New to Grid Tied Home Solar...

Jim Nelson · Jul 14, 2020

Eddie, batteries are optional and too expensive for me. The main advantage to them is you will have power without sun. I'm sure the panels will deteriorate in time but the normal warranty is 25 years so lifetime for me.

cdaigle430 · Jul 14, 2020

Yes they will deteriorate over time, I have Panasonic HIT 340 watt panels, guaranteed to not deteriorate more than a small percentage for 25 (.026%)years But also technology improves by leaps and bounds every 10 anyway. The Panasonic HITs guarantee mine will still produce 91% of its full potential even at 25 years.

techman · Jul 14, 2020

Most solar panels lose on average about 1% per year due to UV degradation. This is an average I have seen in various studies. My panels are rated at 90% after 10 years and 80% after 25 years. Mine seem to be about 8% down after 9 years, but hard to tell exactly since the yearly production seems to vary more due to overall weather conditions.

paul

grsthegreat · Jul 14, 2020

cdaigle430 said:
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 take it you dont need ac in summer at your place. Man, i wish my house only took less than 500 watts per peak hour in summer.... never would happen here. How many batteries can a 7 kw system charge to generate power in the evenings?

I just got done doing work on a ladies generator on an off grid system. Man i wish i never got involved in it. She refuses to allow power from battery and inverters to travel back to generator to keep system charged as she says she runs out of lights in the evening if she does. Shes sunk over $40,000 into this system over the years and still has power issues . I tried a solar charger on generator battery, but still having issues of dead battery. I told her either let me feed generator charger or find someone else that may have a solution. I try to stay away from any off grid house as it has bern a pain in my butt for too many years. I guess one that is used on a house that is still powered by utilities wouldnt be as much of a pain.

I also had a call from someone that has a Solar system thats tied into his panel thru smoke and mirrors. But when he loses utility the battery system does not power the house. The installer told him on utility fed systems the batterys cannot power house if utility is off. I didnt want to get involved....beyond my pay grade. On a generator repair website i belong to there have bern several posts about this same issues. As far as i know there is no legal way around it as its a public utility issue. Oh well, thats for smarter brains than me. Besides, now im retired so i could care less

buckeyefarmer · Jul 14, 2020

Couple TBN people with off grid / batteries / generator. I might consider it for my retirement house. Another guy just installed similar system, but is still grid tied, but can still produce solar if utility is out. Just depends on the system design.
Those guys that rent your roof for a few pennies off your monthly bill don’t install systems that benefit you, they are in it for their profit.

Skagit · Jul 14, 2020

buckeyefarmer said:
Couple TBN people with off grid / batteries / generator. I might consider it for my retirement house.

That's what we have, there's some inconveniences because it's an older system (20 yrs) with a modified sine inverter but it works for us, I don't think I would go back to a grid tied home now.

ultrarunner · Jul 14, 2020

grsthegreat said:
I take it you dont need ac in summer at your place. Man, i wish my house only took less than 500 watts per peak hour in summer.... never would happen here. How many batteries can a 7 kw system charge to generate power in the evenings?

I just got done doing work on a ladies generator on an off grid system. Man i wish i never got involved in it. She refuses to allow power from battery and inverters to travel back to generator to keep system charged as she says she runs out of lights in the evening if she does. Shes sunk over $40,000 into this system over the years and still has power issues . I tried a solar charger on generator battery, but still having issues of dead battery. I told her either let me feed generator charger or find someone else that may have a solution. I try to stay away from any off grid house as it has bern a pain in my butt for too many years. I guess one that is used on a house that is still powered by utilities wouldnt be as much of a pain.

I also had a call from someone that has a Solar system thats tied into his panel thru smoke and mirrors. But when he loses utility the battery system does not power the house. The installer told him on utility fed systems the batterys cannot power house if utility is off. I didnt want to get involved....beyond my pay grade. On a generator repair website i belong to there have bern several posts about this same issues. As far as i know there is no legal way around it as its a public utility issue. Oh well, thats for smarter brains than me. Besides, now im retired so i could care less

Interesting in that Tesla Power Wall advertises keeping the lights on when grid is down...

I have seen pararel systems with UPS outlets strategically placed around the homestead.

Mom's home is just under 2400 square feet of 1958 construction with original single pane windows, electric range, dryer and large 20 cu. ft. 1967 Amana garage freezer... 360 kW monthly year round use...

ultrarunner · Jul 14, 2020

buckeyefarmer said:
Couple TBN people with off grid / batteries / generator. I might consider it for my retirement house. Another guy just installed similar system, but is still grid tied, but can still produce solar if utility is out. Just depends on the system design.
Those guys that rent your roof for a few pennies off your monthly bill don’t install systems that benefit you, they are in it for their profit.

One house in the neighborhood has a very large PV system "Rented/Leased"... who knew the owner had a sophisticated grow system... the owner lost/walked away through foreclosure in 2012...

Foreclosure Buyer retired lawyer... he worked out a fantastic deal with Solar City and is extremely happy to the point he dumps PV to the Hot Tub and all electric car.

Solar City could have bid on the home but didn't... it did turn off the system pending resolution...

orezok · Jul 14, 2020

I just got my PTO a couple of weeks ago. Right now SCE sez that my current bill is $0. Desert sun is great as I am getting many hours of production per day.