Solar power for the house

[Unannounced Fart]

Has anyone looked into solar power for your home? Someone approached me about it, and I'll probably start doing some research soon, but thought I'd ask here first. I live in southern California and have sunshine for most of the year, so I'm not worried about not getting enough sun. The saleswoman said that with tax incentives, rebates, etc., that the cost of installing the solar system will be minimal. However, it will be a lease, so this will probably factor into my decision somehow. I already know that if you opt to own, the cost is prohibitive.

Btw, I have a family of 5 and it's a pretty big house. During the summer, our electric bill can top out at over $900. During the winter months, it's about $450/mo. And I heard the rates will be going up by a substantial amount soon.

 

[airtime143]

don't you also get credited for excess in to the grid? I know it is minimal, but nonetheless a plus.
If the solar addition is enough to generate your needs, and you are blowing lets say an average of 600 a month, how many years worth of savings would cover the bill?

Another plus is that by having the panels absorb the heat hitting your roof, that will lower the cooling costs via shade by a degree depending on your insulation situation.

The hidden cost is in the storage.... how long do the batteries last and how much to service and replace them, and how often? How much does your power company pay you for power returned to the grid?

 

[Crystallas]

I have 2400watts peak of solar(1100-ish is my daily average). My setup is outdated, but it paid for itself in sunny Illinois(sarcasm). I'm sure you can do better with newer panels and batteries. You also generate power in limited sunlight as well as with lunar reflection, just considerably less. I also have a solar attic fan and don't suggest one because it's better use of space to just have a panel in that space that can be tapped for whatever you like.


You can start small, or go big. First thing is first, do you want a grid-tie-in, a separate circuit for solar(still keeping grid), or do you want to go independent?

 

[botfly10]

$900 a month!? Are you growing weed?

 

[Unannounced Fart]

don't you also get credited for excess in to the grid? I know it is minimal, but nonetheless a plus.
If the solar addition is enough to generate your needs, and you are blowing lets say an average of 600 a month, how many years worth of savings would cover the bill?

Another plus is that by having the panels absorb the heat hitting your roof, that will lower the cooling costs via shade by a degree depending on your insulation situation.

The hidden cost is in the storage.... how long do the batteries last and how much to service and replace them, and how often? How much does your power company pay you for power returned to the grid?

Yes, I'll get credited by my power company, but it's very minimal. Like a few dollars a month. And thanks for the other questions, those are things that I need to look into. I don't know much about solar, so I'm just trying to identify issues right now.

You can start small, or go big. First thing is first, do you want a grid-tie-in, a separate circuit for solar(still keeping grid), or do you want to go independent?

Hmm, not sure yet. Now that you mention it, I'm afraid that solar won't be enough to power everything. I've got a pretty big pool with a bunch of pumps, a pond, and lots of A/C during the summer. Also, it'll be a 20 year lease. With the lease option, I've been told that the installation cost will be anywhere from free to a couple thousand dollars. But I'm sure there's some downside to lease vs. own, which I'll have to look into.

 

[1COBearsfan]

I have 2400watts peak of solar(1100-ish is my daily average). My setup is outdated, but it paid for itself in sunny Illinois(sarcasm). I'm sure you can do better with newer panels and batteries. You also generate power in limited sunlight as well as with lunar reflection, just considerably less. I also have a solar attic fan and don't suggest one because it's better use of space to just have a panel in that space that can be tapped for whatever you like.


You can start small, or go big. First thing is first, do you want a grid-tie-in, a separate circuit for solar(still keeping grid), or do you want to go independent?

Is there anything you don't know and/or do?

 

[botfly10]

I think you might need some new windows or insulation or some shit.

 

[Crystallas]

Hmm, not sure yet. Now that you mention it, I'm afraid that solar won't be enough to power everything. I've got a pretty big pool with a bunch of pumps, a pond, and lots of A/C during the summer. Also, it'll be a 20 year lease. With the lease option, I've been told that the installation cost will be anywhere from free to a couple thousand dollars. But I'm sure there's some downside to lease vs. own, which I'll have to look into.

Yeah, I'm not sure how much installers charge. I did it myself with a friend who also did it before. It's not terribly hard, but something you learn when doing contracting work, is every project is unique. So review how your house is set up and plan accordingly(with installers too, because the more prepared you are going into it, the less they can dick you around with). Also, as mentioned, use this opportunity to check your house over some more, see where you are losing power. Kill-A-Watt(cheap plug in power meter) test some things, walk around the seams(walls, the corners, windows, doors) of the house with something that has fog signature(anything from an incense punk, cigarette(if you smoke) or even dry ice). You also might have the wrong AC and heater unit for the family needs(or the units need to be maintained, which I can also explain how if that is the case).

And a lease option, WTF is that? I never heard of leased solar. I'm sure it exists, but that might wind up costing you as much, or more in the long run. The beauty of a scalable system of your own, is that in 5 years, something might hit the market that is much more efficient and generates a lot more power. On a lease, it's hard to make those upgrades. I swapped two of my panels out last summer just because I got a great price on them(long story, but basically the grid transformer was blown after a cop ran into it with his squad car, and about 6 houses near it, including mine, had a crazy high power surge). So when I saw two were underperforming after that, I claimed it on my insurance and upgraded. Little things like that might not be an option on a lease.

Is there anything you don't know and/or do?

It only comes off that way, because I comment on what I do know.

 

[Urblock]

It only comes off that way, because I comment on what I do know.[/QUOTE] Keep doing that.

 

[Unannounced Fart]

And a lease option, WTF is that? I never heard of leased solar.

All I know so far is that to purchase, it'll cost over $20k. But if I lease, then it'll be anywhere from free to $2k as a one time charge, which includes installation. And I'm assuming that lease means to lease the solar panels.

 

[Crystallas]

Well good luck to you, whatever direction you go in. I don't have all of the numbers to crunch, that's what you're doing, and if you think it's going to be a good deal then I hope it works out. The hardest part is just getting the components routed through the home, once that happens, it should be easy to mess with over time as far as upgrades and maintenance.

What about batteries on the lease? Are those covered for 20 years too?

 

[Unannounced Fart]

I think you might need some new windows or insulation or some shit.

I live out in the desert (Palm Springs area), so the A/C is on constantly during the summer. And we've got 2 separate central air conditioning units, so it adds up pretty quick.

 

[Unannounced Fart]

Well good luck to you, whatever direction you go in. I don't have all of the numbers to crunch, that's what you're doing, and if you think it's going to be a good deal then I hope it works out. The hardest part is just getting the components routed through the home, once that happens, it should be easy to mess with over time as far as upgrades and maintenance.

What about batteries on the lease? Are those covered for 20 years too?

Thanks man. Not sure about the batteries, so I guess that's another thing I'll have to look into. Thanks for all the info.

 

[Ares]

Is there anything you don't know and/or do?

Hes doesn't know how to reply to my posts in the Gaming Forum!

J/k Crys