A newbies DIY solar install

[jk96]

I'VE BEEN CONSIDERING A SYSTEM, KEEP US INFORMED ON YOU PROJECT SO WE CAN LEARN. THANKS

Will have our first full month on the books here in a few days. Will post production vs estimates. This month and Jan will be our lowest production months. I'm seeing a daily production low of 16 kWh on a heavy full cloud day and 100kWh on a full sun day.

 

[newbury]

Will have our first full month on the books here in a few days. Will post production vs estimates. This month and Jan will be our lowest production months. I'm seeing a daily production low of 16 kWh on a heavy full cloud day and 100kWh on a full sun day.

Is that 16kWh and 100kWh totals for the day?

 

[jk96]

Is that 16kWh and 100kWh totals for the day?

Yes. My estimates prior to install for December was 2180 kWh for the month. My highest month should be July at just over 3600 kWh for the month.

 

[Oaktree]

Yes. My estimates prior to install for December was 2180 kWh for the month. My highest month should be July at just over 3600 kWh for the month.

That sounds like quite the impressive system. Just checked an old electric bill...typically we only use a little over 200/mo.

 

[jk96]

That sounds like quite the impressive system. Just checked an old electric bill...typically we only use a little over 200/mo.

200 Kwh per month total or $200?

 

[LD1]

I think solar is a rip off

On these forums, a comment like that requires a little more detail/information for anyone to take you credibly or seriously.

Can solar make tremendous power....yup.
Can solar save people alot of money...yup.
Can solar pay for itself in as little as 5-6 years...yup.

BUT....can solar take as much as 20 years to pay for itself....also yup.

TOO many variables. Assuming you have alot of sun....the second single biggest factor of whether solar is "worth" it is how your utility company handles solar and net metering.

A company like mine....where you have a minimum charge no matter what, and that minimum charge increases if you do have solar, and also where the electric you need to use from the grid if you are short is charged at a higher rate just because you have solar....then no. Solar is not cost effective yet at current equipment prices.

However, some companies are ALOT more generous in their net metering practices.

In your one-line un-substantiated comment.....let me ask you....have you bothered to research your OWN electric companies net metering practices before making such a baseless comment?

 

[newbury]

TOO many variables. Assuming you have alot of sun....the second single biggest factor of whether solar is "worth" it is how your utility company handles solar and net metering.

Also a big factor is how much one uses. Our TOTAL USAGE last year was about 11,000 kWh, and that's in Mississippi living there 24/7 (due to Covid) no vacations.
/edit
So at our cost of $0.099/kWh the max we could save/year would be about $1,100.

 

[cqaigy2]

Not for us. We are saving about $4,000 a year and that will increase as utility rates continue to climb - and there are proposals now for substantial increases in rates. By the end of this year we will have saved $12,000+.

Cool thing about money saved, you don't get directly taxed for it, unlike if you made $12K to pay for the electricity.

 

[Oaktree]

200 Kwh per month total or $200?

200 kWh. Last month was high at 221.

 

[LD1]

Also a big factor is how much one uses. Our TOTAL USAGE last year was about 11,000 kWh, and that's in Mississippi living there 24/7 (due to Covid) no vacations.
/edit
So at our cost of $0.099/kWh the max we could save/year would be about $1,100.

Which would also require a smaller system. So less up front out of pocket for an appropriately sized system.

If you had a company with a generous net metering policy, it is still worthwhile looking into even for smaller usages. It just requires a smaller system.

But lower rates do make it take longer to overcome initial cost

 

[ning]

200 kWh. Last month was high at 221.

220kWh on a 30-day month is an average of just over 300 watts continuously.

Do you have a refrigerator or any lights?

 

[beowulf]

Which would also require a smaller system. So less up front out of pocket for an appropriately sized system.

If you had a company with a generous net metering policy, it is still worthwhile looking into even for smaller usages. It just requires a smaller system.

But lower rates do make it take longer to overcome initial cost

A good point. Our system was sized based on the prior 12 months of electrical usage. The system installed is a 10.2 DC kw system which we were told was equivalent to a 9.5 AC kw system. The system covers use for our two meters. Our usage is household (with AC), well, hot tub, swimming pool, small shop, and small guest quarters. It is nice not to worry about a spike in power bills for AC. It has worked out well. Cost was $29,200 and we received about $10,000 back at tax time. As stated earlier, we are saving about $4,000 a year and the savings will likely increase as Kw rates have increased and they have implemented 'time of use' rates meaning they charge more for electricity use between 4 PM and 9 PM (when you need AC in the Summer).

31 panels x 330 W. We also get one annual cleaning for 20 years. I bought gear and deionization system so I can clean the panels myself - really easy given where and how the array is set up - dust will build up otherwise and you can see the difference in production before and after a cleaning if the panels were dirty.

 

[jk96]

200 kWh. Last month was high at 221.

Im confused on how that's possible unless you have solar already. That's equivalent to about one hot washer and dryer cycle of laundry a day and no other usage.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

I think solar is a rip off

If you lease a solar system, I would say yes it probably is a rip off. But, I think that would still be subjective not knowing all the facts for each installation.

To power a property, I purchased left over panels from a Multi Mega watt Industrial solar project I was working on for .35 cents per watt (relatively cheap). This was fortunate that I was in the right place at the right time as they had very little breakage during installation and there were left over panels.
To make a long story short. Solar was my only option on this property as utility power was not available.
My average daily use of electricity is 11Kw hours.

I think Solar is just like any other consumer product, if you have a need or just want the product you can spend your money on it. I did a cost benefit analysis of LPG generator vs diesel generator vs solar with generator and the payback on solar with generator was hands down the low cost winner.

I hope that you can qualify your statement on why you think solar is a rip off, as it would certainly add to the conversation here.

I think solar is a wonderful resource for off-grid modern living.

 

[bmaverick]

If you lease a solar system, I would say yes it probably is a rip off. But, I think that would still be subjective not knowing all the facts for each installation.

To power a property, I purchased left over panels from a Multi Mega watt Industrial solar project I was working on for .35 cents per watt (relatively cheap). This was fortunate that I was in the right place at the right time as they had very little breakage during installation and there were left over panels.
To make a long story short. Solar was my only option on this property as utility power was not available.
My average daily use of electricity is 11Kw hours.

I think Solar is just like any other consumer product, if you have a need or just want the product you can spend your money on it. I did a cost benefit analysis of LPG generator vs diesel generator vs solar with generator and the payback on solar with generator was hands down the low cost winner.

I hope that you can qualify your statement on why you think solar is a rip off, as it would certainly add to the conversation here.

I think solar is a wonderful resource for off-grid modern living.

Nice being at the right place at the right time. I got mine in a similar way. The company that bought them in bulk had to order them by the pallet size. It was an Amish country store that had to power their refrigerators. They too had plenty of leftovers. Got panels for 57-cents per watt. That's less than 1/2 price per panel out my way AND no added shipping costs ! A win-win like yourself.

And keeping in tune with solar, the 3D roll printing of solar panels will drop panel prices like a rock, yet this post covid era may hamper that some. Who knows.

 

[ning]

Personally I bake bread daily (electric oven usually, sometimes the gas one but not lately as the ancient oven's capillary tube got broken), and we have a hot tub (spa); these are the major power uses in my house this time of year. In the summer, I use A/C if the heat gets oppressive.

Having 4-5 people in the house definitely increases use as well...

 

[Oaktree]

220kWh on a 30-day month is an average of just over 300 watts continuously.

Do you have a refrigerator or any lights?

Im confused on how that's possible unless you have solar already. That's equivalent to about one hot washer and dryer cycle of laundry a day and no other usage.

Yes we have lights, refrigerator, a small freezer and all the other modern conveniences. It's just the 2 of us, we maybe do 3 loads of wash a week, no dryer. Woodstove for heat, propane HW heater & kitchen stove, gravity feed well (only get ~22 psi, but that's enough for anything we need to do, even shower). Unless you count a clothesline, nothing solar.
As you can see, last month was the highest usage this year, not sure where the extra is going.

I guess I have to ask, what do some of you with considerably higher electric bills do that uses so much electricity?

 

[LittleBill21]

Yes we have lights, refrigerator, a small freezer and all the other modern conveniences. It's just the 2 of us, we maybe do 3 loads of wash a week, no dryer. Woodstove for heat, propane HW heater & kitchen stove, gravity feed well (only get ~22 psi, but that's enough for anything we need to do, even shower). Unless you count a clothesline, nothing solar.
As you can see, last month was the highest usage this year, not sure where the extra is going.

I guess I have to ask, what do some of you with considerably higher electric bills do that uses so much electricity?

some of your largest components are not electric.... I use anywhere between 2000 to 3500kw per month in a full electric house.

 

[Carl_NH]

We use on average 550KWH/month - 3000 SF house, do 4 loads wash a week, electric dryer, FHW Oil heat, gas/propane stove, 1.5HP well pump, 3 TVs', and a fridge.

I don't consider our use extensive, but Eversource is expensive at $.22/KWH so $120/month. The garage 7.2KW solar panels net metering offsets/covers 70% of the house bill.

 

[grsthegreat]

Ive run numbers on solar and wind, cause i hate paying utility companies. Problem is i live in an area served by hydroelectric, and we only pay about $0.065/kwh. So the rates are cheap. But then they add line maint and meter charges. So unless i totally ditch the utility power, i would never produce enough power to break even.