Thinking about going Solar.

[TnAndy]

Very impressive, TnAndy!

Thanks......that's what I was shooting for.......ahahhaaaaa.....

As I often tell visitors with that reaction: "I'm 35 years into a 50 year project".

 

[bunyip]

The Tesla battery pack has come down by 50% in the past year, they will be a viable option before long I think.

 

[JPRambo]

would it be an odd idea to plan (while building a home) solar for only lighting use with a way to switch from solar power back to on grid?

 

[EddieWalker]

(Will your attic really freeze?)

We hit 8F last winter. That is the coldest I've ever been in. Usually it will get into the high teens a few times during winter, and we've gone a full week with temps never getting above 30F.

 

[BAP]

We hit 8F last winter. That is the coldest I've ever been in. Usually it will get into the high teens a few times during winter, and we've gone a full week with temps never getting above 30F.

That's a heat wave in the winter here.

 

[TnAndy]

would it be an odd idea to plan (while building a home) solar for only lighting use with a way to switch from solar power back to on grid?

You'd have to set up a battery based solar power system, which is more expensive than a simple grid tie system....more components like batteries, charge controllers, etc. This is how I set up my system initially, with a simple transfer switch that runs a sub-panel with circuits we consider 'handy' in a grid down situation.....refrigeration, lights, etc. I've seen several new houses set up this way with the thought they might get a backup generator down the road, so yes, if building new, I'd probably go this route.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

would it be an odd idea to plan (while building a home) solar for only lighting use with a way to switch from solar power back to on grid?

Well my plan is to set up a back-up solar system for the stuff I don't want to live without during our 8-hour, 2-day, 4-day, and one time a 2-week power outage (ice storm). Maybe it comes on automatically, or maybe I need to flip a switch )) I'm fine either way.

Honestly with solar, google is a pretty good resource. Greenhomebuilding.com was one good site. I'm sure there are many others.

I think there's a lot to be said for starting small, and then maybe gradually increasing the size of the system, learning along the way.

Florida is the Sunshine State. Why not use it?

 

[TnAndy]

Well my plan is to set up a back-up solar system for the stuff I don't want to live without during our 8-hour, 2-day, 4-day, and one time a 2-week power outage (ice storm). Maybe it comes on automatically, or maybe I need to flip a switch )) I'm fine either way.

A manual transfer switch is far less expensive than an automatic one, and does us fine for the occasional outage. Automatic is fine for places like hospitals that have large backup generators and need near seamless power transfer.

Speaking of which, ours went out one morning, I stepped out in the garage and flipped the transfer switch and my wife came in the kitchen and started re-setting the microwave clock. I started laughing....'what ???'......she didn't know we'd switched to solar, and would be switching back when the power returned....meaning clocks resetting again....ahahahaa....


My initial 2008 setup was for backup power......6kw system now, with a 1200amp/hr 24v battery setup. I plan to add an 8-10kw diesel generator to that either this fall, or next spring, with 1,000gal of diesel storage.

 

[shooterdon]

For me, if it does not payback in less than 6 years, it is not worth doing. My electricity costs are about $1500/yr. when I looked at it 5 years ago it would be 15 years to break even. Unless costs have dropped significantly, and reliability has improved, it is not worth doing.

Last year, we had over 30” of snow in 3 days. Even if it becomes affordable, I cannot see being off grid.

 

[BoylermanCT]

Some states have very good incentives. My brother lives in MA and put a $30K solar system on his house. It covers 100% of his electric usage. He just completed his first year, and it did cover 100% of his usage. The Feds gave him 30% back on his taxes. $30K - $9K = $21K. MA offers an incentive based on electricity produced over 10 years. His annual payment from MA is $2K = $20K. So after 10 years, his out of pocket cost is $1K. His electric bill was $150 a month. 12 months = $1800 x 10 years $18K, and he has received 10 years of electricity worth $18K for an out of pocket expense of $1K.

Show me a stock or mutual fund where you can know up front that if you invest $30K, you are guaranteed on 10 years to get all you money back plus $18K. If you live in MA, you are crazy not to invest in solar. I looked into doing this on my home in CT, but CT offered me $3K towards solar. Not worth it to tie up that kind of money.