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Message
I'm very interested in adding solar to my home
Posted on 1/29/26 at 6:57 pm
Posted on 1/29/26 at 6:57 pm
So I have a non OT baller new construction 2k sqft home. All electric. External panel on a south facing wall.
I'm interested in adding solar. I have no real experience, but I would at first just like to do a back feeding setup, and later on transition to adding battery storage.
I'm just not sure where to begin. Southern sky is open for a little over a mile. East and west have limited tree cover 1-200 yards away.
Anyone running a setup in south Louisiana?
I'm interested in adding solar. I have no real experience, but I would at first just like to do a back feeding setup, and later on transition to adding battery storage.
I'm just not sure where to begin. Southern sky is open for a little over a mile. East and west have limited tree cover 1-200 yards away.
Anyone running a setup in south Louisiana?
6
Posted on 1/29/26 at 7:20 pm to X123F45
you want the panels on the roof or out in the yard?
Posted on 1/29/26 at 7:21 pm to X123F45
The previous owners added the outback system on my house. It generates on average 10 KW hours a day over a year. I'll never recoup the cost of the system. I had to buy a new inverter which was $3,000 when I put a new roof on. That was another $3,000 to take the panels off and put them back on. While they seem like a good idea, they're too expensive to ever break even.
Even if I'm saving $150 a month in electricity, it will take me quite a while just to recoup those costs. Also the panels degrade over time and do not keep producing the same amount of electricity.
I would put your money towards a standby generator.
Even if I'm saving $150 a month in electricity, it will take me quite a while just to recoup those costs. Also the panels degrade over time and do not keep producing the same amount of electricity.
I would put your money towards a standby generator.
This post was edited on 1/29/26 at 7:32 pm
Posted on 1/30/26 at 6:11 am to X123F45
My brother and several of my neighbors have solar systems. They all agree the initial cost is to high. When the power goes off they have no power. I have a small solar setup with battery backup for about $3,000. If I were to move and get another system I would go the same route, but bigger. The attached link is for a very expandable system that would cost a fraction of the solar installation. It can power your home plus have emergency switch over if the power goes off. I bought new solar panels from Marketplace for a fraction of what the the solar installer would charge you. I paid an individual to install them.
LINK
LINK
LINK
LINK
This post was edited on 1/30/26 at 6:15 am
Posted on 1/30/26 at 6:15 am to X123F45
quote:
External panel on a south facing wall.
The closer you get to the equator the more horizontal the panels will be. If you are talking about mounting them vertically on the wall that's not going to work unless you are in Alaska.
Posted on 1/30/26 at 8:53 am to RetiredSaintsLsuFan
No power, still no lights. Not installed to produce. Installed to trim power usage.
Posted on 1/30/26 at 9:33 am to RetiredSaintsLsuFan
The batteries don't last forever. That's what happened with the outback system. Once the batteries went bad the whole system went down. I had 12 batteries which would cost $350 a piece to replace. At the time. It was cheaper just to get an inverter and send the power back to the grid for what I don't use. Plus you're not running a whole house off of that unit. It might run a refrigerator maybe.
Posted on 1/30/26 at 9:40 am to bluedragon
We got into solar with the hybrid mini split from signature solar, it came with seven panels capable of 3200 watts. We put the panels on a south facing awning on our barndominium. I've since purchased enough panels for 10kw total and a Flexboss 21 inverter. No batteries as of yet, will add those later. I'm not going to send any extra generation back to the grid. Signature solar sales people are very patient and did a great job of steering me to the setup that fit what I wanted the best. I'd encourage you to give them a shout. They will give you a quote that beats their website prices when you are ready to buy.
My roof angle isn't ideal but it works good enough.
My roof angle isn't ideal but it works good enough.
Posted on 1/30/26 at 10:10 am to X123F45
My electrify bill is often less than $100 a month.
Gas appliances but a always running. 2300 ftsq
Gas appliances but a always running. 2300 ftsq
Posted on 1/30/26 at 11:02 am to X123F45
I dont think solar is worth it unless you have the knowledge to work on it and do it yourself and also have the space to put them on the ground.
Posted on 1/30/26 at 11:41 am to Maillard
quote:
The batteries don't last forever. That's what happened with the outback system. Once the batteries went bad the whole system went down. I had 12 batteries which would cost $350 a piece to replace. At the time. It was cheaper just to get an inverter and send the power back to the grid for what I don't use. Plus you're not running a whole house off of that unit. It might run a refrigerator maybe.
When I get full sun I run every room in my house plus the garage. I have two refrigerators and two freezers in these rooms. In the summer I use solar 8 to 10 hours a day. In the winter it about half of that due to angle of the sun on my panels.
Posted on 1/30/26 at 12:36 pm to Wraytex
Good encouragement. I sold transformers for commercial wind and solar farms. For residential applications I was always interested. Because the numbers looked good.
Posted on 1/30/26 at 1:50 pm to TimeOutdoors
quote:
The closer you get to the equator the more horizontal the panels will be. If you are talking about mounting them vertically on the wall that's not going to work unless you are in Alaska.
Negative, I meant my main electric panel is outside
I would do yard mount. 1000ft less mowing No loss to me
I'm not opposed to buying Panasonic panels and wiring myself, I imagine it was no more difficult than the generator outlet/disconnect.
Eta: Our electric routinely goes over 500 per month 10 months a year.
This post was edited on 1/30/26 at 1:52 pm
Posted on 1/30/26 at 4:05 pm to RetiredSaintsLsuFan
I guess I was talking about two different things. Meaning backup battery for powering a home. And two being that it doesn't make financial sense for me. Panel technology has come around since mine was installed. At its peak. I'm sure I was running double of what I'm drawing now. It definitely helps having panels on a metal roof that we'll never have to be moved.
As someone else mentioned being able to do it yourself would save you a chunk of change. I wasn't doing that on a 8 on 12 roof. I'm too old.
I could see that if you did all of the work yourself put it on a metal roof. Ran all gas appliances and had it tied home with decent efficiency sear equipment. You could significantly cut down on your electricity usage.
With all that being said, it doesn't hurt to run the numbers.
As someone else mentioned being able to do it yourself would save you a chunk of change. I wasn't doing that on a 8 on 12 roof. I'm too old.
I could see that if you did all of the work yourself put it on a metal roof. Ran all gas appliances and had it tied home with decent efficiency sear equipment. You could significantly cut down on your electricity usage.
With all that being said, it doesn't hurt to run the numbers.
Posted on 1/30/26 at 4:39 pm to X123F45
My brother has a large yard mount array of solar panels. They do double duty by keeping his firewood dry that he has stacked under the solar panels.
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