Alternatives

[steelbuttplate]

Well, the first windmill spins like a Corsair in a good wind, but doesn't put out much power. I used a Nissan fan motor, what I'm told I need is a 3 phase DC motor, if anybody knows an example I need one. Windmill cost was about $65. The solar works well, it will run 5 lights, a stereo, bench grinder , floor fan and hand drill all at once. The little panel 7 watt was my test subject got here, now I'm waiting for a connection for the 100 watt panel, which I'm calculating will give a 2.5-3 amp charge and recharge both diehards on a good sunny day. I can add more panels for $120 each and make it a 200 or 300 watt system if needed..
After the shop experiment is done, I'm starting on a 300 watt system for my house, come up in 3 rooms with one solar outlet each room and be independent from the power grid with it. This is gonna give me reductions from my power bill and give me backup during an outage, it should run computer, TV and refrigerator plus lights. My total cost in the 100 watt system for the shop is about $500 from a Canadian co. called Renogy. They seem to have their shit together and good prices.

[tomaustin]

that is great for when the sun is shining.....what storage do you have for the other days..?

[Junk Yard Dog]

There are all kinds of ancient motors down in the barn, some very big, some small. No idea what they are, and getting to them would be some project at this point with all the crap that's stuffed in down there.

[steelbuttplate]

There are all kinds of ancient motors down in the barn, some very big, some small. No idea what they are, and getting to them would be some project at this point with all the crap that's stuffed in down there.

This would need to be a battery powered 3 phase motor, how big are golf cart motors ? I found a 24 volt 250 watt scooter motor w/11 tooth sprocket on the shaft. For $40 . That might work. I can make a 4 way flat bar mount for the blades and weld it to the sprocket.

[steelbuttplate]

that is great for when the sun is shining.....what storage do you have for the other days..?

I'm working on the windmill, and still will be hooked to the grid, but have separate solar power.

[Junk Yard Dog]

There are all kinds of ancient motors down in the barn, some very big, some small. No idea what they are, and getting to them would be some project at this point with all the crap that's stuffed in down there.

This would need to be a battery powered 3 phase motor, how big are golf cart motors ? I found a 24 volt 250 watt scooter motor w/11 tooth sprocket on the shaft. For $40 . That might work. I can make a 4 way flat bar mount for the blades and weld it to the sprocket.

We have had golf carts in the past, but it's not a frequent thing. No golf carts at the moment.

[steelbuttplate]

I'm getting a steady 4 amp charge from this one 100 watt panel. This brought my batteries back from 12.0 V to 12.6 in an hour with 3 light bulbs burning. I'm definitely going to wire one into the house next. My total cost on the shop system was less than $550. I think this beats a generator.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Sounds like the panel that can charge my Jackery power station. It will charge it in 9-10 hours from dead on a sunny day. It can run power tools, radios, lights, and a small icebox.

https://www.jackery.com/pages/solar-generator

[steelbuttplate]

Sounds like the panel that can charge my Jackery power station. It will charge it in 9-10 hours from dead on a sunny day. It can run power tools, radios, lights, and a small icebox.

https://www.jackery.com/pages/solar-generator

Is your's 100 or 200 W ? I'm gonna add another panel and make my system 200. That should recharge mine in 4-5 hrs from a low battery.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Sounds like the panel that can charge my Jackery power station. It will charge it in 9-10 hours from dead on a sunny day. It can run power tools, radios, lights, and a small icebox.

https://www.jackery.com/pages/solar-generator

Is your's 100 or 200 W ? I'm gonna add another panel and make my system 200. That should recharge mine in 4-5 hrs from a low battery.

Jackery said it was 100 watt. There is an option for a two panel system, but as I only use it to charge the unit for the occasional field use one is enough. It's convenient when I need lights, or a small power tool out in the field.