DIY solar array 12.5 kw - Page 58

where2 · 12-01-16, 10:41 PM

My 4.4kW array:
November 2016 = 423kWh
November 2015 = 415kWh (yes, the same as 2014 within 0.3kWh)
November 2014 = 415kWh
November 2013 = 368kWh

November electric bill: 265kWh cost $34.81
November net metered energy: 223kWh

Our electric utility recently petitioned the state Public Service Commission and was awarded a base rate increase expected to cost the average customer an additional $7 per month.

gasstingy · 12-20-16, 01:37 PM

The end of the solar day on 12/16/16 made exactly four years of being part of the TVA Generations Partners program. I keep pretty good records and maintain a spreadsheet to tell me how I'm doing for those times when someone asks me about its payback.

The system we have is actually two solar arrays. One, a 1050w rated array made up of 6 Sharp 175w panels running through Enphase inverters and the second is a 5760w rated array made up of 24 Sharp 240w panels running through an SMA Sunny Boy 5000 inverter. Both arrays are on adjustable tilt ground mounts. I reset their tilt angles on the Spring & Fall Equinoxes, so twice a year nearest the exact date of the time change, depending on rain.

All that said so you'd know what was making this power. At sundown ending my fourth year, we had generated exactly 39,380 kWh of renewable energy. For the year, 12/17/15 - 12/16/16 we made 10,292 kWh. This was a close second best year. Our best was 2014 @ 10,441 kWh. 2013: 9,176 and 2015: 9,471.

The payback ending year 4 was at 58.172% of my total investment. Don't forget, 30% is the Federal tax credit that comes quickly. The remaining 28.172% took 4 years. For my future guesstimate, based on past performance estimates, I will be financially paid back in just under 10 years. I typically just say 10.5 years is what I expect and hope for. After all, God controls the sunshine, not I.

The real way I feel is that my investment was satisfied the first time I saw my utility meter run backwards.

As far as I am concerned, there is nothing quite like generating your own electricity. We are not total electric, we use natural gas for hot water and emergency backup heat. Future plans call for an electric car, and I have high hopes for my reservation to pan out. I am also hoping that a Powerwall or two will be part of that future as well.

So, here's wishing all of you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year.

Roostre · 12-20-16, 02:08 PM

City Building Department sent my inspection approval to the Power Company yesterday.

Should see my new meter any day!

OOps, sorry pinball!! I glanced at the post and saw "DIY" and assumed it was my thread... using a phone on the internet is not the best...

pinballlooking · 12-21-16, 01:44 PM

Here are my last 20 months billing. Basically just the meter fee except my zero out month where they pay me avoided cost a check for $30.33.

It so cool to so another DIY solar array (Roostre) close to getting their meter.

pinballlooking · 01-02-17, 11:31 AM

12.5 Kw array we generated 924 Kwh Dec 2016
Last month we used 995 kwh of our banked power.
We have 2,434 kwh still banked for the rest of the winter. (zero out date is March 1)

Dec 2016 =924 Kwh
Dec 2015= 911 Kwh
Dec 2014= 996 Kwh
Dec 2013= 947 Kwh
This was our best solar year so far.

Other solar producers show us your numbers for Nov when you have them.

where2 · 01-02-17, 03:26 PM

My 4.4kW array:
December 2016 = 377kWh
December 2015 = 322kWh
December 2014 = 421kWh
December 2013 = 359kWh

Base rate meter charge: $7.87
December electric bill: 319kWh cost $39.99
December net metered energy: 238kWh

pinballlooking · 01-18-17, 09:44 AM

Our 12.5Kw solar array just hit 70 MW here this is $7,000 worth of power. It is amazing how much power you can make with the sun.

I set the graph level to lifetime to you can see how many MW each panel has made.

pinballlooking · 01-31-17, 08:19 PM

We actually had some rain this month. I am glad we really need it. But it has been our worst Feb solar month so far.
We used 939 KWH banked power.
We still have 1,495 KWH banked and we get zeroed out March 1 so we are good to go.
I will be just using my 1K fish tank heater in the greenhouse this month.

My 12.5 Kw array
Feb 2017 =1,130 Kwh
Feb 2016=1,304 Kwh
Feb 2015=1,321 Kwh
Feb 2014=1,328 Kwh

Other solar producers show us your numbers for Feb when you have them.

Roostre · 01-31-17, 09:30 PM

Our 7.6kW system production was hampered by inversion fog and about 16" of snow that quickly crusted over, becoming almost impossible to 'roof rake' off. It has been below freezing most of the month, so the snow has not melted!! Hoping for a little thaw this week.

January 2017- 134.87kWh.

pinballlooking · 01-31-17, 09:37 PM

Glad to see you post your numbers. But sorry to hear the weather conditions have not been good.

12-20-16, 02:08 PM	#573
Roostre EcoLearner Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Rocky Mtns Posts: 113 Thanks: 107 Thanked 26 Times in 19 Posts	City Building Department sent my inspection approval to the Power Company yesterday. Should see my new meter any day! OOps, sorry pinball!! I glanced at the post and saw "DIY" and assumed it was my thread... using a phone on the internet is not the best... Last edited by Roostre; 12-21-16 at 03:02 PM.. Reason: apologies

12-21-16, 01:44 PM	#574
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,930 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	Here are my last 20 months billing. Basically just the meter fee except my zero out month where they pay me avoided cost a check for $30.33. It so cool to so another DIY solar array (Roostre) close to getting their meter. Attached Thumbnails __________________ 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.

01-02-17, 11:31 AM	#575
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,930 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	12.5 Kw array we generated 924 Kwh Dec 2016 Last month we used 995 kwh of our banked power. We have 2,434 kwh still banked for the rest of the winter. (zero out date is March 1) Dec 2016 =924 Kwh Dec 2015= 911 Kwh Dec 2014= 996 Kwh Dec 2013= 947 Kwh This was our best solar year so far. Other solar producers show us your numbers for Nov when you have them. Attached Thumbnails __________________ 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; 01-04-17 at 03:54 PM..

01-18-17, 09:44 AM	#577
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,930 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	Our 12.5Kw solar array just hit 70 MW here this is $7,000 worth of power. It is amazing how much power you can make with the sun. I set the graph level to lifetime to you can see how many MW each panel has made. Attached Thumbnails __________________ 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.

01-31-17, 08:19 PM	#578
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,930 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	We actually had some rain this month. I am glad we really need it. But it has been our worst Feb solar month so far. We used 939 KWH banked power. We still have 1,495 KWH banked and we get zeroed out March 1 so we are good to go. I will be just using my 1K fish tank heater in the greenhouse this month. My 12.5 Kw array Feb 2017 =1,130 Kwh Feb 2016=1,304 Kwh Feb 2015=1,321 Kwh Feb 2014=1,328 Kwh Other solar producers show us your numbers for Feb when you have them. Attached Thumbnails __________________ 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; 02-08-17 at 10:41 PM..

12-01-16, 10:41 PM	#571
where2 DIY Geek Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Sunny Florida Posts: 401 Thanks: 74 Thanked 83 Times in 73 Posts	My 4.4kW array: November 2016 = 423kWh November 2015 = 415kWh (yes, the same as 2014 within 0.3kWh) November 2014 = 415kWh November 2013 = 368kWh November electric bill: 265kWh cost $34.81 November net metered energy: 223kWh Our electric utility recently petitioned the state Public Service Commission and was awarded a base rate increase expected to cost the average customer an additional $7 per month.

12-20-16, 01:37 PM	#572
gasstingy Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Arab, AL Posts: 491 Thanks: 109 Thanked 49 Times in 43 Posts	The end of the solar day on 12/16/16 made exactly four years of being part of the TVA Generations Partners program. I keep pretty good records and maintain a spreadsheet to tell me how I'm doing for those times when someone asks me about its payback. The system we have is actually two solar arrays. One, a 1050w rated array made up of 6 Sharp 175w panels running through Enphase inverters and the second is a 5760w rated array made up of 24 Sharp 240w panels running through an SMA Sunny Boy 5000 inverter. Both arrays are on adjustable tilt ground mounts. I reset their tilt angles on the Spring & Fall Equinoxes, so twice a year nearest the exact date of the time change, depending on rain. All that said so you'd know what was making this power. At sundown ending my fourth year, we had generated exactly 39,380 kWh of renewable energy. For the year, 12/17/15 - 12/16/16 we made 10,292 kWh. This was a close second best year. Our best was 2014 @ 10,441 kWh. 2013: 9,176 and 2015: 9,471. The payback ending year 4 was at 58.172% of my total investment. Don't forget, 30% is the Federal tax credit that comes quickly. The remaining 28.172% took 4 years. For my future guesstimate, based on past performance estimates, I will be financially paid back in just under 10 years. I typically just say 10.5 years is what I expect and hope for. After all, God controls the sunshine, not I. The real way I feel is that my investment was satisfied the first time I saw my utility meter run backwards. As far as I am concerned, there is nothing quite like generating your own electricity. We are not total electric, we use natural gas for hot water and emergency backup heat. Future plans call for an electric car, and I have high hopes for my reservation to pan out. I am also hoping that a Powerwall or two will be part of that future as well. So, here's wishing all of you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year.

01-02-17, 03:26 PM	#576
where2 DIY Geek Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Sunny Florida Posts: 401 Thanks: 74 Thanked 83 Times in 73 Posts	My 4.4kW array: December 2016 = 377kWh December 2015 = 322kWh December 2014 = 421kWh December 2013 = 359kWh Base rate meter charge: $7.87 December electric bill: 319kWh cost $39.99 December net metered energy: 238kWh

01-31-17, 09:30 PM	#579
Roostre EcoLearner Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Rocky Mtns Posts: 113 Thanks: 107 Thanked 26 Times in 19 Posts	Our 7.6kW system production was hampered by inversion fog and about 16" of snow that quickly crusted over, becoming almost impossible to 'roof rake' off. It has been below freezing most of the month, so the snow has not melted!! Hoping for a little thaw this week. January 2017- 134.87kWh. __________________ 2013 Volt Blackbird 2013 Volt Red (Sold 2012 Leaf) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Please don't use photobucket... there are a ton of good posts on here that make no sense because the picture is locked by photobucket's paywall.

01-31-17, 09:37 PM	#580
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,930 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	Glad to see you post your numbers. But sorry to hear the weather conditions have not been good. __________________ 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.