Electricity Needs

[JackDW]

When looking at what our REAL electricity needs are when planning for Solar, we realized there were very few REAL "needs". Lots of, nice to have. But few real needs. By far, the biggest item on the list is Well Pump. Having water coming directly into the house and not having to go out to get it, would be a necessity in our planning. Since we are on a septic tank, as long as we have water, plumbing would continue to work.

Our number two is a fridge/freeze to keep food safe. Number three is charging stations for batteries. As long as we can recharge batteries, we will have lights and other small appliances.

??? When it finally came down to limited electricity, what would are your MUST haves?

(Wifey claims she CANNOT live with her AC. Well, it looks like an upgrade to my system is coming soon )

 

[DrHenley]

In this part of the country A/C is #1. Not a convenience, a necessity. Once upon a time houses were built to be livable without A/C, - porches to shade the walls from direct sunlight, large screen windows to provide flow through ventilation, large attics with large gable vents, 8' high ceilings, etc. but no longer. People die from the heat now when the power goes out.
Refrigeration for food is #2, but that is more of a convenience than a necessity. People will get used to eating canned food.

As far as getting water from the well, they had that figured out in the 1800s...

 

[Brent S]

I agree that a lot of the power we use isn’t necessary. Many electronics continue pulling power even when shut off, lights get left on, many appliances are energy guzzling etc. With my labor costs not counted I can be completely off grid and run everything I currently use for about 14k. This first set up I’m installing now will run half of my needs. I got all the panels for both Systems and the rack system I put in can be expanded for the second row of panels pretty easily. The second inverter can be single phase and just supply 120v so it won’t be as expensive as the first one that I needed to run the well. As doc pointed out AC isn’t a luxury here in the south, but a smaller unit that just cools one area of the house is liveable. By making some thoughtful changes you don’t need to have a huge solar system.

 

[Brent S]

When looking at what our REAL electricity needs are when planning for Solar, we realized there were very few REAL "needs". Lots of, nice to have. But few real needs. By far, the biggest item on the list is Well Pump. Having water coming directly into the house and not having to go out to get it, would be a necessity in our planning. Since we are on a septic tank, as long as we have water, plumbing would continue to work.

Our number two is a fridge/freeze to keep food safe. Number three is charging stations for batteries. As long as we can recharge batteries, we will have lights and other small appliances.

??? When it finally came down to limited electricity, what would are your MUST haves?

(Wifey claims she CANNOT live with her AC. Well, it looks like an upgrade to my system is coming soon )

For me the fridge, freezer, well and a couple smaller 110v circuits for some lighting and an occasional small appliance was my goal for the first half of my system. The AC, washing machine, and the rest of the 110v circuits will be run by the second half.

 

[JackDW]

When it come to AC, I will use a couple window units rather than run the 220v needed for the central unit. I will run one unit and once that room is cooled, shut it off and run the other. A pain, but will allow me to greatly reduce the overall power requirements.

I just happen to have a couple units that I used a couple years ago when the central unit was out.

 

[DrHenley]

When it come to AC, I will use a couple window units rather than run the 220v needed for the central unit. I will run one unit and once that room is cooled, shut it off and run the other. A pain, but will allow me to greatly reduce the overall power requirements.

I just happen to have a couple units that I used a couple years ago when the central unit was out.

I have a small unit still in the box for just that purpose! I have another small unit in the shop that I could bring indoors. I can run both on my propane genny.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Necessities for us is; 2 fridges, 2 freezers, 4 tv's, satellite dish, backup forced air furnace with a.c., indoor and outdoor lighting, washer and dryer, 3 celing fans, shop lighting and outlets throughout. We run everything in the house and 2 shops on solar.

 

[Brent S]

Necessities for us is; 2 fridges, 2 freezers, 4 tv's, satellite dish, backup forced air furnace with a.c., indoor and outdoor lighting, washer and dryer, 3 celing fans, shop lighting and outlets throughout. We run everything in the house and 2 shops on solar.

I use a dryer now on the grid but never really considered using it with solar. Huge energy guzzler. An electric water heater is pretty bad too. I bought a new on demand gas water heater but haven’t installed it yet. I had just replaced the electric one and decided I should get some use out of it before swapping it out.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I use a dryer now on the grid but never really considered using it with solar. Huge energy guzzler. An electric water heater is pretty bad too. I bought a new on demand gas water heater but haven’t installed it yet. I had just replaced the electric one and decided I should get some use out of it before swapping it out.

Our dryer is propane and we have a propane tankless water heater. They use very little electric, including the washing machine.

 

[Brent S]

Our dryer is propane and we have a propane tankless water heater. They use very little electric, including the washing machine.

Is your washer all electric? I don’t really know how much mine pulls. I will put a watt meter on it and see what it actually needs.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Is your washer all electric? I don’t really know how much mine pulls. I will put a watt meter on it and see what it actually needs.

The washer is electric. Both washer and dryer are front load models. I'm not sure what their electric consumption is but the solar panels run them fine during the day.