Solar energy

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Farang1
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Re: Solar energy

Post by Farang1 » May 26, 2010, 7:03 am

Maaka, the question comes to mind not having 240v, do you have a gas (propane) refrigerator?



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maaka
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Re: Solar energy

Post by maaka » May 26, 2010, 11:25 am

sorry chaps for the delay in replying to questions raised..I didnt think anyone was interested in this sort of thing...first one Homer, I am just an ordinary joe bloggs, and didnt know the difference between an amp, watt or a volt, but with solar you soon learn...now I could throw some modern day NZ prices for a 240volt system, like $2500 for a 3kw pure sine wave inverter ( pure sinewave better than modified sinewave) a modified sinewave is much cheaper, but will put a humming noise in your stearo speakers, and can damage laptops and such.. $1440 for 4x80w solar panels, and $800 for 4x105a batteries..then you have you lights (16a) and fixtures and wiring..so at a guess for a 240volt system 100,000baht

now before that scares anyone away here is an email address of a solar company in Bangkok, and they will give you a proper price, rather than my guessamation.......<[email protected]> ..tel. 66 2 392-0224 mob 08 92058766

remember it is a one off outlay of afew bucks, and you can have everything that every other house has including a fridge /freezer. but over time it will repay itself with minimal maintenance, and you wont get caught with your pants down when the mains power goes out..there are different size systems to different needs..heck you can even throw in a little windmill if you are in a good location....

YES Farang1 , my fridgerator is propane, also my oven/ stove as well...because my house is 12volt I cant run an electric frigde or stove, but if I had 240v welllllllllllll.....to cut down on costs of propane I have setup an outdoor cooking place using those concrete bucket type things and firewood..I could go the wood range stove but it hot enough in a thai house without a fire going in the log stove for cooking and hot water...

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Re: Solar energy

Post by parrot » May 26, 2010, 6:29 pm

I have a 24/7 source of water that comes out of the ground and is held in a tank that I use for irrigation. When the tank is full (usually the case), it overflows into a distant reservoir. I gravity feed water from that tank into a pond where I raise catfish. We have a second older pond that is slightly higher than the top height of the water in the tank. I'd like to use a small solar cell to pump water up, perhaps 1 meter, to flow into a pvc pipe which would feed into the older pond. Daytime replenishment of 50-75 gallons or so of water into the older pond would be more than adequate to keep the pond full.
Any ideas out there?

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Re: Solar energy

Post by homer » May 26, 2010, 10:51 pm

Maaka, Your NZ bucks must go a lot farther than our Canadian dollar. ;) Adding up your figures I totalled it out at $4740.00 plus installation of system which would probably bring it closer to $6000.00. If I use that figure in Can.$$, coupled with a sh#tty exchange rate, it works out closer to 180,000Bht.
Still, as you say, it's a one time outlay of cash and I don't see electrical costs ever coming down. I know I paid almost 3000Bht for electricity in April, :shock: and at that rate it wouldn't take long to recoup the initial investment. Of course, I was running the AC a lot more that month with the sweltering heat.(Canadian :-" )
My main concern is keeping my expenses to a minimum once I'm in LOS fulltime and on a fixed income.

By the way, I checked out that website you posted and they must have gone out of business as I tried it several times and couldn't bring up the page. Many thanks though.

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maaka
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Re: Solar energy

Post by maaka » May 27, 2010, 3:49 am

it was a guessamation Homer, and you are right in some matters, but $4740.NZ today is 103000 Baht, so I rounded off at 100,000..yes our economy have recovered well..anyway back to solar. Sorry about the number I gave out, its 2yrs old, but I am sure there are other companies on the net, as I went to a solar exhibition in Bangkok 2yrs ago where there was umpteen companies..

wiring is standard in any house and will cost you anyway..my house has no special wiring, in fact it 240v wired, but I run 12v thru it..I do alot my wiring myself as it is quiet basic with 12v solar, so that cut my costs..

yes why I went solar in the first place was to keep my overall living expenses to a minimun, because of lack of work, and only a small govt allowance at the time. A power bill every month was not what I could afford, but solar did away with that..

Parrot you would only need a 12volt water pump, (flowjet, parmate brands) a 12v car battery, and a 15watt panel, and a Trace charge controller..The Parmate water pump is what I use, and is about the size of a tennis shoe, they use them in big sailing boats..its simply connects to a 20mm plastic pipe..you could have a stand alone system for your pond..I post in the ground next to your pond ( the closer the pump to the water to be sucked up and pumped the better..stick your solar panel on top of the post at an angle, and point it not at the point of sunrise or sunset, but midway where the sun might be on a winters day, as in winter the sun is in a different tragictory..

build a small rainproof cabinet box around your post, maybe alittle concrete floor, and in there nail your charge controller to the post, ( charger controller regulates the power coming from the panels to the battery, and automatically cuts the panel power, once the battery is fully charger, and comes on again when the battery uses power) and set the battery not on the ground but on two small blocks, so that air can circulate beneath it..

wire panels to control charger, and wire control charger to battery, and wire battery to water pump..all you need now is to decide how to turn the waterpump on and off..either put a normal on/ off switch in the battery to pump wiring, or simply have crocodile clips on the pump wiring, so all you have to do is clip the pump to the battery terminals and your awayyyyy. just wrap red tape around the postive wire so you not make a mistake of clipping them on wrongly...you just got to remeber to come back when the pond is full and unclip the pump leds....dont need to have this all connected to the house or anything, works abit like a farmers electric fence...the pump I use is 15ft below my roof tank so a simliar pump should handle your situation no problem..and you should be able to do it all yourself..its just finding the pump and charger controller, ( a controller for this system only needs to be about the size of a cigarette package.., sorry I had one here somewhere but have misplaced it, so cant give you the amp size, maybe next speel )

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maaka
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Re: Solar energy

Post by maaka » May 27, 2010, 4:20 am

Parrot.. a Trace Charge Controller C12 - 12 Amp would do your water pond thingy..

any anyone wanting a 12v/24v house system ..a Trace Charge Controller C35-35 amp will do ,

but for 240v full monty systems, then a aussie made "Outback" Brand Inverter of 2400amps or bigger is the way to go..

note , that batteries or the plates inside batteries gum up from time to time, so it is best to over charge your batteries and let them bubble away at least once a month, so that the buildup between the plates fall off and gives you better battery life..I would NOT use car batteries for a house system, but for Parrot yes as his requirements are small, indeed, once in a while he can throw his battery in the car and give it a good charge up...

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maaka
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Re: Solar energy

Post by maaka » May 27, 2010, 7:26 am

interested parties check all my comments

PARROT..you could just go the cheap way and just have the 12v Parmate waterpump with battery clips, and a car battery...could forget the solar panel and solar charge controller, but you would have to charge the car battery either with a standard workshop 240v / 12v battery charger, or failing that, start your car engine up, connect some jumpers leads to the pond battery, and run the car engine until charged...it means lugging the battery back and forth from the pond, whereas the other way I suggested with a post and cabinet, sort of looks after itself, but costs that little bit more..I would stick a filter in the 20mm plastic pipe between the pond and the pump, even though the Parmate has a small filter, as over time the pump will suck up debris and insects and finally stuff up the pump..

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parrot
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Re: Solar energy

Post by parrot » May 28, 2010, 8:09 pm

Thanks for the tips. I'll do some shopping for a pump and solar cell.

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maaka
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Re: Solar energy

Post by maaka » May 29, 2010, 3:53 am

your welcome Parrot...if you want me to come have a squezz at your little project, and toss some ideas around, I will be parachuting back into town next week.

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Re: Solar energy

Post by parrot » August 16, 2022, 2:49 pm

The sun has long set on this thread.......but if someone's still interested:
In Udon, advertising as the "largest solar shop in Isaan"
https://www.facebook.com/udonthaniupdat ... 9357785122
https://www.google.com/maps/place/ASola ... 02.7964782
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Re: Solar energy

Post by kopkei » August 17, 2022, 5:57 am

i have been informing about solar panels and the systems , been to this shop ,they seem to have good service and decent explanation about the product , the result to me , is that it is still way too overpriced surely if you use battery packs which are bloody expensive ,and quality? ,as they only give 5 year warranty on battery pack 5kw that costs 150.000 baht ? , i was given a price of 190.000 baht ,on grid system , no batteries , i have made my own inquiry , with the same materials and brand it would cost me not more than 90-100.000 baht and using micro inverters ....so installation costs also way over the top ?... strangely enough they are all installing the cheapest system , with normal inverter , not the better system with micro inverters connected parallel for better efficiency ....
and all installers are avoiding the question if a permit is required from PEA for installing a system? , saying under 5Kw installation permit not needed? .....
also keep in mind an on grid ,no batteries solar system will cut your electric bill only about in half (your system must have a safety your PEA meter can not turn back ! ,as all non solar use ,nighttime /less sun will still make u use the normal grid electric ....as info ;)

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Re: Solar energy

Post by Khun Paul » August 17, 2022, 6:58 am

Upon arrival here some 20+ years ago, Solar Power was here in its infancy and anything that was available was FAR TOO expensive to not only buy and as for installation was a no no.
Later as it came on line and prices were dropping then it did be a viable option, however as has been pointed out installation was too costly, latest technology was not an option . The option I would like would be to make the pwer and any I do not need feed back into the local grid, therefore need for batteries not required a major saving of the installation and running costs generally but sourcing that is I think is a nightmare.
There are many main and local installers and providers, but some I feel are downright dangerous .

BUT now I am in the latter years of my life the expenditure will far outweigh any savings I may make in the first 5/10 years and as the local electricity companies here have made huge leaps in improving the service and far less blackouts now, it seems a pointless exercise.

If one is that worried important power can be provided by a Portable generator to save frozen objects and provide water into a house at those times of no electricity. Those costs , purchasing a reliable one are reasonable and requires minimum maintenance.

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Re: Solar energy

Post by Udon Map » August 17, 2022, 9:00 am

Khun Paul wrote:
August 17, 2022, 6:58 am
... I do not need feed back into the local grid, therefore need for batteries not required ....
Wouldn't batteries be helpful for providing electricity at night?

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Re: Solar energy

Post by Khun Paul » August 17, 2022, 10:01 am

Udon Map wrote:
August 17, 2022, 9:00 am
Khun Paul wrote:
August 17, 2022, 6:58 am
... I do not need feed back into the local grid, therefore need for batteries not required ....
Wouldn't batteries be helpful for providing electricity at night?
I wasa referring to the practice of being able to top up the local energy supplier at night you would use them , as 99% of power outages here are in the daytime, night-[time it is hardly ever.

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Re: Solar energy

Post by Udon Map » August 17, 2022, 10:39 am

Khun Paul wrote:
August 17, 2022, 10:01 am
Udon Map wrote:
August 17, 2022, 9:00 am
Khun Paul wrote:
August 17, 2022, 6:58 am
... I do not need feed back into the local grid, therefore need for batteries not required ....
Wouldn't batteries be helpful for providing electricity at night?
I wasa referring to the practice of being able to top up the local energy supplier at night you would use them , as 99% of power outages here are in the daytime, night-[time it is hardly ever.
Oh, I see. IIRC the U.S. requires power companies to buy excess power back from homeowners who have solar whenever the electricity production from solar exceeds the home's requirements. I can't remember if there is a single two-way meter or if there are two meters, one to measure the home's draw from the utility and the other to measure electricity supply to the utility when the home is using less than it produces.

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Re: Solar energy

Post by noosard » August 17, 2022, 10:53 am

dont know about where you are but the power goes off at night just as much as during the day
Worse at night if trying to sleep without AC

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Re: Solar energy

Post by deankham » August 17, 2022, 11:58 am

I noticed the outlaws have slowly been investing in solar at the farm over the past few years. The biggest game changer for them has been the solar well pump. They are now able to grown many more vegetables, on a smallish scale, enough for personal consumption with some left over for the dragon to sell at the market.

They also have a couple solar panels and cheap looking invertor / battery set up to charge phones / run fan during the day and for fan / lights at night.

I'd say it's made a big change in their lifestyle as now will live on the farm most of the time.

Interesting statistic about solar panels on the roof;
According to a study conducted by researchers at UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, solar panels reduced the amount of heat reaching the roof by an incredible 38%, keeping a building's roof 5 degrees cooler than portions of a roof exposed to sunlight directly

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Re: Solar energy

Post by noosard » August 17, 2022, 2:38 pm

Makes sense as the solar panels are shading the roof

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Re: Solar energy

Post by Whistler » August 17, 2022, 2:59 pm

deankham wrote:
August 17, 2022, 11:58 am
I noticed the outlaws have slowly been investing in solar at the farm over the past few years. The biggest game changer for them has been the solar well pump. They are now able to grown many more vegetables, on a smallish scale, enough for personal consumption with some left over for the dragon to sell at the market.

They also have a couple solar panels and cheap looking invertor / battery set up to charge phones / run fan during the day and for fan / lights at night.

I'd say it's made a big change in their lifestyle as now will live on the farm most of the time.

Interesting statistic about solar panels on the roof;
According to a study conducted by researchers at UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, solar panels reduced the amount of heat reaching the roof by an incredible 38%, keeping a building's roof 5 degrees cooler than portions of a roof exposed to sunlight directly
Interesting post Mr D.

I never realised the heat reduction aspect. In fact, I have never seen any adverts for solar panels pointing out this significant benefit. Thanks for that piece of info
I had a bumper sticker in Texas that read 'Beam me up Scotty'. I often wish I could find one in Udon Thani

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Re: Solar energy

Post by tamada » August 17, 2022, 6:38 pm

noosard wrote:
August 17, 2022, 2:38 pm
Makes sense as the solar panels are shading the roof
...and don't catch fire.
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