General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Dichotomy on May 27, 2023, 11:44:13 AM
Title: Anybody ever gone solar?
Post by: Dichotomy on May 27, 2023, 11:44:13 AM
Just pulled the trigger on it and about to get my whole roof done. Anything I should expect?
Title: Re: Anybody ever gone solar?
Post by: Bizman on May 27, 2023, 11:58:11 AM
Last winter the price of electricity went stellar at times and the panel owners were happy as they got a good price for the daytime production - especially if they were working instead of staying home and consuming electricity.
Now they struggle trying to consume all the energy they produce. The price has sunk to zero but you still have to pay for the transfer.
If you have batteries to store the energy you produce it's just a different way of life. I know a guy whose annual electricity bill is similar to my average month. There's differences in our lifestyles, though. I would compare him to a semi-amish hippie, living alone in a hundred years old cabin and doing little farming including some sheep and chicken.
Title: Re: Anybody ever gone solar?
Post by: Dadtallica on May 27, 2023, 01:59:57 PM
I would compare him to a semi-amish hippie, living alone in a hundred years old cabin and doing little farming including some sheep and chicken.
Life goals! :old:
Title: Re: Anybody ever gone solar?
Post by: fd ski on May 27, 2023, 02:27:39 PM
it depends where you live and what are your local rules for selling energy back to the network. I bought a house year ago, put 10kW on the roof and i'm very happy i did. With current prices / rules, investment will pay itself back in 3 - 4 years tops. After that, my energy bill will be lower then my trash removal.
Title: Re: Anybody ever gone solar?
Post by: Dichotomy on May 28, 2023, 03:20:19 AM
Well they came and do the roof walk yesterday and we went over the numbers again and I'm figuring it will cut my electricity bill by about 80% and when mom and dad move to the next plane my bill will be effectively zero except for the monthly payment.
Title: Re: Anybody ever gone solar?
Post by: Eagler on May 28, 2023, 06:53:25 AM
What's the payback?
$20 to $30k is alot of monthly electric bills...
More like a prepper move imo
Eagler
Title: Re: Anybody ever gone solar?
Post by: fd ski on May 28, 2023, 07:59:58 AM
Essentially free non interrupted electricity for the foreseeable future? With the rebate it's a wash.
Title: Re: Anybody ever gone solar?
Post by: Maverick on May 28, 2023, 09:52:41 AM
What has the installer / manufacturer indicated is the life of the panels? From what I have seen / read the average home panel set has a life of between 10 to 20 years, absent damage like hail and so on. I have thought about solar myself but at this time my average electricity bill in the summer is about $80 to $100 a month. In the cold part of winter (roughly 3 to 4 months) it goes up to as high as $150 a month but usually lower. Given the overall cost of power it doesn't seem worth the investment as the local power company does not buy the excess.
Title: Re: Anybody ever gone solar?
Post by: Dichotomy on May 28, 2023, 02:51:49 PM
Mine runs upwards of $400 a month soo....
Title: Re: Anybody ever gone solar?
Post by: Shuffler on June 02, 2023, 09:33:35 AM
There are a lot of scams out there. Some are from big companies. Look over your paperwork good before signing and check out the company.
I would not put it on a shingled roof. Metal roof only. The whole unit has to be removed to reshingle your home.
Title: Re: Anybody ever gone solar?
Post by: Dichotomy on June 02, 2023, 11:55:36 AM
metal here.. I'm good.
Title: Re: Anybody ever gone solar?
Post by: Eagler on June 02, 2023, 12:03:44 PM
With or without battery storage?
Batteries add mucho $$$$ to the total
If you don't have major power outages batteries might not be needed but the system is toast in heavy clouds and at night without them
Eagler
Title: Re: Anybody ever gone solar?
Post by: Dichotomy on June 03, 2023, 06:33:33 AM
ya picking up a battery with the rebate... pops has a breathing machine he uses at night or he could die. So I'm thinking a battery is a wise investment at this point
Title: Re: Anybody ever gone solar?
Post by: Maverick on June 03, 2023, 10:05:34 AM
You probably need to think in multiples of battery given the real serious nature of keeping power going for your Dad.
Title: Re: Anybody ever gone solar?
Post by: 100Coogn on June 03, 2023, 12:52:52 PM
Just pulled the trigger on it and about to get my whole roof done. Anything I should expect?
If you add several Tesla wall batteries, you'll find that your electricity costs will pay for itself in about 5 years. Were you able to secure any government grants?
Title: Re: Anybody ever gone solar?
Post by: icepac on June 05, 2023, 05:29:57 PM
People put way too much worry into feeding back to the grid and getting return on investment.
The return on investment is reliable power.
Title: Re: Anybody ever gone solar?
Post by: Dichotomy on June 05, 2023, 05:43:16 PM
If you add several Tesla wall batteries, you'll find that your electricity costs will pay for itself in about 5 years. Were you able to secure any government grants?