solar panels up

[ctwatertrapper]

Hi folks, i had my solar panels installed a few months back. This is 6 kw system hooked into the grid. Its installed with a net meter that keeps track of what we use from the grid minus our generation. During the daytime we use the power straight from the panels and then use any net on the cloudy days. So far so good. In August we generated almost 600 watts and last month we generated around 300. As the season continues this number will continue to decline but we'll make up for it in the spring.

Feels good not to be pissing money away on fees and rediculous energy costs.

[Jack of all Trapping]

Good for you!!! Good looking system. Congrats. I have a small system for my off grid home. Its takes care of my needs including my Sundanzer frig and freezer. Enjoy!!! 

[rye]

did you mean Kilowatts by chance?

Also, what did it run you to install that system?

[jimo]

Nice looking system and nice looking place.

[ctwatertrapper]

Whoops, yes I meant kWh not watts. After rebates out of pocket is about 8k. It will pay for itself in about 6 years

[rye]

Oct 24, 2014 19:07:09 GMT -5 ctwatertrapper said:

Whoops, yes I meant kWh not watts. After rebates out of pocket is about 8k. It will pay for itself in about 6 years

We pay about 150 -175 a month in Electric bills... Thats on a 3k sqft home.  Given that.. Lets say the panels could cut my rate by 50%

That mean I am paying 75-87 $ a month. 

I'll give you an average of $81 a month saved.  It would take me no less than 8 years and 3 months to pay that back if I had no failures or repairs to the system.  Every repair drives the return time out.


Its a concept to consider, but I would need to know the life of the panels and batteries first...

[soldim]

Oct 29, 2014 7:57:02 GMT -5 rye said:

Oct 24, 2014 19:07:09 GMT -5 ctwatertrapper said:

Whoops, yes I meant kWh not watts. After rebates out of pocket is about 8k. It will pay for itself in about 6 years

We pay about 150 -175 a month in Electric bills... Thats on a 3k sqft home.  Given that.. Lets say the panels could cut my rate by 50%

That mean I am paying 75-87 $ a month. 

That would only work if you have a flat rate... Here we pay a standard service/connection fee and than a usage fee for each kWh.... Cutting the usage in half would only save us about 35%.

My old man got a system installed a bit less than two years ago (in December -- he did not get a lot of return on investment for the first couple of months!!). He paid $5500 after deciding to go for a system without batteries considering he is anyway still hooked up to the grid. So far he saved about $1500 on his electricity bill -- he hopes to play even in the seventh year.

[ctwatertrapper]

Life expectancy for panels is 20 or 25 years ( cant remeber exactly).The only part of the system that may need to be replaced is the inverter. I read these go bad after 10 years.

I look at like a safe investment that will eventually pay itself off and save me a couple bucks. I like these type of investments.