I need your design help please!

[mountainman61]

Thanks for the replies!

I don't have a source of running water and nearly no wind because I am surrounded by hills and trees.
I don't want the noise of fueled generators. (should have already said this)
I may have over estimated the power I need though. I need to have refrigeration, small appliances, lighting, PC and TV for entertainment. lighting don't really have to be part of this though. With closer calculations, I could get by with as little as 2000 w/hrs. per day.  I have a generator but hate the noise and the waste. I also have grid power at my shop (1500 ft. away) so I can charge battery's there if I have to, but I want my home to be self-sufficient.

I certainly have considered peltier cells, but I don't understand how to estimate their output, thus I'm unable to get an idea of the cost. Under proper conditions will watt rating of the cell also be their output? I can use gravity feed water to cool them.

As for solar, we average less than 100 sunny days and my location will only get sun for 4-5 hrs per day. I just thought it would not be a good choice, but if I'm wrong, please correct me! I would love to have PV panels if doable.  What percentage of the panels output could I expect factoring in cloudy days too? If I could get 50% then 2 kw panels would be great!

Why is nobody addressing the falling/rolling weight? I can't find much info on this. Is it not worthwhile, too inefficient???

[neptune]

Having just done a quick search on peltier cells , their efficiency is only about 10% at best .Not cost effective ,although I did read of a muffler/silencer generator based on this idea ,output was 1000watts , but no idea on cost .Probably no one has experience of the falling weight idea . Your chance to bbe first!

[Cherryman]

65 acres en not enough sunlight?  Are you at the north-side of the hill?

Solar panels do deliver power without direct sun, but way less. So a large array could solve it. Too expensive i guess.

With that much wood, you have also the possibility as mentioned above, a woodgas setup powering a conventional generator.

Even more efficient would be a Stirling generator, but building plans of a good Stirling of a reasonable seize seems not available at the Internet.

A simple steam generator could do the trick, but i do not know the efficiency.

Also energy economic equipment would lower youre power demand.

This fridge/freezer is very low on energy consumption, between 4 to 43 watts to freeze in minutes to -18 celsius.
http://www.classadrivers.com/forum/trucking-product-reviews-truckers-truckers/34264-coleman-stirling-cooler-fridge-299-a.html
http://www.ctlny.com/stirling-cooler/stirlingcooler.html

Although i read a lot of happy consumers, they don't seem available anymore, not even on ebay.  Amazon sold the last ones for 299,-
I Guess the powers that be do not want Stirling equipment in ordinary consumer hands. ( On medical equipment sites they are still sold, as medical coolers, but the price is way over 1000 dollars.... ) 

[fritznien]

Thanks for the replies!

I don't have a source of running water and nearly no wind because I am surrounded by hills and trees.
I don't want the noise of fueled generators. (should have already said this)
I may have over estimated the power I need though. I need to have refrigeration, small appliances, lighting, PC and TV for entertainment. lighting don't really have to be part of this though. With closer calculations, I could get by with as little as 2000 w/hrs. per day.  I have a generator but hate the noise and the waste. I also have grid power at my shop (1500 ft. away) so I can charge battery's there if I have to, but I want my home to be .

I certainly have considered politer cells, but I don't understand how to estimate their output, thus I'm unable to get an idea of the cost. Under proper conditions will watt rating of the cell also be their output? I can use gravity feed water to cool them.

As for solar, we average less than 100 sunny days and my location will only get sun for 4-5 hrs per day. I just thought it would not be a good choice, but if I'm wrong, please correct me! I would love to have PV panels if doable.  What percentage of the panels output could I expect factoring in cloudy days too? If I could get 50% then 2 kw panels would be great!

Why is nobody addressing the falling/rolling weight? I can't find much info on this. Is it not worthwhile, too inefficient???

falling weights don't hold enough energy. one kg falling one metre gives 9.8 watt seconds be for any lose to friction etc.
a cubic metre of water gives 9800 watts as it drops a metre a second, that's a drop of over two miles per hour!
use a laptop for your computer, get the best fridge lights etc.(most efficient) look into using pink ice to store cold
for your freezer. plumbing antifreeze mix that will freeze just above the temp your freezer runs at to store cold
for when the power is off.
your site looks average for solar, not a lot of gain when the sun is low. google "solar panels by the pallet"
then you can get them for less than 2$ watt.
keep in mind your bottom line is what its going to cost to do what you want.
good luck
fritznien.

[brian334]

Give up, Spend the money to run power the 1500 ft. from your shop to your house and enjoy cheap electricity  24-7-365.