It's hard enough to keep up with the regular plumbing leaks.. I hate plumbing anyways.
My hot water system was pretty good quality. We just have very corrosive water here in Woburn.
The panels were pristine.. The HX and the tank were the leaky parts.
The controls and the pumps were top notch hardware. I still have those parts.
"One way or another you are using the grid as a battery whether officially or not, so it is grid tied"
Not really. I have nothing going into the grid. My Nstar meter has backwards-flow detect.
It sets a flag that shows up in the data burst, when they come by to read the meter.
My 800w array is storing away hot water. Just like charging a battery..
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ps42dbfce1.jpg
The 500w tracking array maintains my back-up system and can provide
re-charging, and day time power(if sunny), during an extended grid failure.
I say it's not worth the investment to put 800w on the grid,
because it would take decades to break even.
If I ever go grid-tie, it will be with at least 2 kW.
If they can't fit 2kW on my roof, I'll skip the roof and built a high fixed mount in the backyard.
Something up on a big 30 foot pole maybe..
