All things Solar (merged threads)

[prydey]

off grid systems are all well and good, but what happens when you run out? i think i would prefer the safety net of still being connected to the grid, with the ability to store excess production.

[poppa smurf]

While I am so far in credit I will not be going off grid but if, or rather, when the powers that be take all that away I will be looking into a few options.

Don't forget "off grid power" systems have been running along just fine on simple basic technology for a very long time.

With later technology things are far simpler.

[LG17]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

a decent system can be done for less than that.

That surely would depend on where you live, wouldn't it?

I priced them up in the last couple of months up here and a tad under $21000 was the best I could get.

[Cashie]

Originally Posted by prydey

off grid systems are all well and good, but what happens when you run out? i think i would prefer the safety net of still being connected to the grid, with the ability to store excess production.

Most systems will have a generator backup.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

While I am so far in credit I will not be going off grid but if, or rather, when the powers that be take all that away I will be looking into a few options.

Don't forget "off grid power" systems have been running along just fine on simple basic technology for a very long time.

With later technology things are far simpler.

at a minimum, i would like some sort of fossil fuel powered generator as back up. i guess i'm just a 'what if' type person.

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by prydey

at a minimum, i would like some sort of fossil fuel powered generator as back up. i guess i'm just a 'what if' type person.

Yes, I'm a "belt and braces" feller as well and I would have a genny but with todays batteries it is not necessary.

Future technology will see yields a great deal superior in storage and using a far smaller footprint than todays, that is when I will go off grid.

all depends on how much you are willing to go without during prolonged cloudy days or hot spells, it is affordable and doable right now.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

all depends on how much you are willing to go without during prolonged cloudy days or hot spells, .

not willing at all

[deesun]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

I paid $13,500 plus upgrades to the distribution boxes to the value of another $4,500 (or thereabouts from memory).

That makes my 3.5 kw system around $18,000 at that time. Not counting modifications I had to do to the shed purlins.

However have not paid a bill since install and well into credit, I give it another 2 years and it will have paid for itself.

Holy sunrays Batman I thought I had paid dearly, 6kw with 5kw inv, 12k. Yep the credits rooooollllll in just nicely.

[deesun]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

Cheers Bushbasher.

I've just stumbled across this website, which has great information on all aspects of solar power installation:

http://www.solarchoice.net.au/

Try here too, good advice as well. http://www.solarquotes.com.au/?gclid...FQHKpAodZncAUw

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by deesun

Holy sunrays Batman I thought I had paid dearly, 6kw with 5kw inv, 12k. Yep the credits rooooollllll in just nicely.

this was a few years ago now, prices have plummeted since, I wish I had the money to have gone bigger at the time but I couldn't afford it back then, too many irons in the fire.

[EgoFG]

8c NET FIT, and slightly careful usage still payed off mt 2 kw system in under 3 years.
I have moved, so now to start over again.

[Pepscobra]

Originally Posted by EgoFG

8c NET FIT, and slightly careful usage still payed off mt 2 kw system in under 3 years.
I have moved, so now to start over again.

That's pretty good!
What city you in?

[EgoFG]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

That's pretty good!
What city you in?

This was in the NW growth corridor of Sydney.

DR Green did the install.

[buggerlugs]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

this was a few years ago now, prices have plummeted since, I wish I had the money to have gone bigger at the time but I couldn't afford it back then, too many irons in the fire.

Saw a 5kw system advertised for $5500.00 yesterday. Then I remembered what I'd paid for my 5kw system................not happy jan........

[buggerlugs]

On a side note , our Rinnai solar hot water unit pump carked it. It's under 3 years old with a 1 year warranty. To get a new pump we are up for at least $1000 with , you guessed it, a 1 year warranty. What a joke, our previous hot water unit lasted 14 years without touching it. The tech who tested the pump ( and charged $176 for 2 minutes work) said he had just come from another customer with the same problem..........

[prydey]

heat wave here in SA (and other states) at the moment and now apparently we are being warned of rolling blackouts being forecast as the power company struggles to keep up with demand. i wonder how much worse they would be if solar customers weren't feeding the grid? i'm a bit of a novice in this area. does it actually ease the pressure?

if solar customers are actually helping boost the available grid capacity, why do we get treated like the bad guys and charged higher rates etc? from a laymans perspective, it seems a little back to front.

on a side note, productivity is about 30-40% down on mine with the heat. i guess 45+ deg will do that.

[poppa smurf]

yep! mines down by roughly 10% to 15%........

[Franco Cozzo]

Something I noticed here in Victoria, around central country area is that 5 years ago when Solar wasn't so popular every time we had a week of hot weather like we are having now, blackouts everywhere, because the grid couldn't keep up with everyones A/C.

Now it doesn't do it anymore?

I'm guessing the amount of solar feeding back into the grid is helping us all out.

[prydey]

that was my thinking as well. used to have blackouts nearly every summer not that long ago. of course the power company will claim it is due to the money they spend upgrading the network and justify the hike in rates.

[poppa smurf]

Looks like the study into solar thermal for Port Augusta will be going ahead..........I really hope it gets up.

well known that the advent of solar has saved the construction of further power generators and has held off blackouts for quite a few years now.

However the powers that be will never reward us for that, rather they will vilify us with extra costs and punishments.

looks like the possibility of rolling blackouts for Adelaide and surrounds including Hahndorf and Mount Gambier tomorrow, should be fun with temps expected in the mid forties.

[Auslandau]

So what would be the optimum operating temp on a clear day? With a 3kw system the most in one day has been just short of 20kwh but in the heat like it is at the moment it was 14 yesterday and 10 today (Overcast)

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by Auslandau

So what would be the optimum operating temp on a clear day? With a 3kw system the most in one day has been just short of 20kwh but in the heat like it is at the moment it was 14 yesterday and 10 today (Overcast)

Optimum day would be light overcast with temps between 20 - 30.......Optimum I guess would be 25 deg's?

3 KW generating 20kw is doing okay, most of Australia is averaged at 6 hours sunlight per day so 6 X 3 = 18kw

heat kills production, the curve is pretty steep after 30 deg's

[Auslandau]

11.2kwh today at 44 degrees and yesterday was 13.1 and also 44. I cracked a 19.1kwh once in the 4 weeks its been on. Rest of the time on nice days it seems to be averaging out around 17kwh's.

[poppa smurf]

Well, declination, shade, dust, direction all comes into the final figure.

I figure as long as I am covering my usage plus a margin I'm a happy chappy.

[LG17]

I have had a slight hiccup with my install.
I guess it's the price you pay for doing business around Christmas time when everyone goes walkabout.
My mob (Evolution Kingaroy) can't get their hands on a 4.6 Kaco inverter till the second week in February so mine hasn't gone in yet.

[CJR09]

think of 25degC as zero point - that is the temp all standardized testing is done - temps below this and the panels are more efficient than stated on panel spec sheet - temps above this and they are less efficient that stated on spec sheet

[LG17]

My Kaco Inverter has finally arrived in the country!
Released by customs today so Thursday is install day.
Gotta get my finger out before then and put some roof extenda brackets in the trusses as I have no intention of removing the solar panels to do it.

[Struggo]

Installed a 2.1KW system back in 2010 by taking advantage of the NSW GFIT of $0.60c.

http://www.pvoutput.org/list.jsp?userid=80

[poppa smurf]

not bad figures there struggo.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Well, after considerable months of doing investigations in to what I should buy, I think I have finally made up my mind.

Was leaning towards the AGL system, primarily because I work for AGL, so get a staff discount, if anything goes wrong I should be able to get good after sales service and, most importantly for me, they offer an interest free repayment plan directly deductible through our pay packets.

The down side is that I know it is neither the best nor the cheapest system out there.

Well, half way through last month a new employee incentive was announced which has increased the staff discount even further. This means that the 4kW system has been reduced from the December price by around 25%.

In addition to that, it is likely that they will take on the financing of the purchase instead of using a third party, which reduces the fees associated with the repayment plan. The pay back period is also likely to be extended. As soon as that happens, i think I will be signing up!

Craig H