bunyip
Elite Member
But an induction BBQ would just kill the mood.....
New to Grid Tied Home Solar...
- Thread starter ultrarunner
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deezler
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Oh, sweet! Perhaps I should have said affordable heat-pump clothes dryer, lol. Wish they would have had those more widely available when I bought my generic-style whirpool elec dryer. It sucks down kw as well as many CFM of conditioned air right out the duct (which really messes with my woodstove, too), but, was only $300.
Most of the heat pump dryers I am seeing are pretty small, too. hmmmm.
OP
ultrarunner
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Update...
6 months after my first full year since commissioning I opened today's mail and found a check for $387 and change for the purchase of the excess power generated...
Was beginning to think selling excess power was a myth but happy to have check in hand.
My little 3 array system generated 4,000 kW over what I used... mostly because old habits are hard to break.
6 months after my first full year since commissioning I opened today's mail and found a check for $387 and change for the purchase of the excess power generated...
Was beginning to think selling excess power was a myth but happy to have check in hand.
My little 3 array system generated 4,000 kW over what I used... mostly because old habits are hard to break.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Is that for a month of generating power or is that for a longer period of time? Will you continue to get those checks on a regular basis? Are they considered income that you will have to pay taxes on, or will the cost of the system be a write off or operating expense that will reduce or eliminate that check as taxable income?
OP
ultrarunner
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It was the end of year true-up and covers a full 12 months.
Hard to say going forward... the house has central A/C which is something new to me... Since getting the check I decided to leave the A/C at 75 instead of the 4 days I used it last 12 months.
If my overproduction totals $100 or less it shows up as a credit to offset next month's bill.
Never thought about it as income... but then this is all new to me.
It does bring a smile to my face as far as PGE is concerned...
My natural gas use last month is $6
Hard to say going forward... the house has central A/C which is something new to me... Since getting the check I decided to leave the A/C at 75 instead of the 4 days I used it last 12 months.
If my overproduction totals $100 or less it shows up as a credit to offset next month's bill.
Never thought about it as income... but then this is all new to me.
It does bring a smile to my face as far as PGE is concerned...
My natural gas use last month is $6
Jim Nelson
Platinum Member
You did well. We had our system installed 6 years ago and the first year had a $9 credit which I thought was perfect as we wanted to break even ,then it started creeping up to us owing them $100.00,$200.00, and this year a whopping $600.00. I asked them to check the "smart" meter as our usage hasn't changed but they said it is fine. I called the solar company that did the installation and they said we need another 7 panels to break even. The new panels are, I believe,350 KW compared to the old ones at 250 KW. I could be a little off on those #s as this is all voodoo to me,anyway it should nearly double our out put.
S.D.G.&E. aren't quite as bad as P.G.&E but close. Instead of along with raising rates they also find new "fees" and delivery charges etc. to keep rates going up.
S.D.G.&E. aren't quite as bad as P.G.&E but close. Instead of along with raising rates they also find new "fees" and delivery charges etc. to keep rates going up.
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
My sister lives in calif, and her solar system costs her each month. They charge her a use fee to sell excess power back by using their lines. She absolutely regrets installing system.
Industrial Toys
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I feel sorry, that another old lady got fooled into substituting a good quality hard wired security system for garbage wireless. Just because, the companies are all into lick and stick technology.
My Mom got fooled into giving up her wired BELL phone, and now I have to drive another six hours to get her garbage IP phone working. Modem had been replaced but just dropped off. Worked and now it doesn't again! 85 years old and no way to contact her! The BELL linehad worked flawlessly for decades. Now every time the power goes out, the phone soon follows! Just garbage technology!
As for the solar. If there is a power outage, do you have access to that power?
My Mom got fooled into giving up her wired BELL phone, and now I have to drive another six hours to get her garbage IP phone working. Modem had been replaced but just dropped off. Worked and now it doesn't again! 85 years old and no way to contact her! The BELL linehad worked flawlessly for decades. Now every time the power goes out, the phone soon follows! Just garbage technology!
As for the solar. If there is a power outage, do you have access to that power?
Jim Nelson
Platinum Member
No you don't have power with a grid tied system, the power co. doesn't want any power feeding into the lines while they are working on it. There might be an isolation switch system similar to a generator system but I've never seen or heard of one.
OP
ultrarunner
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My components are dated... Circa 2008-09
No power available if grid goes down...
Some Inverters do offer a single powered outlet even if the grid goes down. It's enough for a refrigerator, light and computer if enough sun.
Even generating excess my monthly bill is $10.23 to cover minimum delivery and city tax...
No power available if grid goes down...
Some Inverters do offer a single powered outlet even if the grid goes down. It's enough for a refrigerator, light and computer if enough sun.
Even generating excess my monthly bill is $10.23 to cover minimum delivery and city tax...
coldsteelva
Veteran Member
I would love to do solar, but I live in VA. Not exactly homeowner solar friendly thanks to the vast number of lobbying dollars Dominion Energy spends. In VA, you can only spec a solar system that will offset no more than 100% of your usage for the previous 12 months (no sell back for you, but the power company gets to sell your excess). I use between 13,000 and 15,000 kWh per year and pay $.10 to $.11/kWh so roughly $1700/year for electricity. We have hot summers and high humidities so we use the AC pretty frequently, but we have LP heat in the winter months. We're also in an electric co-op (NOVEC) so we aren't dealing with shareholders or profiteers. My ROI would exceed 10 years if I paid cash for the system and slightly longer if financed.
I have a wide open plot, no shade trees near the house (which increases our AC needs), but I could actually farm solar and earn quite a bit back if we were allowed to sell back via net-metering. Maybe someday, but it isn't in the cards for now.
I have a wide open plot, no shade trees near the house (which increases our AC needs), but I could actually farm solar and earn quite a bit back if we were allowed to sell back via net-metering. Maybe someday, but it isn't in the cards for now.
OP
ultrarunner
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There are size limits but you have wiggle room... like after the calcs going to more efficient LED, HVAC or intention to buy a Tesla or two...
I'm sure I could use up my excess with more people here or I started using the dryer instead of clothes line... etc.
3100 square feet with central A/C... about 360 kWh per month
I'm sure I could use up my excess with more people here or I started using the dryer instead of clothes line... etc.
3100 square feet with central A/C... about 360 kWh per month
OP
ultrarunner
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Flattened the panel tilt today to better align with summer sun and noticed an immediate kW increase...
The arrays are held in place with strut that is adjustable from nearly flat to perpendicular.
Need something like an adjustable top link for tractor 3-point to make it easily infinitely adjustable.
The arrays are held in place with strut that is adjustable from nearly flat to perpendicular.
Need something like an adjustable top link for tractor 3-point to make it easily infinitely adjustable.
MossRoad
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Some linear actuators, a computer, some sensors.... hmmmm...... sounds like a fun project to make it auto adjust by the season.
OP
ultrarunner
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I thought a tracker would be the way to go... after talking with someone that retired from the business he said adding a few extra panels is a simpler and least costly way to go.
MossRoad
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No fun in simplicity... :laughing:
Industrial Toys
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Doesn't sun tracking involve more than one axis?
OP
ultrarunner
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One Axis and Two Axis available...
cdaigle430
Veteran Member
I soooo love my on grid 7kw even here in Maine. So much that we are even adjusting our useage around day sun generation. I even traded my charcoal smoker in for an electric smoker for convenience and free fuel. I also traded all my gas powered tools to battery for free fuel. All my lights will also be all LED soon. I just have two T8 flouescents I need to conver over as soon as I find a viable option.
I took advantage of the last year IRS was giving 30% tax return on mine, this year it is 26% and every year after will be reduced more until its gone. Dont go into lease is all I can say. Leasing is the biggest rip off since snake oil.
Today is cloudy and I am still generating 500 watts or more-my house is using 460 watts which means I am feeding 40 watts to the grid-on a complete overcast
Not much but at least I am still using free electricity.
I am not bragging just pleasantly suprised for Maine solar generation. I had alot of negative comments from friends and family-said I was wasting my time and money with solar in Maine. I did do some research and found that 4.6 hours solar per day potential was worth the risk and money.
I also was not looking for an immediate return, just looking towards retiring and lowering home maintenance costs as much as possible. Solar is pretty much maintenance free and my warranty is 25 years.
I did get 30% back from IRS and used it towards more home improvement. My electric bill is 12.56 a month now because I have to pay for the meter and delivery charges no matter what. in summer I was paying 160 a month before the Solar
I also like the statistics I am keeping now thanks to the inverter and mobile app...so far this year I am getting 20% more sun than last year
I took advantage of the last year IRS was giving 30% tax return on mine, this year it is 26% and every year after will be reduced more until its gone. Dont go into lease is all I can say. Leasing is the biggest rip off since snake oil.
Today is cloudy and I am still generating 500 watts or more-my house is using 460 watts which means I am feeding 40 watts to the grid-on a complete overcast
Not much but at least I am still using free electricity.I am not bragging just pleasantly suprised for Maine solar generation. I had alot of negative comments from friends and family-said I was wasting my time and money with solar in Maine. I did do some research and found that 4.6 hours solar per day potential was worth the risk and money.
I also was not looking for an immediate return, just looking towards retiring and lowering home maintenance costs as much as possible. Solar is pretty much maintenance free and my warranty is 25 years.
I did get 30% back from IRS and used it towards more home improvement. My electric bill is 12.56 a month now because I have to pay for the meter and delivery charges no matter what. in summer I was paying 160 a month before the Solar
I also like the statistics I am keeping now thanks to the inverter and mobile app...so far this year I am getting 20% more sun than last year
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
How long do solar panels last? Do they wear out or deteriorate over time?
Don't they use batteries to store the energy, which need to be replaced eventually?
I like the idea of solar, but I worry that it's something that as soon as I finish paying for it, I will have to replace it.
Don't they use batteries to store the energy, which need to be replaced eventually?
I like the idea of solar, but I worry that it's something that as soon as I finish paying for it, I will have to replace it.
