My DIY Solar Experience and Break Even Calculations - Page 2

MiriamNZ · 08-28-17, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mab

Hi,
I'm hoping to retire in a year or so and will likely relocate and hope to install solar.

I was visiting a friend when the solar salesman was there. He used a very different logic to judge value for money that makes sense when you are retiring.

If you have money in the bank earning interest— how much do you get?
If you used that money to install solar, how much money would you save in the same period of time?

Makes sense, if the money is in the bank, especially when interest rates are dropping and unpredictable over the next decade.

Cheers
Miriam

dablack · 09-11-17, 02:31 PM

Antdun,

I love your project and I do think solar and a leaf go great together but I wouldn't use the gas savings money in your calculations unless you add the cost of the car to your initial capital investment.

If you already have a gas car, are you selling it? What is it worth? How much for a leaf that you like. Maybe the one for $6k came from Houston (flooded) and you really don't want that. Who knows.

What I'm saying is, you are taking parts of a picture and now the whole picture. If you start using the benefits of the leaf in your calculation, then you need to use all the numbers from the leaf and sale of your old car. Also, as you said, I would add in the cost of oil changes from your old car. Finally, is there a difference in insurance cost between your old car and the leaf?

Again, great project.

jeff5may · 09-12-17, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiriamNZ

I was visiting a friend when the solar salesman was there. He used a very different logic to judge value for money that makes sense when you are retiring.

If you have money in the bank earning interest— how much do you get?
If you used that money to install solar, how much money would you save in the same period of time?

Makes sense, if the money is in the bank, especially when interest rates are dropping and unpredictable over the next decade.

Cheers
Miriam

For many, the short-term payback does not justify a large initial investment. As with the current economy, the vast majority would rather lease or push long-term debt into the far future. For the retired, the concepts of reverse mortgages and annuities illustrate the same line of reasoning. In this case, I would ask the question: "Does the system save more than the extra loan (or annuity) payment?" In most cases, it does, even when a turnkey system is professionally installed.

For the rest, the decision-making process isn't so straightforward. It takes a lot of faith to pay out 5 figures on anything. The whole issue of self-generation has been polarized and propagandized by the power and oil empires, as a matter of self-preservation. Average Americans in general are completely addicted to the electric and gas lines running into their homes. Breaking this lifelong addiction doesn't come easy, especially without some sort of unconditional guarantee.

WisJim · 08-10-17, 10:49 AM

I bought my 205 watt panels 5 years ago when the price got below $1 a watt. Freight at that time from Florida to Wisconsin was a bit over $200 for a pallet of 28 panels. They were a bit cheaper by the pallet since the seller didn't have to repack them for shipment. Lately I have gotten notices of PV panels in the $.50 to .74 a watt price range.

mab · 08-11-17, 08:41 AM

WisJim,
Thanks for the info. Where do you get notifications from?

Thanks,
MIke

WisJim · 08-11-17, 01:03 PM

I bought panels from Sunelco.com and get their email notifications, and also am on the email notifications from Renvu.com

I'll post some pics of my system when I find them.

pinballlooking · 08-11-17, 01:14 PM

+1 Renvu.com you can get some very good deals.
Get on their emailing list.

WisJim · 08-11-17, 01:27 PM

Found some pics from 2012 right after I had installed the 12 205 watt panels with Enphase M215s. The array to the right is 12 Kyocera 125 watt panels wired as 48 volts feeding our 24 volt battery through an MX60 charge controller. I installed them in 2004, I think.

mab · 08-11-17, 01:45 PM

I just signed up.
Thanks for the pointers.

Thanks,
Mike

mab · 08-11-17, 01:46 PM

WisJim,

is there something I need to do to be able to view your pictures?

Thanks,
Mike

08-11-17, 01:14 PM	#7
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	+1 Renvu.com you can get some very good deals. Get on their emailing list. __________________ Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Solar Install 12.5 Kwh- To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Mini Split installs - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. EV Chevy Volt - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by pinballlooking; 08-11-17 at 03:34 PM..

09-11-17, 02:31 PM	#2
dablack Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 65 Thanks: 0 Thanked 13 Times in 6 Posts	Antdun, I love your project and I do think solar and a leaf go great together but I wouldn't use the gas savings money in your calculations unless you add the cost of the car to your initial capital investment. If you already have a gas car, are you selling it? What is it worth? How much for a leaf that you like. Maybe the one for $6k came from Houston (flooded) and you really don't want that. Who knows. What I'm saying is, you are taking parts of a picture and now the whole picture. If you start using the benefits of the leaf in your calculation, then you need to use all the numbers from the leaf and sale of your old car. Also, as you said, I would add in the cost of oil changes from your old car. Finally, is there a difference in insurance cost between your old car and the leaf? Again, great project.

08-10-17, 10:49 AM	#4
WisJim Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 42 Thanks: 7 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	I bought my 205 watt panels 5 years ago when the price got below $1 a watt. Freight at that time from Florida to Wisconsin was a bit over $200 for a pallet of 28 panels. They were a bit cheaper by the pallet since the seller didn't have to repack them for shipment. Lately I have gotten notices of PV panels in the $.50 to .74 a watt price range.

08-11-17, 08:41 AM	#5
mab Lurking Renovator Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: East Beauregard Parish, La Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	WisJim, Thanks for the info. Where do you get notifications from? Thanks, MIke

08-11-17, 01:03 PM	#6
WisJim Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 42 Thanks: 7 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	I bought panels from Sunelco.com and get their email notifications, and also am on the email notifications from Renvu.com I'll post some pics of my system when I find them.

08-11-17, 01:27 PM	#8
WisJim Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 42 Thanks: 7 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	Found some pics from 2012 right after I had installed the 12 205 watt panels with Enphase M215s. The array to the right is 12 Kyocera 125 watt panels wired as 48 volts feeding our 24 volt battery through an MX60 charge controller. I installed them in 2004, I think.

08-11-17, 01:45 PM	#9
mab Lurking Renovator Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: East Beauregard Parish, La Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I just signed up. Thanks for the pointers. Thanks, Mike

08-11-17, 01:46 PM	#10
mab Lurking Renovator Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: East Beauregard Parish, La Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	WisJim, is there something I need to do to be able to view your pictures? Thanks, Mike