Espiritus - thanks for posting! that link is dead but the blog title is at the top so still accessible. I have to say, I've read WildBlue's stuff (
http://www.wildbluebus.com/2013/01/diy- ... ShlxB3BOSp) which is pretty easy to read and understand. Just read the solar quick answer from the link you posted, and am now reading the longer explanation.. I've been looking up solar panels on the web all day. HandyBob's blog is great.
We are definitely going solar also, with a small wind turbine (most likely built ourselves - helloooo expensive). I looked at my electric bill for the past few months and I know we can half the usage there, but my head has been swimming. I'm more an artsy visual learner so the amps and kw's and watts and volts and things just don't compute too easily, my fiancee is the mechanical brains so I'm sure we'll be able to figure it out. It just seems like a lot.
Between WildBlue and HandyBob though, things are starting to make a bit more sense.
I think it's ridiculous all this stuff is so expensive, but i suppose that's the price you pay for saving money...