Solar power

[Scooterman]

Solar heating water is a another big cost but would make heat for your home & hot water to use but you'd have to maybe deal with snow on the panels daily LOL!
yea we get some incentives but not that great of a deal just yet.

 

[Paul B]

[QUOTESolar heating water is a another big cost][/QUOTE]

It's only a couple of hundred bucks to build it yourself

 

[danno14]

WE do all get incentives like that. Check with your power company

Unfortunately not.... there is a website that lists the states what is available by area. NY and CA are pretty much the most supportive:

http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/map2.cfm?State=WA&CurrentPageId=1&EE=1&RE=1

Paul- I will send you a pm with a few specific questions. I do admire what you have chosen to do
Best,
Dan

 

[Scooterman]

Well Paul, my state is trying to give a 50% incentive on solar panels. I'm missed what it was on but I'm guessing tax for the money spent on them. I hope so, this is getting closer & closer to being affordable & once it reaches a point that everyone can get them, I have to believe this will have a major impact nationwide.

A few questions?
1. I have South & South West areas that would work for Solar panels. The South West would be preferred because of it not being in view from the front & Is larger area. Which would work better?
2. Now that you have yours set up with 22 panels, how much space did that take & how much power do you make off it?
3. What would be your return at this rate, as far as pay back from the initial set up, cost wise?
4. When you need to replace your Roof how hard would it be to remove all that & re-install it once again?
5. Could you post Pics of the wiring from where the power comes in from the solar panels to the converter & to the breaker panel?
6. What size wattage converter do you have & would you recommend more or less?
7. If you did it again what would you change for better or would you recommend to others?

Sorry for the drill but any info would be much appreciated!
Thanks

 

[Paul B]

Scooterman, the south west side would be fine. The panels are about 40" by about 60" so however many would fit. Of course the more you install, the more cost effective it is because the labor is not that much to install more panels. I completed the entire job myself in 4 days.
I am getting about half of the money back from the power company and $5,000.00 from the statre and federal in my income taxes.
It is fairly sunny now and it is generating 1600 watts. The most mine generated when I was looking was just over 2300 watts. The max is 4,000 watts but I don't think that would happen in NY. The power company is coming to put in a different meter that spins in reverse should I generate more than I am using. I don't think that will happen because of my tank and three large refrigerators. But I do have (and sell) power cost meters and sometimes my cost for power goes down to 3 cents an hour. The system is supposed to save me $900.00 a year but I won't know that until next year.
The inverter is 4,000 watts and it is connected to a 30 amp two pole breaker in my panel.
The wiring is simple. The panels come with 2 plugs, you just plug them into each other then take the wires down to the inverter.
I changed my roof before I installed the panels because I installed my existing roof 30 years ago. The panels are warrented for 25 years. The panels are easy to come off. They justr snal in but to change the roof. I would have to remove all the panels and the supporting rails, about 2 days work. It's not the end of the world but I would not put them on an old roof.
I would recommend it to anyone but it is a large initial cash layout which you don't get back for about 90 days and the rest with your taxes.
It will definately increase the saleability of the house and reduce the energy costs.
It will also make your roof last longer because no sunlight touches the roof under the panels.
As energy costs rise I think you will see more and more of these systems. Unfortunately, the rebates are going down. That may change with a new administration.

 

[Scooterman]

Thanks for the information, down South we probably are hit with more sun than NY but the potential is there from what I see. I think we would get 6K return from the gov. which makes it even more attractive to do.

 

[Paul B]

I did a test today and turned off my solar panels on my roof. Today is a light electricity day because there is no AC on or heat.
According to my power usage meter (pictured) today I am spending 7 cents an hour for electricity. Not very much.
I turned off the solar array and the price jumped up to 15 cents an hour.
My bill is more than cut in half and I am real happy about that. Of course today is a beautiful sunny day, the savings are not as great on a rainy day.
I installed the system almost two years ago.
There are great rebates for these systems that vary from state to state.

 

[dieden]

anyone trying wind?

 

[roscoe]

I beleive there is a guy that lives somewhere in Ellensburg, WA that doing that. He use to be pretty active on here. He gave up the hobby to focus on that more. I found the link to his site. Here you go.

http://www.ellensburg-re-power.com/

 

[Katchupoy]

I lived in 98031 and I used to have a 400 watt wind turbine. It did not work since I have a very random/low stream of wind where I live. I still have the turbine but not being used. I do have a 150 watt solar panel that keeps on charging my set of batteries for the past 2 years though. I have my T5 lights connected to it and works really well. Im on my way on upgrading to LED to even lower the energy consumption.

 

[burning2nd]

i have great wind and steedy here, i plan on geting a turbine but its in the work

 

[dieden]

A local tractor dealer near me put up three of the 2.4kw turbines made by skystream and from what they have said, they are pretty darn effective. obviously there are space requirements, but pretty sweet power platform for the rural reefer.

www.skystreamenergy.com