DIY solar array 12.5 kw - Page 72

arnesr · 11-13-18, 03:16 PM

Our 16.7 kW produced only 1.33MWh, down from 1.428MWh in 2017.

We had a lot of rain and cloudy weather last month that really cut down production. Also being farther north (WI) the numbers really dip down from October - February. Best month this year was July, with 2.788MWh produced. We are on pace for a 5 year payback, about $3,200 worth of electricity generated in the first year of install(Sept 2017).

nokiasixteth · 11-17-18, 09:43 PM

Mine have been running almost a year now . Have put out about 6.39 Mwh

where2 · 11-18-18, 06:46 PM

5+ years into solar generation, I'm at 30.6MWh produced to date. As others have said, not having solar would have meant I would have used the 30.6MWh and paid the power company including their profit margin. As it is, the 30.6MWh is just the beginning of the energy my array will produce over its lifetime.

pinballlooking · 11-18-18, 09:46 PM

I like seeing the MWh saved by everyone.

5 years plus I am @ 104 MWh Produced to date. I look at the number and just say Wow that is a lot of power I did not have to pay the power company for.
I was able to power my car 90K EV mile during this time save buying gasoline for all those miles. That is a lot more saving than just power.
We now heat with mini splits so the natural gas savings substantial over that time.

CrankyDoug · 12-02-18, 05:40 PM

I'm beginning to wish I still lived in Aiken SC. Winters were sometimes cold but at least we had sun. Here in west Georgia the winters are as dreary as Oregon.

I was in a hurry to get my PV DHW system up and running but we haven't had three days of sun in three weeks.

pinballlooking · 12-03-18, 08:47 PM

Yes you would get a little more sun in SC.

12.5 kW array we generated 1,034 kWh November 2018

November 2018= 1,034 kWh.
November 2017= 1,196 kWh
November 2016= 1,333 kWh
November 2015= 955 kWh
November 2014= 1,348 kWh
Highest one day November 2018 = 60.3 kWhs

We are now using our banked power. We used 538 KWH banked power
we have 1,389 banked power left.

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

where2 · 12-06-18, 07:32 PM

My 4.4kW array:
November 2018 = 412kWh
November 2017 = 448kWh
November 2016 = 423kWh
November 2015 = 415kWh (yes, the same as 2014 within 0.3kWh)
November 2014 = 415kWh
November 2013 = 368kWh

Certainly would have made roughly 14kWh more last month if I'd gotten on the roof and investigated the one panel that I was having an output issue with. The adjacent panels had 20.0 and 21.2kWh output for the month. The one I repaired had 6.75kWh output for the month. However, that's about $1.68 worth of energy at my local rates.

For anyone on the fence about PV, I saw pricing at $0.54/W today, including Enphase M215 inverters... Shipping, Racking, and Cabling, extra, but cross country shipping for a pallet was $450 last spring (CA to FL).

ME_Andy · 01-20-19, 05:44 PM

Our December was 333 kWh from a 3.66 kW system. It looks like the average is about 90-95 kWh of production per kW of panel, at least between myself and where2 in November/December.

NeilBlanchard · 01-20-19, 09:10 PM

You did quite well relative to the capacity. Our 10.1kW system produced 773.3kWh in December.

The longer daylight (9:34 today - but who's counting?) means higher potential. We were maxing at 35kWhm and now it hits over 37kWh.

Today we had our first snow storm of the winter, and we got zero.

ME_Andy · 01-21-19, 04:22 PM

I'm curious, what month do you guys hit peak power? We haven't seen more than 3.33 kW from our nominal 3.66kW system yet, but Nov/Dec probably aren't the best months. It would be cool to hit "maximum."

11-18-18, 09:46 PM	#714
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	I like seeing the MWh saved by everyone. 5 years plus I am @ 104 MWh Produced to date. I look at the number and just say Wow that is a lot of power I did not have to pay the power company for. I was able to power my car 90K EV mile during this time save buying gasoline for all those miles. That is a lot more saving than just power. We now heat with mini splits so the natural gas savings substantial over that time. 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.

12-03-18, 08:47 PM	#716
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	Yes you would get a little more sun in SC. 12.5 kW array we generated 1,034 kWh November 2018 November 2018= 1,034 kWh. November 2017= 1,196 kWh November 2016= 1,333 kWh November 2015= 955 kWh November 2014= 1,348 kWh Highest one day November 2018 = 60.3 kWhs We are now using our banked power. We used 538 KWH banked power we have 1,389 banked power left. Other solar producers show us your numbers for November when you have them. __________________ 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; 12-04-18 at 12:10 AM..

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11-13-18, 03:16 PM	#711
arnesr Lurking Renovator Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Greenville WI Posts: 13 Thanks: 1 Thanked 7 Times in 2 Posts	Our 16.7 kW produced only 1.33MWh, down from 1.428MWh in 2017. We had a lot of rain and cloudy weather last month that really cut down production. Also being farther north (WI) the numbers really dip down from October - February. Best month this year was July, with 2.788MWh produced. We are on pace for a 5 year payback, about $3,200 worth of electricity generated in the first year of install(Sept 2017).

11-17-18, 09:43 PM	#712
nokiasixteth Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Earth Posts: 348 Thanks: 43 Thanked 14 Times in 13 Posts	Mine have been running almost a year now . Have put out about 6.39 Mwh

11-18-18, 06:46 PM	#713
where2 DIY Geek Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Sunny Florida Posts: 401 Thanks: 74 Thanked 83 Times in 73 Posts	5+ years into solar generation, I'm at 30.6MWh produced to date. As others have said, not having solar would have meant I would have used the 30.6MWh and paid the power company including their profit margin. As it is, the 30.6MWh is just the beginning of the energy my array will produce over its lifetime.

12-02-18, 05:40 PM	#715
CrankyDoug Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 100 Thanks: 6 Thanked 14 Times in 11 Posts	I'm beginning to wish I still lived in Aiken SC. Winters were sometimes cold but at least we had sun. Here in west Georgia the winters are as dreary as Oregon. I was in a hurry to get my PV DHW system up and running but we haven't had three days of sun in three weeks.

12-06-18, 07:32 PM	#717
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 2018 = 412kWh November 2017 = 448kWh November 2016 = 423kWh November 2015 = 415kWh (yes, the same as 2014 within 0.3kWh) November 2014 = 415kWh November 2013 = 368kWh Certainly would have made roughly 14kWh more last month if I'd gotten on the roof and investigated the one panel that I was having an output issue with. The adjacent panels had 20.0 and 21.2kWh output for the month. The one I repaired had 6.75kWh output for the month. However, that's about $1.68 worth of energy at my local rates. For anyone on the fence about PV, I saw pricing at $0.54/W today, including Enphase M215 inverters... Shipping, Racking, and Cabling, extra, but cross country shipping for a pallet was $450 last spring (CA to FL).

01-20-19, 05:44 PM	#718
ME_Andy Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: New Mexico/Texas Posts: 66 Thanks: 22 Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts	Our December was 333 kWh from a 3.66 kW system. It looks like the average is about 90-95 kWh of production per kW of panel, at least between myself and where2 in November/December.

01-20-19, 09:10 PM	#719
NeilBlanchard Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Maynard, MA Eaarth Posts: 383 Thanks: 78 Thanked 39 Times in 32 Posts	You did quite well relative to the capacity. Our 10.1kW system produced 773.3kWh in December. The longer daylight (9:34 today - but who's counting?) means higher potential. We were maxing at 35kWhm and now it hits over 37kWh. Today we had our first snow storm of the winter, and we got zero.

01-21-19, 04:22 PM	#720
ME_Andy Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: New Mexico/Texas Posts: 66 Thanks: 22 Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts	I'm curious, what month do you guys hit peak power? We haven't seen more than 3.33 kW from our nominal 3.66kW system yet, but Nov/Dec probably aren't the best months. It would be cool to hit "maximum."