Has anybody invented a SIMPLE device to allow home generated power to flow back into the grid?
Thursday, September 9th, 2010 at
6:11 pm
Ok, I know that people have solar panels and windmills and such with some sort of device that allows the electric meter to run backwards. But, my thoughts is that we need a simple device that is inexpensive and that EVERY home could have that does the exact same thing.
Imagine if you could simply plug your tredmill into this device and save 50 cents or work with your kid on a amature solar setup to save a few bucks. I think a stepping stone like this would vastly accelerate people moving to more serious forms of personal power production. But, first it has to be affordable and out there in most homes.
Thoughts on this?
Filed under: Wind Power
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Grid tie isn’t expensive, but there are legal and safety issues. The grid doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to the power company and it’s their job to maintain it and keep it safe.
Grid tie inverters have to disconnect automatically when there is no functioning grid. And if you backfeed the grid without permission and the proper two-way meter, it will register as theft (on most new meters).
That’s not cheap and never will be. You can’t make power cheap like the electric company.
If you want to save money, start conserving. My bill for the last three months has averaged $10. I don’t run the a/c or heat, use a solar pv battery setup for typing this and running the room light. I run a washing machine, but use a wooden drying rack instead of the electric dryer. I still run a 1 1/2 HP irrigation pump but only maybe 1 hour a week and then only if it doesn’t rain. I changed out the back yard light to a 13 watt flourescent with a photocell.
If it’s too cold to sleep, I have a small heating pad for my bed.
I also bought an 12v dc Engel 43 qt. refrigerator (NOT cheap). It is a real fridge with freon 134a, but only uses 36 watts max when running. It keeps cheese, milk and eggs just fine. I unplugged the Hotpoint fridge I was using and use it for dry storage. I don’t hate the power company, I just got frustrated being in the dark every time a major hurricane went through.
http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/pedal-powered-electricity-generator-windstream/
Not really what you’re after, but interesting anyway.
He states a human can produce 80 watts, lots of pedalling to get 50 cents worth.
They have inverters on the market,DC to AC, that you can install that feed current back into the grid from your solar panels or wind turbines.The amount is credited to your account.Cheap? I doubt it.When you consider the overall price of your system,payback will take awhile.In the long run it will pay for it self.
<<a human can produce 80 watts, lots of pedalling to get 50 cents worth.>> and that would take 20-100 hours to get that 50 cents. I think you’d be hard pressed to pay for the inverter and meter needed to put energy back into the grid.
energy is pretty magical. it doesn’t come cheap, never mind free. that’s the problem we have at the moment. we’ve become addicted to coal and oil, which is essentially stored energy. the problem is there’s a limited amount, and there are unpleasant side effects.
i really doubt that there is a simple, cheap, easy to use device to produce energy at home.
Get a small synchronous motor, and use it as a generator.
I’ve found this site while searching for an answer to your question, I bet this site has a lot of information in it.
http://www.reduceelectricitybill.info/