Any Solar Electric experts out there? I want to get off the grid & start

[Vincardog]

my new business helping other people get by without polluting electricity.
Please reply with any good leads on where to buy supplies and such.

[harris8]

1. Home Power magazine is the best!

...available at many bookstores, including Borders, etc., and on the web at: http://www.homepower.com/

[Solo_in_MD]

2. +1 for HomePower

Consider a grid tie system. Best of both worlds

[Vincardog]

3. I am thinking of building a grid tied system. I will run the meter back

ward when ever I can. I do not want to loose the power converting to 220v to run the well.
The question is What is the cheapest way to get started?
How do I design a modular expandable system?

[WePurrsevere]

4. Other great areas on DU to get some help/suggestions are... (links)

Environment/Energy & Frugal and Energy Efficient Living Group

My husband is a retired (due to disability) engineer and has been doing a lot of research on alt energy. We've thought about doing something similar only not narrowed to only solar, alt energy, etc but salvage as well (we already have a huge old barn we could use and operate out of).

We're hoping to get some type of alt energy source up and running in the next couple of years although if we had the money we'd have a multi-layered system using solar, geo-thermal, wind, etc. We'd probably stay on the grid and sell back the extra since we both love the idea of getting paid by National Grid instead of us paying through to noses to them. :evilgrin:

[jpak]

5. Here's a couple of plug-and-play grid-tied systems

for a very reasonable price (and you save a lot installing it yourself)...

http://www.bluelinksolar.net/fmain.html

The Old Ice Box is one of the biggest electrical loads in most homes - 1000-2000 kWh per year depending age and model.

The 480W system Blue Link system could power an Energy Star fridge (which consumes ~450 kWh per year).

The 960W BL system could provide most of the electricity for an energy efficient home.

The biggest consumer of energy (electricity, natural gas, LP) in most US homes is the hot water heater (~5000 kWh per year for electricity).

A solar hot water heater is currently the best solar energy investment right now.

A good evacuated tube hot water system will cost $3500-9000 depending on size.

http://www.apricus.com/

With an Energy Star fridge, Blue Link PV system, and good solar hot water system you could provide most or all of your home's (non-heating and cooling) energy needs.

A good pellet stove could provide most of your heat too.

and you can buy them all at once or one at a time...

:)