All things Solar (merged threads)

[LeadFoot81]

Thanks for the help deesun and poppa smurf!!

A big shout out to everyone contributing to this thread, this exchanging of information and opinions is what the forums are all about!!

[genebaby]

I went with Origin Energy as they should hopefully be around for a while and they did a good deal on a 3kw system I could get installed before the ACT's FIT's ended in the middle of last year.

Wasn't turned on by local power company until October but I have now seen some good production and I'm way in credit with them. Will stay this way and see how we go over winter and then see if I can use the credit to offset the gas or water bill.

I may have to go up there and give them a clean though!

[xisled]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

good figures!.....I thought NSW axed the feed in tariffs?

They did, but some retailers offer a small Feed in Tariff that they pay the customer. Gov has nothing to do with them.

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by LeadFoot81

Thanks for the help deesun and poppa smurf!!

A big shout out to everyone contributing to this thread, this exchanging of information and opinions is what the forums are all about!!

no worries at all mate......hopefully we can all gain from each other...provided we give accurate info

Originally Posted by genebaby

I went with Origin Energy as they should hopefully be around for a while and they did a good deal on a 3kw system I could get installed before the ACT's FIT's ended in the middle of last year.

Wasn't turned on by local power company until October but I have now seen some good production and I'm way in credit with them. Will stay this way and see how we go over winter and then see if I can use the credit to offset the gas or water bill.

I may have to go up there and give them a clean though!

we are in the same boat.....using summer production to offset winters usage...so far, so good...not real flash yesterday....heavy cloud all day..produced 2 kilowatts..exported nothing

Originally Posted by xisled

They did, but some retailers offer a small Feed in Tariff that they pay the customer. Gov has nothing to do with them.

oh well as long as you're getting something I suppose....I still reckon you should get the going rate whatever that may be that the supply company is charging

[MNM96]

D Day, or install day for me.

[poppa smurf]

ah! happy day's......hope all goes smooth for you!.......numbers please!!!!

[MNM96]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

ah! happy day's......hope all goes smooth for you!.......numbers please!!!!

Ok.

3 Guys, reckon 8am till 2pm.

27 panels. Been drilling for an hour and a half, seems my house will be lighter after they are finished. lol

[poppa smurf]

Hah!.....yep when they are putting the brackets on they seem to do a lot of work with little result.....then all of a sudden the panels start going on and she's all over

if you have an iron roof make sure the swarf is hosed off the iron or it will rust...preferably washed out of the gutter as well.....even if you get up there later on yourself and do it

doesn't take long and will save headaches later on

you would have two teams there wouldn't you?....one team working on the distribution box to install the inverter and extra fuse whatsists and another team placing the panels

wont be long now and you'll be a "small power generator"

[MNM96]

2 guys on the roof, one guy on the powerbox and preping the panels. 4 and a half hours and it looks like the panels are about to start to go down.

[poppa smurf]

wont be long now!!!.....what pleased me the most was that the savings began as soon as they threw the last isolator switch

gotta love that!......no more power bill's!

[deesun]

Originally Posted by MNM96

looks like the panels are about to start to go down.

Wouldnt they go UP on the roof?
Or DOWN, UP on the roof.
Happy bill free dayz.

[MNM96]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

wont be long now!!!.....what pleased me the most was that the savings began as soon as they threw the last isolator switch

gotta love that!......no more power bill's!

Earnt already. .5kw.

Very overcast day, producing about 1641wh (1.6kwh)

I have written the meter reading down prior to flicking the switch on. I will keep track of it's progress backwards over the coming weeks.

Blue one. What numbers are important for you to consider? The inverter has a panl which scrolls through some data. Current power, daily, all, Volts???

[MNM96]

Originally Posted by deesun

Wouldnt they go UP on the roof?
Or DOWN, UP on the roof.
Happy bill free dayz.

They put them down like laying grass. lol

[poppa smurf]

mate the only numbers I follow are

days production,....read from the panel on the inverter ....(total days production from solar array)

days import..........read from meter (power from grid to house)

days export .........read from meter (power from array to grid)

I've kept the record from day one and i have now got pages of data to look back upon (I don't know why)

I subtract the days export from the days import (or vice versa) and that gives me the total of the days dealings and how much more Lumo owes me...yippeeee!!!

glad you had a trouble free install, ...........that lectrickery bill will be or already is a killer

[DJL351]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

mate the only numbers I follow is

days production,....read from the panel on the inverter ....(total days production from solar array)

days import..........read from meter (power from grid to house)

days export .........read from meter (power from array to grid)

I've kept the record from day one and i have now got pages of data to look back upon (I don't know why)

glad you had a trouble free install, ...........that lectrickery bill will be or already is a killer

I'm too lazy for that.

I let my server talk to the inverter and upload the production numbers to a website. (pvoutput.org)

It comes down to what you want out of it. We're not chasing any numbers as such and so just wait for the bill to come in with a credit every few months. Others I know monitor everything from dawn to dusk and get really upset if there is a spike in daytime usage etc.

You'll find you're 'level' soon enough.

** If your inverter has bluetooth and you have a computer with bluetooth - make use of it.
http://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?userid=1701

[poppa smurf]

only takes 5 minutes......end of the day ritual.....neighbour is out at about that time so we have a yak over the fence.....solve all the worlds problems

I'll follow it for 12 months then make a decision to switch over to origin and see if I can pay my gas bill and make some purchases with the excess as well

dont know yet!

[MNM96]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

mate the only numbers I follow are

days production,....read from the panel on the inverter ....(total days production from solar array)

days import..........read from meter (power from grid to house)

days export .........read from meter (power from array to grid)



glad you had a trouble free install, ...........that lectrickery bill will be or already is a killer

I am yet to have the Smart Meter?? fitted which is what the retailer buys the power back from me from. At the moment I am spinning the meter backwards.

Meter at "turn on" read 58043. At the moment the meter is rolling forward. It is 4.00pm and very overcast, so much so I can look directly at the sun without squinting. Producing 551w.

I will report back tomorrow afternoon with a meter reading and days production figure.

[MNM96]

Yesterday we produced 12 kw (14total since install) while we have used what we have produced plus 18 kw total.

I guess we are aiming for closer to 30 odd produced while burning 16 odd.

Rained yesterday for a few hours, as it is now, so I look forward to getting a few sunny days to get a true reading.

No I am looking at hooking into the bluetooth stuff.

[poppa smurf]

the figures will be down simply because of the time of year.....it will pick up over summer

have you checked the install...looking for loose or dangling wires and the removal of the swarf?

[MNM96]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

the figures will be down simply because of the time of year.....it will pick up over summer

have you checked the install...looking for loose or dangling wires and the removal of the swarf?

Hosed off the roof. They didnt drill a lok of holes, utilising what was there already. They did saw off the alloy rails up there though.

Each panel had a Male plug on one side and a Female plug on the other. They were a really nice quality plug, so they all look good.

[poppa smurf]

ah thats good......I seen a job last week that was a shocker.....wires dangling on roof and swarf shining in the sun already rusting

are you looking at getting the smart meter anytime soon?

[MNM96]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

ah thats good......I seen a job last week that was a shocker.....wires dangling on roof and swarf shining in the sun already rusting

are you looking at getting the smart meter anytime soon?

Its part of the deal, but I have to wait for Ergon to come and do it. It may take a month I have been told.

[poppa smurf]

yeah! I hear that they are up against it some parts........

[MNM96]

Burning in 3 kw at the moment, a nice, almost cloud free day atm.
That is the best figure I have seen.

[buggerlugs]

I wouldn't have a clue on how to read the meter. I just wait for the credit to come in the mail...............

[MNM96]

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

I wouldn't have a clue on how to read the meter. I just wait for the credit to come in the mail...............

Here is my inverter. It has 2 rows of data. It shows the current output in real time at all times on the top row. The bottom row swaps between about 6 functions, like Amps, AC and DC output, Daily Total, Total Forever etc.

Made 22 today, with clouds rolling over about 11.30am and hanging around for the rest of the day.

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

I wouldn't have a clue on how to read the meter. I just wait for the credit to come in the mail...............

what sort of meter have you got.......if it's a "smart meter" then just read your export and compare it with your import

your inverter is pretty well self explanatory.....you should have

instant production (what your array is producing right now)

days production (what has been produced by your array for that particular day)

and in some cases months production

there is other "stuff" on their that I don't bother too much about and the information varies from inverter to inverter

if you have a standard meter then compare your quarterly figures with previous quarterly figures.....found on previous account statements......this will give you an idea of what your array is doing over the periods studied

I'm simply watching my metering in order to get some idea of what it does over a twelve month period,....this will arm me with knowledge to make a decision as to where I go next

[bartaxr8]

I live in SE Melbourne and just got the local paper in the letterbox today. On of the ads in it was for a company called Solar Dynamics. They are advetising 2 KW systems for $2,990, 3 KW systems for $5,175 and 5 KW systems for $9,490. All these prices are fully installed. Are these prices ok?

[poppa smurf]

sounds pretty good to me.....do you know what panels they are using?

if it was me I'd be looking at the 3 kw system......but once again you must do your sum's

[bartaxr8]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

sounds pretty good to me.....do you know what panels they are using?

if it was me I'd be looking at the 3 kw system......but once again you must do your sum's

According to there website the solar panels are Canadian Solar Panels.