From: Winston@Bigbrother.net   
      
   j wrote:   
   > Having previously had no interest in PV solar, I am now somewhat intrigued.   
   >   
   > I've noticed a huge number of tabbed and untabbed cells. Some that are   
   advertized as almost whole for prices under   
   > $.50/W. Some that are grade A whole for ~$.70/W.   
   >   
   > I am not sure what you do with these.   
      
   Leave them on the shelf until prices become less insane.  :)   
   >   
   > I've got a couple of potential uses. One is that I know of a few people   
   living off grid, who struggle with simple things   
   > like getting cell phones charged. Or recharging AA and AAA batteries.   
   Voltage input tolerance for 12V source chargers is   
   > wide.   
   >   
   > The other is that I have a location here where I was going to set up   
   domestic hot water, I have about 120SF of such.   
   > Solar could run the pumps, although low power DC pumps are pricey.   
   >   
   > But it seems a bit crazy, but it is little money crazy. Throwing a couple   
   hundred bucks at crazy is not the same as   
   > throwing a couple thousand.   
   >   
   > Thoughts?   
      
   You are headed in the right direction.   
      
   Advise do the arithmetic and base your decision on the   
   total situation, sans any regard to the romance of alternative   
   energy.  PV is still about 10x too expensive for those   
   of us who enjoy grid power *for most applications*.   
      
   I have three little 10W PV panels on the house right now.   
   They power fans that exhaust hot air out of the attic   
   and garage. I have about $750 in them, so they were an   
   extravagance. However, they have made a night-and-day   
   difference in my comfort and will extend the useful life   
   of my hideously expensive roof by several years.   
   I also like the fact that they will continue to work   
   during a summer power blackout.   
      
   The low hanging 'solar fruit' is space heating and   
   domestic hot water.  Payback for those systems is much   
   quicker than that of PV, which will not 'pay back' at   
   all, for most folks.   
      
   --Winston   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)