[RE-wrenches] PV powered music festival

[Exeltech]

Running a generator defeats the purpose of having a solar electric system on site to provide event electrical power.

I've provided solar electricity at events for the past 10 years for groups up to 18,000+ people.  All have been successfully done without a generator.

It's a good idea to have generator backup power for recharging batteries "just in case" .. the same with off grid homes .. but is best not to have to use it in the first place.


Dan



--- On Sat, 4/30/11, Carl Emerson <freepower at freepower.co.nz> wrote:

> From: Carl Emerson <freepower at freepower.co.nz>
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] PV powered music festival
> To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> Date: Saturday, April 30, 2011, 6:33 PM
> Kelly,
> 
> I have heard of it being done successfully in the Pacific
> Islands with
> Generator derived mains.
> 
> Carl Emerson
> Free Power Co.
> Land line +64 9 473 4286
> Mobile +64 22 630 9689
> Email   emerson at freepower.co.nz
> Web   www.freepower.co.nz
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
> [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org]
> On Behalf Of Kelly Larson
> Sent: 1 May 2011 10:48 a.m.
> To: RE-wrenches
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] PV powered music festival
> 
> Hi Carl,
> 
> You can't backfeed a generator.  I think it blows the
> voltage  
> regulator?  And the output is often too dirty to
> connect to.
> 
> Here is a place for controls.  If one could control
> the loads well,  
> you could accommodate solar fluctuation.  But alas,
> until then, we can  
> stick to our battery backup, where the genny will back off
> when the  
> batteries are full-ish.
> 
> Blessings,
> Kelly
> 
> Kelly Larson
> Electrical Engineer
> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer
> ISPQ Master Trainer
> CA C-10 # 868189
> SolarKelly at asis.com
> 
> 
> On Apr 30, 2011, at 4:35 PM, Carl Emerson wrote:
> 
> > Great discussion.
> >
> > Why not backfeed into the generator and reduce fuel
> costs?
> >
> > Carl Emerson
> > Free Power Co.
> > Land line +64 9 473 4286
> > Mobile +64 22 630 9689
> > Email   emerson at freepower.co.nz
> > Web   www.freepower.co.nz
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
> > [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org]
> On Behalf Of  
> > Kelly Larson
> > Sent: 1 May 2011 9:16 a.m.
> > To: RE-wrenches
> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] PV powered music festival
> >
> > Wow!  What an great discussion!  Nice
> documentation, Dan.
> >
> > I have powered part-solar, part-generator, part
> grid-powered events
> > for several years.  It's problematic.  Few
> have a clue how much power
> > and energy they use.  If they use to much it
> makes the electrician
> > look real bad.  I walk around on my rounds and
> check everything
> > regularly.  It's a big job.  Some of what I
> learned that hasn't been
> > mentioned (or much):
> >
> > ALWAYS have a genny on hand to cover anything Murphy
> throws in.
> > (...of Murphy's law)  A failure at a public event
> is hard to recover
> > from.  Size it to cover everything PLUS battery
> charging.  A dead
> > battery is worthless to you AND degrades the bank for
> future use.
> > When the music's loud no one will notice, (or turn it
> on over night
> > for recharge).
> >
> > Taking along a TED 5000 would be real helpful in
> figuring out what
> > uses what.  The TED is pretty versatile, and
> records the data, (but
> > takes a little figuring, so use it before the event).
> >
> > A clamp on ampmeter is an essential tool. 
> (Remember, most clamp on
> > ampmeters are AC only).
> >
> > Watch the extension cords.  They can easily be
> undersized and often in
> > poor repair.  In the past I've used big #10 SO
> cables to get power out
> > to where it will be used to address this.
> >
> > An IR temp gun or thermal camera can help keep quick
> tabs on what is
> > getting hot, which can be especially nice during
> headliners.
> >
> > Take the time to stand out front and educate about
> energy and
> > renewables.  Have fun with it!  Have flyers
> that list resources for
> > energy efficiency and energy conservation, as well as
> renewables.  I'd
> > love to have a meter with a big readout that says how
> much power is
> > being used with a running total of energy. 
> Project for the future...
> >
> > Blessings,
> > Kelly
> >
> > Kelly Larson
> > NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer
> > ISPQ Master Trainer
> > CA C-10 # 868189
> > SolarWrench at asis.com
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > List sponsored by Home Power magazine
> >
> > List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
> >
> > Options & settings:
> > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
> >
> > List-Archive:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
> >
> > List rules & etiquette:
> > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
> >
> > Check out participant bios:
> > www.members.re-wrenches.org
> >
> 
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
> 
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
> 
> Options & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
> 
> List-Archive:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
> 
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
> 
> Check out participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org
> 
> 
> __________ NOD32 6084 (20110430) Information __________
> 
> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
> http://www.eset.com
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
> 
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
> 
> Options & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
> 
> List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
> 
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
> 
> Check out participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org
> 
>