Going solar at the new place

[bsobel]

Sitting here on a work staff meeting call waiting for SDG&E call with the final approval to turn this on. Ran it for 3 days for testing before the city signed off, now can't turn it on until SDG&E gives the ok...

After that, maybe I'll finally join some DC projects

Edit (my wife grabbed a few quick photos):
Inverters
Rack

 

[waggy]

very nice. how much it run you? and how much do you expect to save with it?

 

[JeepinEd]

Let us know how it turns out.
I'm very interested in getting one for my house.

 

[Aharami]

:thumbsup:

 

[Aharami]

also, is it true that you get back half the money you put in as tax rebates?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: bsobel
Sitting here on a work staff meeting call waiting for SDG&E call with the final approval to turn this on. Ran it for 3 days for testing before the city signed off, now can't turn it on until SDG&E gives the ok...

After that, maybe I'll finally join some DC projects

Do you know what the power source is for you area? Just asking because it is kind of hard to say Fyou to mid east countries if the power source is something like coal, nuclear, or natural gas.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: waggy
very nice. how much it run you? and how much do you expect to save with it?

Looks like a good use of that space which would otherwise be unusable..

I see you have ceramic tiles? Is that why you chose not to have it roof mounted?

Have they built panels into roof tiles yet?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Pretty!!!

144 panels... that's a LOT!

 

[BrownTown]

Just kinda FYI, oil only makes up like 1% of the US electricity generation, so your not really doing any harm to the oil industry. The largest source of electricity is coal, followed by nuclear and natural gas, hydro, etc...

Not saying anything against solar panels, just saying that they have nothing to do with reducing dependance on foreign oil.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: waggy
very nice. how much it run you? and how much do you expect to save with it?

It wasn't cheap but I run about 700-1000 a month in power bills now. In additon to the normal 'home' equipment I have racks of equipment in their own air conditioned enclosures. Also, we are on a well so our water costs are free, but pumping costs electricity. I also overbuilt it to handle a pool I plan to add next year as well as a plugin hybrid or two when they come out.

When I bought here I calculated it out and it was even to either pay down the mortgage and pay SDG&E or take a higher mortgage and have no power bill. Of course, I hope to eventually sell 1/2 the land here and pay the mortgage off which will result in no mortgage, power, and water bill (at least for this place).

As far as production on average it should generate about 4200kw per month. More in the summer, but thats when all the ACs will really tax it too.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: bsobel
Sitting here on a work staff meeting call waiting for SDG&E call with the final approval to turn this on. Ran it for 3 days for testing before the city signed off, now can't turn it on until SDG&E gives the ok...

After that, maybe I'll finally join some DC projects

That's awsome! I've been thinking of going solar as well. What are the tax advantages like for next year if you know?

 

[DeadByDawn]

700-1k a month in power bills? Holy crap

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: BrownTown
Just kinda FYI, oil only makes up like 1% of the US electricity generation, so your not really doing any harm to the oil industry. The largest source of electricity is coal, followed by nuclear and natural gas, hydro, etc... Not saying anything against solar panels, just saying that they have nothing to do with reducing dependance on foreign oil.

I know, but we are driving NG costs up (I have a NG car). My Fy comment was more around planning on getting plugin hybreds when I can (can't find any true electrics with enough range for me yet)

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
700-1k a month in power bills? Holy crap

Yeah, I get pissed when my power bill creeps up over $200.

 

[djheater]

these look nice....

 

[bsobel]

I see you have ceramic tiles? Is that why you chose not to have it roof mounted?

There is alot of surface area on that hill which was perfectly south. I saved the roof space for the pool solar when the construciton starts.

 

[DeadByDawn]

My power bill in the winter is like $30-40, about 65 in the summer

 

[MichaelD]

OMG, that's a LOT of solar panels! :shocked: What's the overall size? About 48'x48'?

So much for the swimming pool, eh? That HAD to be a huge initial investment.

What kind of wattage do they generate, what kind of batteries do they charge? Are you going to completely cut off "city electric?" What kind of wiring had to be done to your house to interface all that with your existing wiring and incoming power?

Lotsa questions, I know...but this is cool stuff.

 

[AbsolutDealage]

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
700-1k a month in power bills? Holy crap

QFT... even in the summer my bill is only ~$100 for my whole house...

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
700-1k a month in power bills? Holy crap

Yeah, I get pissed when my power bill creeps up over $200.

No kidding. I ran the A/C almost the entire summer and my highest bill was around $220.

 

[Abel007]

Awesome.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
700-1k a month in power bills? Holy crap

Yeah, I get pissed when my power bill creeps up over $200.

No kidding. I ran the A/C almost the entire summer and my highest bill was around $220.

I need to get my brother or someone else that works in energy efficiency to come check out my new house. I hit $335 with the thermostats set to 78. I'm already putting in solar-powered attic fans and putting in new insulation but I need to see what else is the cause of my problems.

 

[bsobel]

I need to get my brother or someone else that works in energy efficiency to come check out my new house. I hit $335 with the thermostats set to 78. I'm already putting in solar-powered attic fans and putting in new insulation but I need to see what else is the cause of my problems.

Other than AC I get killed on refrigeratoin (dual sub zeros, ice maker, kegerator, wine cooler, and garage frig and freezers) and computers (4 servers, two nas's in the ac enclosure and another 8 or so around the house). The servers are 24/7 the others not as much. Lots of phantom loads too (access points, print servers, cell phone chargers, etc).

That and there are 3 adults and 2 kids living here, so even if some of us are at one of the other places there is invariably somewhere here.

 

[40Hands]

Umm...can I have some money?

 

[futuristicmonkey]

Originally posted by: bsobel

As far as production on average it should generate about 4200kw per month. More in the summer, but thats when all the ACs will really tax it too.

Per month? Watts = Joules / Second 4200W / month or /year is the same amount of energy.

I assume you mean just 4200W?

Edit: I'm sure that thing can't produce 4.2MW of power