The solar system should be fully charged in the next 24 hours.
On Friday, I started the two main projects that I want to get done by next weekend. Those are the solar energy running lighting (among other things) and the wireless network here at the house. The idea is that given any circumstance, I should be able to communicate - which equates to work for me, but has practical applications as well. Plus, it's something I enjoy doing and something which my father and I had planned to do - though the wireless network was not something he was too interested in. Fortunately, though he died, the equipment is here and I'm pulling out the stuff as I can and using it.
Solar Energy: Beginnings
Pop had planned to set up an elaborate system, and perhaps because of that and his other responsibilities, he never really got started. Somewhere along the line, some of the equipment disappeared. Maybe he sold some of it before he died (I'll check the receipt books); I was in charge of inventory by default. There's so much stuff downstairs that it takes me more time to find things in the junk than anything else.
I actually got a lot done on Friday. I picked up the parts, checked the equipment, and began charging a small lighting system here in Trinidad and Tobago. It will provide ambient lighting in the house at night within the next few days; he ran the cell down doing demonstrations of it. The fuse had also blown, so I replaced it.
Here are a few pictures of the system; click on them to see larger images:
Panel from the front gallery
Solar Panel with Trinidad dollar.
Charging the system.
The system shows it is charging. And that it needs cleaning.
And a dollar for scale
The solar system should be fully charged in the next 24 hours. The positioning of the panel isn't that great (I have to cut the heads off of coconut trees that are too tall), but it is charging and operating. Once it's in full operation, there should be no problem.
Wireless Internet Access
Once I was satisfied that the solar system was charging, I broke out the new wireless router and configured it, per the instructions. Jacked into the ADSL modem, I tested the router first with an RJ45 cable, then tested the wireless. It works. No surprises there; I've done it a few times before. But then I figured I would test something, so I built a makeshift circuit and doubled the voltage that comes out of the solar lighting system (above) to 12 Volts.
This was a bit of a risk, but I had emergency fuses for the system on standby. Better living through reckless experimentation...
So here's what the result was:
It worked for about 15 minutes before I completely drained what was in the unit. That leads me to the larger system...
The Larger System
The big system will power the wireless router, the ADSL modem, some lighting, a ceiling fan, and whatever else I can stick on it. This weekend, I lugged the 3 150 lb batteries to where I want them (not where Pop had placed them), cleaned off the 3 85 Watt panels, and dug up the mounting structure. So this week, if all goes well, that system will be in place. I'll write up some of the technical stuff as well.
The point is that it can be done. And maybe it should be done. Right now, the electricity bill for the house is $800 TT/month ($128.41 USD), and my hope is that the bill for November falls to at least 2/3 of that. It's a hard goal to reach with the washing machine, the dryer and refrigerator sucking as much power as they do... but... one has to have goals.
Will it be cost-effective? The equipment here cost about $1500 USD, and prices are about the same. So over the next 5 years, the system should pay for itself to be cost effective. But is cost all that this is about? No. It's about decreasing pollution, and also being less dependant on government controlled electricity (in Trinidad) that, while cheap, is not as dependable as one would think. In a more remote area - which I someday hope to live in - the value of such a system goes up.
Only one way to start...
A lot of stuff like this is planned for OpenDepth.com - open content plans and open content in general - that can be adapted for other areas. That site will officially open on January 1st, 2006... mainly so that I have time to do review some of the designs Pop and I came up with and test them.
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