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Author Topic: PV Solar Install  (Read 403 times)

Offline PJ_Godzilla

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PV Solar Install
« on: May 18, 2011, 07:17:02 AM »
It's tempting to put a project for these into my queue: http://www.scientificsonline.com/amorphous-silicon-solar-panel.html
I reckon about 60 of these, built into an array, would provide prodigious power and a tax credit- and for not all that much up front.

What made me think of this? A guy I met up in Iceland - one David Lau - is a kind of Renaissance Man. He has a recording studio near Ann Arbor and bought an array for about $50k and will break even on it over about a ten-year period. He got an immediate 20k Federal Tax Credit and also a state credit, then he gets revenue from the sale of power back to the grid. He's got a 600V array.

I reckon, and have known people who've done it, that building an array is not all that difficult. You just series up a bunch of these PV cells on a weatherproofed structure, then mount them and wire them to a buffer and inverter and into your panel. For that last bit I'd use Dave's electrician. All I'd need to do is build the array and probably hire my builder to do the mounting. Okay, we're looking at at least a couple three thou here, but I think it'd pay pretty easily, given the subsidies and credits available. I really love the idea of having home generation capability. My only real question is with regard to failure rates and expected life on the PV cells. I hate heights and don't want to be going up there all the time.

Has anyone taken this on before?
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Offline Reschke

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Re: PV Solar Install
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2011, 08:08:51 AM »
Nope but I am thinking about the same thing. Now that the tornado knocked out a bunch of trees in my back yard I have more sun shining on my house during the day. So I am also working out a solar hot water heater section as well.
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Offline MrBill

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Re: PV Solar Install
« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2011, 09:51:32 AM »
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Offline PJ_Godzilla

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Re: PV Solar Install
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2011, 10:47:32 AM »
Quote from: MrBill on May 18, 2011, 09:51:32 AM
Perhaps you should take a look at this http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0114_050114_solarplastic.html

Fascinating, but not implementation ready...
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Offline TequilaChaser

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Re: PV Solar Install
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2011, 11:23:37 AM »
Heya PJ,
check out the FSEC website:

http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/

they are top notch regarding Photovoltaics and implementation.......

I got a majority of my certifications thru FSEC back before I became disabled and retired.....

join their forum and get educated/correct answers & info.......

hope this helps,

TC
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Offline PJ_Godzilla

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Re: PV Solar Install
« Reply #5 on: June 01, 2011, 02:46:26 PM »
Thanks, Chaser. I didn't see this 'til today because I was, uh, "removed" from participation for a little while for posting a link to a picture of Alex DeLarge and his 3 pals (Clockwork Orange). I'm not sure why this drew the yellow hankie (maybe it's the prominent protectors they wear - I have no idea) but it did - so now I'm back and will have a look asap.
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Offline F22RaptorDude

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Re: PV Solar Install
« Reply #6 on: June 01, 2011, 03:45:31 PM »
Me and my friends were joking around about taking a solar panel with us camping so we could charge our phones and ipods, couldn't help but laugh cause you would need a big one. Idea was kinda cool though.  :D
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Offline YGSM

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Re: PV Solar Install
« Reply #7 on: June 01, 2011, 04:39:32 PM »
Quote from: PJ_Godzilla on May 18, 2011, 07:17:02 AM
It's tempting to put a project for these into my queue: http://www.scientificsonline.com/amorphous-silicon-solar-panel.html
I reckon about 60 of these, built into an array, would provide prodigious power and a tax credit- and for not all that much up front.

What made me think of this? A guy I met up in Iceland - one David Lau - is a kind of Renaissance Man. He has a recording studio near Ann Arbor and bought an array for about $50k and will break even on it over about a ten-year period. He got an immediate 20k Federal Tax Credit and also a state credit, then he gets revenue from the sale of power back to the grid. He's got a 600V array.

I reckon, and have known people who've done it, that building an array is not all that difficult. You just series up a bunch of these PV cells on a weatherproofed structure, then mount them and wire them to a buffer and inverter and into your panel. For that last bit I'd use Dave's electrician. All I'd need to do is build the array and probably hire my builder to do the mounting. Okay, we're looking at at least a couple three thou here, but I think it'd pay pretty easily, given the subsidies and credits available. I really love the idea of having home generation capability. My only real question is with regard to failure rates and expected life on the PV cells. I hate heights and don't want to be going up there all the time.

Has anyone taken this on before?

I run all my deep water wells that water my cattle off solar.  It is saving me 25K in fuel costs per year.  My ROI is 3 years plus I got a 30K rebate check from the Feds but nothing from the state.  I kind of felt guilty about the Fed money because of the deficit problems.  That lasted 10 seconds when I recieved the installation bill.  I gulped and snatched to rebate check.   :devil
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Offline Melvin

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Re: PV Solar Install
« Reply #8 on: June 01, 2011, 05:19:00 PM »
Quote from: F22RaptorDude on June 01, 2011, 03:45:31 PM
Me and my friends were joking around about taking a solar panel with us camping so we could charge our phones and ipods, couldn't help but laugh cause you would need a big one. Idea was kinda cool though.  :D

They make numerous models to fit your needs.

I have this one. Solar and hand-crank power. Flashlight, radio with weather-band and cell charger. Works great. I recommend it to everybody.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QTXKCE/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B002ZSCYWM&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=07GAHMQ7PG9R2SAM7JCX
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