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Thread Number: 86454
/ Tag: Other Home Products or Autos
Home solar power system |
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Post# 1110322 , Reply# 1 3/5/2021 at 21:37 (1,146 days old) by Revvinkevin  (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land) |
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 WOW Chris, that is really awesome! I had a solar system (22 panels) installed on my home back in November and while I cannot say I am “off the grid“ (unfortunately), I am currently only paying the fee to be connected to our local power utility for times like now, when it’s dark and I’m not generating my own power. So far it looks as if I am generating at least equal to, if not slightly more power than I am actually using on a daily basis, which was my goal. 😁 I’m looking forward to see how it all works out during the summer when I’m running my A/C a lot! This post was last edited 03/05/2021 at 21:57 | ||
| Post# 1110325 , Reply# 2 3/5/2021 at 22:25 (1,146 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806) | ||
Since my folks have solar, there are no more complaints about $500 electric bills in the summer anymore and it’s the same kind of solar like Kevin has where it supplements your electric bill to keep the cost of electricity low. Since I have my ‘63 Whirlpool Imperial dryer with the dual wattage element, I usually run it on the super speed during the day when the sun is out since it’s pulling power from the solar panels when the sun is out, and when it’s night I usually run it on the normal speed since it’s pulling power from the grid, just some food for thought.
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Post# 1110353 , Reply# 3 3/6/2021 at 01:53 (1,145 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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Post# 1110359 , Reply# 4 3/6/2021 at 03:01 (1,145 days old) by chetlaham (United States) |
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| Post# 1110361 , Reply# 5 3/6/2021 at 03:59 (1,145 days old) by gizmo (Victoria, Australia) | ||
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All thats missing is the mini U253 heavy water reactor. It runs off the only safe nuclear reactor - the sun. You asked for that... | ||
| Post# 1110362 , Reply# 6 3/6/2021 at 04:03 (1,145 days old) by gizmo (Victoria, Australia) | ||
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power to spare... As mentioned above I had power to waste this afternoon so turned solar energy into banana muffins. Total harvest today 5.9 kWh. | ||
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Post# 1110373 , Reply# 7 3/6/2021 at 09:56 (1,145 days old) by chetlaham (United States) |
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Sun is good! | ||
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Post# 1110445 , Reply# 9 3/6/2021 at 20:22 (1,145 days old) by SudsMaster (SF Bay Area, California) |
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Very cool.
I was talking to a friend the other day. We were talking about his Prius. I volunteered that I would probably get an all-electric car, and charge it from a solar panel. I have some good spots to mount the panels, either on top of the carport roof, or on top of the fish pond "roof" (really a 15'x15' area that is well supported by steel posts and beams, 2x4's, and 2x2' in a slatted patter to let light and rain through. I can walk up there, no problem, so the weight of a solar array shouldn't be a concern. The only hitch might be getting it approved by the inspector(s). Already I've been told by Tesla that a metal roof over an adjacent enclosed patio would not be approved. Because, I suppose, well, metal conducts electricity. I really don't want solar panels on the house roof itself. Not when I have better locations. | ||
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Post# 1110448 , Reply# 11 3/6/2021 at 20:32 (1,145 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine) |
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I would love to add solar, but with 3/4 of the year lower sun level and all the trees and SNOW, it wouldn't work well when I want it. But my front has (8) 5'x 6' windows so I do get alot of passive solar in the afternoon, as the sun always sets right in front of me, thats when it is out. We are starting to get to the higher sun angle now and that means warmer weather, thankfully.
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Post# 1110456 , Reply# 12 3/6/2021 at 23:35 (1,145 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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Dont give up on solar if you live in a northern region.
The only difference between a solar system in southern California and Maine is the number of panels needed. All other components are the same. batteried, charge controllers, and all other devices connected after the charge contoller. In a northern region one would need about twice the number of solar panels that the only difference and those are resonably innexpensive these days. Also, solar panels prefer cooler climate. That hot sun in California for example is not the preferred temperature for the panels or the other equipment. You're also less likely to have zoning issues in Maine vs. California. | ||
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Post# 1110458 , Reply# 13 3/6/2021 at 23:42 (1,145 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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It's cool to see a company like Zillow listing Sun numbers on their listings.
No matter where you are you can find out how many sun hours your location gets to help in figuring your solar panel needs. CLICK HERE TO GO TO bradfordwhite's LINK
View Full Size
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Post# 1110467 , Reply# 14 3/7/2021 at 01:43 (1,144 days old) by SudsMaster (SF Bay Area, California) |
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Thanks Chris/Gizmo!
I will definitely check out some non-Tesla solar installers. One reason why I want to keep the panels off the roof is because I figure the penetrations to support the panels might shorten the life of the roofing. Another reason why I didn't want to go with Tesla for their solar roofing tiles is because of the initial expense and the complications involved with repairing the roofing later (locked into a proprietary roofing tile design). Current the house has a 40 yr old heavy shake roof. It's probably at EOL. I have extended its life by replacing shakes as needed, primarily on the south and west facing sides. | ||
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Post# 1110572 , Reply# 17 3/8/2021 at 08:17 (1,143 days old) by warmsecondrinse (Fort Lee, NJ) |
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You mentioned you used the extra power production to bake (banana?) bread. Your oven and/or hob are electric? Doesn't that suck a lot of juice from the batteries if you cook at night or on a cloudy day? Or is that not a factor? Thanks, Jim | ||
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Post# 1110722 , Reply# 20 3/9/2021 at 15:18 (1,142 days old) by SudsMaster (SF Bay Area, California) |
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In California we have net metering. Sort of. As I understand it, all it means is that you can return power generated by a solar system back to the utility, and it is subtracted from your monthly bill. But if you provide more power back than you use, you don't get a check for the extra you provided.
I may be wrong on this, but it's my understanding of how it works here with PG&E, at least for residential accounts. And there is also a fee for the transmission service. It's quite substantial on a monthly bill. Don't know if providing power back with a solar system reduces the transmission fee or not, although I suspect not. | ||
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Post# 1110769 , Reply# 22 3/9/2021 at 19:58 (1,142 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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whooa | ||
| Post# 1110782 , Reply# 23 3/9/2021 at 21:16 (1,142 days old) by gizmo (Victoria, Australia) | ||
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Will Prowse Will is knowledgeable on solar but I find myself concentrating more on his looks... he's gorgeous! | ||
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Post# 1110791 , Reply# 24 3/9/2021 at 22:13 (1,142 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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He is cute.... but he kind of scares me. His story as it's evolved since I first started following him..... doesn't completely seem believable. Originally he was living in an RV on the street. Now, supposedly he has money and his family situation is different, has bought a house in NV and drives a new Tesla.(?)
He's pushing a good cause so even if someone's paid him, I'm along for the ride. | ||
| Post# 1110816 , Reply# 29 3/10/2021 at 06:25 (1,141 days old) by gizmo (Victoria, Australia) | ||
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This post has been removed by the member who posted it. | ||
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