Solar Panels

newenergy

I pay about 60% as much for solar panels as I did when this thread started.

Solar thermal may still pay off sooner, but photovoltaics panels last longer and require less maintenance.

Leo G

The panels may be nearly maintenence free, but what abou the battery system when it wears out? Big chunck of change to replace them.

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newenergy

The vast majority of solar power installations now are grid-tied and don't include any batteries.

naptown CR

correct these batteries do cost a lot almost as much as the panels themselves in a complete system

Yes this is the lower cost way out however will not give you power when the grid goes out unless you add the batteries and transfer switch.

newenergy

Batteries aren't a very good solution for power when the grid goes down. They sit around doing nothing except wearing out most of the time. A generator or a small UPS system is a lot more cost effective. If you are off-grid, in the mountains or something, batteries are often a lot cheaper than bringing in power or fuel for a generator.

The power goes out maybe 1hr a year or something where I live anyway. (actually, I don't think the power has gone out for a minute in the last year)

Leo G

So, if you have a solar voltaic system on your home that doesn't have battery storage what does it really do for you. You are usually not home during most of the efficient daylight hours. I guess that there are a few appliances like refrigerators, phones and such that need to be powered during vacant time. So I would guess that the excess power would be sold back to the power company to reduce your electric bill. Is that the main function of a power only system? I guess it would be good on weekends when you are more likely home.

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newenergy

Most people (in the US) install a grid-tied, net-metering system. When you produce more than you use, like when you are at work, it turns your meter backwards, effectively selling power back to the utility. When you use more than you produce, your meter spins forwards like normal. Of course there are in between states where you may be producing 1/2 your power or w/e and you just buy less power from the utility. Also, some utilities use an additional meter and do the math instead of a meter that spins backwards.

Functionally, this is just like having a battery system where the grid works like your battery, only it is a perfectly efficient battery that doesn't cost you anything. Though, unlike a battery system, this design is not for back-up power.

As far as what power you use and when you use it, you won't notice whether there is a grid-tied solar system on a house or not - just when you see the bill.

Of course the environmental benefits don't show up in the financial calculations, but they are a big part of why a lot of people install solar.

Tom Struble

http://www.solarpowerforum.net/forumVB/

this is a good place to start

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Renegade 1 LI

We have started to go greener & here on Long Island the power Co. gives a rebate of 3.50 per watt plus the stae offers about 11K in rebates, This brings the out of pocket cost down to 10 - 12 K, which would mean a break even time of 5 - 7 years depending on consumption. we are working with a company that pays the up front costs & then collects the rebate money so the out of pocket cost is a lot less initially. our goal is to be able to sell a 6 - 10 KW system in the 10k range, installed.

Deckman100

Sanyo's 190-watt PV modules are an amazing 17.4% efficient. That may not sound very good, but as far as solar panels go it is well above average (12%). It costs around $1,195.



Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-h...#ixzz0WhD6IhBa

Batik

Hi guys , i will answer at first questin,,,,,
For install solar panels u absolutely dont need your sq.f of house.
U must only know how many KW u spend in 1 month .
So for example for 1200 sq.f house generally 500kw..
there are panels different sizes , but 200w panel has normal price about 5oo$.
Step 2 U must know your area insolation. In washington in summer time insolation is about 6-7 hours in day . it means u have 6 times 30 in moth = 180hours .Multiple 180 by 200w = 36000w=36Kw for 1 panel ... So u need 12 panels... 2 strings in each 6 panel , connect 6 panels in series and coneectr two strings in parallel ,,, i hope u know electrical and u can connect Panelsto DC disconect ->Inverter->AC disconect -Panelboard......

Best Regards !

dextercath96

I know some of the basic size of the panel. But I do not know how to build a solar panel. Can you help me in building up a solar power
generator? Your comments and suggestions are much
appreciated.Thank you.

GettingBy

The Solar Constant is 1 kw of power per sq. meter of surface, about 1 kw per 11 SF.
To generate 5 kw of power @ 10% efficiency would call for a 550 sq. ft. panel. With an average of 5 hours of usable sunlight depending on where you live this would give you 25 kwh of energy per 24 hr day. The Internet has tables of solar insolation listed for cities.

Houses in the US take from 8,000 to 30,000 kwh of energy per year.

A better way to store energy than with lead acid batteries is with a magnetic-bearing flywheel spun in a vacuum at extremely high speeds, but this may not yet be cost-effective for residential use.

To size storage capacity you'd need to know how many consecutive sunless days your area gets, to some level of confidence, say 95% or 99%. For example, once every 5 or 10 years you have two weeks or a whole month without sun.
This info doesn't seem to be easily found on the Web but the NWS must know this.

Tom Struble

there is a thread over at jlc about the value a solar array adds to a home

apparently appraisers don't think that a solar panel system add value to a house

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aptpupil

appraisers are morons who helped us get into the housing crisis so i wouldn't pay much attention to them.
10% efficiency is pretty low. i've worked with some panels from solar world that were 17.5% efficient and i think that's more indicative of where the technology is now.
also, as stated earlier in the thread, battery banks are used in very small minority of installations. for bigger installations things like flywheels and supercapacitors work well. some even will pump water up hill and then use hydro power as a battery.

Tom Struble

well if you ever read their arguments why you would see they have some good points


http://appraisersforum.com/showthread.php?t=175222



by the way some here will say handyman types are morons...not me tho

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aptpupil

fair enough.
a couple things:
in california where insolation is high and awareness is too, i think it's basically impossible for a solar array to not add value. everyone knows energy prices are going up and that solar offers a good discount on electricity so if you're buying a house with an array you can afford to add several thousand to the total cost because it comes to a fairly low amount on your monthly mortgage that will be offset by the savings.
forgive me if i am a little wary of appraisers as i know for a fact that during the boom a good percentage of them were part of the problem. many wouldn't even walk in the house to do an appraisal and that only contributed to the irrational escalation of prices that helped us get to where we are now. single cause? not even close. part of the problem? absolutely. however, your point is well taken that i shouldn't lump them all together.

ticktock

agree - when it makes sense to own an electric car - photo-voltaic will also make sense

GettingBy

There are very efficient batteries that operate at 1000 C but it takes 10 minutes for the batteries to heat up. The US consumer may not want to wait that long. If it's not instant gratification it's pretty much useless.