Solar Power At Home

[stevefish]

Just wondering if any raiders have gone ahead with solar power at home and

1. how many kilowatts is your system

2. how much did it cost you?

3. are you happy with the install etc?

4. does it save as much as they said it would?

any other thoughts

[pinta_bay_pirates]

Just wondering if any raiders have gone ahead with solar power at home and

1. how many kilowatts is your system

2. how much did it cost you?

3. are you happy with the install etc?

4. does it save as much as they said it would?

any other thoughts

I would also like to know..

I got a quote for a 4kw system which would cost around the 18k mark...thats including the rebate taken off too...

[Day's Fishin]

I've done a few jobs where people have had them to run their whole house and were preety happy with results. The shed where they had the batteries was about as big as a small garden shed. I seen a report somewhere about the rebate from the power supplier for unused power going back into the system. It stated that if something happened in the grid you better make sure your properly insured. I'll try and find where I read it and post it up.

Regards Jeff

[stevefish]

i know of a government installed 6 KW system, the other day i was looking at it at 1 PM in perfect conditions albeit july with a low sun, and it was running a tick under 3 KW output, however this install is on a near flat roof and im told that will knock the results a bit.

the deals going sound good, about triple the going rate per KW fed back for seven years and (from memory)warranty of about 80% efficiency for 10 to 15 years. im a little skeptical of a warranty this long and how many hours and days the system would run at near full rating.

[arpie]

Hi Steve

Good Question! I've been wondering the same as you! I've seen a lot of houses up here in Forster suddenly spring up with between 10 & 14 solar panels on them ........ and got to thinking ..... what about those batteries in the shed that you mentioned, Jeff?

We have a deep cycle battery of about 100+ amp hrs in our campervan, that is recharged by an 80w solar panel, 240v or whilst driving. WHen we replaced the battery a year or so ago, we were told that, just as a car battery will have a shelf life of about 4-5 years (if you are lucky) the same applies to the deep cycle batteries used for solar panel charging with cars or houses! I thought the life in them (deep cycle batteries) depended on the number of times they had been 'almost fully depleted' and recharged again. Not so, apparently.

With that number of solar panels, I would imagine the need for about 10-20 deep cycle batteries (a helluva lot bigger than the 100ah that we have in the van and IT cost over $350 at the time from memory) and it seems funny that none of the companies installing the systems seem to mention in the advertising blurb that these will need replacing (at HUGE COST) some time down the line in 'x' number of years & isn't covered by their quote!!

In my mind, this extra cost should be worked into the overall calculations of so-called 'profit' so that it is only after the 5 years (or whatever the life of the batteries is) from supplying the 'extra' power to the grid to give an honest calculation of any profit made after ALL costs have been deducted! Remember, that these NEW batteries will also need replacing about 5-7 years after as well!! I would be interested to see the breakdown of your $18K quote, Pinta bay pirates, to see just how much of it is the cost of the battery bank required for the number of solar panels they were going to put up?? More than half, I would think, at a guess.

Has anyone asked the installers/quoters about that?? It's all a bit outside of our feasibility plan, unfortunately!

Cheerio

Roberta

Edited August 12, 2010 by Roberta

[stevefish]

if you are using the power or someone else is, ie putting power back into the grid, why would you need batteries?

[arpie]

....if you are using the power or someone else is, ie putting power back into the grid, why would you need batteries?.....

Hi Steve

That would be because, living in rural areas, we tend to have more blackouts than the cities. When we first arrived in Forster 11 years ago, there were quite frequent blackouts (less so now, thank god!) or there were brownouts, which in a way were worse, as they were still delivering power,but at reduced rate, so if you had a machine on (eg washing machine & others) they would be labouring to do the job without sufficient power & would burn out! WHen we get spikes, anything with sensitive computer chips (new washing machines, computers etc) would fry! They replaced my phone power unit once, but reckons the TV that cooked wasn't their fault!

So, essentially, even if you are on the Grid system, when the power goes off, so does yours! Anyone wanting standalone power (in case of blackouts) needs the batteries as backup to power failure.

I did a bit more research into it & it seems that those with batteries for back up power, are supposed to last at least 20 years tho most replace them earlier than that - but they are still astronomically expensive to replace.

Prior to the Gov's giving a rebate - the main solar addition was pretty well for hot water - only country folk went for standalone power. The current rebate of 'excess power' being repaid to you is tied in to a contract with the local power supplier for 5 years or so - who knows what the price will be after that? Could be more, could be less.

It'll be interesting to see how people rate the 'savings/income' over the next year or five!! Also, the power generated depends on not having cloudy days and making sure that your panels are ultra clean, as even a couple of leaves sitting on most solar panels can cut the output far more than just the actual size of the leaves covering that specific spot! They are working on that tho - on Catalyst some time back, I saw a specific sort of solar panel that was far more efficient, but wasn't in general production yet.

We still haven't heard from anyone who has had the grid system installed in their place yet tho!! Comed on, 'Fess up!!

Cheers

Roberta

Oh yes - if anyone has elderly parents thinking about doing it - just make them aware that it DOES take up to 5 years to get the cost of it reimbursed (thru the excess power created) from having it installed into their place - if they sell or pass away, that income benefit goes to the new owner! Some unscrupulous sales men have been flogging the systems to the elderly (apparently) & some have even passed away before it was even installed (but after they'd paid for it!) Then again, it would also 'value add' to the property if it goes on the market

[BFB]

Reading this thread is interesting. There are two types of systems available.

The first type is a grid connected system. This is arranged so that all power generated by the solar system is feed back into the power system. At present you can get paid $0.60 per kilowatt hour the panels produce. The most suitable times for the panels to produce maximum power is spring and autumn as they are effected by the heat and cold.

The second system is a stand-alone system which utilises batteries. This system allows your house to run off the power you generate.

The 2 types cannot be used together due to safety reasons.

What this means that is you have the first type and there is a blackout in the street you will have no power and your solar panels are not making you any money.

It should also be noted that if you have the first sytem installed you are generating an income and this is taxed. Remember the government always wins one way or another.

[zook2001]

The government were looking at changing the tax setup particularly for pensions, it's silly to say if you sell $300 of power and buy $600 of power your making a profit but if your a pensioner I'd check carefully before investing in solar power.

[arpie]

Hi BFB

...The 2 types cannot be used together due to safety reasons......

Seems they have worked this one out now, in Qld, anyway! A buddy in SE Qld on 50 acres has recently installed 20 panels on a system which is both stand alone & Grid feeding. They had to jump thru numerous hoops to ensure the safety of it (to the grid system) and cost megabucks to install. They get lots of big blackouts (particularly in the stormy season) that last from 4-5hrs upwards & have lost the content of their freezer many times.

Hmmm, hadn't thought of the taxation side of things!!~ Yeah - I guess the gov stitches you up either way, eh? Plus you are assisting in producing power for them, which means they can 'put off' building another power station (if enough people sign up) for another 5 years or so!

Cheerio

Roberta

[stevefish]

moving away from the topic a little, if you wanted back up for your power due to supply problems a fairly sophisticated surge protection and generator system and a lot of fuel could be bought with the money a solid solar set up would cost.

i cant see how you could be taxed on the power you generate until you turn your first income dollar,to generate enough solar power to have no bill or even make money would require a massive system and most likely a very energy efficient home, no air con and full time conservation mindset.

a review by someone with a recently installed system and the rebates given would be very helpful.