On 7/18/2013 8:29 AM, Warren D Smith wrote:
Incidentally, one thing I learned during Hurricane Sandy -- power out all around here for 2 weeks -- but there were some houses with a ton of solar volt panels on roof, so they were fine, right? Wrong. Actually, essentially every such system REFUSES to generate power when your house stops getting power form the utility company. This is done to protect utility linemen.
That means one of the major reasons to buy such a system -- self sufficiency -- is flushed down the toilet.
But it's just a matter of the transformer and switches connecting the solar system to the grid. It costs extra but you can buy a system that will disconnect you and still operate when the grid is down. You'll need batteries though unless you just want electricity when the sun shines. I've considered putting in a completely independent 12v DC solar system to run just a referigerator, some lights and cel phone chargers. !2v or 24v is convenient because applicances made for trailers and boats use those voltages. Brent Meeker