The Commish
Footballguy
Anyone done this? I am talking about enough to fully support your house. Thinking about it but want to know what I should be thinking about that I haven't thought of yet

It does. And two of the companies I have talked to have said that if we move before the system is paid off we can either transfer the loan to the new owner (if they want to do that) or we can take the panels with us.Does your electric company have reverse metering?
The value equation here is having some storage bank rather than flipping it back to the electric company. This extends your payoff 7 more years, but puts you nearly off grid if you have enough capacity. Exceptions here are if flipping back to the electric company pays well.It does. And two of the companies I have talked to have said that if we move before the system is paid off we can either transfer the loan to the new owner (if they want to do that) or we can take the panels with us.
Can you give me a numbers example or are you simply saying having a way to store the electricity you'd ordinarily sell back to the electric company?The value equation here is having some storage bank rather than flipping it back to the electric company. This extends your payoff 7 more years, but puts you nearly off grid if you have enough capacity. Exceptions here are if flipping back to the electric company pays well.
Basically yes. Your solar provider should give you an idea on payback of storage vs. sellback. The math on this will vary across the country so it's difficult to be specific.Can you give me a numbers example or are you simply saying having a way to store the electricity you'd ordinarily sell back to the electric company?
why not? I like the different perspectives.i'm just over 2 years in and very satisfied. i elected not to go storage just because i didn't think it was quite there yet technology wise. i targeted about 70% of my yearly energy needs. you don't want to go much more than that IMO, even with net metering.
I was reading about a new product that is a solar roof, not panels.why not? I like the different perspectives.
I have to assume that once the panels go up, you've pretty much voided your roof warranty correct? The good part for me is, I just got the roof a few months ago.
You mean the panels that look like shingles? I've seen those, but they are WAY more expensive than the larger panels. There's a lot of connections that have to be made in those systems even though they look pretty cool.I was reading about a new product that is a solar roof, not panels.
ThisI was reading about a new product that is a solar roof, not panels.
We're all stardust, brohan.i am not just going solar brohans i am solar i am one hundred percent powered by solar and also food which i guess means i am not solar but actually the other one where you are powered by the sun and food take that to the bank bromigos
The equation will change somewhat when everyone is charging their cars at night.This
I would love that set up, but no way I can afford it.
I looked into a conventional panel roof. I think the bid came back something like, "You will save close to $150/month in the summer months." The time it was going to take to pay that sucker off was decades.
It depends on what you're trying to do. If you want to go off-grid, its a huge investment, including storage. I'm probably not the best guy to comment on that. Someone else might be.why not? I like the different perspectives.
I have to assume that once the panels go up, you've pretty much voided your roof warranty correct? The good part for me is, I just got the roof a few months ago.
I'm in Florida. I've had two different installers come out. Both have recommended essentially the same thing for the same price. One had slightly better interest rates on the loan. We hook into Duke and they give full credit back here in Florida. I suspect that's because there are so many different power companies in the area? Not sure. Both recommended enough panels to be self sufficient. They did tell me there is a state law that says that when the power company is down, we can only use X% of what we produce though. Both guys told me that. Which I think is absolute crap. If I produce 400 kilowatts of energy I should be able to use it regardless of what is going on at the power company.It depends on what you're trying to do. If you want to go off-grid, its a huge investment, including storage. I'm probably not the best guy to comment on that. Someone else might be.
Assuming that's not what you want to do, 70% is generally the sweet spot that the installers target in my area because it maximizes your savings and minimizes your payoff period. If you go more than that, you're likely not getting good value for the extra that your producing when you don't need it. To completely cover your needs in peak months, you'd have to put up so many panels that the payoff period would grow quite a bit (think 20 years in stead of <12).
With my power company, the "netting out" of what i draw vs what i put back on the grid happens on a monthly basis. In a winter month, i'll produce more than i draw (net positive), and i get a credit of around $.05 per kw-hr of what i put back (vs. $.12 per kw-hr for cost of electricity). If your utility gives you full credit even if you go net positive for the month, then more panels make sense, but i don't know of many that do that. Maybe California?
if you get full credit, that's awesome. Then it really comes down to the size of the investment you want to make. I would still think to be totally self sufficient without storage, that's a lot of panels to handle the AC in summer months, but who knows.I'm in Florida. I've had two different installers come out. Both have recommended essentially the same thing for the same price. One had slightly better interest rates on the loan. We hook into Duke and they give full credit back here in Florida. I suspect that's because there are so many different power companies in the area? Not sure. Both recommended enough panels to be self sufficient. They did tell me there is a state law that says that when the power company is down, we can only use X% of what we produce though. Both guys told me that. Which I think is absolute crap. If I produce 400 kilowatts of energy I should be able to use it regardless of what is going on at the power company.
Talking to both guys, I am not sure the "storage" aspect is there yet. I agree with you there. I'm not even sure I'd be allowed that sort of structure on my property with the HOA and all that stuff. How many panels do you have and how big is your house?
It's 70 panels....we have 4200 square feet....approx $75K.if you get full credit, that's awesome. Then it really comes down to the size of the investment you want to make. I would still think to be totally self sufficient without storage, that's a lot of panels to handle the AC in summer months, but who knows.
still about 300W per panel? so maybe 21KW? That's 4x the size of my array, but again with full credit back, that's not bad. Then 30% federal tax credit right? So maybe $2.50 per Watt after the credit? I was hoping it would be a little cheaper by now. damn tariffs.It's 70 panels....we have 4200 square feet....approx $75K.
It'd be about $350 a month and our average bill is $475-500 right now.
Same here, except it's been three years. Storing excess power was never offered to us ... never heard of it until reading this thread. But we do reverse metering, and we've had plenty of monthly bills below $20, and I think three negative months. Even during our brutal Louisiana summers, with the A/C running all the time, we're paying a good 30% less on our home electricity after going solar -- and that includes the monthly payment to the solar company. Per month:i'm just over 2 years in and very satisfied.
do you remember what the warrantee on the panels said? Did it guarantee 90% performance after one year and 80% for the length of the warrantee? Or something like that. I did a bunch of research on panels when I did mine if you can remember the name.I feel like I need to pull the trigger on this. That seems to be what you guys are telling me. Yes. it's a long term investment, but I can transfer to a new owner if I have to move for some reason. What did they say to you guys regarding warranties etc? This one is 25 year and the installation company give a warranty for 10 on the roof itself. What I am not sure of is how "in depth" the warranty on the panels is.
So I went digging a bit. They are Heliene panels. Looks like 97% after one year....80% for length of warranty.do you remember what the warrantee on the panels said? Did it guarantee 90% performance after one year and 80% for the length of the warrantee? Or something like that. I did a bunch of research on panels when I did mine if you can remember the name.
What means this?Went solar about 2 years ago - no regrets. Wish I had down it sooner.
Purchase - lease is for suckers.
My monthly electric bill is significantly less for the next 15 yrs - then I'm off the grid with no bill.
Andat the people who don't like the look of solar panels on the roof. It's your roof ?!? Who cares. If it would save me money I'd put a giant neon "Eat at Joe's" sign on my roof.
Purchase the system/panels. Don't lease it.The Commish said:What means this?
oh...gotcha. Sorry....I read it like "purchase-lease" was a thing and was for suckersPurchase the system/panels. Don't lease it.
Everyone I know who works in the industry loves selling the lease because they make more money that way.
Yes. Without risk of dying of CO or having to find gas.Can these be a legitimate option instead of a whole house generator for backup power after a hurricane?
Well, I am planning on a whole house Natural Gas system so not worried about those two issues but maybe this could be an option with some other benefits.Yes. Without risk of dying of CO or having to find gas.
Natural gas goes out in a hurricane or no? Asking for someone 700 miles from shore.Well, I am planning on a whole house Natural Gas system so not worried about those two issues but maybe this could be an option with some other benefits.
Natural gas always on - my tri-fuel generator can attest to this after multiple hurricanes and loss of power.Natural gas goes out in a hurricane or no? Asking for someone 700 miles from shore.
You need to check your state laws. Some states have been convinced by the power companies that if the power company service is down you can only use a % of what you generate from your panels and have laws to that affect. That's the case here and I need to find out exactly what that % is. I suspect I would be able to run everything in my house sans the AC, but I'm not sure about that.Can these be a legitimate option instead of a whole house generator for backup power after a hurricane?
So in the event of a catastrophic event you automatically chip in to the relief effort. That sounds nice, doesn't it?You need to check your state laws. Some states have been convinced by the power companies that if the power company service is down you can only use a % of what you generate from your panels and have laws to that affect. That's the case here and I need to find out exactly what that % is. I suspect I would be able to run everything in my house sans the AC, but I'm not sure about that.
So in the event of a catastrophic event you automatically chip in to the relief effort. That sounds nice, doesn't it?
Make sure to get a good warranty. Not an expert, but my roof has gone through two major hail storms with hail larger than golfball size in the last 4 years, whole roof replaced twice, only one of my panels ever needed replacement. They even came out to the house and removed and reinstalled all the panels in between the roofers work for no charge. From what my neighbor who installed them told me, they will generally survive except in the case of a perfectly perpendicular direct strike.Well, I think I am taking the plunge. I live on a golf course...house is prime landing spot off the tee on a dog leg par 5. We've been here a year and I have a 5 gallon bucket full of golf balls I collected while mowing the grass. I get maybe a ball a week that hits the house. How concerned should I be about a golf ball busting one of these panels? That's the only real concern I have left.
If you don't, then probably the battery solution is for you.....I guess that's one way to look at it.
my utility doesn't allow this. i can't run off the panels if the grid is down. don't know if its a TX state law or not. of course in a Walking Dead scenario i could figure out how to do itCan these be a legitimate option instead of a whole house generator for backup power after a hurricane?