Sean HeberMar 24

Rooftop solar update: IT'S FINALLY ON!

Downside is, because everything is messed up about this install with things being done in the wrong order, they don't yet have the device hooked up/configured that lets us actually SEE the production. So here we are... after all this time... producing power. Maybe. I can't even tell. lol

Show threadSean HeberMar 24

I took a closer look at the meter and I realized it toggled between a couple of different states. So I went back out and one of the states that was showing all zeros before is showing a 1 now. I think it's already generated 1kWh.

(I should also note it's kind of dark and cloudy right now.)

Show threadSean HeberMar 24
Up to 3kWh! ⚡
Show threadSean HeberMar 24

brb - turning on ALL THE THINGS!

Okay not really... but... I mean... even right now on a cloudy day, we're feeding power BACK into the system right now. Essentially everything in my house is now running for free.

(Of course, it's not a very cold day so the electric heat isn't running right now. I'm sure that'll change the equation a bit. 😛)

Show threadSean HeberMar 24

Sweet - we got logged into the solar tracker thingy. So far it says we've generated 17.46 kWh in under 3 hours. I have nothing to compare this with, but seems good considering it's so cloudy.

So far the "equivalent trees planted" is 0. (Doh...)

Show threadJan Lehnardt Mar 24
@bigzaphod 2.5 times what our houses uses in a day :)
Show threadSean HeberMar 24
@janl it's possible this array is massively oversized... I'm not really sure. Although we have electric heat now (and of course electric A/C in summer). Also electric clothes dryer. At some point I'd like to get electric water heater and kitchen stove, too, which would complete the set and I can get rid of the gas tank we have finally.
Show threadTodd Thomas 6d ago
@bigzaphod how do you/they decide how many panels you need or can install? Up here in Alberta they won't let you generate much more than your house uses in a year.
@janl
Show threadSean Heber6d ago
@todd @janl I don't recall any rule here about how many, although realistically the power company doesn't pay out cash money (at least not for a home install), but they pay out 1:1 credits (here anyway). So installing more than the power you use would just sort of be making free power for the power company because you can't turn those credits into real money - but they apply toward your bill and they bank them so over-generation in summer/sunny days apply to winter/cloudy days.
Show threadSean Heber6d ago
@todd @janl but from what other people have said, every power company around is different. Some have strict limits. Some won't even pay you for power so on those you'd really need a battery system to make it worthwhile. Some pay you back with real money. Some pay with credits. Most don't do a 1:1 thing where the credit == real cost of electric. So that one is a big win for us here - our power company credits are worth the same amount as the actual price they charge for power.
Show threadSean Heber6d ago
@todd @janl so in terms of deciding how many to install, it could be as simple as adding up total yearly energy usage and just aiming for that amount. They have models that show how much sun you get, etc, so they can calculate how many panels you'd need to offset the total power usage for a whole year taking into account the change in sun angles, etc, etc. The solar company did all that. But we also added extra because we also were switching to all-electric heat/heat pump too. Some guesswork.
Show threadRyan Goodlett 5d ago
@bigzaphod @todd @janl What solar company did you use? National chain or a regional provider? I’ve been interested in solar for years but haven’t found a good provider.
Show threadSean Heber
@ryan @todd @janl local company that's been around 10+ years.
Mar 26 at 1:52pmWeb