A newbies DIY solar install

[ponytug]

The car ports that I looked at were long on big galvanized, and large (long) and deep concrete footers to keep everything anchored. Wind force (i.e. pressure) is nothing to be sneezed at, especially if it can get to the underside of the panels.

I have trouble imagining that a normal run in shelter is going to be robust enough to hold up to a 100+mph windstorm, and that is a pricy roof...

All the best, Peter

 

[cqaigy2]

The car ports that I looked at were long on big galvanized, and large (long) and deep concrete footers to keep everything anchored. Wind force (i.e. pressure) is nothing to be sneezed at, especially if it can get to the underside of the panels.

I have trouble imagining that a normal run in shelter is going to be robust enough to hold up to a 100+mph windstorm, and that is a pricy roof...

All the best, Peter

I wonder the same thing, but most of them hold up without solar panels on the roof.

 

[Captsteve57]

I think solar is a rip off

 

[sandman2234]

I think solar is a rip off

Probably true, as a lot of people have their hands out when you are doing the install, much like most anything else that is "up and coming". Even still, there is still money to be made (or saved) which is why people are doing it. If it weren't for the initial outlay of cash, more people would do it and the already crumbling electrical infrastructure would become a thing of the past, thereby mandating everyone to install solar.
Could become quite a mess!
David from jax

 

[newbury]

I had thoughts of having my ground mount be up higher so that horses could use it as a sun shade in the summer, but the standard mount needs to be installed near the ground and raising it would completely change the engineering calculations for wind.

There obviously exist these things (local businesses have large carports of solar) but considering the prices I'd definitely get something engineered even if you DIY the work.

Sort of like this?

or this?

That's sort of what I was thinking about.

 

[beowulf]

I think solar is a rip off

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+.

That said, it is important to educate yourself before talking to the solar companies - otherwise you are just a passenger on their bus. I learned all I could in advance - about panels, inverters, options, sizing a system, azimuth and angles, roof and ground mounts, maintenance, net metering, micro inverters, warranties on output and equipment, and more. I also contacted the local power company and learned what I could from their end. I was not an expert, but knew enough to understand what needed to be discussed. Then when the different solar companies came out the first thing I told them was that I had some knowledge of solar systems, and had some preliminary questions to cut to the chase, and I told them that if I could sniff any BS we were done talkng. It saved a lot of time. Even then one company tried to sell me a panel brand I did not want, and another company could not answer questions they should have been able to answer - sales people were sent out - not technically qualified people. I refused to go forward until they could send someone who could answer my questions - the next person was not any better. Finally, after narrowing it down to two companies I insisted on meeting their engineer - they agreed. All questions were answered, information was confirmed by emails, ambiguous contract terms were clarified, and, I told them how much I was willing to pay per KW hour, what panels I wanted (size and brand), etc. One company declined, two agreed, one of those said they would meet my conditions but only if I did it before the end of the year (which I wanted anyway because the tax credit would reduce the following year). Signed the contract, and all went well. (BTW - we purchased our system -did not lease)

 

[Oaktree]

I think solar is a rip off

I wouldn't say rip off, but it's not for everyone. If you don't get a substantial amount of direct sunlight, the payback period is going to be so long as to make it impractical for anything other than making a statement of how green you are. If you do get a lot of sun, the system would likely pay for itself in a reasonable amount of time. Depending on the aesthetics, it could also be a plus should you decide to sell.

Probably not a good choice for me...northern state and the sun is so low in the sky from Nov. to March that we see very little direct sunlight in the winter. YMMV

 

[bmaverick]

I think solar is a rip off

Can be. Not knowing your location it's too difficult to determine for you.

With my farm, solar here is 12VDC & 24VDC for all sorts of things. It's more auxiliary and/or supplemental for our uses. And in a power outage it carries us thru for a few days straight. It can't keep up long term with daily activities, but it can keep the necessities viable; several basic barn lights, fence energizers, water heaters, and charging Li cordless batteries for tools and other devices. The key here is what smart charge controller is in place. Very few can charge lithium batteries at all.

Sun during the day and in the winter months, we get wind at night. Thus, the wind style generators here in the mid-west at times generator MORE power than solar.

For wind power generation for home or farm, the vertical generators work the best, take up way less space, closer to the ground to maintain, and are not an eye sore either.

I've made my own looking much like this - - -

Depending on the DC motor/generator, one can get constant 400W of power in a steady breeze.
Mounting on 4x4 wooden farm fence posts is very easy.

I made mine with simple plastic gutters one can buy from Home Depot to shape the plastic blades.
The bearings are SKF or FAG from the MTD catalog at my local hardware store.
The motor is 24VDC 550W. The key point to know is the rotation of the motor to then properly shape the blades to the wind. This gives the most power. Doing the rotation backwards gives less power.
And ensure a blocking diode (schottky diode) is in the loop too for EACH unit ! Can't have them ganged together without them !!!!!

Now, if you are not talented and make something like this, then prepare to experience lots of loud wind NOISE. People make these from cutting half-moons out of 5-gallon buckets.

Now, when those hurricane like winds come, the low height wind generators can have the bladed un-locked from their perch and simply removed. This way, no damage to deal with. We had that spat a week ago. 75mph to 110mph winds were clocked.

 

[JDAOWNER]

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

 

[orezok]

I think solar is a rip off

My total usage bill for electric last year was $165! (With California ridiculous rates) but living in the desert. Not quite a rip off for a 5200 watt, 15 panel system. Of course I installed the system my self at 50% of quoted cost.