quote:
no offense but in my experience you have that backwards.
the panels themselves are cheap by comparison to the batteries and easy to replace. And they do get more durable as the tech advances. By and large a good solar panel is the easy part.

I have two off grid camps on solar and can tell you that replacing the batteries is the tough nut all the way around. If I had to replace both banks today it would cost be at least 2K likely more plus the aggravation. It will be battery tech that changes solar

You have a point. I've got an off the grid cabin I power with LP, but have tried to add and supplement with solar. I've just had shite luck with panels being damaged. Haven't had them long enough to replace batteries!!! What brands do you use. I'm a newbie to all of this and trying to learn. I'd love to be totally energy independent. Looking at a turbine for spillway on pond. Not brave enough to put one on the creek even though I'm in BFE. It would be nice to have renewable energy source to run aerators/security etc. Any good resources you recommend for me to educate myself?

We don't have any local solar power sources and none of the contractors around here really deal with it. I've really been half arse in my efforts, but am always willing to learn and take input from those that do.

This post was edited on 10/17/20 at 11:11 am

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Posted by cgrand

HAMMOND

Member since Oct 2009

38937 posts

Posted on 10/17/20 at 11:21 am to SmackoverHawg

we’ve tried wind turbines. Unless you spend big big dollars they almost immediately break down in the slightest harsh environment. There’s a guy near us that has a $20K wind setup and it is sweet. Still, though you need a battery bank and it requires constant maintenance

we have three 6’ panels on the roof facing south and they’ve been up there in the sun/rain/wind/salt spray for 10 years, no maintenance. I use industrial lead acid batteries that are cumbersome, expensive and a pain in the arse to deal with. But, that’s the only thing that’s reliable due to the need for deep cycle storage. You show me a lighter, more durable and more efficient storage system and it would change everything

shite I’d go solar on my house if/when that happens.
that will be the breakthrough that changes everything

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