neat.It happens a lot with improper generator installations; every once in awhile, a worker will be fixing a downed line that's shut off at the head end, and some idiot downstream is running a generator that's not peroperly switched in, and the entire system is hot. When said worker grabs the downstream line... *ZAAP*
Very possible.
A good friend of mine has a house in the Caicos.
The house has NO electrical service. So he installed panels on his roof and batteries in his garage.
Powers the whole house just fine.
A good friend of mine has a house in the Caicos.
The house has NO electrical service. So he installed panels on his roof and batteries in his garage.
Powers the whole house just fine.
Hah, oh, and I've seen a ghetto-rigged solar water heater. My cousin has it on his pool. Basically, a chunk of pipe under a large magnifying lens.
Kerouactivist
Diamond Member
- Jul 12, 2001
- 4,665
- 0
- 76
I wouldn't install an electric solar system execpt in the very hottest and sunniest areas. Indeed, electric panels are so expensive that it's generally not a good idea to put them on a roof - they should be placed on a motorised bi-directional sun-tracking stand. It's not essential, but a good tracker can double energy output compared to a sloppy roof installation.
Depending on how much subsidy you get, how expensive your electricity is, and how sunny it is in your area, you may be able to break even after 5-10 years. But in many areas, such systems would never break even.
Solar water heaters are probably a much better bet - they capture energy far more efficiently, and are far cheaper and simpler. They are excellent for pool heating, but more sophisticated panels (using vacuum tubes) can produce very hot water, with industrial versions able to heat oils to over 300 F. While they are unlikely to provide central heating in Winter, they could produce 25-30% of hot water needs even in Winter, while producing more hot water than you could use in Summer. Because of their efficiency, they don't require a very sunny climate - even a very mild climate like that in the UK is more than sufficient for generating domestic hot water at low cost.
Personally, I wouldn't consider an electrical system until I already a water heating system. The water heater is also a cheaper introduction to solar power, as well as likely to pay for itself considerably more quickly. In less than 2-3 years in sunny areas.
Depending on how much subsidy you get, how expensive your electricity is, and how sunny it is in your area, you may be able to break even after 5-10 years. But in many areas, such systems would never break even.
Solar water heaters are probably a much better bet - they capture energy far more efficiently, and are far cheaper and simpler. They are excellent for pool heating, but more sophisticated panels (using vacuum tubes) can produce very hot water, with industrial versions able to heat oils to over 300 F. While they are unlikely to provide central heating in Winter, they could produce 25-30% of hot water needs even in Winter, while producing more hot water than you could use in Summer. Because of their efficiency, they don't require a very sunny climate - even a very mild climate like that in the UK is more than sufficient for generating domestic hot water at low cost.
Personally, I wouldn't consider an electrical system until I already a water heating system. The water heater is also a cheaper introduction to solar power, as well as likely to pay for itself considerably more quickly. In less than 2-3 years in sunny areas.
I have a solar water heating system. It works very well but I do live in an area with a lot of sunshine pretty much 350 days of the year. Saves about $20-25 a month in electric. Paid a little less than $1000, after various tax incentives and other rebates. That was nearly 10 years ago so it's paid for itself quite well.
Kelemvor
Lifer
- May 23, 2002
- 16,928
- 8
- 81
To add a solar power system onto an existing house costs tens of thousands of dollars. THat's for a system that actually hooks into the power system and things like that. The neat part is if you make more energy than you use, the power company can syphon some off and pay you for it.
It's far cheaper to just get soloar powered specific devices...
However if you are building a new house, then it's far cheaper to add solar to the house during the building process. I'd do it in a second if it wasn't so incredibly expensive.
It's far cheaper to just get soloar powered specific devices...
However if you are building a new house, then it's far cheaper to add solar to the house during the building process. I'd do it in a second if it wasn't so incredibly expensive.
It depends. In some states there is a law called 'net metering' which states that small independent power produces get full retail price credit for excess power delivered to the grid. In such a system, it is perfectly feasible to have a single meter which goes forwards when you buy electricity and backwards when you sell.
In other states without net metering, you get a different price for electricity you sell, compared to electricity that you buy. (E.g. you buy electricity at $0.10 per kWh - of which $0.05 is energy, and $0.05 is delivery - but when you sell back to the grid, you only get credit for the energy cost - i.e. $0.05 per kWh). In these cases, you need 2 meters - one runs when you buy, and the other runs when you sell. Neither runs backwards.
Essentially, it's up to the power company how they want to handle it. If you have a small system, and you agree that you will never sell more than you buy, then they'll probably go with the single meter approach.
If you have a big system, then the power company will probably want dual meters.
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