[sci.electronics] More info on off-grid power production in Santa Cruz Mts.

jfd@octel.UUCP (John F. Detke) (03/14/91)

Well there seems to be some interest in off-grid power production, mostly in 
this group. Shall we continue this here?

The relative information I have so far:

PG&E is either $10/ft or $10,000 mile. with some small token amount
"free" depending on your estimated usage. PG&E isn't responding to my phone calls.
Anyone ran power recently? Was easment rights much of a hassle?

Generators appear doable, altho noisy (both electrically and audiably).
Anyone have figures of efficiency of power converters, battery charging, etc.

My last PG&E bill shows 500 KWh, but that includes several fish tanks (pretty
much a no-no I assume), forced air gas-fired heat, an electric dryer, and the
computer (Sun 3/60, bw monitor with 141 disk drive running continuously).
This seems too high for a self-generation system, altho I can probably cut
this in 1/2 (no fish tanks, gas dryer, wood/propane heat, turn off monitor, etc.)
Anyone running off grid have any idea how much power they use?

How about batteries, cost and life expectantcy? I have only seen two systems
so far, and they both had lead-acid batteries (6V?) are there alternatives, 
and what are the pros/cons?

How about a system to tie the (electric start) generator in, so it starts 
automagically? Too complex? This seems like it would be more efficient 
(only run generator when need to) but would put a larger strain on the
storage system (batteries, or whatever).

The only information I have on PV is that is expensive up front, but decreasing
all the time. The Jan issue of Garbage listed PV at $5/watt, altho that may have
been only for the silicon.

Well enough bandwidth for now,
jfd
-- 
John F. Detke
Octel Communications Corp
890 Tasman Drive
M/S 05-04
Milpitas CA 95035
jfd@octel.com

esf00@uts.amdahl.com (Elliott S. Frank) (03/19/91)

In article <446@octeld.octel.UUCP> jfd@octel.UUCP (John F. Detke) writes:
>
>PG&E is either $10/ft or $10,000 mile. with some small token amount
>"free" depending on your estimated usage. PG&E isn't responding to my phone calls.
>Anyone ran power recently? Was easment rights much of a hassle?

Easement rights are typically identified in your grant deed -- the
easement for access typically also allows utilities. If you don't
have hassles about getting a phone line strung to your property,
you can't have hassles about getting PG+E strung. A neighbor
who has granted you a utilities access can't specify which ones
he doesn't want crossing his land.

One of our neighbors on our ridge is checking into bringing PG+E
into our homes. The free allowance is based on something called
"Part 15 allowances", basically so many feet of free line for
various modes of consumption: 175' for lighting, so many feet
for a refrigerator, so many for an electric stove, so many for
a large motor (well or furnace blower), so many for other large
items, so many for electric heat. If you go "all electric" (with
the promise of a $100 x n/month bill), you can get several
hundred feet of power line. If you ever wondered why there are
"all electric" homes up in the hills, the "Part 15 allowance"
is the answer.
-- 
Elliott Frank              ...!{uunet,sun}!amdahl!esf00     (408) 746-6384
                       or ....!esf00@amdahl.com

[the above opinions are strictly mine, if anyone's.]
[the above signature may or may not be repeated, depending upon some
inscrutable property of the mailer-of-the-week.]

bhoughto@hopi.intel.com (Blair P. Houghton) (03/19/91)

In article <fa7a01ft42XV00@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com> esf00@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com (Elliott S. Frank) writes:
>If you ever wondered why there are
>"all electric" homes up in the hills, the "Part 15 allowance"
>is the answer.

I'd say it has a lot to do with the cost of laying an equal
distance of gas pipe, which is somewhat redundant since
you're running electricity already.  Compare the (enormous)
cost of that parallel gas line to the (miniscule) incremental
cost of adding heating and cooking capacity to your certain-
to-be-installed electrical line.

				--Blair
				  "Yeah, I'd like rye and whole wheat
				   on white, with lettuce and pumpernickel,
				   and a large sourdough."