Solar Energy, what is the actual cost and how long will it take to recoupe cost

[an]

To me, exceptional needs for generation is a plus, not a must. My main goal is to get a solution that will reduce my spending on energy. I actually don’t care about how green it is. I just want to spend less for energy. This is why I feel solar is not right for me at this moment with my current usage, since it takes 10+ years to break even.

[patb]

[quote=Jacarandoso]Pat. I read that with the 5k system the consumer would get about 500-1000Kwh per month.http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?prodid=11630267

Locations in San Diego average 5-6 solar hours per day. Your numbers seem high/overly optimistic. Either way, I am very intrigued at this point.

BTW. I believe that if you feel like you can pull off A DIY job you can probably find someone to help with the permitting and whatever rebates plus some oversight if needed at some fair price. Not recommending it necessarily. Seems right to me that if the system doesn’t work because of BS, you make it work when you can.

I think, maybe hope or guess,that solar is now on the right track with cost benefit though. I think it’s worth doing taking the reasonable assumption that electrical charges (no pun intended) are going to go up.[/quote]

Prices for Polysilicon PV is droppping like crazy

[NotCranky]

Cool Beans, Pat.

[UCGal]

[quote=Jacarandoso]An, if you add exceptional needs for generation to the equation you can quit talking about apples to apples altogether.

Sdduuuude, I saw what you were posting about the tiered costs on another thread. It’s also a good point. In my case I am thinking about deliberately increasing my energy needs in conjunction with a solar electricity installation. This would be for farming and perhaps other cottage industry purposes on the land. I am not sure I would consider solar just to run the house, because our energy use is low and there are actually a few ways to get it lower easily. Solar hot water heater and wood burning stove are first. We have tons of free wood,Olive and Oak.

What I would really like is if a utility wanted to put solar on my property on an easement and pay me to do it. Which brings up another question, when are the utilities going to start using fuel cell technology, or have they? If it’s good they will, right?[/quote]

This is why we’re looking at getting solar at the same time we get a plug in electric car. Our current usage is pretty low. But if we were charging up our commuter car, it would make more sense.

But since I’m in the drive-it-till-it-won’t-drive-anymore school of car purchasing… We’ve got a while… My husband’s 95 truck is still robust as ever.

[sdduuuude]

[quote=UCGal][quote=Jacarandoso]An, if you add exceptional needs for generation to the equation you can quit talking about apples to apples altogether.

Sdduuuude, I saw what you were posting about the tiered costs on another thread. It’s also a good point. In my case I am thinking about deliberately increasing my energy needs in conjunction with a solar electricity installation. This would be for farming and perhaps other cottage industry purposes on the land. I am not sure I would consider solar just to run the house, because our energy use is low and there are actually a few ways to get it lower easily. Solar hot water heater and wood burning stove are first. We have tons of free wood,Olive and Oak.

What I would really like is if a utility wanted to put solar on my property on an easement and pay me to do it. Which brings up another question, when are the utilities going to start using fuel cell technology, or have they? If it’s good they will, right?[/quote]

This is why we’re looking at getting solar at the same time we get a plug in electric car. Our current usage is pretty low. But if we were charging up our commuter car, it would make more sense.

But since I’m in the drive-it-till-it-won’t-drive-anymore school of car purchasing… We’ve got a while… My husband’s 95 truck is still robust as ever.[/quote]

I think solar usually generates 12v DC directly, then is converted to 120V AC. Then you plug the car in and it converts it back to DC, maybe even 12V DC.

I’m thinking you just charge the car directly from the solar system and avoid the losses associated with conversion from DC-> AC-> DC.

When the ’95 truck dies, get your robot-building kids to pull the engine and put an electric motor kit into the truck.

[UCGal]

[quote=sdduuuude][quote=UCGal][quote=Jacarandoso]An, if you add exceptional needs for generation to the equation you can quit talking about apples to apples altogether.

Sdduuuude, I saw what you were posting about the tiered costs on another thread. It’s also a good point. In my case I am thinking about deliberately increasing my energy needs in conjunction with a solar electricity installation. This would be for farming and perhaps other cottage industry purposes on the land. I am not sure I would consider solar just to run the house, because our energy use is low and there are actually a few ways to get it lower easily. Solar hot water heater and wood burning stove are first. We have tons of free wood,Olive and Oak.

What I would really like is if a utility wanted to put solar on my property on an easement and pay me to do it. Which brings up another question, when are the utilities going to start using fuel cell technology, or have they? If it’s good they will, right?[/quote]

This is why we’re looking at getting solar at the same time we get a plug in electric car. Our current usage is pretty low. But if we were charging up our commuter car, it would make more sense.

But since I’m in the drive-it-till-it-won’t-drive-anymore school of car purchasing… We’ve got a while… My husband’s 95 truck is still robust as ever.[/quote]

I think solar usually generates 12v DC directly, then is converted to 120V AC. Then you plug the car in and it converts it back to DC, maybe even 12V DC.

I’m thinking you just charge the car directly from the solar system and avoid the losses associated with conversion from DC-> AC-> DC.

When the ’95 truck dies, get your robot-building kids to pull the engine and put an electric motor kit into the truck.[/quote]
LOVE this idea!!!

We’ll need to get battery storage, since we’ll need to be able to charge it at night. But I love this idea.

(And yes – we’re in full FLL design season. Wish us luck in Nov. when they go to the qualifying round.)

[Trojan4Life]

I haven’t read all of the replies to the original posting, but we own a home with a pool and live in RB. Not exactly coastal, not inland…kinda “Coasland” (I may copyright that phrase). Anyway, inground pool, 2 kids, 5 TV’s, laptops, iPads, etc. We’re gone a lot due to sports, don’t use A/C because it really doesn’t get that hot here. Our SDGE bill averaged about $180 per month for the past year. Wife looked into rates at different times of the day etc, so we changed our pool filter run time to start after 6pm (solar heat pumps for pool still run at 2pm).

Last 2 months SDG&E bills were $83 and $97 respectively for July and August.

It’s possible to keep that bill low, even without Solar.

[sdduuuude]

Trucks are good for this cuz you can use the weight of the batteries to better balance out the weight of the vehicle towards the rear to give you better traction/handling in the unloaded state.

Is that event in San Diego ?

[UCGal]

[quote=sdduuuude]Trucks are good for this cuz you can use the weight of the batteries to better balance out the weight of the vehicle towards the rear to give you better traction/handling in the unloaded state.

Is that event in San Diego ?[/quote]
There are a bunch of qualifying events around San Diego – we’re not sure which one we’re going to – either Preuss on 11/11 or Eastlake on 11/12.

If the kids make it past the qualifying round then it’s on to Legoland for the regionals. They did last year – but who knows if they can do it again.

It’s not nearly as cool as battle bots – but for 10 year olds, it’s a good start.

[sdduuuude]

I have a 4.5 HP motor they could use if they would like to shred the other little plastic lego bots into tiny pieces.

[UCGal]

[quote=sdduuuude]I have a 4.5 HP motor they could use if they would like to shred the other little plastic lego bots into tiny pieces.[/quote]
I have this strange feeling that might disqualify them. LMAO.

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