Solar panels.
- wobblysauce
- Seen it, Done it, Invented it!
- Posts: 10489
- Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2005 9:53 am
- Location: On an Island in the south
Re: Solar panels.
Still can't get over how the other panels were disconnected for so long.
Some play it safe on the merry-go-round, others go for the thrills of the roller-coaster.
ᕙ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ᕗ vs ლ(ಠ益ಠ)ლ
I have a joke for you. I have a prediction that you are going to walk into a bar, my prediction was wrong and your wallet is gone.
ᕙ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ᕗ vs ლ(ಠ益ಠ)ლ
I have a joke for you. I have a prediction that you are going to walk into a bar, my prediction was wrong and your wallet is gone.
- norbs
- fucking right wing vegan lesbian
- Posts: 24182
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:01 pm
- Contact:
Re: Solar panels.
Finally got my new system all up and running. Still some wrinkles, but it is nearly there.
Yesterday, a near perfect day, I produced 47Kwh between my 2 systems.. Booyah!
Not hard to tell the difference.
I reckon in Oct/Nov I might be able to crack 50KWh.
Yesterday, a near perfect day, I produced 47Kwh between my 2 systems.. Booyah!
Not hard to tell the difference.
I reckon in Oct/Nov I might be able to crack 50KWh.
Sarc ; my second favourite type of gasm.
-
- Smooth Lubricator.
- Posts: 12070
- Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:48 pm
- Location: The wet central coast
Re: Solar panels.
You're becoming quite a solar mogul Looking nice.
Surprise, no sig. Now there is. Or is there?
- smithcorp
- Occasional Visitor
- Posts: 5656
- Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2004 9:13 pm
- Location: Godzone
Re: Solar panels.
I'm happy with mine!
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
- pixelboy
- Posts: 8064
- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 4:07 pm
- Location: Shitney
Re: Solar panels.
it's amazing what action a facebook rant can getnorbs wrote:Finally got my new system all up and running. Still some wrinkles, but it is nearly there.
eek
- smithcorp
- Occasional Visitor
- Posts: 5656
- Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2004 9:13 pm
- Location: Godzone
Re: Solar panels.
Hey guys, looks like we might finally get a new smart meter next month to allow us to move to net metering. Is there anything I should be making sure we do in terms of meter type or settings, to ensure its compatible with getting batteries later?
Ideally, I want to use our panel power to run our home first, then have the remainder feed the grid; then when we have a battery, to feed our house first, charge battery second and then feed balance into the grid.
Ideally, I want to use our panel power to run our home first, then have the remainder feed the grid; then when we have a battery, to feed our house first, charge battery second and then feed balance into the grid.
-
- Spam King
- Posts: 5803
- Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2005 11:43 am
- Location: Brisvegas
Re: Solar panels.
Brought my first house last week, Time to look at Solar.
Our powerbill is ~300-450 a quarter, so not huge, but my new job is working from home so it allows me to do things like washing/dishwasher during the day.
I did notice the QLD gov are about to do a rebate, so I might wait to see what that is
https://www.qld.gov.au/community/cost-o ... ery-rebate
Our powerbill is ~300-450 a quarter, so not huge, but my new job is working from home so it allows me to do things like washing/dishwasher during the day.
I did notice the QLD gov are about to do a rebate, so I might wait to see what that is
https://www.qld.gov.au/community/cost-o ... ery-rebate
- norbs
- fucking right wing vegan lesbian
- Posts: 24182
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:01 pm
- Contact:
Re: Solar panels.
Smiss, as far as I knolw, and I may be wrong, but your house will use anything you produce first, before pulling from the grid. That is how it works here for me.smithcorp wrote:Hey guys, looks like we might finally get a new smart meter next month to allow us to move to net metering. Is there anything I should be making sure we do in terms of meter type or settings, to ensure its compatible with getting batteries later?
Ideally, I want to use our panel power to run our home first, then have the remainder feed the grid; then when we have a battery, to feed our house first, charge battery second and then feed balance into the grid.
The battery should do something pretty similar.
Sarc ; my second favourite type of gasm.
- smithcorp
- Occasional Visitor
- Posts: 5656
- Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2004 9:13 pm
- Location: Godzone
Re: Solar panels.
So no special settings i need to ask for?
- norbs
- fucking right wing vegan lesbian
- Posts: 24182
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:01 pm
- Contact:
Re: Solar panels.
smithcorp wrote:So no special settings i need to ask for?
I wouldn't expect so, but you can always download the instruction manual for your inverter and see if anything stands out.
Sarc ; my second favourite type of gasm.
- smithcorp
- Occasional Visitor
- Posts: 5656
- Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2004 9:13 pm
- Location: Godzone
Re: Solar panels.
So, Origin will be installing our net meter in the next 30 days, prompting me to think about (and ask for advice on) what we should be doing as a household to get the most out of our panels. We have gas hot water, gas cooktop and gas for heating (though we have no gas heater installed yet). Later in the year, or next year, we are likely to get a battery installed, but in the meantime...
We are not big power users, but i figure we can run our washing machine and dishwasher during the day rather than at night in off-peak time as we do now, and get electric mower and line trimmer to replace the petrol ones; and use electric heaters (during the day), but what other things are clever?
I doubt the sums add up to replace our perfectly fine gas water heater, but are there any clever ideas?
We are not big power users, but i figure we can run our washing machine and dishwasher during the day rather than at night in off-peak time as we do now, and get electric mower and line trimmer to replace the petrol ones; and use electric heaters (during the day), but what other things are clever?
I doubt the sums add up to replace our perfectly fine gas water heater, but are there any clever ideas?
- DarrenM
- Posts: 7251
- Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 3:21 pm
- Location: Sydney
Re: Solar panels.
electric heater
"Put a jumper on" - Mum
"Put a jumper on" - Mum
-
- Smooth Lubricator.
- Posts: 12070
- Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:48 pm
- Location: The wet central coast
Re: Solar panels.
Crypto mining is the best use for free power .
Surprise, no sig. Now there is. Or is there?
- norbs
- fucking right wing vegan lesbian
- Posts: 24182
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:01 pm
- Contact:
Re: Solar panels.
ysu wrote:Crypto mining is the best use for free power .
Will be using it as a heater in the brides office soon. 2 x 1080 should warm it up nicely, and make me profit
Sarc ; my second favourite type of gasm.
-
- Smooth Lubricator.
- Posts: 12070
- Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:48 pm
- Location: The wet central coast
Re: Solar panels.
Yeah, it's not bad - my office, small as it is, is very nice and cozy with the server & the desktop running; and I'm not even mining!norbs wrote:ysu wrote:Crypto mining is the best use for free power .
Will be using it as a heater in the brides office soon. 2 x 1080 should warm it up nicely, and make me profit
But keep in mind, a computer running full tilt for mining can be noisy...you need good water cooling and a silent case.
Surprise, no sig. Now there is. Or is there?
- norbs
- fucking right wing vegan lesbian
- Posts: 24182
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:01 pm
- Contact:
Re: Solar panels.
I only GPU mine, so it is pretty quiet.ysu wrote:Yeah, it's not bad - my office, small as it is, is very nice and cozy with the server & the desktop running; and I'm not even mining!norbs wrote:ysu wrote:Crypto mining is the best use for free power .
Will be using it as a heater in the brides office soon. 2 x 1080 should warm it up nicely, and make me profit
But keep in mind, a computer running full tilt for mining can be noisy...you need good water cooling and a silent case.
The PC with 2 x 1070s in it is noisy, but I dont have any case fan management on that one. Too lazy.
Sarc ; my second favourite type of gasm.
- smithcorp
- Occasional Visitor
- Posts: 5656
- Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2004 9:13 pm
- Location: Godzone
Re: Solar panels.
So, net metering is working. Just reviewed our profile in power use from the grid versus solar feed-in for one day (May 29th). We are on a FIT of $0.15 per kw/h which is one of the highest we could find. On that day we were charged $2.31 for power and generated $2.86 for a profit of $.55.
That day our 5kw panels generated 14.31kw/h which is a pretty ordinary day (the original 1.6kw panels (which I can't monitor remotely) seem to have contributed only about 4.75kwh). On a good summer day, the 5kw panels pump out 40+ kwh. I did some (probably incorrect) quick calcs that suggest our new panels will pay themselves off in less than 5 years.
Our electricity bills since we changed over to Origin in July last year (to March 2018) were $316.85 and our panels (at a lower rate then of $0.09) generated $1295 in FIT, for a credit over 8 months of more than $300!
Pretty happy with the decision to increase the solar we have.
That day our 5kw panels generated 14.31kw/h which is a pretty ordinary day (the original 1.6kw panels (which I can't monitor remotely) seem to have contributed only about 4.75kwh). On a good summer day, the 5kw panels pump out 40+ kwh. I did some (probably incorrect) quick calcs that suggest our new panels will pay themselves off in less than 5 years.
Our electricity bills since we changed over to Origin in July last year (to March 2018) were $316.85 and our panels (at a lower rate then of $0.09) generated $1295 in FIT, for a credit over 8 months of more than $300!
Pretty happy with the decision to increase the solar we have.
- norbs
- fucking right wing vegan lesbian
- Posts: 24182
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:01 pm
- Contact:
Re: Solar panels.
If you can afford the initial outlay, it is a no brainer.
3 more weeks Smiss, and the days will start getting longer again. Fuck winter
3 more weeks Smiss, and the days will start getting longer again. Fuck winter
Sarc ; my second favourite type of gasm.
- norbs
- fucking right wing vegan lesbian
- Posts: 24182
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:01 pm
- Contact:
Re: Solar panels.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal ... 4zixo.html
I cant believe one guys panels were dead for 4 months, and her didnt realise! FFS.
I cant believe one guys panels were dead for 4 months, and her didnt realise! FFS.
Sarc ; my second favourite type of gasm.
- wobblysauce
- Seen it, Done it, Invented it!
- Posts: 10489
- Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2005 9:53 am
- Location: On an Island in the south
Re: Solar panels.
Wow, did not think it was that high... Knew of some.
Some play it safe on the merry-go-round, others go for the thrills of the roller-coaster.
ᕙ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ᕗ vs ლ(ಠ益ಠ)ლ
I have a joke for you. I have a prediction that you are going to walk into a bar, my prediction was wrong and your wallet is gone.
ᕙ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ᕗ vs ლ(ಠ益ಠ)ლ
I have a joke for you. I have a prediction that you are going to walk into a bar, my prediction was wrong and your wallet is gone.
- smithcorp
- Occasional Visitor
- Posts: 5656
- Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2004 9:13 pm
- Location: Godzone
Re: Solar panels.
Been looking at our solar generation and power use and figure its time to get a battery. One of the interesting things is that even in winter, on crappy days (we had two days of pretty solid rain here last week), our solar generates 4-5 kw/h per day. Our daily use is 4.5-6 kw/h on a weekday and 6-8 on a weekend, so a modest battery should cover our needs even if we get a few days of overcast. Not planning to go off the grid, but panels plus battery should drop our power costs by 80-90% and my company will give me an interest free, pre-tax loan that will cover half the cost of a battery!
- norbs
- fucking right wing vegan lesbian
- Posts: 24182
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:01 pm
- Contact:
Re: Solar panels.
I reckon you will beat me to the punch here Smiss.
I cant believe how little energy you guys use. I suppose the big difference is that we are home working here, but on an average day when the bride is home, we get through about 15-20kw/h. Since I am Bitcoin mining that has gone up a bit, but we are still close to even in winter. Unless it is a shitty day. But summer more than covers it, so I am not worried. Plus, I have made a tidy little profit out of crypto mining.
Keep us informed Smiss.
I cant believe how little energy you guys use. I suppose the big difference is that we are home working here, but on an average day when the bride is home, we get through about 15-20kw/h. Since I am Bitcoin mining that has gone up a bit, but we are still close to even in winter. Unless it is a shitty day. But summer more than covers it, so I am not worried. Plus, I have made a tidy little profit out of crypto mining.
Keep us informed Smiss.
Sarc ; my second favourite type of gasm.
-
- Posts: 4336
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 1:13 pm
- Location: Darwin
Re: Solar panels.
It's interesting, having the 1:1 buyback here is really good but it kinda rules out or at least lessens the benefits of battery storage or getting into things like crypto mining.
I've had my system for a touch over a year now and it's generated about $2,200 so it's well on it's way to paying for itself in four years.
I've had my system for a touch over a year now and it's generated about $2,200 so it's well on it's way to paying for itself in four years.
- norbs
- fucking right wing vegan lesbian
- Posts: 24182
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:01 pm
- Contact:
Re: Solar panels.
Sarsippius wrote:It's interesting, having the 1:1 buyback here is really good but it kinda rules out or at least lessens the benefits of battery storage or getting into things like crypto mining.
I've had my system for a touch over a year now and it's generated about $2,200 so it's well on it's way to paying for itself in four years.
I will have to add that to my spreadsheet to see the benefits. But if you are concerned with ROI, yes, it is better for sure.
I have switched from wanting to pay the system off as quickly as possible to balancing it a bit with generating crypto currencies. Just this year, I have taken $1100 out of mining to buy toys, and even with the market in the shitter like today, I have another $1200 worth of coins sitting there.
That said, I have 4 GPUs working away. So there is that investment. But I have only bought 2 since I started mining, and they have paid for themselves already.
I think you get a shit ton more sun than us too Sarsi.
Sarc ; my second favourite type of gasm.
-
- Posts: 4336
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 1:13 pm
- Location: Darwin
Re: Solar panels.
Yeah on balance we have it pretty good but there is still quite a bit of seasonal variation that you might not expectnorbs wrote:I think you get a shit ton more sun than us too Sarsi.
You can see quite a drastic change from June compared to the latter months of the year, mostly due to the sun's inclination and shorter days, then Jan and Feb took quite a hit from all the rain.
This is the daily for Jan which is a pretty good indication of how the rain can set in, especially near the end of the month where some days I can barely generate 3-4kWh, then it's suddenly clear on the 31st and bam it's back up over 35kWh.
Last month you can see it's clear and sunny everyday, it's just the max per day has dropped to the 20-25kWh range.
I jumped on the roof over the weekend, it's been a good few months since the last rain and the panels were filthy with dust. It may not be 100% of the difference but after spraying them down with the hose the following day was up 1kWh
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.