wind and solar power - Any Experts?

[kevlarjohnson]

We've bought land in Colorado - off grid and I'm looking for someone that I can trust to help me figure out our electricity solutions...

I've talked to a couple "electrical engineers" who provide Off Grid systems and install them... and I've looked at the kits online.

Maybe I'm just Cheap, but it seams to me that the "packaged" kits are more expensive than the sum of the components purchased separately... I think I can buy the parts for about $4-5K and assemble them myself. - The Kit with instructions is $7 - 10 K.

The engineers who profess to be professional installers are charging about $40k.

I think I could install the whole kit in a weekend by myself the first time.

I hate buying stuff when I just don't understand the market or market value of goods and services. AND I especially don't like it when I feel like the other guy is getting to me - (whether he is or not).


SO, I guess the real questions I have are- What is it that I don't know?, Why should I pay more?... Can I do it on my own?... Will the building officials in Park County allow it?

[cosmiccowboy]

Are you planning to live there full time?

[kevlarjohnson]

eventually.

temporarily, I want to install a system (the learning kit) for a Camping/Storage shed/Well house/ high tech irrigation system. We'll go up 3-5 times per year and make subtle imporvements until we build the house.

[txpitdog]

I'm not an expert, but I've looked into it for our home in Pearland. Unless power is just not available for the property or you are adamant on staying off grid, I would recommend performing a cost analysis of off grid vs supplied power. Actually, I would recommend doing this anyway even if supplied power is out of the question. Wind, solar, natural gas, gasoline, or diesel will each have pros and cons, different useful lives, different maintenance and replacement costs. Plus, I suppose in Colorado you also have to think through whether one option would work better during heavy snowfall and long periods of cold temps.

I tend to overthink everything and proceed slowly, so this may not be helpful. I would probably just buy a big generator and fuel tank for the first year or so to get a better idea of what route you want to go. You'll likely need the generator anyway, and it will buy you time to look into battery banks for periods when there's not enough sunlight or wind to power your system.

One thing I did find out when I looked into a residential system was that it would take 15yrs for a solar system to pay for itself, not including maintenance or replacement costs.

...on Earth, as it is in Texas

[kevlarjohnson]

Based on the homework I've done, If you buy the components and design the system yourself, and install it - you can get a 2-3 year payback...

That's my whole point - if you hire an electrical engineer to design it - and install it - and you pay his markup on parts - you pay 10 times what it's worth turning a $5,000 project into a $40,000 job


That's why I'm asking the question - I've seen the parts and systems and I think I understand them - and I can purchase the parts and install them myself for a 2-3 year payback - and then - it's all profit - a no lose situation... but if you spend the $$cha-ching on the Electical Engineer/Contractor for what I think is an EXTREME markup - you lose your profitability and get taken advantage of.

THUS the question - What is it that I may learn the hard way that justifies the price?

[txpitdog]

Don't let me discourage ya. You can certainly afford to screw it up a few times and come out cheaper than having it installed professionally. And you will have learned the ins and outs of it in the process. Also, consider what value your time is to you if you do it yourself.

[Mike D]

Based on the homework I've done, If you buy the components and design the system yourself, and install it - you can get a 2-3 year payback...

That's my whole point - if you hire an electrical engineer to design it - and install it - and you pay his markup on parts - you pay 10 times what it's worth turning a $5,000 project into a $40,000 job


That's why I'm asking the question - I've seen the parts and systems and I think I understand them - and I can purchase the parts and install them myself for a 2-3 year payback - and then - it's all profit - a no lose situation... but if you spend the $$cha-ching on the Electical Engineer/Contractor for what I think is an EXTREME markup - you lose your profitability and get taken advantage of.

THUS the question - What is it that I may learn the hard way that justifies the price?

Is there an option to have an engineer do the design work for you and then you buy the parts and assemble it?


Sent from my iPhone

[savin yours]

I had someone install mine, too much for me.

[Johnny Dangerr]

Here comes the bickering............

[kevlarjohnson]

Is there an option to have an engineer do the design work for you and then you buy the parts and assemble it?


Sent from my iPhone

Yea.... He said he'd knock about 10% off the total package if I installed it.

[Mike D]

Yea.... He said he'd knock about 10% off the total package if I installed it.

Personally, I would go that route. That would keep the design responsibility on him.