Thinking Of Going Solar

[Al Agnew]

1 hour ago, Terrierman said:

No TV or internet when it's cloudy.  Great plan.

Not at all true.
The key to a reliable solar system is the batteries.  Lithium ion batteries, and a properly sized system, and you won't lose electricity unless it's wintertime and there is a week or more of nothing but cloudy weather.  And that's assuming an off-grid system where you are using only the solar (along with a backup generator).  If you use a grid-tied system you'll never lack for electricity.

We have an off-grid system on the cabin we have on the Meramec.  The original installation was not perfect, and the tie-in between solar and generator had glitches.  We finally upgraded the system last year.  Now we have adequate battery capacity (and the lithium batteries can be drained to less than 10% while the old lead-acid batteries we had could not be drained less than 50%), and remote monitoring.  It's worked beautifully since the upgrade.

[Terrierman]

Robin:  The batmobile won't start.

Batman:  Check the battery.

Robin:  What's a tery?

[FishnDave]

My BIL has been looking into this.  He's thinking of not using the batteries, since they'd need to be replaced every so often.  He's gonna get solar, and connect to the grid.  When he's making surplus electricity, it'll go to the grid.  When he's not making enough, he'll draw from the grid.  When electricity goes to the grid, the electrical company gives credits, and then he'll use the credits when he draws from the grid.  As long as he, on average, generates more than he uses, he'll never have to pay for electricity.  He does have a small generator for emergencies.

[Linhardt]

Anyone thinking of Solar and want to DIY I suggest DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse  YouTube Channel.

He is very knowledgeable, has very detailed in testing and reviews of batteries and panels.  Easy to understand and thorough.  He has some very good suggestions for inexpensive systems that should last a while.  Pretty much anything from simple small off-grid, whole house, and EV charging systems, etc. 

My house is electric and natural gas and I have always thought of adding a solar system to my house and grid, along with natural gas whole house generator.  This would help in some costs eventually and definitely help in power outages.

Here is his website as well

Off Grid Solar Power - Made Easy

[BilletHead]

1 hour ago, Linhardt said:

Anyone thinking of Solar and want to DIY I suggest DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse  YouTube Channel.

He is very knowledgeable, has very detailed in testing and reviews of batteries and panels.  Easy to understand and thorough.  He has some very good suggestions for inexpensive systems that should last a while.  Pretty much anything from simple small off-grid, whole house, and EV charging systems, etc. 

My house is electric and natural gas and I have always thought of adding a solar system to my house and grid, along with natural gas whole house generator.  This would help in some costs eventually and definitely help in power outages.

Here is his website as well

Off Grid Solar Power - Made Easy

Thanks Anthony 😀.

[Gavin]

Dont forget about the 30% Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit.

[oneshot 1]

On 9/2/2024 at 12:43 PM, Dutch said:

How in the world are you using $500 worth of electricity in a month.

For our House, Apartment, Cabin and Greenhouse. 

oneshot 

[oneshot 1]

5 hours ago, FishnDave said:

My BIL has been looking into this.  He's thinking of not using the batteries, since they'd need to be replaced every so often.  He's gonna get solar, and connect to the grid.  When he's making surplus electricity, it'll go to the grid.  When he's not making enough, he'll draw from the grid.  When electricity goes to the grid, the electrical company gives credits, and then he'll use the credits when he draws from the grid.  As long as he, on average, generates more than he uses, he'll never have to pay for electricity.  He does have a small generator for emergencies.

Our Electric Company won't buy extra. We are with Laclede Electric. 

We was thinking using a Gasifier to run the Generator. 

oneshot 

[Terrierman]

You might want to fact check that first sentence.

When I actually worked for a living, clean-up of old coal gasifier sites was a growth industry.  In other words, it works but it is an exceptionally dirty process.

[Dutch]

My wife’s cousin is in the business.  We were at their house a couple of weeks ago.  I asked about their solar situation.  They said that when they over produced it went into the grid but at the rate that the company could purchase electricity from other companies not at the rate that they charge customers.  He said not great but better than nothing.