Going Solar Now – Piggington's Econo-Almanac

This topic has 17 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 2 months ago by UCGal.

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September 11, 2011 at 3:25 PM #19123

waiting hawk
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Before it wasnt worth it for me as it would take 15 years to gain my money back but now after finding 230 watt panels for $325 each i think I can come close to getting off the grid for around 7k by doing it myself which would be the cost of 2 years of electric bills.

My plan is to start building my shed BUT here is the difference than others have done. I plan on building a quality insulated shed (batteries perform best around 72 degrees) and installing another 200 amp service inside the shed which is against the house near the main panel. I plan on installing junction boxes in the attic to tap into my homerun breaker lines and feed them into my new panel. So at anytime I can switch to full grid power or just to isolate each breaker to which I want to power between solar or grid or none at all with just a switch of a breaker. I am lucky as my rear faces south and is single story as I have a ton of room. I plan on starting small for the “emegency” scenerio and upgrade as I see fit. The upgrade would be to finish off my 220 hitters such as pool pump, ac, and stove.

September 11, 2011 at 4:09 PM #728821

enron_by_the_sea
Participant

That is about $1.4/watt for a panel. Seems pretty good.

Prices for solar panels have crashed due to all the overcapacity and I have been reading that they will approach $1/watt price point, however that might be the wholesale rate.

How much does it cost to install and add inverters etc.? Those costs are supposed to be way more than the cost of the panels…

September 11, 2011 at 5:28 PM #728824

earlyretirement
Participant

Yeah the prices have plummeted. So much so that companies like Solyndra (that the US government gave $535 MILLION in loan guarantees)… has just folded.

The only time I was in a house that used solar energy was a few months ago in Maui. The house we rented used solar energy but we always had to flip the switch to take a hot shower as it would never generate enough power to give a really hot shower.

I was always curious about others experience with solar…..

September 11, 2011 at 9:05 PM #728830

NotCranky
Participant

Waiting Hawk, Good for you for getting ready to go for it.

It sounds like at least some of your plan would be well outside of the National Electrical Code? The A/B situation using connection boxes the attic is probably a no go.Each branch circuit box is allowed only one power source.

What kind of inverter were you planning on using? Where are you going to tie it in? Sounds like you would be having it in your shed and be using it in a manner that attempts to isolate it from the grid?

September 11, 2011 at 9:44 PM #728835

waiting hawk
Participant

[quote=Jacarandoso]Waiting Hawk, Good for you for getting ready to go for it.

It sounds like at least some of your plan would be well outside of the National Electrical Code? The A/B situation using connection boxes the attic is probably a no go.Each branch circuit box is allowed only one power source.

What kind of inverter were you planning on using? Where are you going to tie it in? Sounds like you would be having it in your shed and be using it in a manner that attempts to isolate it from the grid?[/quote]

They will have one power source only difference is which one is dictated by me (junctions in the attic are code as they are accessible). Code or not on the power source if it is written that you cant its for people that leave breakers on and dont know which goes to which. No grid tie in will be used as the grid will be only used for a while until im aware of 100% off grid (selling power back is such a waste). Im leaving the grid tie in for the future for the hell of it more than anything else. My reasoning for the grid is to make sure I have power at all times while I iron out all kinks as ultimitly there wont even be a meter here. I really dont want to be on it as no one really should want to. I have a pair of outback inverters 4000w each (i plan on stacking them)I bought off a dude that didnt know what they were for $600 for both with 2 outback charge controlers mx-60s. I search for deals for months at a time (as well as having connections to the guys that clear out foreclosures helps).

September 11, 2011 at 10:29 PM #728841

NotCranky
Participant

You are right junction boxes are O.K. The other aspect of multiple power sources is o.k. if you say so. How are you going to get rid of the meter without a permit? Maybe you will just disconnect the buss work? Someone is going to know sooner or later, right? You got a great deal on the inverters and other stuff for sure. Good luck.

September 11, 2011 at 10:40 PM #728843

sdduuuude
Participant

“Getting off the grid” may be a very sub-optimal goal.

Because electricity is prices in tiers, with the maginal cost going up as you use more electricity, you may be able to find a faster payback period by only building enough solar to drop yourself down a couple of tiers instead of overspending to get your bill down to 0.

September 12, 2011 at 6:18 AM #728849

creechrr
Participant

What area do you live in? Are you in the “sticks”?

I originaly wanted a system similar to what you have described but, discovered it wasn’t feasible due to price and building codes. If not done correctly some poor utility worker could get fried while working on the line.

What’s your current energy usage like? How many and what type of batteries are you planning on? What are you budgeting for you project?

I would think running a refrigerator and a couple of lights would run down a battery pack pretty quick, escprecially during the winter months.

Sorry, I have a million and one questions.

October 29, 2011 at 1:28 PM #731596

ocrenter
Participant

Any thoughts in regard to recent SDGE attempt to change how they would charge customers with solar panels?

http://m.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/28/solar-users-feel-burned/

October 29, 2011 at 2:20 PM #731603

SD Realtor
Participant

ocr I saw that. unreal man. I like the part about how all the other socal utilities saw what sdge did and now they are considering it as well.

October 29, 2011 at 2:22 PM #731604

Coronita
Participant

[quote=ocrenter]Any thoughts in regard to recent SDGE attempt to change how they would charge customers with solar panels?

http://m.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/28/solar-users-feel-burned/%5B/quote%5D

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again….Don’t buy the utility company’s propaganda about conserving resources to save money.

Conservation is not profitable for a utility company. If usage actually goes down, they jack up the rates….

Anyone want to revisit your water bill?

Conserve water, and watch your water bill go up: check

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/sep/10/water-bills-could-go-again-san-diego-next-year/

Conservation is good for the planet, but not necessarily beneficial to your wallet.

October 29, 2011 at 2:40 PM #731605

bearishgurl
Participant

[quote=flu] . . . Conservation is not profitable for a utility company. If usage actually goes down, they jack up the rates….

Anyone want to revisit your water bill?

Conserve water, and watch your water bill go up: check

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/sep/10/water-bills-could-go-again-san-diego-next-year/

Conservation is good for the planet, but not necessarily beneficial to your wallet.[/quote]

flu, if residents don’t conserve water between October and April, their sewer rate could go up dramatically (even double) beginning with the following July’s bill.

This is a GREAT incentive to conserve water during the winter months, IMO.

October 29, 2011 at 3:17 PM #731609

ocrenter
Participant

How viable are off the grid solar systems? Not meant to eliminate electric use at 100% level, but at least take care of daytime consumption items such as the pool filter. Then when battery technology is more mature, then perhaps go completely off grid.

October 29, 2011 at 4:20 PM #731610

Coronita
Participant

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=flu] . . . Conservation is not profitable for a utility company. If usage actually goes down, they jack up the rates….

Anyone want to revisit your water bill?

Conserve water, and watch your water bill go up: check

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/sep/10/water-bills-could-go-again-san-diego-next-year/

Conservation is good for the planet, but not necessarily beneficial to your wallet.[/quote]

flu, if residents don’t conserve water between October and April, their sewer rate could go up dramatically (even double) beginning with the following July’s bill.

This is a GREAT incentive to conserve water during the winter months, IMO.[/quote]

They’re going to go up anyway..

October 29, 2011 at 4:22 PM #731611

bearishgurl
Participant

[quote=flu][quote=bearishgurl][quote=flu] . . . Conservation is not profitable for a utility company. If usage actually goes down, they jack up the rates….

Anyone want to revisit your water bill?

Conserve water, and watch your water bill go up: check

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/sep/10/water-bills-could-go-again-san-diego-next-year/

Conservation is good for the planet, but not necessarily beneficial to your wallet.[/quote]

flu, if residents don’t conserve water between October and April, their sewer rate could go up dramatically (even double) beginning with the following July’s bill.

This is a GREAT incentive to conserve water during the winter months, IMO.[/quote]

They’re going to go up anyway..[/quote]

Possibly, but they’ll go up MUCH MORE, if you use too much water. This is something each resident can control.
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