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- 28 October 2008
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I'm shot for any serious upgrade.
If I upgrade the inverter to a higher capacity one, I lose the feed in tariff.
I'm shot for any serious upgrade.Stage 3 of my solar power system, adding a complete new 1.52 KW string on the NE roof face, will be a goer soon as I'm about to order the equipment.
Stage 3 of my solar power system, adding a complete new 1.52 KW string on the NE roof face, will be a goer soon as I'm about to order the equipment.
We have a new way of ripping of the power, if you have solar panels, and you are getting more for your power from them, than you get from the grid, all you have to do is get a battery charger wired up to your solar panels, at night you turn on the battery charger.
Good one Labour.
That doesn't make sense. Assuming you are on the 47 cent FIT (WA, but I assume similar in other states), why would you direct your excess power to a battery foregoing 47 cent per kWH, when the battery operating at night will only save you 20 (approx) cents per kWH used or even less if you are using smart power. Additionally, charging a battery will always be less than 100% efficient, so you will not get back what you put in.
If you are not on the FIT, then what you are doing is perfectly valid so long as the setup is approved by the appropriate regulatory authority. You are generating the power, storing what you don't use during the day and retrieving it back at night. Who is being ripped off?
North is obviously ideal, but east is better than west, all other factors being equal, as solar panel efficiency declines with increasing panel temperature.
Another consideration is slope of the roof, east vs west.
Solar panels are generally specified at 25 DegC panel temperature (not air temperature) and decline by 0.45%/DegC.
http://www.hanwha-solarone.com/imag...odules/polycrystalline/en/sf_190_poly_IEC.pdf
That's why I referred to all other factors being equal.The problem is Doc, when the feed in tarrif finishes.
In WA, the fit contracts run until 2020; by that time, our installation has been well and truly paid for and every unit produced after that will be a profit. Either in saved import (bought at ever increasing rates from Western Power) or exported into the grid at a lower wholesale price.That's why I referred to all other factors being equal.
Another consideration is the longevity of the components in terms of the return you get over a reasonable lifespan. It's OK to plan ahead, but what if the inverter packs up out of warranty but before or when the FIT ends ?
In relation to future usage, another consideration is the increasing cost of grid electricity and the reducing cost of solar components.
+1
I am a little confused with pilots statement.
Gentlemen, no batteries needed, you have a battery charger wired in to your solar panels, at night you turn on the charger and you get 47c for the power you are supplying to the grid, you are NOT paying 47c to run the charger(way less). This little scam will be costing the power companies big bucks, how are they going to stop it????
no, but you can get batteries with higher voltage.They are not 12volt panels.
They are not 12volt panels.
no, but you can get batteries with higher voltage.
I think pilot's ruse is, he buys power at the the cheap noght rate, shoves it into a battery, then he "empties" the battery during the day, increasing the solar panels' output into the grid, selling at the subsidised 47c rate.
It may be technically possible; whether it's legal or ethical is a different matter.
Sounds about right, Calliope;The daily output of my 1.5 KW system exceeded 10 KWh for the first time yesterday. I doubt it will go much higher this summer. Although the days are gettin longer, they are also getting hotter. As drsmith pointed out, panel efficiency decreases with panel temperature rises.
OK, I get it:No battery at all, the charger feeds in to the grid at night only.
The daily output of my 1.5 KW system exceeded 10 KWh for the first time yesterday. I doubt it will go much higher this summer. Although the days are gettin longer, they are also getting hotter. As drsmith pointed out, panel efficiency decreases with panel temperature rises.
Sounds about right, Calliope;
our 2KW system produces around 100 units a week and the credits from our exports are just about balancing charges for imports.
That's slightly better than what my initial feasibility study was based on. As retail rates increase over time, the balance is likely to change numerically. But then, the value of any solar-generated power that we consume ourselves will increase - so it'll all even out.
LOL Doc,Aha! At last I get to say "mine's bigger than yours"We've had our 4kw system since mid-Feb this year and am averaging 20-23 kwh daily this week. So far, March, Sept & Oct were all similar at 510, 522 & 515 kwh respectively. I'm located Gold Coast so agree that the increasing heat will no doubt compensate for longer production times. Ours are half east and half north facing due to roof space available. So far, with a family of four (including 2 teenagers who use far too much power and seem unable to turn anything off) we've had to pay only $140 to Origin since having the panels installed. As we still have electric hot water, off peak, that makes me happy. Our next bill will be the first with 3 spring/summer months and I'm hoping for a credit balance.
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