I went solar

[Woodsplitter67]

Just got all of this together. I will be installing a full ground mount system. I will own it. This will be on the far end of the property. Nothing on my homes roof. Its got a great exposure and facing south with a long production time for the whole array. The pay back time is minimal.
Super stoked

 

[jebatty]

Tell us more! System specs, panels, inverters, etc; pictures showing the install; first impressions ....

 

[Woodsplitter67]

Tell us more! System specs, panels, inverters, etc; pictures showing the install; first impressions ....

As i said in my post i will be installing a full ground mount system
Its not in yet
I dont have the specs on me as i am on vacation again
Its a 48 panel system
The panels are LG 330 watts each
All optimized
I can list some more info when i get home

 

[begreen]

Small suggestion. Mount it high enough that the bottom edge is well off the ground and above weeds and grasses. And don't weedeat anywhere near it. (don't ask how I know this)

 

[Woodsplitter67]

Small suggestion. Mount it high enough that the bottom edge is well off the ground and above weeds and grasses. And don't weedeat anywhere near it. (don't ask how I know this)

Thanks mr green..
I believe the back of the array is 10 and the front is 5 feet... the total size is like 20x43 feet i do t have the spec sheet on me now but i will look into it

 

[jebatty]

You are installing a very capable system. Do you have a BEV in your present or future? What is your estimated annual kWh production?

Suggestions: Pay attention to how the panels/inverter(s) communicate to the Web and the info that is communicated. Will you be able to download all that info, if you want? Will there be direct communication with your computer monitor and will you be able to capture and download that info? Will you be able to monitor each panel? Panel monitoring feature allows you an easy way to ID any panel failure or anomaly. Also, what is the means of all that communication? My system allows wi-fi or direct ethernet communication. Wi-fi was inconsistent due to distance, more than 200' between the panels and my router. I was aware of this, and when installed I had a Cat5 cable buried to assure communication integrity.

My 12.3kW system as of 11 months in 2017.

 

[Woodsplitter67]

You are installing a very capable system. Do you have a BEV in your present or future? What is your estimated annual kWh production?

Suggestions: Pay attention to how the panels/inverter(s) communicate to the Web and the info that is communicated. Will you be able to download all that info, if you want? Will there be direct communication with your computer monitor and will you be able to capture and download that info? Will you be able to monitor each panel? Panel monitoring feature allows you an easy way to ID any panel failure or anomaly. Also, what is the means of all that communication? My system allows wi-fi or direct ethernet communication. Wi-fi was inconsistent due to distance, more than 200' between the panels and my router. I was aware of this, and when installed I had a Cat5 cable buried to assure communication integrity.

My 12.3kW system as of 11 months in 2017.
View attachment 216966

Communication will be through a cat5 cable. I am doing all the trench work with my machine.

 

[jebatty]

Good choice.

 

[Dobish]

i wish we could have done a ground mounted system... but roof panels had to do.

 

[Woodsplitter67]

i wish we could have done a ground mounted system... but roof panels had to do.

What size system do you have and how long has it been up

 

[Dobish]

What size system do you have and how long has it been up

this place is smaller than our last, we were running a 3kW system at our last place, which provided roughly 80% of our electricity throughout the year.

Now we are running a 2kW system (roof was not structurally sound enough for more panels) and we produce roughly 22% of our yearly usage.

 

[Dobish]

What size system do you have and how long has it been up

we were going on 5 years on our previous place, 3 years with our current system.

 

[Where2]

Unless someone kills net metering, you probably won't regret anything about having solar other than not doing it sooner. 4+ years with my 4.4kW array. (roof mount). I continue to contemplate adding a ground mount to force my electric bill down to the base meter fee. Right now, the 4.4kW array generates around 6MWh/yr, which basically covers running my A/C 10 months out of the year in my humid sub-tropical climate.

 

[Brian26]

Just got all of this together. I will be installing a full ground mount system. I will own it. This will be on the far end of the property. Nothing on my homes roof. Its got a great exposure and facing south with a long production time for the whole array. The pay back time is minimal.
Super stoked

Congrats! NJ has some insane incentives and the payback period is the 2nd best in the nation. My wife is from NJ and her mother had panels put in a few years ago and she is on track to pay them off at 4 years.

I don't think some of you in other states realizes the incentives and payback period in other states. Here is a good site to compare.

https://solarpowerrocks.com/2017-state-solar-power-rankings/

 

[Woodsplitter67]

Congrats! NJ has some insane incentives and the payback period is the 2nd best in the nation. My wife is from NJ and her mother had panels put in a few years ago and she is on track to pay them off at 4 years.

I don't think some of you in other states realizes the incentives and payback period in other states. Here is a good site to compare.

https://solarpowerrocks.com/2017-state-solar-power-rankings/

View attachment 218518

I am verry excited
I will be able to wright off a full 30% of the system
The esrix credits are worth 200 per kw or higher right now
My system is 16Kw
Its to produce aprox 20Kw
Thats aprox 4k in credits paid to me for at last 15 yers plus no electric bill
My use is high. My home is not super huge like 3k in living space but we have a hot tub for 8 people. 3 refrigerators, one is in the outdoor kitchen, and a stand up freezer. Plus all of the outdoor lighting.
My payback is less than 7 years
I like the fact that i heat solely with wood, will generate my owne electricity. I am on a well for water and have septic. Plus i have a 13Kw generator for losse of power. I am so not tied to the grid
I like living in the woods

 

[Tar12]

I am just curious...how much does a system like this run?

 

[peakbagger]

I am just curious...how much does a system like this run?

It depends on state and local incentives. Standard rule of thumb is $3 per installed watt out of pocket, The OP may have spent a bit more as it was ground mount but if he DIYs some of all of the install. Take total installed cost minus 30% federal Tax credit (credit not deduction) and now where its gets tricky minus state and local incentives (http://www.dsireusa.org/ will give you an idea on what applies in Indiana). The other thing to factor in is potential ongoing sale of SRECs if the system can sell into a SREC market.

 

[Tar12]

Thanks for the info....I will look into this further.

 

[Brian26]

I paid $3.30 per watt for my 5.4 kw system. After the state and federal incentives/rebates my cost came out to around $2 a watt. Here in CT we have the most expensive power in the lower 48 so it was worth the investment. I paid for mine with a home equity loan that cost about the same as my yearly power bill. I will have the loan paid off in 5 years for the panels. My electric bill is now $19.25 a month.

 

[Woodsplitter67]

I am just curious...how much does a system like this run?

Some of the quotes were high as 75k. You way need to shop
The pricing will be all over and and what the company's offer may be a little different.
Some of the work i am doing myself as i have the machinery to do it. Were applying for a variance to get it set back farther on the property... the farmer dosent care.
The company that i went with is setting up the srec broker and monitors the system for me. I can also look at its performance. The panels anr all optimized and a cat 5 cable is run for communication into the house. There doing all the paperwork.. really theres not much to do.
My cost is a little higher then most as i am doing a ground mount and am applying for the variance.. with all of the extras i will still be under 3 dollars per watt after the tax credit

 

[begreen]

No solar gain today for us. There's snow on the panels! First time we've had snow on Christmas in 9 years.

 

[Woodsplitter67]

No solar gain today for us. There's snow on the panels! First time we've had snow on Christmas in 9 years.

How much snow... and wheres the pics

Here is our snow from the other week

 

[sweetczz]

Just got all of this together. I will be installing a full ground mount system. I will own it. This will be on the far end of the property. Nothing on my homes roof. Its got a great exposure and facing south with a long production time for the whole array. The pay back time is minimal.
Super stoked

This type of system is what I want. Who do i contact? Does your system have a name brand? Company?

 

[Woodsplitter67]

How much snow... and wheres the pics

View attachment 218738
Here is our snow from the other week

The pic is of my back yard and i think we got like 3in that day... not much but shore dose make the place look pretty..

 

[Woodsplitter67]

This type of system is what I want. Who do i contact? Does your system have a name brand? Company?

What state are you in...