Knowing When It Is Time To Move Off-Grid
A stand-alone off-grid system is any type of renewable electricity system that is completely independent of the utility grid. Although this may sound like a dream come true, collecting all of the actual facts can help you to determine whether this is the best move for you.
When you take that final step and set up a stand-alone off-grid system, you are firing your utility company and taking on this responsibility yourself. There will be no service truck coming out in the middle of the night if you suddenly lose power or pinpoint a problem from a power surge. You may very well find yourself respecting that money hungry utility company that you had learned to hate over the years.
If you are counting on saving money on generating your own power, think again. Generating electricity and storing for when you need it, even on a small scale, is very expensive. Large battery banks and engine generators are commonplace with off-grid systems and the initial and long-term operating costs can be very expensive.
The battery usually costs thousands of dollars and will only last for about fifteen years in operation. Since the energy comes from the sun, there will be ore energy to store in a day that may overcharge the batteries if batteries are not large enough. To avoid this, you will need charge regulators for the battery. What will happen to the stored energy that has not been used? Moving to off-grid system will require you to move your schedules as well to be able to catch up with the peak times of the supply. All these considerations and expenses do not correspond to your goal of saving money.
Using the off-grid system for the supply of your electricity may not work the way you planned or expect it. Sometimes your appliances will not operate properly, especially when the power is low. To keep the system going, a generator should be there to back up the system.
Aside from the expenses and the limitations of the system, you also have to consider the maintenance and labor to be applied in going off-grid. Your independence will require you to gain knowledge about the mechanics of the system in case some problems arise. Instead of hiring someone to do the necessary maintenance for your system, you will save more if you know how to do it yourself.
Being independent with your electricity system is not impossible, especially if you have the capacity to be so. But if your sources are limited and you are not yet stable in handling related problems and expenses regarding the system, might as well think of it first. While you are still on the stage of learning more about the system, it is good to stay grid-tied while installing your own off-grid system so you have an available back-up when your system fails.
The grid-tie system is enough for those who are new to using renewable energy. This is utilized by setting up an inverter that connects the utility grid to the main switch of the house. There is no battery needed and the excess energy will go back to the grid. When you are ready to move from grid-tied to off-grid system, perhaps the costs of the batteries and the whole set up is lesser by that time.
When you take that final step and set up a stand-alone off-grid system, you are firing your utility company and taking on this responsibility yourself. There will be no service truck coming out in the middle of the night if you suddenly lose power or pinpoint a problem from a power surge. You may very well find yourself respecting that money hungry utility company that you had learned to hate over the years.
If you are counting on saving money on generating your own power, think again. Generating electricity and storing for when you need it, even on a small scale, is very expensive. Large battery banks and engine generators are commonplace with off-grid systems and the initial and long-term operating costs can be very expensive.
The battery usually costs thousands of dollars and will only last for about fifteen years in operation. Since the energy comes from the sun, there will be ore energy to store in a day that may overcharge the batteries if batteries are not large enough. To avoid this, you will need charge regulators for the battery. What will happen to the stored energy that has not been used? Moving to off-grid system will require you to move your schedules as well to be able to catch up with the peak times of the supply. All these considerations and expenses do not correspond to your goal of saving money.
Using the off-grid system for the supply of your electricity may not work the way you planned or expect it. Sometimes your appliances will not operate properly, especially when the power is low. To keep the system going, a generator should be there to back up the system.
Aside from the expenses and the limitations of the system, you also have to consider the maintenance and labor to be applied in going off-grid. Your independence will require you to gain knowledge about the mechanics of the system in case some problems arise. Instead of hiring someone to do the necessary maintenance for your system, you will save more if you know how to do it yourself.
Being independent with your electricity system is not impossible, especially if you have the capacity to be so. But if your sources are limited and you are not yet stable in handling related problems and expenses regarding the system, might as well think of it first. While you are still on the stage of learning more about the system, it is good to stay grid-tied while installing your own off-grid system so you have an available back-up when your system fails.
The grid-tie system is enough for those who are new to using renewable energy. This is utilized by setting up an inverter that connects the utility grid to the main switch of the house. There is no battery needed and the excess energy will go back to the grid. When you are ready to move from grid-tied to off-grid system, perhaps the costs of the batteries and the whole set up is lesser by that time.
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