Solar System?

[Castaway]

We got an application into the federal govt in May just before they axed the $8000 scheme to subsidise a 1 kW solar panels on your roof scheme. Took months of indecision before the paperwork gone done in Canberra and on Friday a gang of blokes in two vans turned up to install 6 solar panels on our roof I've been watching the inverter flashing and I reckon these panels are a great idea, The mains power box hasn't yet been converted to a new meter that pumps energy back to the grid, but what it does do is stop that little wheel from turning on the mains electricity meter, I got the computer on, two fridges running, the pump to the AP running all day and the wheel in the meter hasn't budged all day! How good is that?

I'm now looking at turfing out our electric hot water system next which must be around 18 years old and getting that other Govt subsidy for solar hot water. I was thinking of those thin glass evacuated tubes system. About 30 on the roof, the tank down on the ground. They are meant to be very good. Anyone have this system or similar?

http://www.apricus.com/html/solar_collector.htm

Any comments about it?

[iain]

good job castaway

We've got a 2kW system in. We had a similar good time watching the old meter "stall" and even run backwards (it actually ran the numbers back as well). The new meter isn't as much fun - it just gives us the total kWh readings for import and export. You don't actually get to see the meter go backwards anymore (you have two seperate meter readings). I reckon it was better seeing the dial! Although it is more lucrative to be now getting 44c/kWh for everything exported (we were $50 credit last "bill" - and I'm hoping for an even bigger payday for this summer's "bill"). Being the electricity "biller" is the way to go!

[Castaway]

I think the 2kW system is the way to go Iain. Well done. They say a 1kw system only does about 4.5 kw per day on average. But I noticed today we had clear skies and a hot sunny day in QLD. I got 6.4kw out of the system from 5am to 6pm which is great and more than I expected.

[Daryl]

Thats good to hear guys, I am in the process of building a new house and will be installing a 4kw system I to look forward to being an energy provider.

[Murray]

We had 1 kw installed a few weeks ago and our meter uns backwards during the middle of the day. 1 Kw is not really enough that is for sure.

[Tsaphah]

Seeing that the average Australian houshold uses anywhere between 15 to 20 kWh of electricity per day, compared to a home where the ocupants are energy wise and can get theirs between 2 to 8 kWh of electricity per day, you may just cut even with a 2kW system.

There are so many variables but every bit makes a difference.

[ian]

We have had a 1kW system on the roof for almost 12 months now. Summer gives a good return on the capital cost with Winter months not so much. But it has cut down our power bills, even though the cost of supply has gone up by about 17%!
I haven't taken much notice of the actual amount being returned to the grid but do notice that the Inverter display hits 1000W for most of the day at present.
Must wash down the dust film that was deposited on the cells . . . have not had any rain to do it for us since the dust storms a while back.
While I think it is a step forward to supplying home power, it is still very capital intensive, long R.O.I. and the panels are still relatively inefficient. We live in hope that by obtaining panels now at a higher cost, will further the research and development of these systems, so that the next 1kW we buy for installation will be more reasonably priced?

We also have a solar hot water service that has not yet been installed! That will present another saving on the power bill!

Cheers IanK :mrgreen:

[Castaway]

Must wash down the dust film that was deposited on the cells . . .

The bloke who installed our system recommended a soft broom or mop dipped in a weak detergent and wipe the cells every few months to keep it in tip top condition.

Geez! Its hard enough getting the missus to do the floors - now she's gotta get up on the roof! :mrgreen:

[cyberfysh]

Lucky you put that last comment in small print, Castaway! :P

I have a 1kW solar system on my roof; wish I'd gone for more, but that was what I could afford at the time. My latest electricity bill was $41 (including $27 for the ambulance levy), and my system generated a bit less than half as much as I used (226:521 kWh). I've had solar hot water for years, having replaced the electric system when it conked out a couple of years after I moved in; and I rarely have to use the booster. Mine's the old-fashioned Solarhart tank-and-panel system up on the roof, so I don't know anything about these new-fangled split systems. 8-)

Just a minor point of clarification, though: the amount of power you're using on a given day won't affect what's being fed back into the grid from your solar array. The two systems are independent, in that the solar system feeds only to the grid; then at the end of the billing period, the supplier charges you for what you've used (currently 17c/kWh) and pays you for what's been generated (at a current rate of 44c/kWh). Works for me!

[Julia]

People keep telling us to use the washing machine and the bread maker early in the morning before the cells start to operate, so we're not using the expensive power that could've been fed back into the grid. That's wrong then . . .