Thread: solar power for home?

what was the cost?

Having had it for fourteen years, I can't agree that "I can't believe why everyone hasn't got it". It is expensive compared to alternatives in most cases, and takes a significant amount of expertise to keep it running. The cost of getting it inspected and approved is also significant, although probably no more than getting the power on.

John

What sort of setup is it?

I'm interested because a guy I know mentioned that he'd just put in a system - but he wasn't the sort of guy that I'd have thought likely to do it!

Originally Posted by Ace

what was the cost?

around $12,000

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Having had it for fourteen years, I can't agree that "I can't believe why everyone hasn't got it". It is expensive compared to alternatives in most cases, and takes a significant amount of expertise to keep it running. The cost of getting it inspected and approved is also significant, although probably no more than getting the power on.

John

No inspection or approvals its not running through the grid if thats what you meen john?Its was $25,000 to get the power to his place.What sort of system have you got?


Greg

Originally Posted by thethink

What sort of setup is it?

I'm interested because a guy I know mentioned that he'd just put in a system - but he wasn't the sort of guy that I'd have thought likely to do it!

The panels are 120 watt sharp/ 8 of them
2,800 watt converter
not sure of the size of the controller it can carry 10 120 watt panels
24 x 2 volt lead acid batteries

Greg

G'day All, I don't mean to knock anyone's effort at being Green, but wait till the first real Hail Storm hits, I'm led to believe that a crack on any panel renders it useless, I have a 75W solar panel on my 110 County and I have had it on several Land Rovers over the past 20 years and touch wood it hasn't been damaged as yet. I think we are all a long way off acheiving anything really like 100% Green, I won't see it in my lifetime and I'm way past the 1/2 way mark cheers Dennis

Nice setup.

Originally Posted by Dinty

G'day All, I don't mean to knock anyone's effort at being Green,

Why does everything now days have to do with being green

I grew up in a rural community where everyone was "green" some 20 - 30 years ago
Remember when farms had windmills? Ours pumped the water, but many ran small battery banks to power radio comms stations, electric fences etc.
We also had a thunder box, zero water use. Tank water, short showers. We composted most of our waste, no recycle bins then, owned and killed our own chooks - no packaging and significantly, our solar hot water, like many in the district, was lots of meters of black poly pipe on the shed and house roof which was stored in a 'normal' hot water system tank courtesy of some towny who had broken it!

Don't get me wrong, I love solar but does anyone know the $ cost and environmental footprint to make and run a square foot of panel? I can guess.

Not meaning to hijack the thread but I believe from scientists that I work with, that solar would be even better if coupled with wind generation. Is that possible? with a system like that?

BTW, for the record, I am a nuclear energy supporter, but thats for another thread in the soap box section

Ralph