen one system in the Northern USA where a farmer put his solar array about 3 feet off the ground, -

WHY?? - because the reflection off the snow in the winter greatly increased it's input, even on cloudy days.

yeah - I DO know a bit about this solar thing . . .

Do not be in a hurry to buy cuz it sounds like a good deal.

An educated decision will most likely be a wise one.

Keep pickin' people's brains, then,

Use your own!

CC