Solar Panels

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

just noticed

[KenGee (Kenith Gee)]

I have a had solar pannels for 8 years, they are fine through all the nature can through at it. Do your research , don't listen to the nay sayers it's good for you and good for the environment.

[Barrykgerdes]

Originally Posted by KenGee

I have a had solar pannels for 8 years, they are fine through all the nature can through at it. Do your research , don't listen to the nay sayers it's good for you and good for the environment.

I have played with solar panels for years also but not as a real source of power. We had a deal here in NSW that pays 60c/KW fed back to the grid (its has been stopped now as the govt. has gone broke). The cost of the installation is a good investment for me. The money was in the bank earning 5%. Now it is invested in the panels that will return 25%.
I could not care less about the environmentalists say.

We have solar power at Wiruna. The panels charge a 12v 1100 AH battery that drives a 1.5 KW inverter. This supplies power to the facilities. (12KWH).

Barry

[Exfso (Peter)]

I started up another thread on this, but some of what I want to know is here, so thanks chaps.

[Barrykgerdes]

Here is an update on my solar panels that have now been connected to the mains. On a fine sunny day the power fed into the grid was 10KWH from the 2Kw solar array. A little less than my prelinminary estimate of 12 KWH. On an overcast day with about 20% clouds I got 8KWH into the grid.

In the same period with A/C running full bore I used an average of 61KWH per day. The A/C accounts for about 45KWH. I like to be comfortable in the summer!

Barry

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

I am loving my panels,

Got them in September last year and since installation (and with the extra sunny days recently with no clouds) I have generated over 1500KWh at an average of around 10KWh per day for a 1.5KW system (8 panels each 180W).

This was done through Spectrum Solar and cost up front $2500 installed and $300 to connect to the grid. The deals are now cheaper up front but only the 20c feed in is available so the ROI is much longer.

At my rate of 60c per KWh, these so far have generated $800 of credit. My last bill was $600 for the quarter with a credit amount of $400, so net bill was $200.

At this rate (with the slowing down over winter) I expect for the system to have paid for itself in around 18 months.

Once I crank up the super Aircon when it is connected, I expect the usage to significantly jump so any offset I can get is a blessing.

Cheers

Chris

[Barrykgerdes]

Hi
I have now had my solar panels for three weeks. About 60% sunny days. My maximum charge rate is 1600KW in noonday sun from 2KW of panels a bit less than the published value. However quite reasonable.

This gives just over 11 KWH on a mid February Sunny Day and about 4 KWH on an reasonably bright overcast day.

My total power into the grid for 21 days 158 KWH and average of 7.5 KWH per day. In the same period I have consumed 689KWH (lots of A/C cooling needed)

Power consumption with A/C cooling about 60KWH/day without A/C about 12KWH/day.

Barry

[Barrykgerdes]

I have now had my solar panels for 4 months and have a much better idea of their performance.

I don't like the proposal to reduce my payments to 40 cents a KW but at 40 cents they are still a proposition. I will just need to depreciate them over 10 years rather than 7

Some practical results from a 2KW system. Average power per day is 6.23 KWh. This will give a gross return on my investment of 30.4% PA, 14% after depreciation, still better than bank interest. Besides if it was left sitting in the bank Trevor would soon find something for me (him) to spend it on.

The high voltage (up to 300+) is not as dangerous as the detractors would like you to believe. The full voltage is well insulated and not affected by rain or hosing. Each panel is only 1/8 of the maximum voltage. There are far more dangerous electrical items in the household when it comes to fire hoses.

Barry