solar panels

[polkadotminnie]

Do any of you have large solar panels on your house? Pros and cons? Which brand do you own and size? Are you glad you purchased them? Thanks for any advice you can give!

 

[Califgirl]

We're also investigating this. We have room for a ground mount instead of a roof mount, so size isn't as much an issue for us. The companies we've been talking to seem to feel that Sun Power has some of the most effecient panels. YMMV

 

[polkadotminnie]

anyone else?

 

[PrincessInOz]

I have solar panels on my roof and have had them for over 2 years now.

Our system over here is a feed-in, net electric usage; which means that what we generate is netted out against what we use. And any excess electric power we generate is then registered at the meterbox. The electric companies pay us about 66 cents per kW/hr generated...at least that's the current going rate set by the government.

In summer, we don't pay any electric bills for about 5 months in a year.

Our panels have been installed on the north facing side of the house.
I cannot remember what brand panels we got; but they are Spanish made. I understand that Spanish and German made panels are the most efficient around.

We've been pretty pleased with the system.



ps. Forgot to say that we have a 2 kW system.

 

[Karlzmom]

We have a 8.61 KWh system. We did not purchase, we did a lease based on any repair issues being on our company, not us. Also, we are guarenteed a level of output, and if the level falls due to panel degradation [common problem] then we are paid the difference. Our panels are made by Kyocera.

Overall, we are very happy. Its a kick to watch our meter run backwards [1300Kwh in the last 31/2 weeks]. My only complaint was how long it took to get the system installed once we signed all the paperwork. Now I can't help but wonder why we didn't do this ages ago.....

 

[Sheree]

love it!
started with one company last june. very large nationwide company. they were horrible. switched to a local company in November, installed December. love my $2 electric bills. we'll sell the SRECs and breakeven is about 3-4 years. they are on the front of the house, us made and look nice

 

[Jeff_G]

What are you running for kwh in the winter months?

I'm also curious what the various system cost, when I have run the numbers its been a very long payback (20+ years) every more so now that most of the federal credits are gone...

I have a former boss who mounted his on piers (concrete and metal poles) on the ground vs on their roof as I believe their HOA prevents roof mounts. I thought that was a neat idea, you just need larger cables the further out you go. His panels are away from the house and screened in by some bushes so you don’t even know they are there, of course he has like 5 acres so it’s easier to do that.

 

[worm761]

If you guys don't mind me being nosy....how big are your homes? and how much were your systems? We live in Florida and I would love these.

 

[maciec]

If you guys don't mind me being nosy....how big are your homes? and how much were your systems? We live in Florida and I would love these.

I would also love to know how much your systems were.

 

[Theosus]

What are you running for kwh in the winter months?

I'm also curious what the various system cost, when I have run the numbers its been a very long payback (20+ years) every more so now that most of the federal credits are gone...

I have a former boss who mounted his on piers (concrete and metal poles) on the ground vs on their roof as I believe their HOA prevents roof mounts.

At the risk of sounding like an AOL user..... I'm interested in system cost as well. I have to redo my shingles in the next few years, so it might be good to do the "solar shingles" when I do it.

As far as HOA's go, I avoid them like the plague. I can't believe anyone willingly submits to the rule of those groups. But thats just me...