The Alternative Energy Thread - Generators, Solar, UPS, Wind

[AusI]

This was def a very Informative thread but im still pretty noob at this and will have to read this over and over to get a hang of the stuff.

I have a question for that time. If I want to run a 1.5ton AC in the day is it feasible to do with a solar panel. From the.limited info that I get is that night time most likely is not feasible but what about day time?

Im interested in investing in good quality panels that can last for a decade atleast.

[khitran]

This was def a very Informative thread but im still pretty noob at this and will have to read this over and over to get a hang of the stuff.

I have a question for that time. If I want to run a 1.5ton AC in the day is it feasible to do with a solar panel. From the.limited info that I get is that night time most likely is not feasible but what about day time?

Im interested in investing in good quality panels that can last for a decade atleast.

U have to install inverter ac as it runs well on solar system. Still even for day time the installation will cost u min of 500k without including inverter ac cost as at least 2600W u ll require to run 1.5 ac.
But u ll be going off grid for day time like around 8-9 hrs.

[khitran]

Here's my experience,

I recently installed a 1640watt with Canadian solar panels. Infi inverter with Mppt charge controller and Sacredsun dry batteries.

My day time running load is about 700-900 watts. and night time load is 400-500 watts. Its been an excellent experience. I spent about Rs. 370K for everything. Day time load is taken care by the solar panels and batteries are used as backup at night time. Here's my observation, this system senses solar energy as early as 5.05am and switch over to solar power at 5.20am and then keeps powering till 7pm. (unless I exceed load beyond 1.5 kw).

Heavy loads such as Iron, air conditioning and water pump units still running on Wapda. Rest Fridge, Water Dispenser and lights, fans all solar powered.

Electricity charges are high from 7-11 nearly Rs:18/unit.
Try to manually change it around 4pm and then and go off grid during peak hrs (7-11). Then after 11 u can convert it on wapda again. By doin this u ll save some extra $.

[JustFarooq]

Can some tell me that how much watt of power a UPS consumes to charge batteries like I have a 1kva means 600watts ups of homage and battery of osaka 150A and have digital Wapda meter installed ar home which tells me how much watts r we using then I shut off every thing except Ups and I came to know that my ups consumes 0.08kw means 80 watts for charging of battery.
Right here I wanna know that how much power consumption by a 2kva to 5kva ups consume while charging batteries.

Allah o Akbar

[arsh247]

Electricity charges are high from 7-11 nearly Rs:18/unit.
Try to manually change it around 4pm and then and go off grid during peak hrs (7-11). Then after 11 u can convert it on wapda again. By doin this u ll save some extra $.

Thank you. I appreciate your suggestion. Will try to manage load in this schedule. cheers

Plus I have replaced all tube lights with energy savers (max 25 watts).

I am looking for LED bulbs (5 - 10 watts) for outside use at night. Need to replaced 8 energy savers (total 120watts) with these LED bulbs.

*** Update ****

I just found that we have load-shedding schedule from 5-6 and some days 5-7 so I can't switch over to Wapda during this period.

[MuhammadMusa]

I think peak and off peak rates are different in three phase meter only ? Is it true and what is the average cost per unit of 1000 units on a single phase unit ?

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[khitran]

^^ avg cost on single phase meter is Rs. 12/ unit. +-1
But in digital meter
Peak is 18
Off peak is 12
Plus taxes
These days in lhr wapda is totally replacing old meters by new 1 if any 1 doesn't agree to replace then they just damage it n ultimately one have to change it by paying extra to them.
I have experiences this. Dont know if any one else has faced it or not.

[arsh247]

^^ avg cost on single phase meter is Rs. 12/ unit. +-1
But in digital meter
Peak is 18
Off peak is 12
Plus taxes
These days in lhr wapda is totally replacing old meters by new 1 if any 1 doesn't agree to replace then they just damage it n ultimately one have to change it by paying extra to them.
I have experiences this. Dont know if any one else has faced it or not.

As far I know (from my neighbors electric bill with rotary meters) the (3 phase) avg unit cost is 16.5 per unit regardless peak/off peak plus taxes & blah blah charges. While I have digital and billed at Rs. 12.5 off peak and 18 peak plus taxes and blah blah charges.

Oh I forgot to mention SURCHARGE AZIZ also added to bills.

cheers.

[omar_575]

A quick question... My family is planning to get solar panels for our house in lahore. We intend to use them solely for supply to a 2 tonne ait conditioning unit which will run during the day in peak summer season from 9 am to 7 pm.
What's the average cost of such a system?
I'm no engineer and have no knowledge other than cars
Please mention the price here so that others can also take advantage.
I want the price of the whole system... Panels, batteries, etc.. Everything that needs to supply one 2 tonne split unit

[arsh247]

I read about solar system in this thread. It may be expensive upfront but it is a winner. Here's what I believe;

I will compare with a generator set only, Gas and Diesel fuel. Since, I used both before switching to solar.

I bought a Diesel Generator 5KVa. Estimated consumption 1.25litres per hour.
We have 8 hours load shedding schedule.
Let assume diesel price at Rs. 100 (for easier calculation) and also assume it remains at 100 for the 1 year.

Daily Diesel consumption: 8(hours)x1.25(liters/hour) = 10 liters.
Diesel cost: 10x100 = 1000 per day.

Let assume you have not used the Diesel Generator for 3 months (Nov, Dec, Jan) 365-92 = 273 days.
Annual Diesel Cost: 273 (days) x 1000 (Rs. per day) = Rs. 273000

Now add the maintenance cost (oil change) Rs. 1000/month
Repairs if any: Rs. 3000 (for full year)

Total Generator consumption and Maintenance will cost: Rs. 273000 + 12000 + 3000 = 288000 is the annual cost of operating a Diesel Generator.

GAS GENERATOR:
I also have a Gas generator 15KVa. Its operating cost given below;

Avg consumption based on 8 hour usage: 18 units of the gas meter per day.
For 273 days usage: 273x18 = 4914 units of Gas meter per year.
Avg cost per unit of Gas is Rs. 21 x 4914 = 103194 (this rate can be higher but I am assuming the lowest possible price inclusive of taxes & fees).
Generator Maintenance Oil change etc: Rs. 2000/month x 12 = Rs. 24000/year
Repairs (if any) Rs. 3000/year.
Total Operating cost of Gas Generator: Rs. 130194

SUMMARY:

For Diesel Generator vs Solar System:

Total Generator consumption and Maintenance will cost: Rs. 273000 + 12000 + 3000 = 288000
Solar System: 370000
Estimated pay off time: 2 years or less.
So its win win even if I have to replace batteries in 3rd year.

For Gas Generator vs Solar System:

Total Operating cost of Gas Generator: Rs. 130194
Solar system: 370,000
Estimated pay off: 3-4 years.

Now above is based on generators only. I have not added the electricity saving about 8 hours daily sunlight (free electricity during the day). Above all and the best part of solar system is you have 24 hours of electricity is just like dream come true. No hassle to switch on/off the generators.

I welcome other to share their experience plus any feedback and suggestions welcome here. Contact me for your solar system installations. (please use PM option to send a message)

[muh_farooq]

I have following setup
1 Cherry inverter 5 kva
4 batteries ags 200 ah
14 solar plates inverex (230 watts)

Load is 3000 watts.
I have installed kwh meter before and after ups. The max difference i got is, 8 units/ day. i.e ups took 38 units and gave 46, difference is of solar. Whereas people say that they got huge savings even with cheap setups.
Is that true?
In absence of sunlight, backup is 1 hour 40 minutes, is that sufficient provided the load is 3 kw.

[MuhammadMusa]

Brother this is not sufficient neither the energy you are generating by solar nor the back. You should have installed infini inverter for maximum savings. I just installed 1500 watt yingli panels with infini 3000 watt inverter and I am generating b/w 7 to 10 kwh power daily so you should be generating more as you have more panels similarly I am using 165 ah exide batties and the back up is minimum 4 hours depending on the load I put on batteries

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[muh_farooq]

Brother this is not sufficient neither the energy you are generating by solar nor the back. You should have installed infini inverter for maximum savings. I just installed 1500 watt yingli panels with infini 3000 watt inverter and I am generating b/w 7 to 10 kwh power daily so you should be generating more as you have more panels similarly I am using 165 ah exide batties and the back up is minimum 4 hours depending on the load I put on batteries

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brother i have installed solar panels of 230*14=3220 watts. they produce a maximum of 2200 watts. is that ok? brand is inverex (voltronix). plate costs me 20400 with 6 years warranty.

[mag88]

brother i have installed solar panels of 230*14=3220 watts. they produce a maximum of 2200 watts. is that ok? brand is inverex (voltronix). plate costs me 20400 with 6 years warranty.

Dear are u switching off utility power to ups during day time. Kw difference seems like been pv only been utilized during loadsheding in day. Hint use a timer relay to turn off at fajar and back on at maghrib. Try doing it manually for a week to confirm the root cause b4 investing on timer 1500 + atleast 30A contactor(relay) may be 3000pkr.

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[capsat]

duty is imposed on solar panels forget the economy & alternate energy

[MuhammadMusa]

brother i have installed solar panels of 230*14=3220 watts. they produce a maximum of 2200 watts. is that ok? brand is inverex (voltronix). plate costs me 20400 with 6 years warranty.

Brother I get max 1220 watts out of 1500 between 10 am to 3 pm and then gradually it starts reducing

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[MuhammadMusa]

I think in other inverters you can to control this manually but in infini everything is automated. Like at times I see when the pv input is excess or equal and the batteries are full there is no use of grid.

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[khitran]

According to mag88. The timer relay seams good solution as in case of infini, it doesnot know about our Wapda's peak n off peak charges timings.
So doing it manually or by timer relay is good option.
As if infini is not using power from grid while in day time, means not consuming off peak units but when it start consuming peak rates units getting power from grid around 7-11pm.
Asking for suggestion.
What to do in this situation of peak n off peak rates.
How to manage load. ?

[MuhammadMusa]

Lol I seriously have no information on peak and off peak unit prices just geard about such pricing by wapda but I don't know how they manage this

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[MuhammadMusa]

Secondly last month my three phase meter was charged with 1052 units and the bill was 20349rs and with use a month of solar and some restrictions this month it is charged for just 381 units and 5190 rs only. So this was my one month saving

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