OK! So I finally heard from my wife about the cost for solar panels and various supporting systems for collecting energy from the sun. Forget about providing solar power for the 2 tonne A/C split system - it's doable for that 240V thing... but the cost alone for just THAT would be $10,000 USD! Not happening as that's just a little bit beyond my budget. jaja But to power everything else in the casa that's 110-120V, there's 2 different packages available from the most reputable company that my wife approached in Camaguey city. The first package provides for 2 solar panels, a high capacity battery for storage, all of the other associated electronic hardware, and the installation with metal mounting rack included too - $1,800 USD. The second package is more recommended to be able to power absolutely every electrical appliance in our casa (short of our A/C) if running everything at the same time too - that includes 4 solar panels and the rest of the peripherals mentioned already too - $2,200 USD. I've suggested to my wife that she buy the second package option - personally, I always like to over-engineer whatever projects I'm working on for installation so as not to be disappointed later with the performance. But Yudith told me that she's also been looking on Revolico online where there seems to be plenty of cheaper alternatives that "supposedly" provide for the same performance features as the reputable company's second option. I've warned my wife though - sometimes you only get what you pay for - especially when shopping online - IN CUBA too of all places!. Can you imagine?? On Revolico, just like here in Canada, it's always a case of "Caveat Emptor" - Buyer Beware! What's the old adage?? If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is! Anyway, she won't receive the new $2,500 USD that I'll be sending to her over the weekend with Sendvalu until sometime next week. She has between now and then to make her final decision - she's the captain of the ship there with that. But I know which system and company I'm leaning towards. That will leave her with $300 USD as part of my financial support for the month of March as well. Terry

I have been reading up on solar energy. For a place like Cuba it could almost be considered a necessity with the current electrical situation. It is just a matter of affordability. If there is a downside I think that theft and damage by weather events (hurricane) are possible but those are common concerns.

Yea, my wife and I have already talked about the potential for theft issue, but she's told me that the company who will do the installation are way ahead of the curve on that. When they mount those solar panels to the metal frame that angles them toward the sun, that frame is bolted down into the concrete roof, and they also bolt those panels onto that frame in multiple locations along each side... making it extremely difficult for the panels to be removed in a hurry during a theft attempt, but not so difficult that with more time allotted, they can be unbolted to be taken down and stored away inside the casa for safe keeping well in advance of a hurricane's arrival. The metal support frame can stay up there on the roof to ride out the storm with no problem of course. Terry

Update on the new solar energy system - it's now installed! And it's now working like a charm too! The guys finished installing everything on top and inside our casa last night. It was funny - my wife was up on the roof writing to me to tell me about everything... when the electricity in the street went OFF... but the lights in our casa stayed ON! jajaja Perfect! Terry

Some fotos of that new very sophisticated solar power system:

Since you now have multiple power sources Terry, does this bring back your original idea to retire in Cuba?

HA! Not a chance, Simon! NOPE! She's now committed to coming to Canada next year to live here with the PR status. But it will surely be more of a pleasure for me to visit our casa there again when I can. And for both of us when visiting together in the future too. jiji Terry

That was quick! A game changer Terry! Good for you! Didn’t you mention before that you have big vicious dogs for anti-theft security?
I will be looking forward to future updates on your solar experience. You should start a new thread about it.

Hey there, CW. Thanks! Yea, she's happy... that's all that matters. And YES, we have our 3 big boxer dogs for security - they've done their job to help keep Yudith and our daughter Delenys safe along with the rest of our "Aladdin's Cave" treasures within our casa too. It's funny that you mentioned our dogs though - I spoke to Yudith this morning about our dogs because now that we have that solar panel array affixed to the front edge of our casa roofline facing the street, I told my wife to make sure that our biggest dog, Chico, doesn't climb on top of those solar panels. Chico, our big male boxer that's built like a lion - he just LOVES standing at the front edge of that roofline to bark ferociously at any other dogs in the street that wander past our casa. I KNOW that he'll want to get up there on top of those solar panels to claim that slightly higher ground too. Actually, our other 2 big dogs are just as bad as he is as well. I hope they all keep their grubby paws off of those expensive panels now. jaja My wife has assured me that she'll be pulling her chancleta off to threaten them if those dogs get any ideas. Terry

I'd be providing further updates on the new solar panel electricity system recently installed in our casa, but since Monday night, my wife has been in the hospital - her appendix burst. Now recovering from the removal operation bit by bit. Terry

Sorry to hear that Terry. Glad your wife is doing ok.

Thanks, Simon. She gets released from the hospital today, but of course she'll need to take it easy for the next 2 weeks at the house. That gave us an awful scare. It could have killed her because she didn't decide to go to the hospital until several hours after it ruptured. I'm amazed that the hospital had the anesthesia available to knock her out during the procedure. Terry

On a positive note, I've noticed this morning that supermarket-treew is now accepting new orders again for delivery across all of Cuba. That's great!

Apparently the selection of things in the brick and mortar supermarkets of Camaguey city are rather sparse now due to the current chaos and hording that's been created. A lot of what was available before has been bought up to be resold in the street with insane price mark-ups attached - how a lot of Cubans there in Cam make extra money. My wife has told me that the prices in the street have tripled for many of those basic commodities like rice and cooking oil. Apparently propane is now being sold by the LB. in very small cylinders at crazy prices too. Propane has never been sold by the LB. before, but it is now. Terry

My most recent casa host in Centro is installing solar panels this weekend. This is in addition to a battery that provides power for about 6 hours when charged. If I decide to return soon, I'll be quite comfortable there.

I hope things are going well there in Cuba Terry regarding your family. I am also interested in updates regarding your solar experience. Yes, you should start a new thread just for the solar stuff.

Hey there, Wess. Yes, all is well with my family and friends in Cuba - thanks. Just ask me specific questions about the solar power system and I'll provide you with specific answers. No problem. In truth, I'm just too busy to start a new thread about it, but will answer all specific questions here. Terry

Terry, does your casa now have 24/7 electricity with the new solar panels? Glad things are going well in Camagüey.

Buenas dias, CubanWaters. Yes. My wife now enjoys electricity within our casa 24 hours per day - and in silence! Albeit, the solar high capacity storage battery feeds everything that's 110V/120V which includes the recharging of our lithium battery motorina too. But of course our 2 tonne A/C split system is 240V, so no help with that. But all of our wall and ceiling fans now help to provide the necessary relief - and all through the night as well. Yudith can now get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom without stubbing her toe in the dark.

The thing that provoked picking the much more powerful 4 panel system for installation was that we were told it would be able to power everything within our casa simultaneously when also running continuously for several hours - not that we would ever do that. But it's just good to know that if necessary, the system could handle it. The high capacity storage battery also recharges whenever there's electricity provided from the street too, which isn't much these days. Perhaps 2 hours a day now. But it's also good to know that it has that capability. Terry

Update - I just finished talking with my wife there and she told me that the only downside to the new solar panel energy system is that when there are mega persistent hours with no sun (it's been raining and overcast there almost constantly for 2 going on 3 days), the high capacity storage battery is not being recharged by the solar panels and she has lost the ability to have both the refrigerator and the deep freezer powered up at the same time. Thank God that the sky is mostly clear the majority of the time above Camaguey city throughout the year though. Terry

All back to normal there with the solar system working at full capacity now that the sun is shining brightly again everyday above Camaguey city. Back to having electricity available 24/7 and powering everything simultaneously in the casa - and with NO NOISE! What a Godsend that new system is! Especially when there's only 2 hours of electricity from the street each day. The only downside?? Not that it's a REAL downside for us - the wife tells me that all of our friends and other family members don't want to LEAVE our casa when they visit! jaja Terry

Great news Terry. Solar is the way to go in fuel starved Cuba. Now if every household in Cuba could afford a solar installation it would solve so many problems!