• Hey Guest!
    British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Tips
Tips

Solar Panels

Share this page

The HOA nixt the front side. He will try again next year. And he will have our siggys saying it wont be visible from the street really
View attachment 35424
 
So Don - did the company actually give you a written statement of the cost of the system to you? Or just a guesstimate of the output of the system ...?
 
They priced out 4 systems, all with different # of panels .
The price is on the top line.
It's funny. I talked to my brother in Reno City CA. He installed one himself a few years ago.
He said he paid that much just for the panels. And he only installed 22 and not 28
 
I have 58 panels, facing SSW. At peak of summer they put out 48 amps at 220 v. or about 49kwh. About 8 years now, and they have paid for themselves. My bill each month is about $5 for taxes. I like that.

Jerry
 
Some new panels absorb in the minimal of light and work. New ones can be charged just with a street light. What about government energy credits?
 
Jerry said:
I have 58 panels, facing SSW. At peak of summer they put out 48 amps at 220 v. or about 49kwh. About 8 years now, and they have paid for themselves. My bill each month is about $5 for taxes. I like that.

Jerry
Click to expand...


:encouragement: Dude, I could fire a kiln with that kinda power!


The problem with us is our bill is only around $125 to begin with, it would take a while for it to be worth it. We got a new 5 BILLION dollar plan shoved up us that is now behind schedule and over budget. OUr bills have already gone up 40% to pay for it and they are asking for another 50%. If that goes through we may do it on principle alone.
 
Our hovel is under tree canopy. Solar is no good reason to cut 'em down. And putting potential sails on the roof to introduce leaks and the possible hurricane force winds here make for even more reason to forgo panels. R.O.I. is a pipe dream here.
 
Larry, Subsidies are listed on that chart I posted
New ones coming to.
 
DrEntropy said:
Our hovel is under tree canopy. Solar is no good reason to cut 'em down..
Click to expand...

It wouldn't help anyway, only thing that would happen is the panels would make up for the now increased load onna a/c due to direct sunlight.
 
Don - did they ever give you the details on how they figured that pay-back table? Jerry's Sacramento sunlight exposure and weather patterns are likely quite different from you in South Carolina, especially if you're near the coast.

Here in Connecticut, the solar companies very often give you output expectations based on nearly perfect weather all year. Many folks here find they're not getting nearly what they were told they'd get. It turns into a "I've got the money - now look at my solar house" thing, rather than saving much.

Ya pays yer money ... ya takes yer chance.

Edit: and in most situations, you're not "powering the house" with the panels. You're selling discounted power to the local power company. In other words, you're selling your solar kilowatts for less money than you're buying your non-solar kilowatts.
 
I would only consider a geothermal setup, but it also takes quite a few years to pay for it's self. But like Tom, I don't buy green bananas either! :highly_amused:
 
Sac and our little town don't differ that much in total sunshine
I still haven't figured out their pay back table figures and what they are using.
I want to talk to owners of systems they have install in our area .
 
DNK said:
Sac and our little town don't differ that much in total sunshine
I still haven't figured out their pay back table figures and what they are using.
I want to talk to owners of systems they have install in our area .
Click to expand...

Don - talking to current owners is a great way to start. Installation cost, output promise, actual output delivered, "keeping up with the payoff table", etc.

Note that it's not just the amount of sunlight - it's also the weather. Clouds can greatly reduce PV output.

OK - back into my solar heated cave.
Tom
 
Probably should start a new thread on this. On sunny winter days, 20F, I don't run the furnace. Just an 8x8 solar air heater for the downstairs. Cost me $25 in parts (2x4's, clear vinyl cover); paid for itself in ten days.
 
NutmegCT said:
Probably should start a new thread on this. On sunny winter days, 20F, I don't run the furnace. Just an 8x8 solar air heater for the downstairs. Cost me $25 in parts (2x4's, clear vinyl cover); paid for itself in ten days.
Click to expand...


There ya go, done! :eagerness:
 
So Don - have you talked to any local neighborhood solar panel families yet? How are they finding the system, does it meet the installer's promises, etc.
 
Tom- Back burner. My wife tells me there is some holiday about to happen or something.
She hasn't quite informed me which one it is yet.
 
Back
Top