Thread: Solar power outcomes

We've had ours for 500+ days. The inverter failed Xmas day and wasn't replaced for 3 weeks. We were lucky it was. The supplier has now gone out of business so our warranty is worthless.

We've generated over 5MWh of power for a credit of $3,400+

If I was looking now, I wouldn't do it in NSW as there is little financial benefit. at least we got the govt. interest-free Green Loan to buy ours.

here’s my solar generation. p38arover 3.040kW

Run the mouse over the graph. I’ve generated about 5MWh at 68 cents/MWh = $3,400

Click on Follower, Following, Photos (of mine) etc. below the graph to see more info.

This is my Live production: p38arover 3.040kW | Live Output

For comparison, I picked someone who is following my system to compare., see Compare Live

I was comparing Bytemrk's (from this forum) system to mine but his hasn't been uploading data for over 10 days now.

My solar inverter directly uploads to my PC via a serial port.

For consumption monitoring, I use a Current Cost EnviR Current Cost - Reducing your energy bills so you can live a greener life! which uploads to the PC via a USB port.. I used to upload to the ‘net via my router and I could monitor the power from anywhere (via Google PowerMeter). Google have closed that service. I now use the PVOutput service linked above.

Originally Posted by p38arover

We've had ours for 500+ days. The inverter failed Xmas day and wasn't replaced for 3 weeks. We were lucky it was. The supplier has now gone out of business so our warranty is worthless.

Why does this not surprise me!

For all the information on solar in Australia go to the green tech forum at http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/143

It's a gamble, you go with a good local sparky and they will sell you top stuff from Germany etc or you go with one of the big advertisers and get stuff fom China which will be about 1/2 to 2/3 the cost of the presumed better stuff.

As we are going to renovate and sell one day we went China. Ifstaying I would have spent the extra.

We are also going to get an inverter pool pump. Current pool pump costs around $400 per 1/4, the new one will cost $80 per 1/4, for an investment of $1,400.

The solar stuff works and you do save. Be aware that they might be about to cancel all selling back to the networks so make your mind up I have been told.

I got a 2.5 kw system put on my roof with a 3kw inverter. That was put on September 18 months ago. Ours is a German unit

I am very pleased with it. I did at the same time ( on advice from the company that did it) get my pool , dryer , washing machine and dishwasher put on tarrif 33

My bills we quickly heading towards $600 a quarter. To be honest some of that is our fault. With two very young kids we tend to do all our washing at the weekends. So this means washing and then drying it in the dryer even in Brisbane summer days. So we dot really help our selves but I accept that.

But our last power bill ( and we have not changed our habits ) was $75 for the quarter and the one before that was $92.
So all in all very happy with it and my neighbour has just got it on his roof after seeing my bills before and after

I am looking at putting another couple of panels up on the roof later this year. We have 12 panels but can have 16 with the inverter we have , so going to get another 4

We have a 1.5kW system using a solar tracker. This makes it approximately the same daily output as a 2kW system. With SA's feed-in tarrif we have covered our modest electricity costs for the last 3 1/2 years.

Our daily usage is around 10 kWh being the combination of Vestfrost low energy use fridge and heat pump hot water. We heat by wood and cool by evaporative. Our F & P frost free fridge used to cost 3kWh daily, the Vestfrost about 0.7. The tucker box freezer adds about 1kWh daily. No pool, no monster TV, no halogen downlights.

The panels are Japanese made Kyocera, the inverter is German made Sunny Boy 1.7kW. Neither has shows signs of deterioration, I monitor the system by walking past the inverter once in a while and reading the numbers. We are up to about (edit!) 6800kWh production since October 2008.

I forgot to mention our last electricity bill put us $292 in credit. That will get used up over winter with using the aircon for heating.

Are there any others on here uploading to PVOutput (other than Bytemrk's Powerhouse)?

I run a 5kw system.. Its been up and active since September 2011.

In that time it has generated over 7600kWh of power for our household.

Needless to say, with sensible energy usage.. We are well in front

Skuilnaam