Solar Home Electric
May 25, 2023 09:02:21 #
Longshadow wrote:
We have trees.... Should I remove them? 
Ah! Yet another issue. The company visiting me had a neat little program that took a 360 degree panorama from my roof and imposed the summer and winter sun track, onto the panorama. In the winter, the sun was about 80% behind trees and the guy said it would make a huge difference in power generation. In the summer, the panels would receive direct sunlight for almost the entire day but you have to look at winter sun intensity, when figuring out how many panels you need.
May 25, 2023 09:25:41 #
fourlocks wrote:
Ah! Yet another issue. The company visiting me had a neat little program that took a 360 degree panorama from my roof and imposed the summer and winter sun track, onto the panorama. In the winter, the sun was about 80% behind trees and the guy said it would make a huge difference in power generation. In the summer, the panels would receive direct sunlight for almost the entire day but you have to look at winter sun intensity, when figuring out how many panels you need.
Did they tell you that you need more roof?
May 25, 2023 09:38:15 #
jerryc41 wrote:
A local woman got solar collectors installed on her roof a few months ago. Every month she posts that her electric bill is zero. She never post how much she pays every month for that installation, though. Substituting one bill for another is not my goal in life. How much will repairs cost when something goes wrong with her system?
Another question. How much will it cost to replace the roof when it's time. The panels will have to be removed and replaced when the roof is done. I'm willing to bet when the roof is done, they will probably tell you that they are no longer efficient and need to be replaced. Another cost. If you have storage batteries, you need to check out the cost of replacing those.
May 25, 2023 09:41:58 #
kerry12 wrote:
Another question. How much will it cost to replace the roof when it's time. The panels will have to be removed and replaced when the roof is done. I'm willing to bet when the roof is done, they will probably tell you that they are no longer efficient and need to be replaced. Another cost. If you have storage batteries, you need to check out the cost of replacing those.
Best to have a few acres and plant the solar panels in a corner of the yard.
May 25, 2023 09:52:27 #
Longshadow wrote:
Best to have a few acres and plant the solar panels in a corner of the yard.
Best to have a few acres and plant the solar panels in a corner of the yard.
May 25, 2023 09:54:42 #
Longshadow wrote:
Did they tell you that you need more roof?
Close. They would cover the roof of my ranch with panels AND they suggested another 6 panels on a frame in my back yard. A huge part of the issue was that they were trying to generate enough electricity to include running my baseboard electric heat. I have a wood stove and a Mitsubishi AC/heat pump to heat the house so they were over estimating my electricity needs.
May 25, 2023 10:05:40 #
fourlocks wrote:
Close. They would cover the roof of my ranch with panels AND they suggested another 6 panels on a frame in my back yard. A huge part of the issue was that they were trying to generate enough electricity to include running my baseboard electric heat. I have a wood stove and a Mitsubishi AC/heat pump to heat the house so they were over estimating my electricity needs.
They sell more panels that way.
May 25, 2023 11:53:45 #
DickC wrote:
Just run the solar panels in reverse and melt off the snow What about in winter when the roof has a foot of snow on it??
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(PS - this suggestion is worthy of JerryC41
)-
We got tired of our utility company increasing our rates by 5 - 7% per year, so finally bit the bullet and went Solar a month ago. It's a 19 kW system - makes about 80 - 100 kWh per day (here in South Texas - where if it snows, we get to put Momma Nature in the Bexar County Cooler). Since we purchased the system ourselves, we collect the 30% rebate on our taxes this year - which decreases the overall cost. Even still - with the expected decrease in efficiency over the coming years - I figure about a 7 - 10 year payback period. Perhaps less as we become increasingly shielded from future rate increases.
May 25, 2023 14:05:52 #
Longshadow wrote:
We have trees.... Should I remove them?
I wouldn't. My roof faces south, and there are no trees blocking the sun 99% of the time.
May 25, 2023 14:36:43 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I wouldn't. My roof faces south, and there are no trees blocking the sun 99% of the time.
I'm not going to, I was being facetious.
May 25, 2023 15:16:48 #
We had an array of solar panels installed at our business that produced 75Kw at their peak. The installed price that we signed the contract for was over $260,000. HOWEVER we received numerous rebates from the Federal Government, State, local utility, and other agencies which brought the "out of pocket price" down to the $30,000 price range.
I always wanted to send a special thanks to the taxpayers and utility customers for paying for our system purchase and installation.
I always wanted to send a special thanks to the taxpayers and utility customers for paying for our system purchase and installation.
May 25, 2023 17:56:14 #
Check with your homeowners insurance...there is more than a fair chance...they will drop you...or hike the heck out of your payments.
Personally...I have back up...but usually will not use it. I like it when the power goes out...at least for a few days.
Personally...I have back up...but usually will not use it. I like it when the power goes out...at least for a few days.
May 25, 2023 18:49:03 #
May 25, 2023 19:11:29 #
We bought our system outright and it paid for itself in just over 2 years...Not a huge system but we can run the house and air-conditioning all day free. We don't have snow and ice to put up with like you do in the north. The system is guaranteed for 25 years, we've had it for 9 years now. Had one on our last house and I also bought one for me son's house.
May 25, 2023 19:48:08 #
george19 wrote:
The lease payment is the cost of the electricity we make. That’s it. So nominally $65 per month, versus what WAS $120 per month in 2017.
And…something I should have included, southern Connecticut, so about latitude N41.35.
And…something I should have included, southern Connecticut, so about latitude N41.35.
What happens when you sell the house and the new owner doesn't want to pay the solar bill but rather want to use power from the grid? Can the new owner have the solar system taken away?
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