A different approach to saving power with solar panels.

["Neil Wrightson" <neilw@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi All,

Here in Australia the government is encouraging us to install solar systems
either electrical and or hot water.
To this end they are subsidizing the cost but it is still quite a large
some
of money.
I.e. $10,000 over ten years. By then the cells are probably cactus and you
put your hand into your pocket and start again.

These systems use inverters that feed straight back into the electrical
grid. So no batteries are used.

I'm very much a handyman, so I have no problems in installing my own solar
panels (that I can buy at wholesale prices) but trying to get the rebate on
these and having a licensed electrician connect it to the grid, could be a
problem.

So how could I save a few electrical dollars and satisfy my geeky urge to
have something like this. Hmmm.

I, like many of you have a Node0. Mine has the usual array of UPS's
servers,
switches, video overlays, I/O, callerid, cameras etc etc.

So basically, what I was thinking was putting some solar panels onto the
roof and at least power my Node0 for some of the day.
Make me feel warm inside that I'm doing my green bit ;-)    (Switching half
of it OFF would be greener but not as much fun)

Option 1
So considering that Node0 has a 1000VA UPS with additional battery packs.
I thought I could monitor the solar panels and when there is enough power
available switch the incoming mains power to the UPS off and feed the UPS
from the Solar panel inverter.
When the light starts to fail, say mid afternoon and the panels don't work
as well, switch the incoming UPS back to mains power.
Twice a day the UPS would see the power turned ON/OFF/ON for say a 30
second
change over period.
Apart from that, Node0 equipment would know no differently.

Option 2
Feed the 12/24VDC connection from the solar panels to a battery and
directly
power the lower voltage stuff in Node0.


Has anybody thought of trying to do this kind of thing?


Regards,

Neil Wrightson.
N.W.Electronics
ABN 76 768 513 867
Embedded Controllers and Home Automation Products
Skype : Neil_Wrightson
Web     : www.nwe.net.au




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

<*> Join the Automated Home Forums
http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/vbulletin/