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[12valve]

What is the typical lifespan of a solar panel?

[12valve]

Oh and one more thing Scott.  How do you know the output?  is there some type of display or computer app?

[Scott7m]

Oh and one more thing Scott.  How do you know the output?  is there some type of display or computer app?

Yes, I will take some pics of the inverter

It's nice!

[Scott7m]

What is the typical lifespan of a solar panel?

The panels I have and carry are guaranteed to still be producing 85% of there potential after 25 years. 

I've done quite a bit of research in the past few years, even more so in the last month, with how there made today they should last 40-50 years, but of course after that long the efficiency on them won't be like they were when new. 

[Scott7m]

Is this govt medicaid? All utilities do is raise the rates so eventually you all will be back to square one. Plus the govt programs your taxes are still paying for it. Either way its a wash.

How on earth could you consider it a wash?  That makes no sense whatsoever, my utility rate is climbing like a monkey in the jungle whether I have solar or not.  So if I can make half of my power myself why in the heck wouldn't I?

Also, if I do a project like this again, I can opt for the batteries, which have improved drastically in the past 5 years, and tell the power company to get there crap out of my yard.


The only thing there doing that's not working for solar, and it's only anti solar, anti stove areas, kinda like mine, they will lower the rate at which they charge the customer, so the kwh that u produce aren't as valuable, but them they will raise the cost they charge you for simply having a meter from them....


Soo, if they go that route, heck with em, ill unplug and produce my own. 

I saw an article just last night that over 200 power plants are being forced to close due to more regulations, more regulations, means higher prices.

Same way with stoves, if it's a wash as far as cost, why in the world would people buy them?  I know when people show up at my shop with electric bills 7-800$, then return a couple months later with bills around 1-$150, there thrilled. 

But, it's like this, if there is free money out there and you don't go after your share, then well, I just donno what to think lol

[victor6deep]

Let me know when you can run your whole house on solar.

[Scott7m]

If I lived in a more supportive state, I'd have it done by next week, no problem.

Since my panels have been online, I've used less than 15kwh of electric lol..  That's less than $2 in 10 days.  However the weather is at the point where no ac or heat is needed.

Do you think it's hard to go off grid or that it won't work or what?

[victor6deep]

Its gonna be the ac loads and other appliances that draw that heavy ampwrage is where it gets tough. Im sure its possible tho

[Scott7m]

The dryer is my biggest user right now... 

Once I get it working off of the stove it will be much easier

[Bull]

Scott, about how much does a system like yours cost? And did you say that your OWB manufacture was selling them?

[Scott7m]

Scott, about how much does a system like yours cost? And did you say that your OWB manufacture was selling them?

It all just depends, kinda something id have to at least talk to you more about to give you a quote, I dd a quote yesterday for a guy and his total after his incentives on a system like mine was around $9435 w/shipping.  Every situation is so different though.  As far as the company, yea it's a spin off from profab industries, the people who make empyre.

[Scott7m]

Here are some pics of the inverter/display.  I am not an electrician, don't make fun of my wiring haha

This pic was taken at 9:45 a.m, it's a clear morning so already it's doing well.


This pic shows the inverter as well as the hookup, it's as simple as installing a dryer cord, the inverter does all or the work in regards to back feeding onto the grid during outages etc.  It has to sense power on both sides, grid side, and solar side before it will produce power back to the grid.


This pic shows where the wires come through my ceiling into the conduit, all part of the kit.


This pic is in my attic, you can see the only 2 wires from the solar system, the red and the black is all that's needed.  Once again, I'm no electrician haha


If today stays clear it could be a record day for my solar, but I feel it's gonna cloud up later. 

More info to come as I compile averages n such to share

[RSI]

Is the display the watt hours for the day or the current wattage that the panels are putting out?

[Scott7m]

That shot there was what it was currently producing.  It does though keep track of daily wh/kwh n such. 

I jinxed myself by thinking it was gonna stay clear haha, clouded up, but still producing about 1800-2400 watts under a nice cloud cover. 

Yesterday it was hit and miss cloud cover and ended up producing around 27kwh. 

[Scott7m]

Caught a break in the cloud cover just now and took a pic of the output.  5100w, 258.7v, 60.00hz, 19.71A