Right. Besides that, batteries have a shelf life. A few years down the line, the client will need to replace the bank. A $10K reinvestment after a few years could erase any cost effectiveness of an off grid system. In many cases they could pay the extra money and hook up to the power line now.
At 11:02 AM 10/15/2016, you wrote:
My design philosophy these days matches yours 100%, Allen. Because of cheap PV, and FLA batteries still stuck in the 1910s. It was a different story (not too many years ago!) when a good deal on PV was $5 a watt....... Dan Fink Adjunct Professor of Solar Energy Technology, Ecotech Institute IREC Certified Instructor for: ~ PV Installation Professional ~ Small Wind Installer Executive Director, Buckville Energy NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers⢠<tel:970.672.4342>970.672.4342  On Fri, Oct 14, 2016 at 3:55 PM, Allan Sindelar <<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]> wrote: Dana (and I'm curious if others agree), I used to work with 4-5 days of storage, back with modules were expensive and batteries were relatively cheap. As in recent years these two have reversed - modules are cheap and batteries are dear - my fundamental design approach has changed. I now design around 2-3 days of storage with a larger array, as long as there's a backup generator in the system. I size to at least 100% of the projected winter average daily load. The batteries recharge more quickly, including on partly cloudy days between storms. They spend more of their time full, thus keeping them happier and giving them as much or more life, even with more and deeper cycling. FLAs are easier to EQ, given the hotter charge rate. And the customer spends less. You used to live in SW Colorado, a similar sunny winter climate. Is it the same in Idaho where you live now? Allan  Allan Sindelar <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected] NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician Founder (Retired), Positive Energy, Inc. <tel:505%20780-2738>505 780-2738 cell _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: [email protected] Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
--- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus
_______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: [email protected] Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
