Home Solar System Finally Operational - Meter Running Backwards - Page 2

bower · July 20, 2015

Raybo.. that system is sweet!

I may have to wait for rain power to be invented.

And no, they wouldn't fine you for collecting it here, just laugh their heads off - yep, it'd probably make the local news. Cold, wet people, they love a good laugh.

rnewste · July 20, 2015

bower,

Hmmm... I wonder if you could install a mini water-powered turbine in your rain gutter downspouts - - just a crazy thought.

I would think in your locale that Wind Turbines to be the more efficient option for electrical generation.

Raybo

Cole_Robbie · July 21, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

I wonder if anyone has tried to claim ownership of the Sun?

Cole_Robbie · July 21, 2015

Ray, does your setup store energy in a battery anywhere? I guess you just get back what you feed into the grid?

Tesla is into home batteries now, with the idea to go completely off-grid.

rnewste · July 21, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

Ray, does your setup store energy in a battery anywhere? I guess you just get back what you feed into the grid?

Tesla is into home batteries now, with the idea to go completely off-grid.

Phase One for me was to get a basic Solar system installed and use the PG&E Net Metering (NEM) grid as my "virtual battery".

Once Tesla batteries become cost efficient enough, I will seriously consider a Phase Two program to go totally off the paid grid - - but that will likely be several years in the future.

Raybo

MissS · July 21, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

I wonder if anyone has tried to claim ownership of the Sun?

I would not care to claim ownership of the sun. I would have too many lawsuits against me for sunburn, skin cancer, freckles, age spots and not to mention the length of the days and temperatures.

Worth1 · July 21, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissS

I would not care to claim ownership of the sun. I would have too many lawsuits against me for sunburn, skin cancer, freckles, age spots and not to mention the length of the days and temperatures.

Sue me and I would turn the sun blocker on.

Worth

rnewste · July 21, 2015

I am really surprised our California Governor "Moonbeam" hasn't figured how to implement a "Photon Tax" to get us to help pay for his $100 Billion High Speed Train fiasco from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

For those interested, you can view daily KWh production of my system on the web at:

https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/...acy/graph/days

It will be interesting to track how its output changes throughout the solar year.

Raybo

Sun City Linda · July 21, 2015

"Photon Tax" to get us to help pay for his $100 Billion High Speed Train fiasco from San Francisco to Los Angeles."

ditto

**Lee** · July 29, 2015

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/loc...e29168521.html

Interesting article in today's paper about the town I live in.....
If they can get developers on board with it, that could make some interesting options available to new home buyers.....

Lee

lexxluthor · July 29, 2015

Nice job and even nicer seeing the energy bill dropping in the summertime.

Worth1 · July 29, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/loc...e29168521.html

Interesting article in today's paper about the town I live in.....
If they can get developers on board with it, that could make some interesting options available to new home buyers.....

Lee

For some reason I smell a dead fish.

Worth

rnewste · July 29, 2015

Worth,

The guy may have a personal financial interest in promoting Solar - - all I can tell you is that my power meter has been going backwards every day since I installed my system 14 days ago.

Raybo

Worth1 · July 29, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnewste

Worth,

The guy may have a personal financial interest in promoting Solar - - all I can tell you is that my power meter has been going backwards every day since I installed my system 14 days ago.

Raybo

I love the idea of what you did I think it is fantastic.

Worth

rnewste · July 29, 2015

Worth,

I looked at Solar about 5 years ago and just couldn't make the financial numbers work. In the past 2 years however, PV panel costs have come way down while power output per panel has increased significantly, so now it is a good R.O.I. if you get a good deal of sunshine and your utility permits Net Energy Metering (NEM) so that you put unused KWh into a "bank" for future draw-down when needed.

Just avoid the big national guys like Solar City - they pester you to lease the system from them netting you only about $30 per month.

Far better to work with a smaller locally owned installer and purchase the system outright. Here is my Yelp review of our Installer:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/highlight-solar-inc-san-jose

If you haven't priced out a rooftop Solar system recently, I highly recommend taking the time to go on your local city Yelp website and research 5-star reviews of recommended Installers to talk with.

Raybo

July 29, 2015	#25
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	http://www.newsobserver.com/news/loc...e29168521.html Interesting article in today's paper about the town I live in..... If they can get developers on board with it, that could make some interesting options available to new home buyers..... Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

July 29, 2015	#30
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	Worth, I looked at Solar about 5 years ago and just couldn't make the financial numbers work. In the past 2 years however, PV panel costs have come way down while power output per panel has increased significantly, so now it is a good R.O.I. if you get a good deal of sunshine and your utility permits Net Energy Metering (NEM) so that you put unused KWh into a "bank" for future draw-down when needed. Just avoid the big national guys like Solar City - they pester you to lease the system from them netting you only about $30 per month. Far better to work with a smaller locally owned installer and purchase the system outright. Here is my Yelp review of our Installer: http://www.yelp.com/biz/highlight-solar-inc-san-jose If you haven't priced out a rooftop Solar system recently, I highly recommend taking the time to go on your local city Yelp website and research 5-star reviews of recommended Installers to talk with. Raybo Last edited by rnewste; July 29, 2015 at 02:09 PM.

July 20, 2015	#16
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,793	Raybo.. that system is sweet! I may have to wait for rain power to be invented. And no, they wouldn't fine you for collecting it here, just laugh their heads off - yep, it'd probably make the local news. Cold, wet people, they love a good laugh.

July 21, 2015	#19
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Ray, does your setup store energy in a battery anywhere? I guess you just get back what you feed into the grid? Tesla is into home batteries now, with the idea to go completely off-grid.

July 21, 2015	#24
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	"Photon Tax" to get us to help pay for his $100 Billion High Speed Train fiasco from San Francisco to Los Angeles." ditto

July 29, 2015	#26
lexxluthor Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: New York Posts: 156	Nice job and even nicer seeing the energy bill dropping in the summertime.