Forums > Specific Focus > Home, Garden & Construction in Mexico

randy in arandas

Aug 26, 2002, 5:56 PM

Post #1 of 13 (4695 views)

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Anybody out there ever use solar panels in their construction?

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Hello Folks: I am curious if anyone has any experience or has heard any stories about the use of solar panels in homes in Mexico. Are solar panels even available here in Mexico?The reason I ask is, if I ever get my chance to build my dream cabaña for weekend getaways, chances are it will be so far out in the boondocks I will need an alternative source of electricity. Perhaps a generator would be easier, but I was just curious about solar panels and how cost effective they might be here...Thanks in advance, Randy

Earl

Aug 27, 2002, 4:23 PM

Post #2 of 13 (4687 views)

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Electric, Water or Both?

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Randy,Both work very well if you have a sothern exposure
with lots of sun time. Neither are cheap but if
you are 'do-it-yourselfer' you can save a bundle.
Don't know about prices in Mexico but have seen
stuff on the various MexConnect forums about
electrical solar panels including offers to sell
an existing system. Do a search in the archives.Seen a lot of stuff on the internet from out
California way on electrical solar panels.You won't know until you find your dream spot but
wind generators are a great alternative if you
have a prevailing wind.One problem with remote spots is thieft. All
these units are expensive and with no one around
stealing them is fairly easy. If possible,
consider a wind generator, they are small enough
that you could take the generator and blades off
the mount and lock them up. Look in crusing
sailing magazines. Marine wind generators are
real common for offshore voyages and have to be
tough because of the occasional high winds and
salt air. Guess you could unmount electrical
solar panels but I have never seen it done
(doesn't mean it can't be done).Enjoy your posts on the broad range of topics.
Keep on writing.Earl

Loco

Aug 27, 2002, 6:02 PM

Post #3 of 13 (4687 views)

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Home Power magazine

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Rolly

Aug 27, 2002, 7:50 PM

Post #4 of 13 (4684 views)

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Thanks, Loco, once again - great stuff...nmsg

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No Message

Loco

Aug 27, 2002, 8:58 PM

Post #5 of 13 (4682 views)

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Interesting story (to me anyway)

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Back when the internet was mostly text based and many sites were dial-up direct .... like FidoNet, HomePower was one of the first to distribute their articles electronically. I ran a FidoNet BBS and became one of the main sites distributing their stuff. Back then (88-92), people would call (dial direct) to access articles (issues-zipped)). It was overwhelming (warming) to have people calling LD (Minnesota to Seattle) for this info. At that time I was able to do what HomePower could not ... kinda' like MexConnect and the rest of us here.We/I also had access to Internet Newsgroups via dial-up transfers but that had to be cobbled together on each site.I hope people somewhat appreciate what the internet is now compared to only 10-12 years ago. Believe me, David is busting his butt on this site. I just hope it remains a labor of love.

Rolly

Aug 28, 2002, 5:20 AM

Post #6 of 13 (4683 views)

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I remember those days

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I remember only too well, and even farther back. 20 something years age I worked for Bolt Beranek and Newman (BBN), back when the precursors of the internet were just being cobbled together. We were the builders and administrators of a couple of the nets that grew into the internet. Back in those days most every thing was FTP and dumb terminals. I would sit in my office in Chicago banging away on a dumb terminal with a thermal printer and an acoustical coupler to a phone line thus allowing me to write code on a mainframe at our home office in Cambridge, Mass. Then it seemed marvelous, today it seems prehistoric. That was also the time when HP and TI came out with the first programmable calculators, and we had all those arguments about the merits or demerits of reverse Polish notation. We’ve come a long way, baby!

Jim in Cancun

Aug 29, 2002, 3:17 PM

Post #7 of 13 (4687 views)

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I have a solar system currently working

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randy in arandas

Aug 31, 2002, 11:42 AM

Post #8 of 13 (4688 views)

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I have finally figured out why vacation homes here in Mexico...

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...are built like small pueblitos (or subdivisions) with campesino families living near the homes, and that is simply to prevent theft.Recently, when we were out at the Rancho of a relative, I asked why middle & upper class Mexicans prefer to have weekend homes clustered together, not unlike a pueblito. I explained to them that in the USA, we like to have some space and maybe a few acres in between our vacation homes, because most people are seeking solitude. They explained that they would indeed prefer to have more solitude, but if they did, that would open up the cabañas to easy infiltration by bandidos. Kind of a fortress mentality to avoid being plundered. I have run across this problem in the areas where I would someday like to purchase for a weekend cabaña; that is, it is just too far out to be safe, unless I can persuade another family member to build there also, and hire a campesino family to watch over the place for us. As always, from a Estadosunidense perspective, just another hurdle to overcome in regards to my adjustment in Mexico. This one I wish I could do without, though...Saludos desde Arandas, Randy
_________________________________________________
: Randy,: Both work very well if you have a sothern exposure
: with lots of sun time. Neither are cheap but if
: you are 'do-it-yourselfer' you can save a bundle.
: Don't know about prices in Mexico but have seen
: stuff on the various MexConnect forums about
: electrical solar panels including offers to sell
: an existing system. Do a search in the archives.: Seen a lot of stuff on the internet from out
: California way on electrical solar panels.: You won't know until you find your dream spot but
: wind generators are a great alternative if you
: have a prevailing wind.: One problem with remote spots is thieft. All
: these units are expensive and with no one around
: stealing them is fairly easy. If possible,
: consider a wind generator, they are small enough
: that you could take the generator and blades off
: the mount and lock them up. Look in crusing
: sailing magazines. Marine wind generators are
: real common for offshore voyages and have to be
: tough because of the occasional high winds and
: salt air. Guess you could unmount electrical
: solar panels but I have never seen it done
: (doesn't mean it can't be done).: Enjoy your posts on the broad range of topics.
: Keep on writing.: Earl

randy in arandas

Aug 31, 2002, 11:47 AM

Post #9 of 13 (4683 views)

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Thanks for all the information...

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...about solar & alternative energy sources. Like I said, I am in the process of educating myself about all of this, and it is fascinating. However, in the areas where I would prefer to have a cabaña, I think it would just be too difficult, not to mention insecure for a solar panel installation. But I will keep researching this...Randy

Aug 31, 2002, 1:27 PM

Post #10 of 13 (4685 views)

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solar and the power grid

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Has anyone tried hooking up a solar sysyem to the power grid? Will the CFE allow this? If not has anyone tried guerrila power?

Jim en Cancun

Sep 1, 2002, 8:11 AM

Post #11 of 13 (4686 views)

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Another point of view with options

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Debra Howard

Sep 26, 2002, 2:43 PM

Post #12 of 13 (4685 views)

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solar and the power grid

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I am building and looking into both solar and wind power. Our property is in Puerto Aventuras.Let me know what you find out.

damien burns

Oct 10, 2002, 8:56 AM

Post #13 of 13 (4687 views)

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Anybody out there ever use solar panels in their construction?

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i am a final year student about to write a thesis on the use of solar panels and their cost effectiveness if any one has any useful information that they could share with me i would be very greatful