Solar Systems for homes

scot2022 New member

5POSTS

4 years ago

I just purchased a home in Esperanza and am moving to Las Terenas permanently and would like to know of the best recommendation for a solar company.聽 I want to make the home completely off grid and self sufficient.聽 Can anyone offer some suggestions on the best contractors to contact to design and install the system?聽 No hacks and quality reputable companies with service would be apprecated.

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ddmcghee Dominican Republic Expert

1951POSTS

4 years ago

We're building in Las Terrenas, and will also have an "off-grid" solar solution. We will be connected to Luz y Fuerza, but will not sell power back and don't expect to use any!

We used EVR Solar. The owner, Frank, is back in Germany right now, but his electrician, Ulf (speaks German and Spanish), is in town and can help you out. I'll PM you his contact info.

Denise

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Fred Indonesia Expert

30549POSTS

4 years ago

ddmcghee wrote:
We're building in Las Terrenas, and will also have an "off-grid" solar solution.

Interesting. Do you have anything like AC or ovens that use a lot of power, how many watts peak do you use, and do you have a rough spec of your system?

How many panels of what wattage and what do you have for batteries?

ddmcghee Dominican Republic Expert

1951POSTS

4 years ago

We have 24 panels and 300 KWH battery capacity. That's the extent of my knowledge of the system! My husband, Dave (RockyM), was the one in the weeds on this one.

Part of the reason we're keeping our connection to LyF is in case we do need a little extra boost if multiple AC units are running when we have guests. We only use AC at night, so little else should be on at the same time.

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Fred Indonesia Expert

30549POSTS

4 years ago

How much did that little baby cost?

scot2022 New member

5POSTS

4 years ago

Thanks for the information.聽 It will give us a good start.聽 Yes multiple A/C units buy only used with guests.聽 Larger home and built in 2017 so all LED already.聽聽Definitely want adequate capacity and would rather oversize the system.聽 I understand the cost issue, but security off grid has a price for me so I'm willing to absorb the expense if it's done correctly.聽 I will reach out them and see what they have to say.

Thank you for your help.
--Scot

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WillieWeb ViP

1660POSTS

4 years ago

What is becoming popular these days is a dual system -
if your local luz is reliable

Have public power and use it to charge the batteries.
Yes, still having panels and a generator.

I just did this - as did some of my friends.

The batteries are constantly 'full'...if the street power goes off- the panels charge or we use the generator if nighttime

I am constantly on street power.... uses hardly any to 'float' the batteries.

I like it-- headache free

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Fred Indonesia Expert

30549POSTS

4 years ago

WillieWeb wrote:
Have public power and use it to charge the batteries.
Yes, still having panels and a generator.

I also looked at this. We have problems after thunderstorms or when trees (they grow crazy fast here) take down a power line. That can be once or twice a month in rainy season .. and dry season.
For people that just want a backup in the case of a power cut, these are really easy to install and far cheaper than a big solar system, but not off grid.

WillieWeb ViP

1660POSTS

4 years ago

#10

Certainly, depends on your local situation..... mine is reliable

Never off for mare than a few hours + I put in my own transformer

But even when off-- you just are back to solar..... still works

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WillieWeb ViP

1660POSTS

4 years ago

#11

I want to emphasize the comfort of knowing your batteries are ALWAYS FULL.

No worries about sun tomorrow.... or using too much power at night.
Having a wine fridge.... extra freezer

I look at it expanding my battery bank.... more bang for the buck !!

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ddmcghee Dominican Republic Expert

1951POSTS

4 years ago

#12

With Luz y Fuerza, we pay more than the rest of the island! 14.50/kwh

The payoff with solar is much faster!

@Fred - I don't know the exact cost, but it was a fraction of what we were quoted in the US for a much smaller supplemental system.

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Fred Indonesia Expert

30549POSTS

4 years ago

#13

Another thing I'm looking at is a limited system that will run AC all day. That means enough solar but limited battery, thus smaller dents in my bank account.
My big household bill is electricity (and that gets silly high when I run AC all day), but a full solar system with battery takes over 10 years to pay for itself, and that assumes no maintainance.

ddmcghee Dominican Republic Expert

1951POSTS

4 years ago

#14

Fred wrote:
Another thing I'm looking at is a limited system that will run AC all day. That means enough solar but limited battery, thus smaller dents in my bank account.
My big household bill is electricity (and that gets silly high when I run AC all day), but a full solar system with battery takes over 10 years to pay for itself, and that assumes no maintainance.

You run the AC all day??

Full payback might take that long, but since you have to have some type of backup power here, and solar costs nothing on an ongoing basis (which protects you from rising energy costs), and it's greener!

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Fred Indonesia Expert

30549POSTS

4 years ago

#15

Not all day as my bank manager would moan at me if I did.

However, it's ruddy hot here (about the same as your hot days) so it would be exceptionally nice to have it on.

I'm all for green as I would like my kids to grow up safe from the damage we're doing to the world, but I have to temper that with personal economics.
I'm all LED lighting, but only low power whatever electronics, and only use the car when walking would be a problem. My next vehicle will be an EV, probably with solar tech if I can get a deal I've been looking at off the ground.
On the bright side from my daughter's point of view, sea level rise predictions (even at best case) puts her school underwater within 2- years. She doesn't seem to have worked out she will be long left by that time - unless it's a revenge thing

ddmcghee Dominican Republic Expert

1951POSTS

4 years ago

#16

Fred wrote:
Not all day as my bank manager would moan at me if I did.
However, it's ruddy hot here (about the same as your hot days) so it would be exceptionally nice to have it on.

Where is here? I assumed that since you were posting in the DR forum that you lived here. Are you familiar with the costs of things here? That would impact your comments on payback periods.

Fred Indonesia Expert

30549POSTS

4 years ago

#17

ddmcghee wrote:
Fred wrote:
Not all day as my bank manager would moan at me if I did.
However, it's ruddy hot here (about the same as your hot days) so it would be exceptionally nice to have it on.

Where is here? I assumed that since you were posting in the DR forum that you lived here. Are you familiar with the costs of things here? That would impact your comments on payback periods.

Not in DR but roughly the same climate conditions and considering the same issues, including the green thing.
I used to get a handle on how costs are likely to vary.

Ian1272 Contributor

137POSTS

4 years ago

#18

What amount of money should someone budget for the cost of solar panel installation along with storage batteries, say for a 2000 sq/ft home to power everything from air conditioners, pool heaters and pumps along with lights and other necessary appliances ?

Thanks for your help and insight

polo1club Serial expat

200POSTS

4 years ago

#19

You guys keep mentioning the high electricity rates in DR, can you tell me in dollars what you mean? I want to go solar but it sounds like there is so much to it that its a bit scary. Thanks!

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Guest2022 Guest

0POSTS

4 years ago

#20

I don't consider electricity costs in DR being excessively high being an island nation importing fuels.

For a low or modest user supplied by subsidized EDEs the costs for me in a two bed in Santo Domingo was maximum in the hottest months 40usd a month and half that in winter. But I sparingly use acs.

To go solar for a 2000sf house with pool 7kwh minimum is a significant investment which will take many years to get pay back against current supplied electricity costs. Perhaps 15/20k capital cost is my first thoughts plus maintenance/replacements over the long term of pay back. If you can afford it do it because right now it eliminates the hassle with the EDEs but look at it as an extra capital cost to the house budget, green kudos and maybe security of supply after a windstorm event (but solar systems do get blown away and water damaged). I dont pay for electricity in the campo nor use much so it makes no sense for me and my carbon footprint will be small with the planting/cropping on my plot of land

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