Denny, grab some solar!

[magnifier661]

http://pvdepot.com/install-supplies-2.html

I don't know what type of system you are thinking of getting, but this place can sell PV supplies for a big discount. You can even go "off-grid" with this company.

Here are the equipment I have on my existing system. And remember to take an additional 30% for the federal and state tax savings.

Here is the breakdown of my 12kwh system.

1.) 2 - Power One, PVI-6000: Total Cost: $6,250.00

2.) 50 - Canadian Solar 250 Watt CS6P: Total Price: $11,875.00

3.) 50 - UniRac, Frame: Total Price: $2,055.00

4.) Misc electrical conduit, wiring, and connectors: $3,000

5.) Having an Electrician install the system: $2,500-$3,000

Total install: $26,180
Total Fed Income credit: $7,854 (discount will vary with income tax line) - Highest is $3,927.00

Total price with highest possible discount: $22,253 ($1.85 per watt).

 

[magnifier661]

Oh and I forgot that Chase Bank is offering 1.5% loans for solar projects.

 

[Denny Crane]

It'll only take me 15 years to recover the $22.2K

What a deal!

If you get a loan to buy the solar, they are not transferable. So you have to take the hit of paying it off if you sell the home. This according to a realtor friend.

 

[magnifier661]

It'll only take me 15 years to recover the $22.2K

What a deal!

If you get a loan to buy the solar, they are not transferable. So you have to take the hit of paying it off if you sell the home. This according to a realtor friend.

Do you understand that your system wouldn't even be close to this system? How much kWh do you use a day? This system would generate minimum of 48kwh per day.

 

[magnifier661]

BTW, here is the link to design the exact amount of materials you would need to mount your system.

http://design.unirac.com/tool/

 

[Denny Crane]

System specifications for: San Diego, CA
Utility: Other

Solar Radiance:5.94 kWh/sq m/day
Avg. Monthly Usage:1,000 kWh/month
System Size:6.99 kW
Roof Size:698 sq. ft.
Estimated Cost:$41,911.50
Post Incentive Cost:$29,338.05

 

[magnifier661]

System specifications for: San Diego, CA
Utility: Other

Solar Radiance:5.94 kWh/sq m/day
Avg. Monthly Usage:1,000 kWh/month
System Size:6.99 kW
Roof Size:698 sq. ft.
Estimated Cost:$41,911.50
Post Incentive Cost:$29,338.05

Is this your house?

Each Sq Ft gives you approx. 9 watts. That would be 6,300 watt system. If you used the link I provided; that would cost you much less.

If you are only wanting to make 6kw per day; then divide that by 4 hours of sun time. That's 1,500 watts worth of panels and a 1.5 kWh inverter. That system is less than 10k

EDIT: Ooops I didn't see your 1,000kwh per month. You would need 33 kilowatts per day. That would be a 8 kwh system. Still less than 20k without incentives.

 

[Denny Crane]

Your link doesn't show the price of the panels, just the mounting materials.

 

[magnifier661]

Here is the hardware needed for a 9k system. $2,634.32 (30% discount from the supplier link I provided) = $1,844

Requires 36 (250 watt panels) = $8,550

Power One, PVI-10 3-Ph Grid Tied Inverter, 10kW, 208 VAC, PVI-10.0-I-OUTD-US-S-208 = $5,051

Labor for an electrician to install is = $2,000

Total price without fed credit: $15,645

So tell me who is raping you on their quote?

 

[magnifier661]

Your link doesn't show the price of the panels, just the mounting materials.

http://pvdepot.com/solar-panels/canadian-solar-panels.html

 

[Denny Crane]

http://www.wholesalesolar.com/solarpowersystems/21-astronergy-off-grid-solar-power-system.html

 

[magnifier661]

http://www.wholesalesolar.com/solarpowersystems/21-astronergy-off-grid-solar-power-system.html

Even that link has your system at a much cheaper price than what's quoted to you. And BTW, when you sell your house; you can add the value of the panels to the price. So even though you must pay off the loan; usually most of it is absorbed through the sale.

 

[magnifier661]

Denny your link has a system, with a back-up that is still tied to the grid for less than 20k without fed rebate

http://www.wholesalesolar.com/system/30-astronergy-grid-tie-battery-backup-system.html

 

[BrianFromWA]

Mags,

a) is this a federal or Cal subsidy (i.e., can I use it in Florida)?
b) if I'm building, can I get my contractor to use this and wrap it into the construction price, or do I have to go outside of the construction loan?

 

[magnifier661]

Mags,

a) is this a federal or Cal subsidy (i.e., can I use it in Florida)?
b) if I'm building, can I get my contractor to use this and wrap it into the construction price, or do I have to go outside of the construction loan?

The subsidy is federal, so Florida is good.

Yes you can have it wrapped in your construction budget and the subsidy includes installation for credit

Ps, you should look into Florida credits too. Usually they have additional incentives

 

[MarAzul]

Here is the hardware needed for a 9k system. $2,634.32 (30% discount from the supplier link I provided) = $1,844

Requires 36 (250 watt panels) = $8,550

Power One, PVI-10 3-Ph Grid Tied Inverter, 10kW, 208 VAC, PVI-10.0-I-OUTD-US-S-208 = $5,051




Labor for an electrician to install is = $2,000

Total price without fed credit: $15,645

So tell me who is raping you on their quote?

Not big enough to run my shop and requires way too much space to use on my boat.
Still need a diesel Genset in both. The the question becomes why do I need all that shit along with the Genset?

But seriously I would like to make it work on the boat, I tried my best but I can spend a lot of money and not get the job done.
Just a couple weeks ago I looked into setting up enough solar to charge a starter battery in the event I was foolish enough to run all the batteries down.
Damn! The best I could do, cost three times the price of a little 800w portable generator which I can stuff below and wait for the dumb to come.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Not big enough to run my shop and requires way too much space to use on my boat.
Still need a diesel Genset in both. The the question becomes why do I need all that shit along with the Genset?

But seriously I would like to make it work on the boat, I tried my best but I can spend a lot of money and not get the job done.
Just a couple weeks ago I looked into setting up enough solar to charge a starter battery in the event I was foolish enough to run all the batteries down.
Damn! The best I could do, cost three times the price of a little 800w portable generator which I can stuff below and wait for the dumb to come.

Speaking of dumb, I thought sailboats were powered by the wind.

 

[MarAzul]

Speaking of dumb, I thought sailboats were powered by the wind.

Very true as far as moving from place to place. Electricity does the trick though for running refrigerators, freezers, radios, GPS, autopilots, computers, sonar, and lights.

 

[Eastoff]

Not big enough to run my shop and requires way too much space to use on my boat.
Still need a diesel Genset in both. The the question becomes why do I need all that shit along with the Genset?

But seriously I would like to make it work on the boat, I tried my best but I can spend a lot of money and not get the job done.
Just a couple weeks ago I looked into setting up enough solar to charge a starter battery in the event I was foolish enough to run all the batteries down.
Damn! The best I could do, cost three times the price of a little 800w portable generator which I can stuff below and wait for the dumb to come.

How big is your boat?

 

[MarAzul]

How big is your boat?

60 feet

 

[Eastoff]

60 feet

WHOA!

 

[magnifier661]

An easy way to determine how much solar you need is pretty simple.

Get a electric bill and see your yearly average usage. If you use 800 kW per month; just divide that number by 30 days. In this situation; this house uses 26 kwh per day.

There is on average 5 total hours of good sun; so dividing the daily usage by 5 hours; requires a 5.2 kW or 5,200 watt system.

If you buy from a vendor like this; just use the hardware cost and factor 4 panels = 1,000 watts. So if this person needs 5,200 watts system; they need 21 panels, an 6,000 watt invert or and roughly 2k in labor to install.

That will give you the amount to energy. And if you look at how much a kilowatt hour costs; you can multiply your average by the average kWh cost of .22 cents.

 

[Paxil]

I really never thought much about solar... but then I read this today:

http://grist.org/climate-energy/sol...tm_medium=web&utm_campaign=outbrain-gristiest

Now this has me reconsidering. In summary, as more and more people move to solar, the rates for everyone else will go higher... causing more and more people to move to solar. Perhaps this is true, perhaps the utilities are just trying to protect their turf, but it seems pretty logical.

 

[magnifier661]

I really never thought much about solar... but then I read this today:

http://grist.org/climate-energy/sol...tm_medium=web&utm_campaign=outbrain-gristiest

Now this has me reconsidering. In summary, as more and more people move to solar, the rates for everyone else will go higher... causing more and more people to move to solar. Perhaps this is true, perhaps the utilities are just trying to protect their turf, but it seems pretty logical.

That's why I recommend power one converters. They can actually carry a start load of a fridge or high amp appliance. Add battery (enough to give full daily watt usage at 50%) and it will give you even a better load.

Many people that buy into "off grid" systems should absolutely jump on power one inverters.

 

[Denny Crane]

I really never thought much about solar... but then I read this today:

http://grist.org/climate-energy/sol...tm_medium=web&utm_campaign=outbrain-gristiest

Now this has me reconsidering. In summary, as more and more people move to solar, the rates for everyone else will go higher... causing more and more people to move to solar. Perhaps this is true, perhaps the utilities are just trying to protect their turf, but it seems pretty logical.

It doesn't work that way.

You have to exchange excess power you make during the 5 good hours of sunshine with the power company / utility to get power during the other 19 hours. If anything, the power companies are being raped by requirements they overpay for the electricity people with solar put back on the grid.

Truly "Off Grid" means you need to store electricity you generate in batteries to use during those other 19 hours. Expensive and they don't last a long time.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I don't see how solar would put utilites out of business. If I have a net positive electric use I pay over 7 cents/kWhr. If I have a net negative electric use, they pay me 2 cents/kWhr. Not to mention there are $20+ charges each month for the priviledge of using the grid.

I really never thought much about solar... but then I read this today:

http://grist.org/climate-energy/sol...tm_medium=web&utm_campaign=outbrain-gristiest

Now this has me reconsidering. In summary, as more and more people move to solar, the rates for everyone else will go higher... causing more and more people to move to solar. Perhaps this is true, perhaps the utilities are just trying to protect their turf, but it seems pretty logical.

 

[magnifier661]

I don't see how solar would put utilites out of business. If I have a net positive electric use I pay over 7 cents/kWhr. If I have a net negative electric use, they pay me 2 cents/kWhr. Not to mention there are $20+ charges each month for the priviledge of using the grid.

In SoCal (SCE), the monthly charge is $1.98. And if you generate more power; they pay 0.115 a kWh. The charge per kWh ranges from .18-.38 per kWh.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

In SoCal (SCE), the monthly charge is $1.98. And if you generate more power; they pay 0.115 a kWh. The charge per kWh ranges from .18-.38 per kWh.

Weird, here's what everyone else pays:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/10/27/141766341/the-price-of-electricity-in-your-state

 

[magnifier661]

Weird, here's what everyone else pays:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/10/27/141766341/the-price-of-electricity-in-your-state

I'm just going on what SCE's website has. And right now; that's our rate. According to the nem program; they buy back energy at the rate you pay. I think this is how they are losing money. They aren't making money on the solar energy they are buying back.