Texas Electricity

Steps to Produce Your Own Electricity

If you want to save money and not have to depend on electric suppliers for all of your electricity needs, making your own electricity is one of the simplest things you can do.  Constructing your own solar panels is affordable at less than $100, and easy.  Whether you want to put your own electricity in your shop or storage shed, or generate power that opens your garage, you can do whatever you like – even rely solely on your own electricity, so that you can live independent of the electric company.

Steps

Determine Your Needs

• Determine what your needs are, but don’t deny yourself if it is important to you.
• Plan a way to extend your electricity if you underestimate your needs. 
• Plan thoroughly – don’t forget well pumps and other necessities.

Decide Why You Are Generating Your Own Electricity

• Is saving money your primary focus?
• Are you mainly preparing in case a disaster occurs?
• Are you trying to become self sufficient?

What Do You Need the Power For?

• Water/Well
• Lighting
• Refrigerator,
• deep freeze or other appliances
• Entertainment purposes
• Vehicles than run on electricity

Determine if Survival Requires

• The biggest television
• An automatic ice maker in your freezer
• Grow in Small Increments

You don’t have to swallow all the costs at once, so you may determine that installing your own electricity in stages is right for you.  Simply start small, and as you go along your confidence will increase so that you can go bigger.

1. When you shop for grid-attached rooftop systems, make sure that you choose one that includes the capability to expand.
2. Whether you have a grid up or not, you cannot run an automatic gate off of solar power.
3. Trailers and Rev’s require at least 60 watts of solar power if they are equipped with deep cycle batteries just to keep the batteries charged when not in use.  If you are going to use it and not run a generator each day, think in terms of 200-400 watts.
4. A garage or shed that is detached from your home that is without power or needs an electric door opener can be run off solar for a cost less than what you would pay an electrician to wire it to your main residence.
5. A well pump is essential so that you have water if the power goes out.
6. Specific circuits in your home may be isolated and placed on a battery/inverter.  Examples of this would be:

• Only the lighting circuits, so that your home can have light at all times
• The circuit that supplies your computer room, so you don’t have to worry about power interruptions
• The alarm system
• Heaters or pellet stoves that are powered by gas or propane
• Circulating fans
• Stoves, water heaters, ovens that are equipped with electric ‘brains’, but powered by gas/propane

Shop Around

If you have a local ‘alternative energy’ dealer, don’t assume they will give you the best deal or the best system, or offer you a bargain.  Usually, you will find they are harder to deal with.

• Be well informed and armed before you discuss your needs with a dealer.  You will likely experience that they are as ruthless and hard to negotiate with as a car salesman.
• Prior to visiting the dealer, make sure that you know what you are talking about.  Do your homework ahead of time!
• Salesmen can come in handy when it comes to state and federal rebates for alternative energy installations – after all, they aren’t all bad.
• Shop around and don’t get in too big of a rush.  You want the best equipment at the lowest possible cost after shipping, taxes, etc.
• Consider watching a solar dealer’s business, particularly the guys in the pickup trucks, if you aren’t exactly a ‘handyman.’  Often, you can hire the dealer’s help to install hardware for you – and you can be sure they know what they are doing.
• Some contractors are more experienced than others, so either make sure you hire one with experience, or barter for a better price if the ‘handyman’ is lacking a bit in the experience department.

Maintenance

• Anything will fall apart if you don’t take care of it
• Before you buy, consider how long it should last.  Sometimes, being tight now will cost you later.
• Try to set up a budget for costs related to maintaining your system for the long term.
• For larger installations, ask your agent about insurance coverage.  It would be a shame if you lose the results of your efforts because your home owner’s policy does not cover it if a disaster destroys it.   
• Prepare for the things that can go wrong (and will, eventually).
• Determine if it is really worth the trouble to you.  Some people want automatic convenience, no matter how it happens.  Generating your own electricity requires a little planning and daily thought.

Conservation

You actually can run everything you own on solar, wind and water, but let’s be realistic.  Most people would find it beyond their budget to install a system that can handle air conditioners, electric rangers, refrigerators and all of the other appliances that are used on a daily basis.  These appliances draw large amounts of current that prohibit most renewable systems from being able to handle them.  If you do have a local solar dealer that runs his entire business off of solar panels and keeps it frigid in the warm months and toasty in the colder months, it probably cost an arm and a leg in hardware and a great deal of their own time to install.

• Each dollar spent on conservation means that you spend two or more dollars less on generation equipment to run your home.
• Comfort vs.. Luxury vs.. Ideology

1. Micro-hydro power, wind and photovoltaic panels are not realistically able to heat or cool your home within reasonable budget limits.  If money isn’t an issue, they can maintain a comfortable temperature in your home, but likely you will be looking at a grid-tie solution due to the excess power that is generated, which batteries cannot soak up quickly enough.
2. Solar water and air heaters heat the water or air through direct sunlight, and not through an electrical circuit, but many do work well.
3. When the batteries are charged on a wind generator, the load must be put somewhere, and this can be a water heater, although the ‘diversion’ load won’t make the water hot by itself.
4. Unless you are made of money, it isn’t likely that you will be able to heat or cool your entire home with the size of solar or wind system you could comfortably afford. 

• Smaller refrigerators that open from the top tend to be the most energy efficient.  Determine what groceries must be kept cold, along with the food items you simply like cold.  Decide if some foods can be placed in a chest type freezer, or if re-arranging your kitchen layout is an option to consider.
• Refrigerators that are powered by gas, electric or heat are still available in today’s market, something you may want to consider.
• On non-grid systems, refrigerators, washing machines and other appliances that are 12/24 volt can have substantial power, unlike their AC counterparts.  This can be achieved by cutting the inverter ‘middle man’ out of the equation.  While 10-15% of a large load equals a good deal of wasted energy, 10-15% of a small load is a small price on an inverter.
  Inverters

Getting AC appliances and running them off of an inverter is much less expensive and more convenient than running an entire household off DC.

• The inverter is made in to the system that ties the power to the grid on a grid-tie system.  The inverter is then connected between your home and the power company’s meter.  Usually, these inverters can handle the power output requirements by being chained together.
• Smaller inverters can run individual household circuits, and are usually more cost-efficient than one large converter.
• Inverter, generator and grid circuits must not mix on non-grid-tie systems where the grid is used to supplement generated or stored power.  Examples of this would be:

Certain household circuits like kitchen and air conditioning or a battery charger can run off of grid/generator power, but other circuits that are supplied by inverters must be isolated from the grid power.

Backup

A self contained power system is not always reliable, because the elements are not always reliable.  Consider this:  Water is not always flowing, the wind doesn’t blow constantly, and the sun doesn’t shine every day of the year.

• Grid

For those who are already power customers, a grid is the least costly solution for most people.  The customer installs one type of power, for instance solar, and ties the package to the grid.  At times when there is not sufficient power coming in, the grid makes up for the shortage.  When there is excess power, the grid buys it.  With larger systems, the power meter can consistently run backwards.

• Storage

Getting connected to the grid can be very expensive if no power service is located near you, as can connecting an outbuilding to the house.  If a power service is not nearby, it is much more cost effective to make and store your own power.

Since the batteries used will basically be lead-acid deep cycle batteries, they can gas off of hydrogen, which means they should never be stored in your home.  Different battery types require different kinds of charge cycles, so be certain the charge controller will handle your type of battery, and that the controller is correctly configured for your battery.  You cannot mix and match batteries.  Usually, new batteries that are the same type as the old ones do not work well.

All batteries, even those that are ‘maintenance free’, should be inspected on a regular basis, as should their connections.

If deep cycle batteries are deep cycled beyond 20% depth of discharge often, they don’t do well, and the life of the battery will be shortened considerably.  They last much longer if you deep cycle them only occasionally, and cycle them shallowly the rest of the time.

Amp-hours is how deep cycle storage is rated, so the formula to figure this is:  Multiply amp hours by the number of volts (12 or 24) and divide by 1000 to get rough kilowatt hours.  To take the kilowatt hours and convert to amp-hours, simply multiply by 1000 and then divide by 12.  You will need approximately 83 amp/hours of 12 volt storage if you determine your daily use to be 1KWH.  Since you never want to discharge past 20%, you will need 5 times that amount or roughly 400 amp-hours to deliver that amount of juice.

In order to charge, more power is needed than the batteries you have are rated for.  So, if you can remove 1KWh off of the batteries over night, it’s important that you be fairly sure it can be put back in the next day with your normal use.  If you cannot achieve this, your batteries will last only a short time and will be discharged constantly.

Wet cells, or cells that are flooded are the most common, and need to be serviced.  You can add distilled water since the tops come off; occasionally these batteries need an equalize charge in order to remove the sulfur from the plates, which helps keep all of the cells in a similar condition.  In wet cell batteries that are high quality, some have independent 2.2 volt cells that can just be replaced should they go bad.  As they gas off, ‘maintenance free’ batteries will lose water that cannot be replaced because the caps do not come off, meaning the cells will eventually dry out.

You can not service gel batteries, and charging problems are unforgiving.  Using a charger that is made for a Wet cell will cook off the gel from the plates, and gaps between the plates and the electrolyte will form.  The entire battery will go bad once one cell has overcharged because of uneven wear.  They work okay as part of a small solution, but are not advised for larger solutions.

Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries are great, but more expensive than the other types of batteries.  They last a long time and there is no possibility leakage, although they do gas off if overcharged too often.  When not cycled too deeply and charged in the correct manner, AGM batteries have a long life and do not need service.

If you are thinking of using car batteries, they do not work well in instances where deep cycle batteries are called for, so leave them for your car only.

• Generator

A generator may be necessary if you want a backup in blackout/disaster situations, or if there is no grid.

You will need to devise a way to make power when all else fails.  Drawing batteries dead is something you want to avoid, and deep-cycling your batteries too often will mean replacing them frequently, or being left without any power source.

Batteries are necessary even with a generator in an off-grid system.  Light loads on a generator, such as running household lights, are handled inefficiently by most generators, while charging batteries places a normal load so that the generator works efficiently for the fuel it uses.

Power may falter when switching on a power-hungry device to a generator, which is slow to react when the load changes.

If you try to use a small generator that is usually available at your local hardware or home supply store that is designed for emergency use, it won’t last long for supplying power on a daily basis.

Not only do large household generators cost a ton of money, they can also be deadly.  If an electrician pops a service disconnect and doesn’t realize there is a backup generator, it can kill him. Most run off of diesel, LPG or gasoline, and start automatically if the grid power is interrupted.

When compared to household generators, those designed for trailer/RV/marine use do a good job.  They are quiet, small and made for constant use, and affordable as well.  These generators are designed to run on demand for hours at a time and last for years.

• Solar Power

Solar panels should face south for the maximum amount of sun exposure (in southern hemisphere, north facing and facing up near the equator).

It is helpful if your area receives mostly clear weather throughout the year; however, lightly overcast conditions can be beneficial as well.

Adjust your solar panels at the best angle according to your latitude.

Solar panels can point straight up at any latitude if it is the only option, but be aware that you will need more panels and may lose some efficiency.

Fixed mounts can either be placed on an existing roof or may be built on to their own structure.  If they are built on to their own structure, batteries may be housed and a charge controller underneath.  When they are located near the ground and have no moving parts, they can be easily mounted and maintained.

Tracking mounts are mechanical and can be easily damaged during severe weather.  Moving parts are also subject to wearing out, but these mounts do add efficiency by following the sun.  They also often cost considerably more than what you would spend by just adding a couple more panels to a fixed installation.

If a solar panel is rated for ‘100 watts’, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will deliver that amount.  It all depends largely on the weather, how you had to mount the panel, and where the sun is riding depending on the season.  You will need additional power.

• Wind Power

There are numerous types of wind generators.

1. Some can be purchased pre-packaged and for less money than equivalent output of solar panels
2. Car alternators can be used to make a wind generator, but you need relatively high winds for it to operate efficiently

According to where you live, a wind generator may need to be prohibitively high up in order to work

A specialized charge controller with a ‘diverter load’ may be needed.  This is usually a large resistor, but may be a 12 or 24 volt electric water heater element.

Research and shop carefully.  Wind generators can create a noise problem.  Neighbors might also consider it an eyesore.

Birds can fly through a wind generator and get injured or worse.

If you live in wide, spacious areas with little to block the wind, you are in luck.  You need a constant wind, but combined with solar power is often best, so that you have power on sunny days when the wind is low and windy days when it is cloudy.

• Micro-Hydro

With this model, you will find a variety of options ranging from a fairly robust and intricately designed system to a propeller that is homemade and connects to a car alternator.

Unless you have a stream or spring year round, or live on the river, Micro-Hydro probably won’t work for you as flowing water is a necessity.

TIPS

• You can find a ton of good information and articles on the internet, however most of them will be targeted toward selling a solution offered by a particular company.
• It may be that neighbors are will to go in together in order to pay for a power system in a remote location.  You may need a home owner’s association or some other similar structure, based on what is agreeable to all who are involved.  Also consider the possibility that some may move in the future.
•  ‘All In One’ systems do exist, but be warned – these are usually overpriced, too small or a combination of the two.
• If you have some knowledge related to electrical circuits, putting this information to work for you is not difficult.
  WHAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER
• Consider solar energy first if you live in an area that is usually sunny.  The same goes for wind power; if you live where the wind blows most of the time, consider this first.
• Micro-hydro may be a better solution for you than solar and wind combined if you are lucky enough to have access to flowing water.
• A combination of power sources is most effective.
• Those whose homes are supplied with electrical power provided by a utility company should consider a ‘Grid Tie’ solution.
• Consider a self-contained solution if you are not connected to the electrical grid and/or you live in a remote area, or you want renewable power back up.

COST AND MAINTENANCE

Up Front Cost

• Supplying all the needs of a household will be costly, no matter what system you use.
• If utilities are not already installed right to your doorstep, the cost of connecting new construction to the grid will be more expensive than what it costs for you to make the installations necessary to generate your own power.
• The system can be financed in a number of different ways, and some power sources provide tax/handout benefits.
• If the money spent just doesn’t make sense, does it justify itself in some other way such as . . .

1. Immediate access to power when there are no utilities?
2. Offer you peace of mind?
3. Perhaps you like the idea of not having wires run through your property.
4. Maybe you just want to brag – some folks do, and making your own power is certainly something to brag about.

WARNINGS

• Always be certain to check zoning laws and CC & R’s, and check on local building codes.
• To some, solar panels are just unattractive.  Others who may benefit from wind generators may find them both unattractive AND noisy.
• Some people may make waves about you using water if you don’t have the ‘rights’ to it.
• Whatever you decide to install to generate power, don’t assume that your homeowner’s insurance covers it – make certain it does.
• If you are really not at all knowledgeable about working electrical theory or the safety hazards, learn about the facts before you have someone else do the work.  Here is a list to guide you:

You can severely damage the property, like burning the house down, creating a leak in your roof, or even frying your own body parts.

You may be responsible for someone falling off the roof, being electrocuted or having improperly installed materials falling off on to someone.

Batteries that short out or are unvented can explode.

Severe burns or blindness can be the result of splashed battery acid.

If jewelry comes into contact with high amp DC power, it can cause severe burns or even stop your heart.

Make certain warnings are posted for electrical service people if power is back-fed through a generator or grid-tie inverters to the circuit panel.  If there are no warnings posted, it is possible a service man could be electrocuted because he assumes there is no power after shutting off the service.

This is no joke.  Those purple panels and harmless looking spinning wheels can really kill you.

THINGS YOU’LL NEED

• Deep Cycle Batteries
• Inverter
• Charge Controller
• Power Source(s)
• Wind Generator
• Solar (Photovoltaic) Panels
• Micro-Hydro Generator