Solar Panels and a Tractor

[Tim_in_IA]

that's too bad they don't use net metering and PAY you for the surplus instead of taking it for free. That is the current way it is in my state, but the sun isn't as direct.

[AntrimMan]

I don't get why the panels are way up on the roof.
Wouldn't a ground based collector be more easily cleaned and not get in the way when the roof needs to be replaced?
Martin

[Matteo92065]

The solar panels are on the roof to get them out of the way. I believe if they were on the ground it would make the installation more complicated. It would require me to set footings, build a structure, have it certified, etc. It would also never let me grow trees anywhere around it. If only just a fraction of one panel gets covered by shade, it will kill the performance of the whole system. It has something to do with the way they are wired internally.

The panels are installed at an angle that the manufacturer says is 'self cleaning'. Just spray some water up there and the dirt runs off the panel. I'll see how that works!

As for roof life, supposedly I have the life-time asphalt shingles, and they aren't exposed to the elements anymore.

[sodamo]

Thanks Matteo, great idea.
In Aug I will be installing a small (4x123watt panels) system on my "shed" in Hawaii. I'm somewhat following the attached plan from Home Power magazine. Later this year or early next, I will be putting together a whole house system. I haven't sized it yet, but my wife doesn't expect a major life style change as far as lights. We will be totally off the grid as are most of our neighbors. I could have regular power brought in for about half the cost of the solar system, but that also gets me a $200/month utility bill that's bound to increase. As for batteries, some of my neighbors believe in getting lower cost marine/golf deep cycle as you find in Costco etc as opposed to the so called high end - reasoning - no cost to dispose of core, lower cost up front, hope that battery technology will be better each 5 year cycle. Seems sensible to me.
Keep up the posts, I'm trying to learn what I can.
David

[have_blue]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( As for batteries, some of my neighbors believe in getting lower cost marine/golf deep cycle as you find in Costco etc as opposed to the so called high end - reasoning - no cost to dispose of core, lower cost up front, hope that battery technology will be better each 5 year cycle. Seems sensible to me. )</font>

Golf cart batteries are by far the most cost effective storage. They are very tolerant of deep discharge, and easy to maintain. For sure, they are not as good as the cutting edge battery technology. However, you can buy 3x or 4x the storage capacity for the bucks. When a GC battery dies, you don't have a heart attack because a new 205Ah battery costs only $50.

I'm waiting for cheap NiMH or Li cells the size of a large box of corn flakes. Something that will last for 20 years, and without all the nasty acid to fight.

[RichNJKubota]

Congratulations on your PV system. We also put one up last year. It would have been very difficult without the use of the FEL and pallet forks to install the 4 trackers that hold the PV panels. Attached is a pic of the 4 trackers.
Our system is 9.8KW grid-tie w/battery backup. Produces all our energy needs for the house and will payback in 5-6 years. The state paid 70% of the cost.

Rich
NJ

[have_blue]

Awesome setup. On a sunny summer day, I bet you can feel the electrons searching for something to melt.

That's 1 way to get a quick payback! I bet it feels good when the utility company owes you money.

[PBinWA]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Congratulations on your PV system. We also put one up last year. It would have been very difficult without the use of the FEL and pallet forks to install the 4 trackers that hold the PV panels. Attached is a pic of the 4 trackers.
Our system is 9.8KW grid-tie w/battery backup. Produces all our energy needs for the house and will payback in 5-6 years. The state paid 70% of the cost.
)</font>

That's a nice system. Can you give any info on the manufacturer and where you got the parts?

Thanks

[Matteo92065]

Wow that is a nice system, Rich!
9.8KW! Thats about double the power of mine, yet it looks like you only have 32 panels. That would mean that each panel is ~306Watts? Those are some great panels.

[RichNJKubota]

Trackers came from www.wattsun.com
Panels were made by www.rweschottsolar.de
Inverters are from www.beaconpower.com and
www.sma-america.com (website not working right now)
I have a mix of 300 watt and 315 watt panels making the average about 306 watts each. They are big panels weighing about 110lbs each. Each array is about 12ft high by 16ft wide. Between the array and the tracker mechanism there is about 1500lbs on each 8" steel pole. The system should (and is right on target) produce about 18,000kwh per year.
We could not put the panels on the house roof for various reasons so they had to go on a ground mount array or a pole mount. The inverters and battery storage are in the basement. We only have a small battery bank - enough to run the fridge, etc for about 8 hrs.
I used the tractor and clamp-on bucket forks to move the 14 ft 8" steel pipes around. Various things needed to be done to the pipes before they were put in a footing.
Also the buckets forks cam in handy when mounting the various tracker parts on top of the pipes after they were in the ground. The panels were lifted in place by hand (many hands) because each panel costs about $1k.

Rich