We are moving to AC in six months. We want to buy beach front way north of town where land is cheaper and operate on solar. Does anyone have experience with solar on AC? Thanks in advance for any info.

There are a few persons using solar and wind power on the island and i would say that the person to talk to about installation would be Eddy Halliday.

Sounds like you haven't bought your land yet. If you are dealing with a good real estate agent, they should be able to put you in contact with someone (former client of theirs?) who has hands on experience with this. I checked it when we first bought land up north. Seems like a lot of money for the system, but probably worthwhile if you plan on staying permanently. If you only visit your place a couple of times a year, you're likely to be better off with a small diesel or butane generator. I assume you'll have a boat for transportation, so getting the fuel up there would be just one of the few small inconveniences that goes along with living a cast-away life way up north.

I am building across the cut, about a mile and a half north, and plan to use solar and wind. Malcolm, who owns Fido’s, has a house totally run on solar. He is advising me on what to get. I have already purchased a solar hot water system.

I had been into solar for quite some time. Out on So. Water Caye. (on the reef)
Your best starting point for knowledge and prices
would be the catalog from:

New England Solar Electric
1-800-914-4131

http://www.newenglandsolar.com

Dont even think about wind power. You will just throw your money away and have nothing but problems.
best bet is a good solar system, starting around $2000 along with a small gen set and butane for your frige & freezer

P S -----If you will need a boat - check out my
MAKO -- for sale on http://www.buy-belize.com

Rich

You might want to ask Malcom why he gave up on solar and is using BEL now. I think with too many problems and expensive batteries.

Snowbird:

I'm interested in solar and wind. Plan to do a hybrid system with a Bergey Wind Generator and a few hundred watts of solar panels.

Question...could you be more specific re what kind of problems you've come across with wind power? I know corrosion from ocean salt is a big bugaboo. Any other common problem areas?

Thanks

Windmills are NOISY!!!

Yes, windmills are NOISY. They also do not work
very well in most locations. The wind must be over 15mph and that is for MIN. output and there must be a clear path both to the wind AND TO THE REAR of the wind mill. Unless you have a wide open path AND AN ALMOST CONSTANT 20+ mph wind they will not work. They can also be damaged from a good hard 'north'.
We tried one on So. Water Caye - Right on the reef - no blockage - mounted on the roof, on a 15ft mast. We got decent output about 3 days per month. (Oct through April) Not including those 5 day long cold fronts.
Yes, a $2000 wind mill can put out 900 peak watts but that is with a constant 30 mph wind
that same money would buy 500 watts of solar panels that work 6+ hours almost every day