Colorado

[Pozees]

Looks great. One of the things on my list also.

X2 - probably well down the road, but such a great bonus if it ever gets done!

 

[Ashdoes]

So, how much did it cost to set up? I've been told a couple of times that solar won't pay for itself when I'm setting it up myself. Do you have a battery source that holds your excess power, to be used later?
Our "coops" are in the barn, which we had wired from the house last year. It didn't add much to our monthly bill, but we also don't run heat out there.

 

[Minchi]

Okay Pozees I got the apples, we will see how they like them tomorrow. I really hopes this helps shut up my SLW, she just walks around squawking at the chicks now, I won't let her get close enough to peck them again. The last time I was so worried she hurt Starbuck that I ended up having a nightmare about it, now I am over worried. Oh well that will pass as they get bigger and can defend themselves better. I really was not planning on raising more this year, just went to the feed shop for some chicken feed.... How did this happen?

 

[samsr]

So, how much did it cost to set up? I've been told a couple of times that solar won't pay for itself when I'm setting it up myself. Do you have a battery source that holds your excess power, to be used later?
Our "coops" are in the barn, which we had wired from the house last year. It didn't add much to our monthly bill, but we also don't run heat out there.

Total cost of around $250.00. When i add a grid tie inverter and can send the excess power back to the house it will pay for itself pretty fast. I should be able to put $20 a month back into my pocket from the excess power it produces. I will let you guys know. Oh and yes i do have batteries out there to store power for later use. The motion lights are running off that power now.

 

[Pozees]

Okay Pozees I got the apples, we will see how they like them tomorrow. I really hopes this helps shut up my SLW, she just walks around squawking at the chicks now, I won't let her get close enough to peck them again. The last time I was so worried she hurt Starbuck that I ended up having a nightmare about it, now I am over worried. Oh well that will pass as they get bigger and can defend themselves better. I really was not planning on raising more this year, just went to the feed shop for some chicken feed.... How did this happen?

LOL Chicken math If they get to be a couple of months or more old, and you decide you really didn't need a couple more pullets, I am sure you can resell them as started birds, but chances are you will be able to integrate and enjoy them.

 

[Pozees]

Total cost of around $250.00. When i add a grid tie inverter and can send the excess power back to the house it will pay for itself pretty fast. I should be able to put $20 a month back into my pocket from the excess power it produces. I will let you guys know. Oh and yes i do have batteries out there to store power for later use. The motion lights are running off that power now.

What are you powering in your coop, just the lights? In ours we power the lights and in summer a fan, plus the heat plate for the chicks, and if I'm adding new chicks I run the heat lamp for a few nights until they figure out the heat plate. In the winter the only time I offered heat was when it was zero-ish and I had worries about a few juveniles, we put an electric heater out there overnight for a few nights. If it was just me I might not have done that but DH was very concerned, and I wanted him to be able to sleep.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Happy Father's Day to all you Dads out there. My "Boys" have gone off to the motorcycle track to spend the day together and then it is a BBQ dinner for them. I get to snuggle with my new granddaughter and wish my son love on his first Father's Day! Just way too cool!
Samsr, that is a very nice set-up. I think I will have to give it a go too. Where did you find your parts? Recommendations for the best or the most cost effective places?

 

[samsr]

I picked up the panel from a guy in Salida. He is on craigslist. His business is recycled solar. The panel was about 1/2 price compared to new. The other parts i got off ebay. The guy in salida does all parts needed however.
I will run the lights, the water heater and the panel heater this winter if need be. This is why i want a grid tie inverter. I could put the excess power on the grid durring the day when power is more expensive and use the cheaper power at night when need be. Right now i am producing about 20 to 30 times more power than what i am using. It would be nice to send that power back to the house to slow down the meter a bit.

 

[katie5668]

sounds really interesting...being a kinda visual person would love to see a pic of your set up with more details.
the idea of solar is the way to go for sure!

 

[samsr]

sounds really interesting...being a kinda visual person would love to see a pic of your set up with more details.
the idea of solar is the way to go for sure!

I can probably put something together something to show everyone what I did to make this system function. I did swap out my inverter today with a 900 watt inverter that has a standby mode. Instead of the one I had that didn't have a stand by mode. It should help the batteries last quite a bit longer. It is a 24 volt model instead of a 12 volt model. My panel is a 24 volt model 230 watt.it produces around 12 amps. So far the system is working well. I just have a couple of used semi batteries hooked in series to make the 24 volts that the panel and the inverter needs to function correctly. I may hook up a couple more batteries to provide even more stored power.
I will put something together in the next few days and get it posted. It really is quite simple. I wonder if someone makes a 12 or 24 volt heat lamp for a brooder?