Solar anyone?

[The patriot]

Does anyone here have solar on their house?

Know someone who does?

Is it worth it?

Have any hints/advice?

Thanks

 

[p-Bar]

well let me tell ya. I did work for guy who built a very large house he is a CPA and successful . he ran the numbers and said it wasn't worth it. The government is supplementing the solar industry heavily but it still doesn't pan out . I run way over on my electric bill since my cabinet shop is on my property and the county won't let me put in a separate meter . So to buy all the panels and do it my self it would run about 30 k rebates would kick it down to 20 k . by the time it's all paid off you got a bunch of junk. Curious to hear from others too

 

[BarryG]

Well I went through the process at work to do one of our buildings. Aside from the want to be green which will cost you some green. The key was how much the rebates were going to be. Our local utility company was going to kick in a chunk and the fed was going to kick in another chunk. It was two different rebates. Those two rebates covered approx 65% of the cost. Payback would have been in 5 or 6 years for this 30kw system we were contemplating. In the end we did not do it not due to it not being an ok deal we just didn't have the money to spend up front and with the economy we weren't sure what was going to happen so we held off and good thing as the economy hit us hard. If I could use it at my house I would definitely consider it it just isn't suitable for our specific location.

 

[JLEONARD]

I did some research this winter and decided it wasn't worth it.

Payback was pushing 10 years.

 

[TboneMan]

well let me tell ya. I did work for guy who built a very large house he is a CPA and successful . he ran the numbers and said it wasn't worth it. The government is supplementing the solar industry heavily but it still doesn't pan out . I run way over on my electric bill since my cabinet shop is on my property and the county won't let me put in a separate meter . So to buy all the panels and do it my self it would run about 30 k rebates would kick it down to 20 k . by the time it's all paid off you got a bunch of junk. Curious to hear from others too

Read the rebate and tax credit info closely... . most require that installation is performed by and certified professional NOT the DIY'er. This nearly doubles the cost of the project and decreases (or extends) your ROI.



I know an environmental engineer who had a retirement home built up in the mountains... . on the grid. He researched solar from every angle and even he could not justify the expenditure.



Soon, however (especially if our current president is re-elected), you could see over the grid electric rates increase to a point that the ROI on solar or individual unit wind turbine become more palatable .

 

[p-Bar]

Read the rebate and tax credit info closely... . most require that installation is performed by and certified professional NOT the DIY'er. This nearly doubles the cost of the project and decreases (or extends) your ROI.



I know an environmental engineer who had a retirement home built up in the mountains... . on the grid. He researched solar from every angle and even he could not justify the expenditure.



Soon, however (especially if our current president is re-elected), you could see over the grid electric rates increase to a point that the ROI on solar or individual unit wind turbine become more palatable .

Thanks for that Tbone didn't realize that , guess I could work it under my buddies electrical license. Saw a lot of solar over in Germany probably subsidized heavily by the government though.

 

[The patriot]

Thanks guys.

He was talking an 8kw system that "would produce 9kw". ?

In the summer by bills are around $500+ month. :{ I've had several over $600 last summer. Oo. Oo.

I DO NOT keep the house 65 deg(the way I'd like it). It's usually 75+.

It's a ranch house. Measures 24x64 inc a 1 car garage.

I have electric hw and an elec cloths dryer.

I'd have changed that to gas long ago but for my wife having to have new appliances. #@$%! I'm pretty much stuck running them for a while now. :{

The salesman was saying it wouldnt "start making money" for about 5 years.

 

[TboneMan]

Thanks for that Tbone didn't realize that , guess I could work it under my buddies electrical license. Saw a lot of solar over in Germany probably subsidized heavily by the government though.



I've seen figures in the 0. 18 - 0. 25 Euro/KwH. That would be extremely high if those were $ equivalent ($0. 25-$0. 35/KwH). At that price solar becomes a better investment.



They'll be seeing all of those prices going through the roof when they shut down all of their nukes too. That, and they have personal income taxes near 50% of earnings (plus their VAT and sales taxes).

 

[p-Bar]

Thanks for that Tbone didn't realize that , guess I could work it under my buddies electrical license. Saw a lot of solar over in Germany probably subsidized heavily by the government though.



I've seen figures in the 0. 18 - 0. 25 Euro/KwH. That would be extremely high if those were $ equivalent ($0. 25-$0. 35/KwH). At that price solar becomes a better investment.



They'll be seeing all of those prices going through the roof when they shut down all of their nukes too. That, and they have personal income taxes near 50% of earnings (plus their VAT and sales taxes).

Plus pay for Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy's bad work ethic. We saw huge barns with panels from one end to the other in Germany and a lot of wind generation.

 

[dresslered]

Sorry man, God invented dinasours for a reason. :-laf



I'm an EE and only certain scenarios can possibly pan out with todays technology. It would be nice being off the grid though.

 

[mwilson]

Thanks guys.

He was talking an 8kw system that "would produce 9kw". ?

In the summer by bills are around $500+ month. :{ I've had several over $600 last summer. Oo. Oo.

I DO NOT keep the house 65 deg(the way I'd like it). It's usually 75+.

It's a ranch house. Measures 24x64 inc a 1 car garage.

I have electric hw and an elec cloths dryer.

I'd have changed that to gas long ago but for my wife having to have new appliances. #@$%! I'm pretty much stuck running them for a while now. :{

The salesman was saying it wouldnt "start making money" for about 5 years.

Holy Crap!!! I stroke out if mine is over $150. 00 a month.



2 story with a daylight basement so 3 levels of living space 32' x 32' (3000 sq ft) with an attached 2 car 24' x 24' garage.



No A/C, Hot Water Baseboard Heat plus wood stove. Hot water is provided courtesy of the Boiler.

Oil consumption (#2 fuel oil) for house including domestic hot water is app. 450-500 gallons per year.



Wood Consumption is 4 cord of hardwood per winter.



Oil consumption (K-1) for garage/workshop is 150 gallons per year. Heat is set on 55 degrees unless I am out there, then set it to 68 degrees.



Kitchen range is LP gas, took the electric range out 8 years ago.



I can and have gotten it up to $200. 00 a month before due to the following



1) Running the Air Compressor and having all the lights on in the shop for a vehicle project.



2) Christmas Lights and illumination of the yard for sliding parties.



3) Plugging camper in and running it's A/C unit for sleeping if it is very hot.



4) When son, girlfriend and new grandson lived with us for a few months, the washer and dryer ran steady for the whole episode.....



But other than that $125. 00 to $150. 00 is the norm.



Is something in the house going whacko and sucking power??? The smoke must rolling right out of your meter box from the speed... ...



Mike.

 

[rscurtis]

I have an all-electric house in south central PA. I also have a pellet stove for supplemental heat. The house is an 1800 SF bi-level with a separate 24X32 shop building. I have only had one bill over $100, and that was last winter. My last bill (estimated) from May 25 to June 23 was $52. 11. It was also slightly over-estimated, it should have been under $50. All I can say is that the 18 SEER central air system, the hybrid water heater, and the CFL's really do work. Efficiency is a much better investment than solar IMO.

 

[p-Bar]

I have an all-electric house in south central PA. I also have a pellet stove for supplemental heat. The house is an 1800 SF bi-level with a separate 24X32 shop building. I have only had one bill over $100, and that was last winter. My last bill (estimated) from May 25 to June 23 was $52. 11. It was also slightly over-estimated, it should have been under $50. All I can say is that the 18 SEER central air system, the hybrid water heater, and the CFL's really do work. Efficiency is a much better investment than solar IMO.

Bet you paid some bucks for that 18 seer pump? My bill is around 200. 00 a month since I have moved my cabinet shop to my barn on my property and I am poopin' barrel cactus.

 

[p-Bar]

Sorry man, God invented dinasours for a reason. :-laf



I'm an EE and only certain scenarios can possibly pan out with todays technology. It would be nice being off the grid though.

Ya wonder what the efficiency rating is on those inverters?

 

[rscurtis]

When you considered the Allegheny power rebate ($200), the York rebate ($1000) and the Energy Star tax credit, it was only $700 more than a 14 SEER unit. The original York compressor was still working well (1991), but the evaporator on the air handler sprung a leak and was NLA.

 

[The patriot]

I still remember when I got PO'ed at $100 bills. My first house was 1000sqft.

We'd get $60-70 bills no matter what.

I got to insulate this house better, I admit it. There in NO basement insulation, and the insulation in the attic is builders grade. (minimum)

I had an easier time training the chihuahua to pee and poo outside than getting my wife to turn off lights when you leave the room. Now I have that problem with the 4yo.

I do have 220 in the garage for the compressor, but it literally runs about 1 minute a day. Tops.

I have the mill, but that's 3/4hp 110volt. I havent been running it because I'm too busy tooling it.



I suspected the meter was wrong. I requested it to be changed several times. JCP&L said no.

So it accidentally broke. No change in the bill.

Thank God our water bill is reasonable.

Taxes have DOUBLED since we moved here. #@$%!

No mortgage..... again thank God.



I'm just trying to figure a way to stay ahead of it. :{

Sounds like the solar people get the benefits of the electric produced for the first 5 years. Then it's yours. Or something like that.

The entire system is warrantied for 20 years, parts & labor.



Sounds like it's still a non winner..... :{

 

[mwilson]

I had forgotten this up until now.



When we first bought the place 11 years ago the light bill was higher that I thought it should be and on occasion the lights would flicker slightly. The house is well wired with an up to date 200 amp entrance and its own transformer at the road.

I called the local utility several times after testing the outlets and finding 105 volts or less showing on my multi-tester.

I had to be patient and work my way through several know-nothings that told me that was normal, finally got a supervisor that believed me.



They came and placed a recording device at the meter box, a couple of days later I came home and saw stripped wire insulation laying on the back steps. Looked up and had all brand new entrance wire from the transformer to the house entrance and also a brand shiny new transformer on the pole!!!!



I called to thank them and ask what they found, they wouldn't tell me but said it would be fine now.



No more flickering lights, low voltage or high light bills after that.



I had completely forgotten about that.



Check your incoming voltage several times a day to see what you are getting from the street. Low voltage makes everything start harder and lose efficiency.



Just a thought. .



Mike.

 

[The patriot]

Mmmmm we have a transformer outside on the pole.

I assume your voltage was up to 120 after this episode?

How much of a difference in your bill did this make?



I'm thinking the county sheriff will be watching me soon... if not already. :{

 

[mwilson]

I will ask the wife tonight, she may still have the bills in the file.



I will meter the joint the end of the week to give you a baseline. Am headed to New Brunswick tonight to meet up with the wife for the week-end and then am flying to Charlotte, NC for a 3 day Freightliner meeting so won't be home until Thursday, will grab some voltage readings for you then.



I'm thinking the last time I checked it I had 115 at the minimum.



Mike.

 

[The patriot]

I appreciate it. Dont rush. This is something I'm not rushing into.

Here's a link to the people who I spoke to:

New Jersey's Largest Solar Power Integrator | Trinity Solar - New Jersey's Largest Solar Power Installer