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100% solar powered maisonette possible?
Rank: Member Joined: 5/15/2019 Posts: 687 Location: planet earth
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madhaquer wrote:When planning to go off grid or reduce your power bill, the approach is different from just looking for a backup to KPLC instabilities. This point is critical in determining the overall cost of the system.
If you only need a backup system, then what amorphous recommends is perfect. You just need something to charge phones, lighting and very basic use of power. The rest like microwave oven, water heating etc can wait.
When going off grid or planning to move in that direction, the planning requirements are long term and in some cases lifestyle needs to be adjusted. In this scenario, the loading requirements determine the battery dimension which determines the bulk of the cost.
Personally i recommend solar water heating solutions for all cases. A solar water heater when planned for properly, guarantees hot water throughout the household and some storage attached to that too. Good stuff! I read somewhere that water heating consumes a whopping 70% of domestic power in some cases. I definitely need to invest big in solar water heaters. In the final analysis, it all boils down to sheer plain old hard work and dogged persistence. Nothing more, nothing less!!
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Rank: Member Joined: 5/15/2019 Posts: 687 Location: planet earth
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The only video on hybrid solar inverters you will ever need to watch. Simply amazing, I will have to get this device soonest. In the final analysis, it all boils down to sheer plain old hard work and dogged persistence. Nothing more, nothing less!!
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Rank: Member Joined: 11/10/2010 Posts: 281 Location: Nairobi
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The best decision i made when doing my house was double piping to all taps. I installed mixers and a solar water panel with a 300L tank attached to it.
Gives a free choice to use cold, hot or warm water. No need for instant showers.
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Rank: Member Joined: 5/15/2019 Posts: 687 Location: planet earth
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madhaquer wrote:The best decision i made when doing my house was double piping to all taps. I installed mixers and a solar water panel with a 300L tank attached to it.
Gives a free choice to use cold, hot or warm water. No need for instant showers.
Nice! I have also double piped and made provision for solar water heater but yet to install. Do you have an overhead tank higher than the roof? I don't and I'm told I will need a booster pump as a result. Any opinion on this? In the final analysis, it all boils down to sheer plain old hard work and dogged persistence. Nothing more, nothing less!!
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Rank: Veteran Joined: 1/10/2015 Posts: 961 Location: Kenya
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amorphous wrote:sqft wrote:The easiest and cheapest way to go off grid. Install the following:
1. Solar PV system to power TV, Radio, fridge, charge phone, lighting (2x 200ah batteries will do) - cost of system 4x150w panels, charge controller, inverter, batteries = 90k.
2. Solar water heater to take care of hot showers (200l system about 80k)
3. Small 2.5 kva generator for any extra power needs eg ironing, baking in the oven, submersible/water pump, washing machine etc (cost about 30k and consumes about 1 ltr fuel per hr i.e 100bob).
Total off-grid cost about 200k and you say GOODBYE to KPLC FOREVER.
NB: one can do away with the microwave and use other means to warm food hehehehehe I like this! I like a minimalist approach to solar; it shouldn't be the type of system one should depend on to power 100% of their full load in Nairobi (if the site is in the boondocks) but rather something to power the basics 24/7. In the city...it should just be a backup. Solar water heater is a wonderful idea. No need for instant showers and heaters that draw needless juice. Microwave has been a no no for me even with KPLC. I read the studies on the harmful effects on foods and said never again around 2010 or so. Even at restaurants if I see them heading to warm my samosa in a microwave I shout a loud NO. That is the MOST COST EFFECTIVE setup you will ever need to go off grid and it takes care of 100% of your needs. You could also get a direct drive solar fridge that connects directly to the solar panel without the need of a battery. This would reduce expense on solar batteries greatly. Direct drive Solar fridge costs 96k from sollatek and includes a free panel.  Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
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Rank: Member Joined: 11/10/2010 Posts: 281 Location: Nairobi
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amorphous wrote:madhaquer wrote:The best decision i made when doing my house was double piping to all taps. I installed mixers and a solar water panel with a 300L tank attached to it.
Gives a free choice to use cold, hot or warm water. No need for instant showers.
Nice! I have also double piped and made provision for solar water heater but yet to install. Do you have an overhead tank higher than the roof? I don't and I'm told I will need a booster pump as a result. Any opinion on this? I don't have an overhead tank apart from the solar tank+panel itself. I have a booster pump that pumps my water from ground based tank to that tank and others in the ceiling. The council water supply also goes up to the tanks when the pressure is right.
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Rank: Member Joined: 5/15/2019 Posts: 687 Location: planet earth
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sqft wrote:That is the MOST COST EFFECTIVE setup you will ever need to go off grid and it takes care of 100% of your needs. You could also get a direct drive solar fridge that connects directly to the solar panel without the need of a battery. This would reduce expense on solar batteries greatly. Direct drive Solar fridge costs 96k from sollatek and includes a free panel. Asante sana for this! In the final analysis, it all boils down to sheer plain old hard work and dogged persistence. Nothing more, nothing less!!
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Rank: Member Joined: 5/15/2019 Posts: 687 Location: planet earth
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madhaquer wrote:amorphous wrote:madhaquer wrote:The best decision i made when doing my house was double piping to all taps. I installed mixers and a solar water panel with a 300L tank attached to it.
Gives a free choice to use cold, hot or warm water. No need for instant showers.
Nice! I have also double piped and made provision for solar water heater but yet to install. Do you have an overhead tank higher than the roof? I don't and I'm told I will need a booster pump as a result. Any opinion on this? I don't have an overhead tank apart from the solar tank+panel itself. I have a booster pump that pumps my water from ground based tank to that tank and others in the ceiling. The council water supply also goes up to the tanks when the pressure is right. Nice  I will work on getting this installed post haste. In the final analysis, it all boils down to sheer plain old hard work and dogged persistence. Nothing more, nothing less!!
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Rank: Member Joined: 5/15/2019 Posts: 687 Location: planet earth
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Moneysaver. Maridadi sana. Looks very sleek and nice. Depending on orientation to the sun, however, I want mine hidden in the back of the roof rather than mbele like I see many doing. I like that it comes with a panel with which you can monitor things without having to climb the roof.   In the final analysis, it all boils down to sheer plain old hard work and dogged persistence. Nothing more, nothing less!!
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Rank: Member Joined: 5/15/2019 Posts: 687 Location: planet earth
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We had a blackout juzi jioni and there I was enjoying my well lit sitting room, laptop and TV running shwaaaaaaa bila msukosuko wowote for hours while I sipped my coffee. Solar backup na beautiful thing -oo. Voltage on the battery was about 12.8 and only went down to 12.5 after all that usage. In the final analysis, it all boils down to sheer plain old hard work and dogged persistence. Nothing more, nothing less!!
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