On 15 Dec 2005
RST Engineering wrote:
After much thought and ponderance, I've come to the conclusion that to
electrify the hangar using Pacific Gas & Electricity (PG&E -- Pigs, Goats,
and Elephants) isn't clever. By the time you get them to hang a meter
($5k), trench from the power pole to the end of the row of hangars, conduit
romex to 35 hangars at a cost somewhere around $50k ($1500 per hangar), and
then pay the monthly electric bill, you could buy a hell of a wind/solar
system and perch it on the (flat) hangar roof.

You might start with a small bank of golf cart batteries from Sam's
Club, and a refurbished inverter/charger from here
http://www.sunelec.com/Distributors_...cccltrace.html A Trace
SW would be best, but you'd probably be happy with a DR. Use a Honda
EU2000 for a charger to get started and as a backup later on. Add PV
as your budget allows. Excellent info on home built wind turbines here
http://www.otherpower.com/. There's no problem paralleling solar and
wind charge controllers. Include a proper system monitor like an
E-Meter or TriMetric.

Wayne