Driving for free

[pete8314]

Yeah...your house is probably better built than most in Texas too, and you get bonus points if you can get your family to close doors, turn off the TV and shut out lights when not needed! It's a constant battle....and don't get me started about how they want the AC cranked up, but then wrap themselves in blankets to watch TV.

[Zythryn]

At first I thought the 2,591 KWh for a month was a typo! My total consumption last month was about 500 KWh. I guess there is some benefit to living in So Cal and near the coast!

I wish ours was that low. We typically use almost 500kwh just to charge our cars ($35 vs $200 for gas, definitely a win). In winter we do peak around 2500kwh, although we are working to bring that down.

If I ever move from MN, we would look for a more moderate climate to avoid the extremes.

[Timothy]

We can all drive for free. I am. Solar panels are in and just finishing third year. And Southern California Edison has owes ME money for each of these three years! Driving on Sunshine (with minor capital investment at first )

[SCW-Greg]

We can all drive for free. I am. Solar panels are in and just finishing third year. And Southern California Edison has owes ME money for each of these three years! Driving on Sunshine (with minor capital investment at first )

Right on Timothy! If you don't mind me asking, what is your payback period for the investment? How many KW did you have installed?

[Timothy]

Right on Timothy! If you don't mind me asking, what is your payback period for the investment? How many KW did you have installed?

Payback for me is about 10 years. I have an 8.4 kW system. I save about $2 grand a year on gasoline costs. But with the Tesla costing over $100 K that's a lot of years to break even! But it is great fun to look down your nose at one's liberal friends who don't have solar panels or an electric car!

BTW although government rebates for solar installations have decreased, the cost of the solar panels has plumetted, so the total out of pocket cost and payback times for solar installations is much better now than when I put mine in 3 years ago.

[SCW-Greg]

Payback for me is about 10 years. I have an 8.4 kW system. I save about $2 grand a year on gasoline costs. But with the Tesla costing over $100 K that's a lot of years to break even! But it is great fun to look down your nose at one's liberal friends who don't have solar panels or an electric car!

BTW although government rebates for solar installations have decreased, the cost of the solar panels has plumetted, so the total out of pocket cost and payback times for solar installations is much better now than when I put mine in 3 years ago.

Yeah I had Solar World come out and do an estimate for me, I think 8.7kW. They're really pushing themselves as augmenting the power company model (reduced rates, but paying them over time). They're not encouraging you to buy outright. They claim it's a $40k install (don't believe that for a minute). I'm hearing numbers that suggest it should be closer $8 or $9k installed. I have another company coming out on Monday to give me another quote. I'm looking for a 6 to 7 year payback, better still if can get to 5. Then it really is a no brainer at that point (assuming you're in the house for a bit, let alone resale value).

[wycolo]

> solar installation is much better [& cheaper] now than when I put mine in 3 years ago. [Timothy]

In a few months I will become a Tesler (collector of Teslas) so now would be a good time certainly to jump aboard the Solar Train by buying a working number of panels + electronics. Working in the sense that it would be capable of charging a Tesla at least as fast as the Basic Cable (120V@15A). In future I could double the capacity to charge at (240V@15A). And so on.

Solar preferred over wind due to fewer moving parts and being no higher than roof level. Plus solar should have less down time.

Local electric co-op is almost antagonistic toward BEVs. Certainly in a complete state of denial. Two full page ads in monthly mag has 50 photos total, none of which shows electric vehicles. Not even a golf cart. No WY State incentives at all. Possibility of political backlash certainly exists. Such as surcharging for road use, surcharging for KWHs, harassing via type of vehicle registration, etc. Being off-grid capable seems the best deflector for any such assaults.

What are the latest, greatest panels & controllers?? Anyone keep up with this?? No salesmen, please, no Solar Worlds knocking at my door. I'm willing to drive to regional distributor & load up the truck. Part numbers and mfrs!!
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[bonnie1194]

I have a 13.4 kW system, Enlighten microinverters ... powering my house, my Roadster, heating the hot tub and running the pool. I'm still fine-tuning the tree trimming to maximize the output, but it's close to optimized. I received a rebate just over $3K from PG&E, will have a great tax deduction, and will receive payment from PG&E at the annual true up. Right now it's looking like my system will be paid for in 6-7 years.

[wycolo]

> I have a 13.4 kW system, Enlighten microinverters . . . [from Bonnie]

Home Depot's biggest package is nominally 10kw but rated 7.2kw to 16.8kw per year which, I'm guessing, depends on location & local exposure. No trees here @7400 ft. Map from <energyatlas.org> indicates 5.5 annual average at my location in south central WY (units??). So right off the bat I've found a kit that seems to ballpark yours, designed for typical 2400 sq ft house. Made by company in Eugene OR, so they know a thing or two about cloudy/rainy weather. No reviews yet at HD on this package, but the individual 250 watt panels did get a few good reviews. Point being these are probably the latest & greatest panel technology available. Requires 710 sq ft total, or some 36ft x 10ft on each roof gable. 40 panels in all, 30.7 volts. Returnable for 90 days. Includes 2 inverters & 2 combiners. No mention of storage batteries, so maybe none required since it is always 'on grid'.

Hey, it's something to focus on. Seems entirely DIY, right up my alley. Comments welcomed of course.
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[Timothy]

> I have a 13.4 kW system, Enlighten microinverters . . . [from Bonnie]

Comments welcomed of course.
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In California the situation is different. If you are off the grid, you don't get the rebates. So that is an advantage of being on grid. On the grid you generate electricity at a high price (time of use metering) and use it at a low price--cost effective. My rates go down (Southern California Edison) at 6 p.m. so that is when I set my car to start charging. We did an analysis and use 81% of our electricity off peak--ideal for time of use metering.

I would recommend getting bids from at least 3 big companies before you decide. Small local companies have the habit of going out of business. I ended up with REC Solar and they did a good job. I also used Sun Run. They leased me the system REC put in. I chose an 18 year lease all paid up in front. I can buy it out at a low agreed upon price at the end of the lease if I choose. (I will.) But you can pay monthly if you prefer. The advantage of leasing is that if anything goes wrong, Sun Run pays to fix it. Microinverters weren't available when I put my system in so I have one larger inverter. The inverters last about 8-10 years so SunRun will have to replace mine when it dies. And if a cow falls out of the sky and lands on the array--Sun Run repairs it!