Going Solar

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warminmn
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Post by warminmn »

I havent even heard of strange new worlds... I was just channel surfing and saw that episode and remembered liking it so watched it. Im a rare ST fan as I wasnt crazy about the original show but like the next couple versions.

Its just real weird, the odds of you posting that pic after that episode. I'll have to search that new installment some. So many shows, so little time!

K-2, whoever installed that north system, I hope they warned them. They will probably still get some juice from them but I wouldnt think near as much as south side. There are a lot of solar systems in the arctic and near there in off grid situations and its still enough juice to run a computer (if they have web) and tv, except in the darkest part of the winter.


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Post by nut »

Gut feeling tells me installing panels on your roof is going to come back to bite you. Ground mount can be angled perfectly and can even track the sun. If maintanance is required they are easily accessed and your shingles and panels life spans don't have to be in sync. Smaller arrays can help offset the added cost of tracking.

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Post by lincolnmania »

how many watts would I need to run my efm and circulating pumps and the furnace fan?

i want to get solar panels but they have to be on a budget. i found a 400 watt starter setup for $249, wondering how many of those i would need.

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davidmcbeth3
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Post by davidmcbeth3 »

lincolnmania wrote: Thu. Aug. 24, 2023 1:37 pm how many watts would I need to run my efm and circulating pumps and the furnace fan?
i want to get solar panels but they have to be on a budget. i found a 400 watt starter setup for $249, wondering how many of those i would need.
These "all-in-one" kits are fine by themselves. You generally cannot connect 2 together due to the inverter needs....PV produces DC and need an inverter to make the output AC..and inverters come in many sizes.

https://www.electricrate.com/heat-pump-power-consumption/

Article that discusses heat pump's energy consumption. Post back with thoughts or questions. It depends is the answer to your initial query is all

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Post by ColdHouse »

nut wrote: Thu. Aug. 24, 2023 12:44 pm Gut feeling tells me installing panels on your roof is going to come back to bite you. Ground mount can be angled perfectly and can even track the sun. If maintanance is required they are easily accessed and your shingles and panels life spans don't have to be in sync. Smaller arrays can help offset the added cost of tracking.
You could be right. My guess is the roof and panels will outlive me. Brand new 50 year roof. It is my understanding that roofs actually last longer with panels atop them because they don't get beat up by the sun.

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Post by ColdHouse »

Connecticut is no Sunny Haven. Reality is what it is. If I were a bystander I would certainly be interested in the objective data and performance results.

I would imagine there are those that would criticize and talk down even if the system performs better than expected. All the data has been posted. If I can meet my electrical needs I will be ecstatic.

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Post by ColdHouse »

I would imagine having a record of actual production and consumption would allow a person to size their battery storage, if they chose to install one, with some accuracy.

For example yesterday was a cloudy rainy day and solar production was only 17.9kwh and consumption was 29.9kwh. The data shows daily, monthly, year to date, lifetime...

I would imagine if a person wanted to charge an EV while not hooked up to the grid, they would be wise to do that during peak daily sun production. The charger I have for the Tesla is hooked up on a 60 amp breaker and charges at around 12kwh. So a 60kwh charge would take 5 hours. It seems like if a person were off grid and charged their car at night or on a gloomy rainy day, they would deplete their home battery storage. I guess they could just plug it in everyday and use about 10kwh. Regardless it seems like if it is actively getting produced and was consumed as it was produced it would eliminate the need to charge and diminish the battery.
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davidmcbeth3
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Post by davidmcbeth3 »

ColdHouse wrote: Thu. Aug. 24, 2023 5:48 pm Connecticut is no Sunny Haven. Reality is what it is. If I were a bystander I would certainly be interested in the objective data and performance results.
<snip>
When I examined the install of a PV system, I did just that. Examined PV systems and their output and costs prior to plugging that trigger.

I obtained records from DEEP (state's EPA-like agency that did PV system rebate programs) that detailed the output of PV systems and their costs.

After looking at the data from these PV installs I decided against a PV install as the ROI was not within my tolerances for a go-ahead.

As CH notes, CT is no Florida. Not a sunny haven.

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Post by ColdHouse »

My guess is that Electricity Rates are going up. Eversource has already warned of increases in the winter due to natural gas shortages or whatever.

Dave, please give me some of your acceptable investments that meet your ROI return.

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Post by ColdHouse »

Worst day of solar production was the other day. Pouring rain all day. 1.8kwh produced.

Perfectly sunny day October 1 and most can produce this time of year is 50kwh vs most ever on sunny day in July of 90kwh.
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davidmcbeth3
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Post by davidmcbeth3 »

ColdHouse wrote: Mon. Oct. 02, 2023 5:19 pm <SNIP
Your Eversource credits will pick this up for you ya think?

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Post by ColdHouse »

davidmcbeth3 wrote: Mon. Oct. 02, 2023 10:17 pm Your Eversource credits will pick this up for you ya think?
Probably not. Obviously perfectly sunny days are not common in Connecticut. I missed the entire Spring and as you know we had a rainy overcast summer. The car sucks down at least 60kwh per week. Last month I did not produce what I consumed but as mentioned it was not a very sunny month.
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ColdHouse
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Post by ColdHouse »

All Solar is not the same!
I have a neighbor and his daughter put solar on her house in the same town as me. I contacted her on a day with full sun, in the middle of the winter, when my production was terrible. I produced like 9kwh from memory, and she was like 35. I have this huge hill behind me, and my house is probably not angled as good as hers. So the point is even if you live in New England, if your panels are unobstructed and facing the proper way, you can get good production.

I have had pretty bad solar production beginning in November but February is showing signs of improvement. As mentioned in earlier posts, by just looking at a graph one can tell if it was sunny all day or if cloud cover was occurring. If those blue lines start rising and have a nice curve to the peak and then are all the way up and stay there and have a nice curve down, it was a very sunny day. Here is yesterday Feb 25, 2024.
It has become apparent to me that it doesn't have to be sunny all day, only when the sun has the best angle on my panels. I plan to petition my government representatives and ask them to impose legislation that would make it law requiring the sun to be unobstructed during peak time. I think imposing fines on mid day clouds could be very effective in boosting solar production.
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warminmn
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Post by warminmn »

In my colder climate its always about Feb 5th-ish that I can feel the heat on my face from the sun again when Im outdoors. Even thru a window theres not much passive heat before that from the sun. I imagine your panels kinda work the same way. Im confident on that date I mentioned as I pay attention each year to it.

Good luck with you new law. lol

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Post by ColdHouse »

warminmn wrote: Mon. Feb. 26, 2024 9:13 am In my colder climate its always about Feb 5th-ish that I can feel the heat on my face from the sun again when Im outdoors. Even thru a window theres not much passive heat before that from the sun. I imagine your panels kinda work the same way. Im confident on that date I mentioned as I pay attention each year to it.

Good luck with you new law. lol
I am not too knowledgable about the science behind solar panels. I think it is about light and little or nothing to do with passive heat.


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