On May 17, 1:12*am, Andy wrote:
On May 16, 2:29 am, harry wrote:

Andy adds:

*I also am a retired electronics engineer and have messed with solar
energy, as part of a hobby, on my house and barn for almost 20 years.
I was able to design and fabricate most of the components myself, so
I
could do it on the cheap. *Most people can't....

I agree with everything Harry (above) says.....

Hooking the pieces together is no more complicated than following
directions.... much like plugging accessories into your computer....

However, unless your circumstances are very special, it isn't a
sound financial decision here in the US......

If you take the money you will spend and put it in the bank, just
the interest on that money will pay the electric bill for all the
energy the panels will generate. *And you still have your stash
in the bank...

Before going "off the grid", determine how much electricity your
solar setup will generate, and reduce your "on the grid" consumption
to that level for six months. Don't cheat. *If at the end of six
months
you are happy with that lifestyle, you might end up being happy with
it..... I've never known anyone who has done this, and never cheated,
and still decided to go "off the grid", tho.... *... And then there's
the cost of
the divorce lawyer to consider... * :))))

* * * * * * * * * * Andy in Eureka, Texas

Thank you. Some sense at last.
Offgrid PV is virtually unknown here too, except for the odd nutcase
as you say. Once the cost of batteries comes into the equation the
whole business becomes totally foolish unless there is absolutely no
alternative.
You see the occasional remote road sign here with a mini solar panel
and a tiny windmill.
If you have constructed your own sola rpanels youare more determined
than I am! I did see one over here once. Someone had put the cells
between two sheets of glass and sealed the boundary with silcon (caulk
in your parlance).
It worked but I dunno for how long the thing would remain
weathertight.
It was a totally DC system, no inverter hence of limited use.