Thread: I sit here stunned

Well done. Perhaps your last few readings were estimates?

Either way.. It s a nice feeling isn't it..

Can you cut the excess out in cold hard, or does it have to be used to offset your power bill?

I cash mine in each year and pocket about $2k

After a series of ridiculous power bills (here in WA) we put up a 3.6kW -or so- system. Lots of State Govt. rebates etc helped, but we got done like a dinner on the price. Regardless, it's paid for itself after 5 years.

After a few months of watching the old fashioned dials wind backwards, "they" finally installed a bi-directional you-beaut digital but dumb, meter.

As luck would have it, this happened right at the finish/start of a billing cycle so we got the full benefit of the 47 cents/unit export bonus...
Wife rang me at work when the next bill arrived, with the news that it was a number about a third of our previous ones, which was wonderfu.

Then she mentioned that the figure was... in CREDIT.

Currently, the balance is around $1500 in credit, and I've recently added 1kW to use more of the afternoon sun.

Bottom line is, it pays to have 'better-than-middle-range' panels, and inverter. (EDIT:- They're "REC" brand. They would (?) be superceded by now.)

Winter is fine (!) for generation, as the panels depend on light, not heat. Indeed, the colder climate is favourable for panel-output. In summer, panels drop output as the ambient temperature climbs.

With the probable sale of our State Power Utility to faceless/foreign 'Private Enterprise', I suppose we should look at going 'off-grid' with a battery storage system...

Being on the pension I use any credit against the next bill

I think I need more panels.

... You can never have too many Land Rovers / solar panels.
- Same thing...

My 4.6kW setup is producing roughly around 1.475964154 units (kW-hours) per hour of operation. The extra 1kW is really productive in the middle to late in the day, and the main 2 'strings' peter out mid afternoon, but they are pumping electrons from first light.

Originally Posted by Tombie

I cash mine in each year and pocket about $2k

What size is it Mike?