Solar Power for the Home..

Koffee_Kosmo · June 2012

My modest 8 panel system produces in a whole day approx 6 kw KK

Lacehim · July 2012

Got my 5.6Kw of panels installed today. 28x200w panels, with a 5Kw Inverter. The installers where extreamly quick to install, and did a fantastic job too. Cleaned up after themselves, and even fixed a few roof tiles while they where on the roof. If anyone want a recommendation, the company was Solar Green. They do most of SE QLD. Once I get some data I'll let you know how it goes. Should be interesting.

prydey · October 2012

i had solar installed about 3 weeks ago. my import/export meter (smart meter) goes on tomorrow. here in s.a. we still have enough of a FIT+ extra from retailer, to make it worthwhile. FIT is 16c and AGL chip in 9.8c so its slightly more than what i buy it for off the grid.... for now. my system is 3.8kw consisting of 20 x 190w panels and a 5kw inverter. the idea was that i could expand later if needed but have since learned that not many do as the panels are expensive when bought separately. i went with a company that actually has a reasonable amount of negative feedback around the web, and they make no secret of the fact that the products are made in china, but then again, so are 80 of solar panels. i was prepared to take the risk, based on their pricing, which was substantially cheaper than most others. the product is covered by the same performance based warranty (25 years on panels, performing @ 90% after 12yrs and 80% after 25; and 10yrs on inverter, and 5yrs on install). in the 3 weeks its been running its produced well over 400kwh. i think its averaging somewhere around the 15kwh a day but that should improve as the weather does. last few days have been fine and its been north of 22kwh each day. good times. feel sorry for you poor folks in nsw and vic etc that get no FIT or very little. just doesn't seem right.

Lacehim · October 2012

prydey, You can still get rebates on new panels to make it bigger.

I had a 1kW system, and recently upgraded to a 5.6kW system with a 5kW inverter. I ended up taking the 1kW system down and replacing the whole lot, and I sold the second hand one on ebay for $1000. Today the solar produced 35.4kWh on a nice sunny day. The system paid for a full 1/4 power bill in 6 weeks and gave me a $50 credit. My aircon will probably flog it when it gets warmer, but next year a credit will be generated during Winter to pay any excessive summer power bills. The upgrade has been the best investment that I have done, ever. No more power bills will save me $2000 a year +

prydey · October 2012

if my system covers my bill, then i probably won't bother. its something i will have to work out over time. during summer, it looks like this system will smash my bill, its just a matter if i can get ahead by enough credit to cover the cloudy days during winter. it also depends a lot on what the authorities decide to do. if all states decide to head down the path of the east coast, then all those that have only recently signed up are screwed. if you jumped on early with a FIT that is locked in, then thats a different story.

Lacehim · November 2012

Just got my first full bill since upgrading the solar to 5Kw. I got a fair shock! I got a $550 credit! Yep, that includes paying for the power I used! I nearly fell off my chair! Mind you I'm about to absorb some of that over the next billing period by having the 21Kw aircon on. Hahahaha. Still I can feel less guilty about it, and at least I won't have a $750 power bill in Feb! Sweet.

Brett H · January 2013

Just installed a 5kw system on my roof and my sparkie/installer mate's roof. Systems were connected to the grid today :thumb: 20 Canadian Solar panels and an SMA Bluetooth inverter. Just shy if 26kw today but swithch on didn't happen till 8:30am. Exciting times...

Brett H · January 2013

And now a bad screenshot of the software for the Bluetooth:

UNM · January 2013

well, now that 3KW systems are $4K and 5KW systems at $7K, I am starting to consider it again. Knew this would happen as govt incentives for small systems decreased - meaningful systems are getting affordable.

derrilex · January 2013

Sweet Brett. What FIT are you on ? 8 cent ? What company did you use and if you dont mind me asking, how many $$ ( PM if you like )

Brett H · January 2013

on 1357730347:

Sweet Brett. What FIT are you on ? 8 cent ? What company did you use and if you dont mind me asking, how many $$ ( PM if you like )

No mate, got to the 44c rebate with the paperwork earlier this year. I'll give ou the sparkie's details over a coffee. I can help out with the install gratis but it would have to be during holidays. To be honest, at 8c feed in we'd never see our money back!

derrilex · January 2013

Well, you would. Simply by not paying for electricity you are paying the system off but nice work on the 44 cents. I feel its only a matter of time till the state change the law but time will tell. You should pay your system off in under 4 years then its all cream. My neighbour has a 2.9 kw system and he gets no bill and $ 500 per 1/4 cash. His system cost 8 k in the boom so by his logic it will take 4 years to pay back. My argument is by having no electricity bill he is paying the system off but he doesn't see it that way. So, after 8 years his system is paid off, sooner if electricity prices rise and then he gets 2k per year until 2028, as well as paying zero for electricity ( and god knows how much it will cost by then). The system is totally unsustainable and I'm quite confident it will get scrapped in favour of a 1:1 system with 3 years which is totally logical, not only given the state of the economy and QLD's debt but just plain common sense. Honestly, only a Labor accountant could have thought it was a good idea to pay people double the retail price for energy produced and then lock it in for 18 years. I'm sure most people see the 44 c as a way to make income rather than not paying for electricity.

Jonty · January 2013

on 1357736105:

Well, you would. Simply by not paying for electricity you are paying the system off but nice work on the 44 cents. I feel its only a matter of time till the state change the law but time will tell. You should pay your system off in under 4 years then its all cream. My neighbour has a 2.9 kw system and he gets no bill and $ 500 per 1/4 cash. His system cost 8 k in the boom so by his logic it will take 4 years to pay back. My argument is by having no electricity bill he is paying the system off but he doesn't see it that way. So, after 8 years his system is paid off, sooner if electricity prices rise and then he gets 2k per year until 2028, as well as paying zero for electricity ( and god knows how much it will cost by then). The system is totally unsustainable and I'm quite confident it will get scrapped in favour of a 1:1 system with 3 years which is totally logical, not only given the state of the economy and QLD's debt but just plain common sense. Honestly, only a Labor accountant could have thought it was a good idea to pay people double the retail price for energy produced and then lock it in for 18 years. I'm sure most people see the 44 c as a way to make income rather than not paying for electricity.

Join the rest of us D

simple maths, simple investment and do a little for the environment. I don't feel bad at all. I pay a bucket load of tax and would support at least 2-3 dole receiptients, so something back is a win for me! Spoke with a fitter at work yesterday, putting a 10kw system up on his property! That unit will average 40kw/day for the year! It will punch close to 100 in summer. So I'd say flip your coin over, take the emotion out of it and see it as a ROI situation

If you can afford a spa, you can afford panels :stir Jonty

derrilex · January 2013

on 1357761586:

Join the rest of us D simple maths, simple investment and do a little for the environment. I don't feel bad at all. I pay a bucket load of tax and would support at least 2-3 dole receiptients, so something back is a win for me! Spoke with a fitter at work yesterday, putting a 10kw system up on his property! That unit will average 40kw/day for the year! It will punch close to 100 in summer. So I'd say flip your coin over, take the emotion out of it and see it as a ROI situation If you can afford a spa, you can afford panels :stir Jonty

KK has the spa Jonty, I have a pool mate. The panels are easily affordable that's not the issue. The problem is the FIT of 8 cents. Unless you are home all day and consume the power you produce thus saving the retail cost, all that is achieved is exporting more or less free electricity to the grid. It can work but you need to home and using power that you would normally use at night. I'm going to wait and see what happens when all the work dries up for the solar companies later this year. I'm already getting messages from 3 companies offering cheaper deals than last year with free laptops thrown in etc.... They are starting to panic as no new work is coming in.

Koffee_Kosmo · January 2013

I am looking into expanding my current 1.5 KW / 8 panel system by getting an extra 3 KW / 16 panel system For a combined total of 4.5 KW I believe that I already have the 44 cents FIT and the expanded system will be at he same rate I am trying to at the very least reduce my electricity bills to zero KK

derrilex · January 2013

No chance KK. Any addition to the system will not attract the 44 FIT. If you are locked in to the 44 it is for your existing system only and you will have to check very carefully to see if adding panels will change your eligibility and wipe it all together

Brett H · January 2013

on 1357770903:

No chance KK. Any addition to the system will not attract the 44 FIT. If you are locked in to the 44 it is for your existing system only and you will have to check very carefully to see if adding panels will change your eligibility and wipe it all together

That's is as I understand it also. I certainly didn't want to find that cash at Christmas but with no opportunity to upgrade later I went for a bigger system, made less expensive by my off-siding.

Koffee_Kosmo · January 2013

A snip of the current law Current Feed in Tariff Queensland From July 10 2012 the Queensland State Government announced changes to the rebates that home owners and businesses receive. Homeowners can receive up to 16 cents per kWh (depending on the electricity retailer) for electricity they export to the grid. Homeowners can receive free electricity generated from their own solar power system for their own use, with no cost to them at all. Homeowners and Businesses also receive a solar rebate or subsidy at the time of purchase of their solar system to reduce the initial capital cost of their solar system. The value of the solar rebate is determined by the size of the solar system. For more information visit http://www.cleanenergy.qld.gov.au/demand-side/solar-bonus-scheme.htm

derrilex · January 2013

Clear as mud eh KK. I think you will have to call them and ask before committing. The way it reads is questionable. Purchase and install or operate a existing system with a inverter of not more than 5KW - (to qualify for the 8 & 44). If you are already on the 44 it could be worth a nudge and see what they say. Regardless, get any answer in writing.

FreshCoffee2 · January 2013

Without going way back into the specifics of all the posts here, I'm not quite understanding how some of you blokes have a zero electricity bill...presumably because you are still on early contracts and are being paid well for electricity you put back into the grid OR, if you have battery storage banks and inverters to put power back into your home after dark. I have been procrastinating over this for a while and am about to pull the pin and make the purchase. Because I dont expect to get anything back for electricity that goes back into the grid (NSW), I am only placing a system on the roof that covers our daylight hours useage. That means we get away with buying a smaller KW unit than if we were trying to get money back from feeding back into the grid, and I fully expect we will still be paying for power used at night which of course will be more than what we use during the day when people are less likely to be at home to use it.....incorporating the different tarriffs for different time zones (yes we have one of the latest meters that will allow our ripoff merchant oops I mean supplier to stitch that up for us soon as they can) I dont expect to get any more than a 50% reduction in my bill. Even despite our running electric fencing and 2 houses, the subbies quote is only for a 2.5 kW system ie to cover what is used during daylight hours and feed zero back if they are not going to pay us for it. Is anyone here running battery storage to feedback in at night?

Kelsey · January 2013

My uncle is. He's running running 24 batteries wired together with an inverter. But he's getting a great tariff, so he feeds in during the day while also charging and then uses batteries at night. The main problems he faces are keeping the batteries topped off with distiller water (Should be using gel batteries, apparently)and problems with draw due to different voltage batteries.

derrilex · January 2013

Spot on FC. Those that have no electricity bill are either on 44 c FIT up to 62 C FIT both of which, in anyone's language is fucken ridiculous. Not only is there no bill but about $ 500 minimum cash in the pocket per quarter. If batteries were more affordable they are definitely the way to go. Use the solar to charge the batteries first, then use the remainder in the house during the day, then export what's left (if any). Use a combo of 12 v LED lighting (which you can wire yourself) and inverters for high draw appliances and you're golden. Problem is, the cost of batteries is high but I believe that this is where the new technology is going to be focused - low cost, high performance gel or glass mat batteries.

Jonty · January 2013

on 1357769478:

I am looking into expanding my current 1.5 KW / 8 panel system by getting an extra 3 KW / 16 panel system For a combined total of 4.5 KW I believe that I already have the 44 cents FIT and the expanded system will be at he same rate I am trying to at the very least reduce my electricity bills to zero KK

Well in Vic, I expanded my system from 1.5kw too 3.1kw. The 1.5 was on 60cent FIT, then they reduced it in Sept 11 to 25cents. I put the additional panels up in late Oct 11 and since we were registered at 60 cent FIT - I got 60 cents FIT on the additional fit, because I was in the system :thumb: Mind you I organised it in August and my sparkie 100% said I would get 60.... KK, you may be lucky

Jonty Just for you D :stir :stir :stir :stir My unit since April 2011 has produced the following: Fed to grid = 3900 kw @ 60 cents = 2340 Used internally = 2500 kw @ 28 cents = 700 Unit cost was 8.5K and I have recouped as of Dec 12, over 3K of that 8.5K outlay since April 11. Money for Jam :P :P :P :thumb:

derrilex · January 2013

Just don't whinge when the state increases all its taxes to pay for the likes of you on solar welfare Jonty. Big smiles when you get ya next speeding fine tiger :rofl:

Brett H · January 2013

I'll be interested to see hi ours works out but the initial sums suggest we'll reduct a $700 per quarter solar bill to between $200 and $300. Most importantly we are reducing our bloody significant carbon footprint. Our system saves 50ton a year! I was umming and ahhing until I saw that figure.

derrilex · January 2013

So you a AGW believer I take it Brett ?

Brett H · January 2013

on 1357815311:

So you a AGW believer I take it Brett ?

I don't know... What's that? Yep... Just googled it! I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy and I think that the Australin Gastroenterology Week is a great idea. Now, seriously, I don't know what to believe so I'm hedging my bets. It's why I put my forms in bit waited as long as I could for prices to go down. I'm a 50/50 sort of a guy... But you know that.

derrilex · January 2013

on 1357818326:

Now, seriously, I don't know what to believe so I'm hedging my bets.

Hedging your bets is better than making shit up and then trying to prove it as fact by corrupting data to arrive at "the truth". With your figures, what's a $ 700 per quarter solar bill ? Or was $ 700 per quarter what your bill used to be ? If so, holy dooly ! Mine is just under the 400 per quarter ( before pool). Had my tarrif 33 pool wiring done on Monday and Energex turned up today to change my meters to a new digital one ( solar ready ). Amazed they turned up so quickly. My sparky had to submit a work request first so its all the more amazing.

Brett H · January 2013

We pay $650-$800 a quarter for our electricity currently. I'm hoping with solar that cost will be less.

alessandro65 · January 2013

I always think that for anyone that has not had any contact with the PV industry or item, it

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