How to design a solar powered grow room?

Mattemil said:
A friend of mine has his little outbuilding grow running from solar power, he has 4 1K lights.I helped with the build mainly as labor, he has the brains in that department.It cost him about 6 grand not including grow equiptment.

I dont know where the guy above got 10-15 grand in costs for every 3-4 lights.
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You should have your friend write up a detailed tek. I know, big request. But a few links to the correct materials and a list of mistakes not to make would be nice!

6-10 g on a setup to run 4 lights sounds expensive, but between to cost of electricity and price of good weed it would pay it self back quickly!
 
I think it is a great idea, i plan to power my whole house with primarily solar energy when i have enough cash to afford it. This will include my grow room. With a grow as small scale as i operate i don't see power consumption as a risk or an overly burdensome expense but i also see no down side...

.....so in the end i just like the idea of depending of fewer and fewer people to provide for myself.
 
ctoomuch said:
For just 4 1000w lights you would need a 12.5kw system, assuming 318w modules you would need 39 of them. There is no way you can do that for $6k-$7k. The inverter for that system costs $5k alone. I'm not talking about something I don't know about, I have my NABCEP and install solar daily. Even at costco a 5170 watt system is $13k. If it was that cheap I would have it on my house.
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Good points bro, I work in the power industry also. The estimate above... does it include the battery back-up system? If not, better throw that in cause the sun don't always shine lol (wind don't always low either so the same goes for wind turbines). Also, better be conservative with the published efficiencies on panels and understand that pigeon poop and UV damage affects performance. No reason it won't work, but you will need a large array IMHO.
 
Bubbagineer said:
Good points bro, I work in the power industry also. The estimate above... does it include the battery back-up system? If not, better throw that in cause the sun don't always shine lol (wind don't always low either so the same goes for wind turbines). Also, better be conservative with the published efficiencies on panels and understand that pigeon poop and UV damage affects performance. No reason it won't work, but you will need a large array IMHO.
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That's without batteries, which would basically double the cost of the system. I did run across a site that looks promising, http://shopdiyenergy.com/. I'll check it out when I get a chance. If you want the best, go with sunpower modules.
 
you could use a parabolic dish to reflect more light onto your panels which would increase power with less cost... also it would be best to use the panels to charge an array of wet cell car batteries which feed into a 12v to 110/120v inverter. the inverter can also be hooked up to regular power so if the batteries run or cannot sustain the lights, regular power will kick in. even if you only had one panel tha'ts less power that you have to pull from the grid..
 
unix60959 said:
you could use a parabolic dish to reflect more light onto your panels which would increase power with less cost... also it would be best to use the panels to charge an array of wet cell car batteries which feed into a 12v to 110/120v inverter. the inverter can also be hooked up to regular power so if the batteries run or cannot sustain the lights, regular power will kick in. even if you only had one panel tha'ts less power that you have to pull from the grid..
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They already make parabolic modules, this one is 6.2kw array ISFOC-SolFocus-array.jpg Car batteries could be used but they aren't deep-cycle, so they wouldn't last very long. And they would leak sulfuric acid everywhere while charging. Not to mention the fumes. You would still need a charge controller, and a car inverter from your local auto parts store won't work as it's not strong enough.
 
unix60959 said:
you could use a parabolic dish to reflect more light onto your panels which would increase power with less cost... also it would be best to use the panels to charge an array of wet cell car batteries which feed into a 12v to 110/120v inverter. the inverter can also be hooked up to regular power so if the batteries run or cannot sustain the lights, regular power will kick in. even if you only had one panel tha'ts less power that you have to pull from the grid..
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They already make parabolic modules, this one is 6.2kw array View attachment 2634136 Car batteries could be used but they aren't deep-cycle, so they wouldn't last very long. And they would leak sulfuric acid everywhere while charging. Not to mention the fumes. You would still need a charge controller, and a car inverter from your local auto parts store won't work as it's not strong enough.
 
CDNflames said:
Start up would cost, but then think if were to actually build or buy a setup that could run your room you would be laughing. People have solar systems for entire houses that run tv, fridge, dishwasher all theses items use mass amounts of watts. Growing weed electricity is the most important thing. Just have to design a solar system to produce necessary watts needed for room. Your cost of panels would be paid of quickly in lower electricity costs.
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My understanding is that it takes like 15-20 years to break even with solar power. Of course, if electricity rate raise or fall, the break even point would change. PV cells are getting cheaper and more efficient. This also changes the economics. The early adapters pay a premium for new technology. This finances improvements that we all benefit from later. God bless the early adapters!
 
Comatoke said:
You would spend a lot of money on a solar powered INDOOR grow.

that would be a hilarious idea.

a growroom with solar power.....

I've heard everything....
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I know how absurd it sounds to use natural light to power an artificial one for growing a plant indoors that would rather be outside anyway, but most people don't live where they can safely grow outside. Then there's the cost of electricity itself. It ain't cheap where I live and the baseline is stupid low.

tampee said:
makes me wan't too drop 10 grand and run the whole house and still make some money off the power company.
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Depending on the power company's policies and/or local laws, they may not have to pay money for your surplus electricity that goes into their grid (that they charge other ratepayers for). One thing they like to do is offer only a credit toward your bill. If you always produce more power than you use, then it's not likely you'll ever get compensated for it.
 
My understanding is that it takes like 15-20 years to break even with solar power. Of course, if electricity rate raise or fall, the break even point would change. PV cells are getting cheaper and more efficient. This also changes the economics. The early adapters pay a premium for new technology. This finances improvements that we all benefit from later. God bless the early adapters!
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Usually it's 8-12 years, the higher your rates the faster you get your money back. Power output on the panels are usually guaranteed to last 25 years.

Really like what this company has done..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Solar-Panel-.../320974298830?

Micro inverters, good idea.
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I love installing microinverters, so much easier. No worries about string sizes and too much voltage for the inverter. Enphase has made it easy.

Depending on the power company's policies and/or local laws, they may not have to pay money for your surplus electricity that goes into their grid (that they charge other ratepayers for). One thing they like to do is offer only a credit toward your bill. If you always produce more power than you use, then it's not likely you'll ever get compensated for it.
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LADWP has two programs: (1) Net metering, where during the day your meter spins backward to build up a credit and at night you use up your credit. That's where the sizing os your system is important because they don't pay you for the excess. (2) FIT (Feed In Tariff), where you just sell power to them. It's really only for commercial buildings because you have to output a certain amount and residences don't have enough roof area to meet the quota.
 
Micro inverters are great, means each panel is running independently so when one panel gets shaded it wont effect the the whole of your system. I don't have any though:-( I do have a 1.5kw system that does cover a bit of my grow op. My grow is close to 2Kw and hour. If i didn't grow anything and put power back in the the grid i receive 47 cent a Kw. I pay 27 cents for it.
 
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