Do I need a permit/license for Power4Patriots and how do I find out?
Video #5 from the Top 10 Questions From Customers Considering or Implementing Power4Patriots
Scroll down for transcript.
Allen: Let’s move on to question number 5, we’re about half way home here. So we are doing real well. And this is also another common question. And the question is, do I need a permit or a license to do this project and how do I find out if I do or I don’t?
Kriss: Great question. And it kind of goes back to the previous answer of how big you are going to go. If you’re going to build a solar panel and connect a battery and start small and run small little loads with it. You don’t need a permit – it’s not worth the hassle of getting a permit. I bet if you went to the permit or building permit office and you told them what you’re going to do, they’ll probably say yes, they will always say yes, they always want to look at everything. I think ththe Power4Patriots customer knows, the less we have to deal with that, those kind of folks, the better. [laughs]
Allen: Amen. [laughs]
Kriss: But if you’re going to connect to the grid, unfortunately the answer is always, yes, if you need that. But I really suggest that people start small like we talked about; build the panel, build a little wind generator and go that route and don’t bother with the building permit. If you want to go completely off grid, you probably have to get a building permit. You know, we live pretty remotely, we live on a lake in the middle of the mountains so, this entire part of the county has maybe 1000 people.
Allen: Okay.
Kriss: And so we can probably get away with it. But there’s not a lot of authority out here to be honest. We are very rarely see even a sheriff or like those kind of folks. If you’re looking at building a cabins, something like that, no, you probably don’t need to get a permit for this. And the great thing about this is that you don’t need to run a power line anywhere. So people might not never know your back there [laughs] that is, if you are out in the woods.
Allen: Yes.
Kriss: And it felt a lot of people do exactly that, and getting off the grid is not just power the power grid but off the grid financially and, you know, just away from all the government interference. So there’s ways to do that, but if you are typical in the city, in the suburb, you want to connect to the power grid, you are going to need that permit and you’re going to need to use the manufactured solar panels.
Allen: Yes.
Kriss: Our authorities really don’t want the home made solar panels. But that’s another reason just to start small, start with a little system and start with some small electronics.
Allen: I think that’s a great answer and you know we really…Folks, if you’re a Power4Patriots customer, make sure you read closely the disclaimers and the advice at the beginning of all the written material because, as Kriss said, the system we’re advocating folks start off with, is an off grid system that does not connect to the convention power supply.
And anytime you do connect to the power conventional power supply, you are going to need an electrician to handle it. You are going to need a permit license and probably, you are going to need, what’s called a UL listed, pre made professional panel to tie into that system. You don’t need that if you are starting small, you’re building a few panels to power your garage or supplement, your existing load. So that’s where we recommend people to start. Because you’re just going to run into interference as you go along, right?
Kriss: Absolutely. And we do have do-it-yourself grid tie-in systems with manufactured panels and what are called microinverters – I don’t want to get too detailed into this -But you can do your own grid tie system, you just need that permit, and you need an electrician to be the final connection. But you can do 90% of the work yourself, save a bunch of money. And I would suggest if you’re goal is really just to reduce power bills and you’re not really concerned about the black outs so much, you can use a simple grid tie system yourself or we can connect you with professional. So that’s in the realm of possibility, you’re just not going to get the benefit of all the black out protection.
Allen: Right.
Kriss: We have a grid tie system that’s exclusively a grid tie- which is basically a solar panel and an inverter that goes to the grid. If the grid goes down, the solar panel gets shut off. Because they don’t want solar power or any power being sent off back under the grid when it’s supposed to be shut down and probably then on working power lines and stuff like that, so.
Allen: Yes. Okay, good. Hopefully we answered that, again the short answer is it depends. [laughs]
Kriss: Unfortunately that’s a lot of answers in solar power.
Allen: Yes.
Kriss: But the other answer is, that I’m told about is “anything is possible”.
Allen: Perfect.
Kriss: You can actually power anything, anywhere with solar panel, that’s one of the great things.
Allen: Perfect. And in the same, you know, we refer to solar power a lot. It really holds through for wind power as well, right?
Kriss: It does. People, you know, with power and it’s consistent in some places, but actually you know, we have the 400 watt wind generator at our home and it paid itself off much faster than the solar power because it was much less expensive.
Allen: Okay, perfect.
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Leave your comments below, we’d love to hear from you!
Watch the next video in the series: Can I use Power4Patriots if I’m a older person / single woman / or not very handy?
Buy mono crystalline, not polycrystaline solar pnels. They cost a little more but they power on low light were as the poly’s need direct sunlight! Im starting with 140wt. Mono. 12vlt. Charger and 1000wt, inverter si I can add on later. I use only marine battery with 750 cold cranking amp. This is plenty to power pump for my hydoponic system & a few lights during power outage.Use 6vlt Rechargeable lights.I have 100 1lb.propane bottles I keep filled from my 25lb.tanks to use for cooking and heat.Stock up on propane.cheap & goes a long way. Have 4800 gal. Intel swimming pool we keep full all yr. round.Keep covered & treat with clorine.Use 12vlt.pump to circulate water with solar panel charged batteries 4 hrs. daily.Also, have 250 colapsable 5gal.water containers on hand for bugout.Can be filled in approx.1hr. with 12vlt. sump pump. Dont just think about doing something. Start small and do it, now.J.S.p.s. ya only need 1 solar panel to survive off grid!!!!$130.00 + 150.00 for charger & invertor and a liitle get off laurels and do it.God bless all and be with ya!!!
If it’s not set in concrete or bolted down, and not on the grid, you shouldn’t need a permit.
I now that is how it was at the ranch.
Is this true
I can’t save anything you send me? What good is all the info if I can’t refer back to it ? Am up in age taking care of wife etc. can barley read e-mail let alone view videos, when get time they are gone. My fault can’t operate computer
I live in the city so, looks like I will need a permit (which is a show stopper). Further, my intention (from your material) was ‘to get off the grid’ and never again pay for electricity. Now it appears that I cannot generate enough electricity to practically get off the grid so, I am loosing interest fast. I may have to return everything before I begin. Please advise.
I am an X-pat, living in Thailand. After building my own home, 600 k north of Bangkok, I will be building a 200 duplex home retirement community and club house in NW Thailand (Chiang Mai). I plan to test out every possible type of solar system for my home and then introduce each to the new community. Alibaba web site lists over 100 solar products, made in China. I lived and worked in both China and Taiwan and I know how Chinese products can ignore written specifications. But like it or not China is THE primary supplier of all solar products. (and where American hardware stores are buying them from!)
Since China is thousands of miles closer to me than anywhere in USA (and a new high speed rail to connect within 3 years) I need to buy all of my solar components from China. Can you recommend or recommend avoiding any specific Chinese venders?
Thank you,
Sorry, Adrain. I don’t have any recommendations for you.
Hi,
I am getting my Masters Electricians ticket and I saw and purchased your product because I am also a minister and I have a vision of getting all of the poverish people in my surrounding off the grid as simple and inexpensively as possible.
I thought your product would be the answer I was looking for but it won’t. I am dealing with power companies and electrical inspectors which means I have to use UL approved components so therefore this system of yours will not work for me at all.
I am sending the package back to you. You have a great thing and keep it up BUT we have to find a way around the UL requirements and regulations and I am told that is very very expensive.
Sorry and thanks for your time,
Dan Wesson
I found out I do not need a permit to start this project. That Great.
Jettie Peterson
I bought a property with the solar panels and wind-turbine already in place They work fine, and I am totally off the grid. Like Kriss, I live pretty far out in the country and we have little contact with authorities here. But we are not capable of connecting with the grid where we live. The power company wanted the previous owner to pay several thousands of dollars to run line to the property just so they could charge them outrageous prices for power once they were connected. How insane do they think people are?
I probably won’t build my own panels, but the information I ordered from you will go a long way towards any repairs or additional panels to be installed or repaired. Thank you for this information.
Hi! Allen
I thought I would let you know my status We have been retired 26 years and doing well for
a 81 year old but I wanted some more information on power and thought this might be a good thing to have may want to try some small things so far I have enjoyed your first 5 talks for informating thanks Gordon Smith
I had A big 30,000 dollar Jacobs wind mill, I put up once. I can not remember how big , but it was big. The wind blew if over and nothing to salvage,. I had to pay thwe loan out out of my pocket.
No one seemed to mention the large libality insurance the grid made ,me carry.
We live in a town of about 2,000 people. We are retired and are just looking (right now) at ways to reduce our expenses. We own our own home and a “junk house” a block away with a well behind it. Last we knew, it worked in the fall. The eaves from the “junk house” house are directed to an old oil barrel which catches any rain water until it is full. We don’t have a lot of yard around the house we live in, but I was wondering if a solar powered hot water heater would be a savings on the electric bill. (Right now we have a natural gas hot water heater.) I do have a battery back-up for my computer, but it probably wouldn’t be for very long~~enough for me to properly shut it down if a power outage occurred. I know I am “rambling on”, but from your videos and reading your comments, it sounds like a solar panel to start with would be best.
Are the parts purchased through patriots for power for a solar panel installation that I would assemble. Have a underwriter laboratory stickers allowing the entire unit to be inspected by the local electrical inspectors through a licensed electrician? Or would they have to be assembled by patriots for power and then given a local UL listing?
What are some of the places where I can get solor pannel parts and solor pannel systems before the information I ordered gets to me by mail? Please advise.
How much is the cost of getting started on building these solar systems? Framing, solar grids etc.
Or is it better to buy things made up.
Randall
what is the solar powered wind generator in amps if it is 400 watts does that mean its only 4amps or in that general area??? 4 amps is very little current also is this the one you say it can be built for $200?? to get 15 amps would mean 3 wind generators,??
I understand that you don’t want to back feed the utility when power goes out,but can’t you connect a auto transfer switch to prevent this.
Our electricity is provided by Perdenales Electric Coop (PEC). They require 60 day notice with a plan of the electrical generating system before connecting, an interconnection agreement, and an inspection before the actual connection.
OK! Great. I have discussing all of this with some close friends of mine (1 of whom is a master electrician. Does your training provide a guide 4 “Project Planning (including permits requiored, site preparation and development etc)? And a flow chaert and algorithims for all the steps required in selecting, building, and using your systems? How about a PERT (Performance Evaluation Review Technique? I used to work with 131 Site Superintendents , with 17 crafts reporting to each Super, in 26 states. I was the Training Director of the construction division, and the plan called for building a prototype, then 75 more large retirement centers. Each center cost about 12 Million. I had to teach the supers, engineers, craftsmen, vendors how to use the above tools. I have big hopes 4 your advise, systems, manuals, dvds, etc.Dom’t worry, I am also realistic, and will take your advise and start very small. God Bless you guys!
so far so good . let us get down to business.
I want to go big get of the grid completely I want to get manufactured solar panels I like to build it my self the whoie 9 yards I want to buy right thing at affordable price please let me know what I need to do buy the right equipment at affordable price so let me know what the deal is thanks frank
once I got rid of google chrome I could view the videos with no problem
Do I need a license/permit??
Readers:
Chris lives far away from any electrical inspectors and his views show it. He has good information, but it doesn’t go far enough.
I live in Wild and Wooly New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment. And New Mexico, like all 50 states has legislated the National Electrical Code (NEC) into law. The NEC requires listed (tested and evaluated by 3rd party laboratories like UL) PV modules, charge controllers and inverters even on OFF GRID PV systems. Inspectors will require that those products be used.
Yes electrical inspectors are underpaid and overworked and they may not see that off grid PV system, but in most states permits and inspections are required by LAW for any PV system, off-grid or on grid utility interactive. I have been designing and installing PV systems since 1984. I lived off grid in a community subdivision for 16 years and now have been utility-interactive with battery backup for about six years.
PV modules are flooding the market and can be purchased in sets of 10-12 for $0.68/watt or less and these are manufactured of top quality materials and are fully listed and warrantied. No I don’t sell and cannot tell you where, but Google will.
Be safe, get a PV professional and an electrician and get permits. Don’t kill anyone or burn your house down.
I will check it out, but I understand that Dominion Power in Virginia has got passed a $65 fee per month charge to connect with the power grid. As far as know, is this true?
Is it possible for me to re-view the videos at a later date? I may need the review In case I missed anything the first time. I certainly hope your answer is yes. Please let me know how to access the info later. Thank you
I’m still having the same problem, that I had while watching #1 video. Why this problem is still
happening, I do NOT understand WHY! I do hope that my very first comment, as to video #1, was
read!
Gaynor over-and-out.
Question 5: I realize one of the goals for Power 4 Patriots is to circumvent government intrusions, but if you have homeowners insurance you may want to consult your policy to help determine the need for a permit…
i didn’t get #three and # four