Thread: Home solar power questions

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Why don't you get it rewired to run your property first while it's making solar, and only feed the excess into the grid?

That's what it's doing. I am running everything I can think of - the excess goes to the grid.

That's good.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Why don't you get it rewired to run your property first while it's making solar, and only feed the excess into the grid?

Isn't that how they all work?

Originally Posted by theelms66

Isn't that how they all work?

Yep

It used to be common for all the power generated to be sent straight to the grid, that's how our house in Brisbane is still wired, because we're still getting 40 c/kW hour rebate, but when the rebates were cut it became common to go the other way and power the house first, because the rebate was less than the cost of drawing on grid power.

So PV output must be wired into the grid side of the supply meter - that's a handy way to make money when feed-in rate is higher than grid rate!

Pv isn't wired in in any special way, the meter they use are called a bi directional meter.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

It used to be common for all the power generated to be sent straight to the grid, that's how our house in Brisbane is still wired, because we're still getting 40 c/kW hour rebate, but when the rebates were cut it became common to go the other way and power the house first, because the rebate was less than the cost of drawing on grid power.

You might need to clarify that because what you say isn't, and has never been "common". In fact, without a completely separate import and export metering setup (ie two completely separate meters joined only at the grid side) it's quite impossible.

If you generate more than you are using, then you are exporting and get the subsidized 40c rate for the surplus. If you use more than you generate then you are importing and pay (I dunno what you pay. Here it's 26c) rate for the shortfall.

If it worked the way you said it did, then you'd be getting a credit of 14c for every unit you consumed while you were generating even if it was even (you generate 5kw and consume 5kw). I don't think so Tim.