Solar panel system

[dbldwn711]

I’ve been approached by many people over the years about getting this for my home. I’ve always ended up saying it’s too much aggravation than it’s worth and it’s not very efficient. However, two trusted friends in my world (they don’t know each other) have recently both told me (independent of one another) that they are getting them. With the addition of battery technology it MAY make some sense but I’m still skeptical.

Has anyone gotten this for their homes? Know anyone who’s gotten it? Any thoughts they want to pass on? @Peter Gozintite whats your experience with these things in the home inspection busines?

 

[Handicappers]

I have a small set up at my cabin in Moab. Has a string of wet cell batteries that were from an old telecom central office hooked up to rectifiers and a converter. All solar works nice in the desert.

 

[Gatorchip]

Had one when I lived in Colorado. Had a 20 year warranty and I never had to do a thing with it. One repair after hail, but that was a new roof too.

 

[Rex Racer]

Had one when I lived in Colorado. Had a 20 year warranty and I never had to do a thing with it. One repair after hail, but that was a new roof too.

I owned a small cabin in Moab that had a shitty solar array. The whole system was a pile of junk that needed constant maintenance and wasn't worth the trouble, but I sold the place to some little fruitcake that though it was cool and he paid me way more than the property was worth because he thought he was saving Mother Gaia.

 

[Gatorchip]

I owned a small cabin in Moab that had a shitty solar array. The whole system was a pile of junk that needed constant maintenance and wasn't worth the trouble, but I sold the place to some little fruitcake that though it was cool and he paid me way more than the property was worth because he thought he was saving Mother Gaia.

They seem to be much better now. Those Tesla ones sound even more interesting but expensive.

 

[Red_Alert]

Had a guy out a couple month ago to give me a price on a solar/wind hybrid system with a meter that runs backwards as I feed the grid.

I haven't committed yet, but likely will at some point.
The biggest reason for considering the changeover is that I'm on propane for heat with no way of getting a natural gas hook-up.

 

[Rex Racer]

They seem to be much better now. Those Tesla ones sound even more interesting but expensive.

With most states having laws that force the power companies to pay (at very reduced rates) for the kilowatts you put back in to the grid it makes more sense now that it used to, but............. last I checked the photovoltaic cells started losing their efficiency well before the hardware will be paid for. Also, I'm not in on Musk's battery tech......................... yet.

 

[Mofo]

I’ve been approached by many people over the years about getting this for my home. I’ve always ended up saying it’s too much aggravation than it’s worth and it’s not very efficient. However, two trusted friends in my world (they don’t know each other) have recently both told me (independent of one another) that they are getting them. With the addition of battery technology it MAY make some sense but I’m still skeptical.

Has anyone gotten this for their homes? Know anyone who’s gotten it? Any thoughts they want to pass on? @Peter Gozintite whats your experience with these things in the home inspection busines?

I’ve been intensely interested in this for years, but the numbers never work out. My wife points out that the capital outlay is huge and we’d need to spend something like 15 years in our house before “saving” any money from energy bills. There are more companies competing and costs have come down a little, but at the same time, the gov’t subsidies have eroded away to almost nothing.

What I need is some power failures, so that it brings the discussion into sharper focus.

 

[dbldwn711]

I’ve been intensely interested in this for years, but the numbers never work out. My wife points out that the capital outlay is huge and we’d need to spend something like 15 years in our house before “saving” any money from energy bills. There are more companies competing and costs have come down a little, but at the same time, the gov’t subsidies have eroded away to almost nothing.

What I need is some power failures, so that it brings the discussion into sharper focus.

that has always been just one of the reasons I’ve declined in the past as well. However, one of my buddies has given me a proposal he is contemplating. According to his numbers, he recoups the “out of pocket“ monies (that’s the amount after the tax credits) in about 5 years.

Also, his system will have 2 batteries that will run his house in case of a power outage so there is that added benefit.

 

[dbldwn711]

@Mofo I’ve heard of people playing games with the tax credits. They put up a minimal system in year one to get the tax credits but then do a minimal addition to the system in year two to get new tax credits. Have you heard about this?

 

[dbldwn711]

Had a guy out a couple month ago to give me a price on a solar/wind hybrid system with a meter that runs backwards as I feed the grid.

I haven't committed yet, but likely will at some point.
The biggest reason for considering the changeover is that I'm on propane for heat with no way of getting a natural gas hook-up.

what are you using for wind? I heard those things can be loud

 

[outofyourmind]

My son put one in his Gazebo he built.
Works great.
Powers a tv, cooler, lights, everything.

He says he likes it so much, and was so easy, he's going to do it to his whole house.

A good idea???
I'll let you know.

 

[Mofo]

that has always been just one of the reasons I’ve declined in the past as well. However, one of my buddies has given me a proposal he is contemplating. According to his numbers, he recoups the “out of pocket“ monies (that’s the amount after the tax credits) in about 5 years.

Also, his system will have 2 batteries that will run his house in case of a power outage so there is that added benefit.

5 years is good. I could probably sell that to my wife too. The battery is a must, though the grid tie-in isn't worth the money. Power outage solution is a major plus for us, and my wife is probably ready to buy a generator now- like a $5k Generac job. I don't much care about the larger quantity of fuel we'd have to keep on hand or effect on the environment, but in a prolonged emergency, it's just a short delay. The allure of solar is that we'd be able to run nearly everything at 100%.

PM me the company's name please, if they're national.

@Mofo I’ve heard of people playing games with the tax credits. They put up a minimal system in year one to get the tax credits but then do a minimal addition to the system in year two to get new tax credits. Have you heard about this?

The two times I've looked into it, I don't remember anything like that. When I looked into it, the installation (labor) portion was pretty hefty too, so having them come back might not be the great savings. I meant that the overall tax credit or discount got lowered so much that it's fairly nonexistent at this point.

 

[dbldwn711]

5 years is good. I could probably sell that to my wife too. The battery is a must, though the grid tie-in isn't worth the money. Power outage solution is a major plus for us, and my wife is probably ready to buy a generator now- like a $5k Generac job. I don't much care about the larger quantity of fuel we'd have to keep on hand or effect on the environment, but in a prolonged emergency, it's just a short delay. The allure of solar is that we'd be able to run nearly everything at 100%.

PM me the company's name please, if they're national.

The two times I've looked into it, I don't remember anything like that. When I looked into it, the installation (labor) portion was pretty hefty too, so having them come back might not be the great savings. I meant that the overall tax credit or discount got lowered so much that it's fairly nonexistent at this point.

i too was looking into a whole house generator as well. I still may go that route

 

[dbldwn711]

I was always under the impression that there were issues with having solar. Gotta maintain it (ie repairs), gotta keep panels clean, birds can nest under them, etc.

anyone heard or got any experience with that?

 

[Mofo]

i too was looking into a whole house generator as well. I still may go that route

Cheap, good for short emergencies. Hammer would probably approve for what the zombie apocalypse happens.

 

[Red_Alert]

what are you using for wind? I heard those things can be loud

The hybrid company I had out suggested a 5kw wind turbine made by Atlantis. It requires a 5mph start up. He said they're low noise/vibration, but I won't have it close to the house anyway. Maintenance is merely hitting the grease zerks periodically.
The solar would be placed on the south facing roof of the barn. All battery storage would be in the barn.
Winter days in Nebraska are short and can be cloudy for days on end, hence wind being the primary. It's always windy across the Plains.
Switching over to electric heat the solar doesn't make economic sense on it's own. It would simply be a supplement come winter just for my house. I also have a 2 BR guest house, chicken coop, and the barn, with electricity.

Unfortunately Nebraska does not have 'green energy' tax incentives. NONE!!
I'd only be getting the Fed tax incentives which max out somewhere between 25% and 30%. That is what's holding me back. There have been bills through the legislature here but they've been shot down.

 

[dbldwn711]

The hybrid company I had out suggested a 5kw wind turbine made by Atlantis. It requires a 5mph start up. He said they're low noise/vibration, but I won't have it close to the house anyway. Maintenance is merely hitting the grease zerks periodically.
The solar would be placed on the south facing roof of the barn. All battery storage would be in the barn.
Winter days in Nebraska are short and can be cloudy for days on end, hence wind being the primary. It's always windy across the Plains.
Switching over to electric heat the solar doesn't make economic sense on it's own. It would simply be a supplement come winter just for my house. I also have a 2 BR guest house, chicken coop, and the barn, with electricity.

Unfortunately Nebraska does not have 'green energy' tax incentives. NONE!!
I'd only be getting the Fed tax incentives which max out somewhere between 25% and 30%. That is what's holding me back. There have been bills through the legislature here but they've been shot down.

thx for the info man. Good luck with everything! Let me know what you decide to do.

I like wind but I’m in a much more urban area. I would need something very small and I’m not even sure they make something like that.

 

[Red_Alert]

thx for the info man. Good luck with everything! Let me know what you decide to do.

I like wind but I’m in a much more urban area. I would need something very small and I’m not even sure they make something like that.

The rule on that in Nebraska is that if it falls over it cannot cross a property line.
So yes, someone with a typical urban lot wouldn't be able to get high enough to take advantage of wind.