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Started By
Message
1
Posted on 4/8/14 at 8:42 pm to jose canseco
I know there are a few American manufacturers of modules I sell that are net zero usage. They operate themselves off of solar and manufacture enough to install that offsets stuff like that.
I'll be honest, I'm not into solar to save the world. Some people are. I think it's a cool technology and the price is right with current incentives.
I'll be honest, I'm not into solar to save the world. Some people are. I think it's a cool technology and the price is right with current incentives.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 8:46 pm to BigEdLSU
7KW for 25K is the current price as well.
They try to fool you by telling you that it'll only cost you $5K after the rebates in an effort to convince you it's a good deal.
It's a 4-5year ROI on a 7kw system (spending $5k) in Louisiana.
I can do it in 2-3 years, easily because I can get a 13-15kw system installed around $25K (with me getting back the 20K in rebates).
The installers will also purposely derate your system on the guaranteed savings by giving you a low savings number in the beginning, so in 20-25 years, when the system has weakened over its life, you're hitting the guarantee they gave you in day 1.
They try to fool you by telling you that it'll only cost you $5K after the rebates in an effort to convince you it's a good deal.
It's a 4-5year ROI on a 7kw system (spending $5k) in Louisiana.
I can do it in 2-3 years, easily because I can get a 13-15kw system installed around $25K (with me getting back the 20K in rebates).
The installers will also purposely derate your system on the guaranteed savings by giving you a low savings number in the beginning, so in 20-25 years, when the system has weakened over its life, you're hitting the guarantee they gave you in day 1.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 8:53 pm to BigEdLSU
We are building an energy efficient home (6-in walls, geothermal heat pump, radient floor heating, passive solar construction, etc.) and planning on a 15kw pv system with solar hot water. We are building in a part of the world that does not require ac, so our builder/designer thinks we can hit net-zero. My question is what exactly does the solar rating (e.g., 15kw) represent?
Posted on 4/8/14 at 8:57 pm to TigerTatorTots
Tots, since your usage is small, I wouldn't recommend anything lager than a 4.5KW system.
18 250W panels and 18 micro inverters.
The cost just in that is $6K+ tax, add another grand in roof racks puts you at $7,000. If you added some batteries, the cost would go up, obviously.
You need two available single pole 20A breakers in your panel (or only 1 if you install a 4.25kw system) to send your power back through a net meter.
The rest is conduit, cable and installation cost. I'd guess no more than a $2-3K. You could easily get a roofer to mount the racks and conduit(s) into the attic.
You could do the rest yourself: mounting panels and running the cable back to your panel.
In the end, you would get $8K back in rebates; costing roughly $2K.
18 250W panels and 18 micro inverters.
The cost just in that is $6K+ tax, add another grand in roof racks puts you at $7,000. If you added some batteries, the cost would go up, obviously.
You need two available single pole 20A breakers in your panel (or only 1 if you install a 4.25kw system) to send your power back through a net meter.
The rest is conduit, cable and installation cost. I'd guess no more than a $2-3K. You could easily get a roofer to mount the racks and conduit(s) into the attic.
You could do the rest yourself: mounting panels and running the cable back to your panel.
In the end, you would get $8K back in rebates; costing roughly $2K.
This post was edited on 4/8/14 at 8:58 pm
Posted on 4/8/14 at 8:58 pm to LSUAlum2001
Wow dude you must have been burned by a bad contractor.
I assure you, you can get way more than that if you comparison shop.
I assure you, you can get way more than that if you comparison shop.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 9:00 pm to LSUAlum2001
Yeah, do it yourself 
poke 50 holes in your roof and desire your breaker panel while you're at it.
I agree, it's always cheaper to DIY. But be realistic, most people couldn't do an install properly.
If you personally can, more power to you (pun intended)
poke 50 holes in your roof and desire your breaker panel while you're at it. I agree, it's always cheaper to DIY. But be realistic, most people couldn't do an install properly.
If you personally can, more power to you (pun intended)
Posted on 4/8/14 at 9:04 pm to islandtiger
15 kilowatts.
Depending on where you are, the amount of sunlight to fully maximize your system output will vary. In Louisiana, it's 4.5-5.5 hours per day. A 15KW system, therefore, would generate somewhere around 55-70kwh per day, or 1650kwh-2100kwh per month. I tossed a slight derating factor in for you math geniuses out there.
That's a rather robust system. I'm sure part of its directly for hotwater heating and the rest for electrical generation.
Depending on where you are, the amount of sunlight to fully maximize your system output will vary. In Louisiana, it's 4.5-5.5 hours per day. A 15KW system, therefore, would generate somewhere around 55-70kwh per day, or 1650kwh-2100kwh per month. I tossed a slight derating factor in for you math geniuses out there.
That's a rather robust system. I'm sure part of its directly for hotwater heating and the rest for electrical generation.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 9:04 pm to islandtiger
quote:
geothermal heat pump
Looked at this long and hard, didn't do it.
Keep us in the loop-(haha), good luck.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 9:09 pm to BigEdLSU
Didn't you read?
I said roofer will install the racks and install the conduit entry through the roof.
Sliding panels in place and putting the clips down doesn't take an expert. Those microinveters have a trunk line that they plug into and you can install 17 (for those enphase units) per single homerun to the panel.
17 would equal 4.25kw using 250w panels, which is about what he requires for his energy consumption.
I said roofer will install the racks and install the conduit entry through the roof.
Sliding panels in place and putting the clips down doesn't take an expert. Those microinveters have a trunk line that they plug into and you can install 17 (for those enphase units) per single homerun to the panel.
17 would equal 4.25kw using 250w panels, which is about what he requires for his energy consumption.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 9:09 pm to islandtiger
15 is about 180 a month in electric savings. 60 or so panels. Please price it out and save yourself 15-20k
Posted on 4/8/14 at 9:10 pm to LSUAlum2001
Guy, I've toured enphase factories, I know the installation process.
Good luck getting your rebate. You need a solar contractor for that with the new laws
Good luck getting your rebate. You need a solar contractor for that with the new laws
Posted on 4/8/14 at 9:12 pm to BigEdLSU
Nah. A friend at the office got a quote recently and it was $25k for a 7kw system.
I told him I would do it for far less.
I told him I would do it for far less.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 9:13 pm to LSUAlum2001
Go for it. He won't get a rebate. 90% of enphase was outlawed in January. Sure you're up to date?
Posted on 4/8/14 at 9:14 pm to BigEdLSU
Wow. You toured the facilties?
Good for you.
Good for you.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 9:24 pm to LSUAlum2001
Got it, the rating is production per hour at max generating capacity. Thanks. We recently increased the design from 10kw to 15kw since the cost of panels have decreased over the past year. We are installing a large system since we are building on an island and electricity is not always reliable and I want sufficient "surplus" power to charge an electric car.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 9:29 pm to islandtiger
Wait hold on. If that's the case, and you want dependable power, you would need batteries. If you're looking to increase storage you should be increasing your battery bank, not the solar input.
Make sure you have a solar pro working on the design. Lots of contractors don't understand or install the battery components.
Make sure you have a solar pro working on the design. Lots of contractors don't understand or install the battery components.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 9:30 pm to islandtiger
I get emails from two solar distributors and I snag pallets when a real cheap price comes across.
Do you have a battery system? Is it a microinverter system or a couple of large main inverters?
Do you have a battery system? Is it a microinverter system or a couple of large main inverters?
Posted on 4/8/14 at 9:39 pm to LSUAlum2001
I own three systems and have installed over 100. How about you?
This post was edited on 4/8/14 at 9:40 pm
Posted on 4/8/14 at 9:42 pm to BigEdLSU
I have an interview with Sun Power Corporation for a Sr Electrical Engineering Position tomorrow.
Thanks for asking.
Thanks for asking.
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