[pvusers] Newbie questions

[Christopher Witmer <cdwitmer@spamcop.net>]

I am planning to build a PV electric system at my home and am trying to 
get a handle on running (operating) costs. For the first several months 
I shall be running the system without PV panels -- they shall actually 
be the last part of the system that gets installed. (It's a long story.)

So now I need to think about what I'm going to do with this system until 
the panels are installed.

Without taking into consideration the initial equipment expenses, IN 
GENERAL, is it cheaper to recharge the battery using off-peak 
electricity purchased from the local electrical grid, or is it cheaper 
to recharge using my DC generator?

Again ignoring the initial equipment expenses, can I expect to save 
money by running off the battery/inverter (recharging as needed), or 
would I be ahead financially by sticking with electricity purchased from 
the electrical grid?

I know the cost of fuel and commercial electricity, as well as many 
other factors, enters into this picture, but I'm just asking for a 
general "rule of thumb" opinion.

By the way, my battery is a 6,600 lb. (3,000 kg) 48v battery (never 
used) from a telco that downsized. Ditto for the DC generator, which 
runs on propane/natural gas (although I could also substitute a diesel
engine).

Thanks!

Christopher Witmer


--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*
  List sponsored by CREST/REPP  
	http://solstice.crest.org/   http://www.repp.org/