|
|
OCTOBER 2012
“Our Mission: Gallup Solar is collaborating with elected representatives, utilities and industry to bring solar power to all peoples in our area”
OCTOBER MEETINGS SCHEDULE
Meetings are from 6-8 p.m.
at 113 East Logan Ave., Gallup, NM
Refreshments are served
The public is always welcome and your input is valued.
October 3 at 6 p.m.
MILWAUKEE SHINES – A TEMPLATE FOR GALLUP SOLAR
HOW TO START A SOLAR REVOLUTION
October 10 at 6 p.m.
MILWAUKEE SHINES II – A TEMPLATE FOR GALLUP SOLAR
WE DON’T NEED TO REINVENT THE WHEEL
October 17 at 6 p.m.
GALLUP SHINES
October 24 at 6 p.m.
GALLUP SOLAR BOARD MEETING
October 31 at 6 p.m.
HALLOWEEN SPOOKY STORIES POTLUCK
BRING YOUR INSTRUMENTS
SEPTEMBER COMMUNITY MEETINGS
A possible Kickstarter or Entrepreneur Expo Project is the solar powering of “Tommy’s”, the Healthy Food Truck, recently brought to in Gallup by Laura Sinclair.
September 5 at 6 p.m.
PROJECTS FOR KICKSTARTER AND/OR THE ENTRPRENEUR EXPO, OCTOBER 12 AT UNM-G
Bill Bright took us to the website Kickstarter.
following is from their website
Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects. Every project is independently crafted, put to
all-or-nothing funding, and supported by friends, fans, and the public in return for rewards. The filmmakers, musicians, artists, and designers you see on Kickstarter have complete control and responsibility over their own projects. They spend weeks building their own project pages, shooting their own videos, and brainstorming
what to offer as rewards. Rewards are things like a copy of what's being made, a limited edition, or a custom experience related to the project. Every project creator sets their project's funding goal and deadline. If the project succeeds in reaching its funding goal all backers' credit cards are charged when time expires. If the project falls short no one is charged.
AND WE HAVE OUR OWN VERSION OF KICKSTARTER COMING UP OCTOBER 12 THE UNM-G ENTREPRENEUR EXPO A CHANCE FOR LOCAL INVENTORS AND ENTREPRENEURS WITH AN IDEA TO EXHIBIT THEIR WORK AND COMPETE FOR PRIZES!
Here are the eligibility rules:
For more info contact Al Henderson 505-863-7634 or alhender@unm.edu
September 12 at 6 p.m.
FACILITATING PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLATIONS IN OUR AREA
FITZ SARGENT AND DON HYDE
Our main preoccupation now is getting some panels on local houses. Fitz Sargent has proposed group projects where a row of houses might go solar together. It would look so good. Power purchase agreements are also on his mind but the legalities would have to be worked out.
Don is busily contacting several solar contractors to see if they are willing to make free site visits so that we can tell people that their systems would be a lot cheaper that what they imagine. See our ad below…
Many contractors want at least 12 month of records and it seems the city will be able to provide those to Gallup Solar. Many people hate to look at their bills even as they pay them and to dig them up later is excruciating.
Two potential solar goers were at the meeting and of course each had specific problems, shade from trees and hot tub. We never advocate cutting a tree, when there are ground mounts or moveable systems and hot tubs are probably heated better with solar hot water than PV. Hopefully these valued guests will be back.
Due to Gallup Solar’s efforts, some of the established solar contractors from the Rio Grande corridor have begun looking our direction. They are responding to our requests with recommendations, advice and offers.To service our area they will be incurring additional costs for labor, travel and accommodations. By lining up several simultaneous PV installation jobs and providing information to them for each site analysis, Gallup Solar can help lower costs for everyone. We are also researching options for home improvement energy retrofit financing.
We are furiously engaged in seeking home and business owners who are interested in installing solar. We can also direct you to web resources for the purchasing of PV kits and system components. To sum up, we are ready to help you go solar regardless of the type of PV system you need---on or off the grid, small, medium or large.
PV is our current priority, but note we haven’t forgotten about the benefits and need for solar hot water and space heating.
Our help is FREE! Call Don today at 505-726-2497
September 19 at 6 p.m.
500 WATTS OR LESS
PORTABLE OFF-GRID SYSTEMS
Prototype not available yet
This photo is of a similar system
Joe Neas, who has presented to our group in the past, will design and build small portable solar systems, which can be used by off-gridders of all kinds. Be Sargent presented his newly minted specs for discussion. We muddled our way from OHM’s Law to sine waves discovering huge gaps of knowledge, which, in many ways, was very educational.
This system may be too big for loner off-the-grid weekend cabins or perfect for family vacations. It may seem too small for families living full-time in off-the-grid trailers, hogans and other housing who have conventional refrigerators and microwave ovens. But with some change-outs and small lifestyle changes (and propane) it could work nicely as a permanent supply source. Anyway, Joe will make adjustments to suit and he will drive through mud.
ELDORADO SOLAR NEW MEXICO
TRAILER MOUNT
PORTABLE 500 POWER SYTEM
Specifications:
Phono 230 watt Poly Solar Panels (or equal)
Includes 2 each
Normal power (Wp) - 230 watts/each
Volts @ normal power - 24 volts
Current @ normal power - 7.83 amps
Module efficiency - 14.3
Warranty - 25 years
Aims Inverter (can be upgraded)
Model - pwrinv25K24V
Maximum AC power - 2500 Watts
Surge capacity - 5000 Watts
DC input - 24 Vdc
AC output frequency - 60 Hz +/- 1 Hz
AC output volt range - 120 Volts +/- 10%
Output wave form - Modified Sine Wave
Optimum efficiency - 90%
No load current draw - < 0.6 amp
Input volt range - 20-30 Vdc
AC receptacle - 2each 1500 watt
Warranty - 2 years
Xantrex C 35 MPPT Charge Controller (or equal)
Capacity - 35 Amps
Voltage - 24 Volts
Warranty - 2 years
Batteries (2 each standard system)
Brand - Interstate
Model - U1850 HC 12 volt
Type - Deep cycle/wet cell
Capacity - 215 Amp/Hours each
Warranty - 24 Months (prorated)
These unit can also be built to you specification and needs,
and can be located in any area.
Systems includes all enclosures, wiring, and mounting
for a complete and operational system.
Information can be obtained from:
ELDORADO SOLAR NEW MEXICO
ATTENTION: JOSEPH NEAS
PHONE: 505-264-1295
Pricing for this unit as described above is $3,750.00
September 26 at 6 p.m.
GALLUP SOLAR BOARD MEETING
The Not So Small Solar Systems of Candy Kitchen
The Third in a Series
by Be Sargent
A MAGNIFICENT SYSTEM
This solar array has six 165 watt panels for a total of 990 watts.
The array tracks the sun like a sunflower. This black flat panel is designed to catch the early morning sun to expedite the "waking" up of the tracker. A ¼ inch tube connects the two square tubes of steel on each side of the panel array. On the outside edge of each of these square tubes is a reflector. When the sun hits the eastern edge in the morning, while the western edge is shaded by the reflector, it heats the gas in the system which expands and sends it to the cooler (shaded) side. The effect is that the weight differential then forces the turning of the panels to face the sun. As long as the sun is equally hitting the two end tubes, there is equilibrium. As the sun moves, the energy is put into the unshaded side and the gas moves to the shaded side, which then moves the panels to face the sun.
There are many different positions that the tracker can be put in to maximize the alignment with the sun at different times of the year. This array is moved to only two positions - once in April and once in October.
From the array to a shed the wires go to a charge controller, vertical box on the right of photo, thence to the batteries and back here to the inverter, horizontal box in the photo. From the inverter, which converts DC, direct current from the sun, to AC, alternating current used by most appliances, the power goes to the house. Between the two is a breaker box that can shut down either the panels to the battery or the battery to the inverter.
 
The battery bank is configured as a 24V system. The voltage of the batteries is a function of the way they are wired, which in this case is four 6V batteries wired in series, each series adding up to 24 volts and then the 5 runs of 4 batteries run in parallel for magnificent amperage.
With all this why is a generator needed? Unfortunately for several people in CK, an affordable solar pump was not available when they dug their wells, so gas generators are needed to pull water up from 750 feet down and once it’s going might as well fill up the cistern. But from there the water flows to the house by gravity.
 
Solar power is used for the pressure tank that keeps water flowing in the house and runs the on-demand hot water heater.
 
 
And, finally, there are solar powered amenities: a freezer, washing machine (grey water producer of course), entertainment and work stations.
Membership
Gallup Solar has no membership dues but members are encouraged to contribute their time to help the organization thrive.
If you can't attend one of our Wednesday night meetings, please send ideas or tax-deductible donations to Gallup Solar, Inc., 113 E. Logan Ave., Gallup NM 87301
and go to our website: GALLUPSOLAR.ORG
Gallup Solar posts regular updates on Facebook and Twitter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
