Solar

Anyone on here using solar panels and if so how are they working out for you?

Thanks

Vito

Using them for what? I have a dozen solar battery trickle chargers, and solar powered motion lights. Works great. Even one on my flag pole, and we have indoor and outdoor light on the outhouse down at the "He-Man Wuman Haters club" :lol:

Gene

I have noticed many homes that have them on their roof. They must be working out for them

Eliminating my electric bill for my house.

Vito

I have a self made rack of panels. It doesn't cover all my power but it does produce enough that I'm feeding the grid some. I'm not certified yet so I don't get credit for any extra power made, but I do try to use it up before I give it away.



This one shows what each panel was making while the sun was out the most today. 10/6/23 The left two doesn't have a panel hooked on. I'm using micro inverters that basically have four micros in one box. Each box can have a 4 panels

Ive used solar panels, lithium batteries and inverters several years to provide most of the power (except AC) in my RV as we often dry camp and I LOVE IT WOULDNT BE WITHOUT IT never going back

HOWEVER thats a far different animal then for home use. The other HUGE difference is if you have a Grid Tie or total off grid system. Its NOT for everyone, the economics may or may not ever pay out, there's lots of factors and variables methods and installations, amount of sun, free standing or roof mount or solar shingles and stationary or sun tracking on and on and on etc. etc. NO TWO ARE ALIKE NO USERS HAVE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS. Some laugh at it or hate it while others love it TO EACH THEIR OWN.

As an electrical power engineer and as prices have fallen a lot over the past years I cant tell you this IF I WERE YOUNG JUST STARTING OUT I would use solar and wind power plus renewables with a modern smart super insulated home yayyyyyyy

John T

I set up one 0.8kwk per day and two 4kwh per day systems for a mission I was working with in the Caribbean.

The small one was dedicated to the water well. It had a single 12v deep cycle battery. Like you might use for a trolling motor. One of the larger systems was our staff housing. The other was in the dining/kitchen/common space where groups met, ate, etc.

A system consists of panels and mountings, proper sized conductors for each section, charge controller, inverter, distribution system, appropriate fuses an circuits breakers. You need a transfer switch if you intend to hook it in public utility system. There was no reliable public utility in the area I was working. Our batteries only lasted 2-3 years due to excessive discharge from misuse.

They worked well as designed, BUT too many times people would leave lights on, stand in front of the refrigerator to cool off, etc. this runs the batteries too low and GREATLY reduces life span.

It is important to design your system around your loads and your geographical location. There is more to it that outing panels outside and hooking up some wires.

Solar energy is not free!!! It has its place but be realistic in you expectations and robust in your design. You will regret cutting corners.

Yes, I do have a good sized setup, but your question is very broad. Solar can work for many applications, but each situation is different and there are a lot of variables. Generally speaking I would say beware of solar salesmen and do lots of research.

This site has an active forum. Just like tractor guys some are helpful, others not so much.
Northern Arizona Wind and Solar

Solar is great for low power remote applications. Every year remote gets closer and closer, and low power means more and more watts.

The cats were sleeping in the south window of the barn today. Seemed to work pretty good.

Comi Cali requires all new construction to have them, good or bad...

That doesn't surprise me

My solar collection is passive. I plant corn, which collects the solar energy, and transforms it into grain corn, which I can either sell or farther process into livestock

Our boys have solar in Colorado. Works well for them. Of course the sun shines at least 300 days a year there.

I have 26 panels on my roof. That was supposed to power the whole house, but it won't. It was installed three years ago and works well. It's hard to find a provider who offers anything for the power we produce. Green Mountain had one for awhile, but they discontinued it.

Butch

How many power bills will it take to recover your initial investment?

I needed some electric power at my shed (battery charger, coolant heater, radio and an occasional power tool). I bought a kit that I installed over my shed doors for it to double as an overhang. For remote power, it works for me.

Yes, I have a 10K system at my house. It was installed 13 years ago. Paid for itself in about 5 1/2 years.

I make way more income via SRECs than savings on my electric bill, which has been $0 for about 7 months now. My electric bill typically runs no more than $10-$25 for an all electric 3200 square foot house if I do have a bill. AC was set at 67 all summer.

Just asking, it your home all electric? My MIL has gas heat, stove and hot water and hers is about like yours, but she has a gas bill that while fairly cheap is close to $100 in the winter. She got that down a good bit last year by using space heaters, but her house is always cold.