Only $2500 for the xp12000. The rest were what I started with for backups. $9k of batteries if I bought them all though. It's a fun learning experience and so far I have survived.
Smart guys, SOLAR
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I did solar four years ago, 8 1/4 kW system, cost me 14,000 after the federal rebate, put it in myself, so it was much cheaper, very simple like Lego bricks just putting it together bolts and running wire tubing and wire, my workshop just happened to be southern facing on one side for a perfect angle, when people ask me, should they go off grid? I say definitely not because it’s a free piggy bank for me to put my energy into that I don’t use and then I can use it during the winter time to heat the house and use more than I make in the winter. . I only use about half of it, they used to give me 5 1/2 cents a kilowatt for all the extra now it’s like 1 1/2 cents so it’s better for me to just run electric heaters in the house During winter because I do not use much AC in the summertime. Mine should be paid off in two more years. It would’ve been sooner if they didn’t change the payouts that they gave me, I was getting $450 a year for my surplus and now they give me like 50 bucks so better for me to burn it on electric heaters, I love my system. It’s maintenance free and someday who knows I could end up with an electric vehicle which I would use all the rest that I make.
JRHill
Active member
Equipment
Orange: B7100 Std and Woodmizer; Green/yellow JD Buck, Gator and 410j.
Excellent question, in the four years that I’ve had it up we have had just a couple days where I would have to run my small inverter generator to power, my fireplace, fan and refrigerator, much less than what we had in early 2000 when a big snowstorm took down the powerlines for a couple weeks, but SCE has spent millions in the rule areas because of the wildfire issues and the power outages and brownouts are much less but a little generators a lot cheaper than those batteries which can go bad and I already had these generators, when I say generators, I got one big one when I need to pump water, haven’t used that one in years have to start it occasionally and put fuel saver in it. And the small one I use when I go Boondocking in my truck camper. God bless and thanks for asking. This is what my Enphase report looks like for the life time, blue is what I produce, and orange is what I use.
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Don't forget, "boys", women can do things, too. I installed two systems...one very small in the barn and one small for the house. The 16 panels for the house are wired through a combiner box from which 4 wires come into the garage. From there, there is a breaker cut off prior to each of the two Midnite Solar Classic 150 charge controllers. I have an Outback inverter. Initially, I used a forklift SLA battery but have recently converted to LiFePO4 batteries. They are great...so far. For freezing temperatures, they need to be housed with insulation so that is a project in the making.
I installed a new service panel and moved the breakers for the outlets and devices I wanted to run on the solar. It was just a matter of moving the wires from the original service panel over to the new one.
The system at the barn will power lights and the chicken waterers. The house system will power 1 refrigerator, 2 freezers, TV, etc., and several outlets for lights. I have a transformer to get 240V but I haven't done anything with that yet. If connected, that would power the water pump, but I doubt it would do much for heat/air as the system is not large enough.
My motivation was due to power outages. The money saving on the electric bill would not be much since heat/air, oven, dryer are the biggies. I only run small things. I do have a Honda 3000is if necessary. When there was a lengthy power outage a few years ago because it was rain/snow, there wasn't enough sun to charge the battery so the Honda was a real lifesaver. I also have a fireplace. But, as we all know, that's a lot of work!
So, there it is. I did this in 2012 and it still is running so I can't complain. Plus, the house hasn't burned down yet! Lots to be thankful for.
Tractor gal
I installed a new service panel and moved the breakers for the outlets and devices I wanted to run on the solar. It was just a matter of moving the wires from the original service panel over to the new one.
The system at the barn will power lights and the chicken waterers. The house system will power 1 refrigerator, 2 freezers, TV, etc., and several outlets for lights. I have a transformer to get 240V but I haven't done anything with that yet. If connected, that would power the water pump, but I doubt it would do much for heat/air as the system is not large enough.
My motivation was due to power outages. The money saving on the electric bill would not be much since heat/air, oven, dryer are the biggies. I only run small things. I do have a Honda 3000is if necessary. When there was a lengthy power outage a few years ago because it was rain/snow, there wasn't enough sun to charge the battery so the Honda was a real lifesaver. I also have a fireplace. But, as we all know, that's a lot of work!
So, there it is. I did this in 2012 and it still is running so I can't complain. Plus, the house hasn't burned down yet! Lots to be thankful for.
Tractor gal