Act Six
Victory Power
Scene One: Standing in front of Homestead gesturing to panels on roof; wink.
Voice over:
“Independent power sources are harder to control and to destroy from one central point and, hence, afford greater security.”
-Pieper p.6
Narrator:
Operating your own power system now is similar to the idea of raising your own vegetables during WW2. Much like the function of “Victory gardens”, the more people who take responsibility for their own energy consumption the less time and money government agencies need to spend trying to feed a power hungry nation. The present energy crisis on the west coast during the summer and the east coast during the winter, shows that we are stretching consumption to the literal bare wire. Citizens who take up such personal responsibility are not only helping their environment by reducing the need for messy, mass produced power from polluting power plants. They are also helping their government, their community and their neighbors by being one less burden on a flawed system, as well as providing a well lit haven for those left in the dark.
Voice Over:
“We've learned new skills, and new ways to think about old problems. We've learned how to conserve when there is little, and how to better use whatever is in abundance. Best of all, we've learned that two people, working alone, can build a beautiful home, power it with wind and sun, and live in it as though it were a palace.”
-Ewing p.86
Scene update: Array on roof fades away
Narrator:
Emmy and I have not been to blessed with such an experience as of yet, but apparently Rex Ewing and his wife LaVonne have. For us, the affordability of such a system any time soon is out of the question. But we have located a few helping hands ready to pull us up to the next step when we are ready. By way of dsireusa.org I found a list of State of Maine incentives for renewable energy programs. One of their offers allocates up to seven thousand dollars for home systems producing less than 100kw. Unfortunately, with all the regulations and having to bring in a certified electrician with special training with such systems the seven thousand dollars may, at the most, offset the cost of the contractor.
So, as it seems, such a self-sufficient system is still well off into the future. In the mean time I have decided to design my system so it has plenty of room to grow and evolve, as well as being supplemented by the grid power that is already available in the house.
After doing some research I have decided to start with the rough pattern of a Grid tie (Grid parallel) system. The simplicity of this system “is one which the home (all or part of it), is set up as an off-the-grid system that would normally have a generator backup” (Ewing p.91). But, instead of using a noisy and expensive generators during long stretches of dark weather, we just switch over to the grid to charge the batteries before going solo once again.
The house itself will be wired for AC with #12 wire and 15amp breakers (leaving less chance for the wire to heat up before tripping the smaller amped breaker). The main use of power will be for lighting and the radio, and occasionally for the use of a computer or small TV may be nice. With this setup I will be able to tie directly into the grid until we get our feet (or batteries), under us when it comes to being able to store our own power.
While I'm on the topic of stealing power, I have found a comforting simile between the rats of Nimh (who steal power from Farmer McGibbons) and myself, who in an attempt to burn less fossil fuels during construction and to alleviate the burdensome truth of not being able to afford a solar system for a few years, have run 500 feet of 10-3 underground cable from a spare breaker in the main garage. This is enough lead to allow for two decent size circuits to be run in the house. Also, having all the wires already run will make it easier to establish and control a solar setup when we get around to it. But still, like the rats, I wish to be able to move beyond such a parasitic relationship to a more self sufficient, and as I like to think of it, noble lifestyle.
The system, as of now, is planned so that the solar panels may be mounted on the roof (as it already faces true south). The proximity to the batteries is important because “in DC wiring, every foot counts”(Pieper p. 40). The seasonal adjustments of the panels alignment will be done manually from latitude -15 degrees in the summer to latitude +15 degrees in the winder with spring and fall positions being roughly around latitude. (Ewing p.124)
The batteries will be hidden, like the root cellar, beneath the floor of the house in a sealed box vented to the outside with 1” pvc pipe. For safety reasons there will be two DC disconnects: one between the solar panels and the charge controller, and the second between the battery bank and the inverter. The inverter, charge controller, and main breakers will be located in the closet by the front door where the grid-tie line already enters the house.
By using the load-calculation worksheet in Adi Pieper's book (p. 176) we have roughly estimated our daily usage of power to be about 300 amps per day and are presently trying to figure out the pros and cons of different voltage panels. We must first find out what kind of panels we can afford and how many of them it will take to reach our magic number. I have also found myself reaching the same standstill when trying to figure out the amount, and kind, of batteries we will need.
Voice
Over:
“It is not especially difficult to wire a renewable energy system, but it does take a clear, logical mind, an appreciation for detail, and a lot of time. If you think you can put together your own system, you probably can. If you have doubts, it might be better to leave it to a professional.”
-Ewing p. 190
Narrator:
The plans I have at this point come to are based on the two readings I have completed and my own personal experience running AC lines. Unfortunately, I feel that I am a little in over my head when it comes to running these equations and knowing the local codes. Not saying that I cannot complete such a task on my own, I know that it's not that difficult and I find personal joy in the thought that I might be able to figure it out. Based on my ability to run similar systems (either rewiring a car's 12 volt system, or running 120 through a house) I feel that all I need is consultation with someone who would be able to answer my questions, be it either the local code enforcer or someone with a system of their own.
Now that I have a better understanding of what it is I don't know about electricity and local code requirements, I know what questions to ask. I plan to make the most of my last semester in academia by seeking out those who know what it is I wish to learn and offering them something in return for their wisdom.