Solar Electric Power (Photovoltaic Panels)

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Profile Angela Special Project $75 donor
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Message 1628214 - Posted: 16 Jan 2015, 0:39:59 UTC
Last modified: 16 Jan 2015, 0:40:43 UTC

The real question is "Will you now have to do more cooking, to use all this "free" energy?

Oh yes!!!


Reading what she says, that should be what the solar installation produces, not what Angela's household uses.

Yes.
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Message 1629404 - Posted: 18 Jan 2015, 17:10:51 UTC

My current bill says that for the period 11/25/14 to 12/30/14, I used 577.45 KWH.

It also says that my usage for the previous month (which may be closer to an actual 30 days; they probably read as close as possible to the end of the month/year because rates increase on the 1st) I used 507, and for the same month last year I used 629.

I really don't want to dig up all of them for the whole year.
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Message 1629411 - Posted: 18 Jan 2015, 17:30:08 UTC

We used 755 kwh for the one month ending December.
So with the sub artic winter, how are we doing?


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Message 1629424 - Posted: 18 Jan 2015, 17:52:56 UTC
Last modified: 18 Jan 2015, 18:16:02 UTC

I may need to call Grid Alternatives, as I haven't been contacted and I'm wondering if they feel I'm too far out or something...

Putting solar on My roof should not be a big deal, the roof can stand the weight of a full grown man, so solar should not be a big deal, but some think it's too fragile so they say on land or forget it and I have no land...

Since I had to have My roof repaired after a wind storm made an awning that was over My front door walk across the roof, one leg was still attached and made a hole, which has been long repaired and being it's too far away from any edge of the roof a man had to walk on the roof and stand up on top to make the repair.
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Message 1629471 - Posted: 18 Jan 2015, 20:54:49 UTC

The panels you are looking at are installed on a number of narrow boats over here. In that environment they are attractive not because of their efficiency, but because of their very low profile and the fact that they curve to fit the roof profile. People who cruise a lot in their boats tend to use the roof as a walk-way and these panels are certainly less of a trip hazard then the more conventional "rigid box" ones. But there are downsides, they are expensive, something like 50% more than a similar rated rigid panel, the surface has to be VERY clean before you start, and they don't take too well to sharp radii such as raise seams (even 3mm high seams can cause them problems). If your roof paint, or whatever protection is up there is in the least bit loose and flaking the panel will peal it of with the greatest of ease in even a moderate wind, never mind a half decent storm. Another thing to remember is, assuming yo manage to get them to stick down properly they are stuck for life, no lifting them to move them to anther property in a few years time, they are there for good....
In a domestic situation like yours I would go for a more traditional rigid panel, they are less expensive to buy and install, are smaller for a given output.
And finally, just because your roof "will stand a full grown man" doesn't mean it is strong enough to take a PV farm - lots of things will take a load for a short time, but in the longer term will fail, so get a properly qualified assessment of your property done. I know its a trailer/mobile of some sort, but they vary so much in construction, and do tend to be at the weaker end of the scale, but it is your only home, so make sure its roof is going to be in place, along with the walls, and this sort of dwelling is very much built to a price.
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Message 1629513 - Posted: 18 Jan 2015, 22:36:55 UTC - in response to Message 1629471.  
Last modified: 18 Jan 2015, 22:45:10 UTC

I wasn't talking about the stick down type in My last post, just the crystalline type.

We've had 75mph gusts here, being an '87, it's not built like those from over a decade earlier, even down to the panels on the outside, which are similar to wafer board. Thankfully cause of the slope I don't need to worry about snow, yes it has snowed here.

I'd love to get a proper assessment, problem is, the installers don't care to do so.

Oh and I do have a very big wind break now, which I didn't used to have.
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Message 1629591 - Posted: 19 Jan 2015, 2:35:55 UTC
Last modified: 19 Jan 2015, 2:36:12 UTC

Oh and I do have a very big wind break now, which I didn't used to have.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Vic, my dear friend, you are a national treasure!!!
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Message 1629592 - Posted: 19 Jan 2015, 2:38:30 UTC - in response to Message 1629591.  

Oh and I do have a very big wind break now, which I didn't used to have.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Vic, my dear friend, you are a national treasure!!!

I wasn't talking about Me, I was talking about the place next door to My place, at one time that was an empty lot Angela.
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Message 1629599 - Posted: 19 Jan 2015, 3:09:09 UTC

Sorry Vic, I just couldn't let that one... er... uh... "pass". For a moment there I thought our solar energy thread had been converted over to "natural gas".
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Message 1629607 - Posted: 19 Jan 2015, 3:17:35 UTC

Remember that word "mobile". Here today gone tomorrow. I know what you are dealing with. I have lived near all my life in one.

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Message 1629689 - Posted: 19 Jan 2015, 7:37:16 UTC - in response to Message 1629607.  

I just had a PV system installed in SCE territory in Los Angeles County. My meter is one of the new ones that allows power to go back to the grid if my PV system is producing more that I use. It has no wheel, so it does not run backward.

Each city has its requirements for installation. The conduit must be placed per the city regs. Also, labeling is important and a cut-off switch is required.

SCE has its rules about installation. The inverter is not allowed to operate when the grid is down, so your PV system cannot be used if the grid is down ( I got around that by adding a battery backup system with sophisticated controller).

It pays to have a contractor do the work. They take care of all the permitting and paperwork. I found a contractor who did a very professional and thorough job. 30% of all the cost can be taken off your Federal tax. This tax deal is going to last until 2016 unless Congress reapproves an extension.
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Message 1630192 - Posted: 20 Jan 2015, 7:40:26 UTC - in response to Message 1629720.  

1/3 off to tax sounds quite generous, but yes your installation rules are similar to ours in that ony approved kit and installers can be used. Whats the payback period of your set-up Ralph?


Just using the cost of the PV system and the battery backup (after rebate) would be about 20 years. However, that does not take into account any funds received from selling back excess energy. Also, the battery backup gives us peace of mind. What value is that? For instance, recently SCE did maintenance in our area shutting off the power for several hours and we still had refrigeration and our computers, lights, phone, and TV still worked. Also, SCE has sent literature in their bills saying that in times of high electrical usage, we cannot depend on their power, which means they may schedule blackouts.
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Message 1630225 - Posted: 20 Jan 2015, 9:57:32 UTC

Why don't they just increase the amount they generate? Or is that too sensible an option?
Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge.
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Message 1630246 - Posted: 20 Jan 2015, 10:59:24 UTC

(Cynically)

Remember, they're in the business of making money, not spending it, so excess (and low-use) generating capacity is wasted money for the shareholders.

Also, at least in the UK, the Energy companies have been giving these dire warnings of brownouts and cuts for years, without them coming true so far. I think they do it to press the government to give them more money, or let them put up prices again...

I have a PV system, With Crystalline panels commissioned September last year, all well so far.
Happy Crunching,

Graham

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Message 1630486 - Posted: 21 Jan 2015, 6:33:49 UTC

I got an email reply to My email to Grid Alternatives that I sent in today, there is a lot of demand I'm told, so I need to be patient and wait.
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Message 1630816 - Posted: 21 Jan 2015, 21:58:41 UTC - in response to Message 1630246.  

(Cynically)

Remember, they're in the business of making money, not spending it, so excess (and low-use) generating capacity is wasted money for the shareholders.

Besides that, there are environmental issues with new power plants, especially in California. A new coal plant? Forget it. Natural gas? I doubt it. Nuclear? If you can find a geologically stable place to put it that's not too close to population for comfort, it takes years just to file the paperwork, and then more years to build it.

During the infamous CA brownouts a few years ago, there was a company that bought some used locomotives to use as a mobile temporary power plant. I don't believe they ever got used. But that reminds me, when Quebec had a major ice storm about, oh probably 20-25 years ago now, one town asked Canadian National for help. The help: they brought a loco with self-centering trucks (so it would go straight without rails) into town, took it off the track at a street crossing, and ran it down to the city hall to provide power until the grid came back up. It sat for several days in the middle of the street, screaming at whatever throttle setting produced 60hz from its generator.
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Message 1630855 - Posted: 21 Jan 2015, 22:29:16 UTC

Capstone Turbine, Chatsworth, CA.

Clean, Green. No Locomotive Needed, 'cept maybe to Transport Unit[s].

Yep.

May we All have a METAMORPHOSIS. REASON. GOoD JUDGEMENT and LOVE and ORDER!!!!!
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Message 1631374 - Posted: 22 Jan 2015, 19:54:16 UTC - in response to Message 1630855.  

Capstone Turbine, Chatsworth, CA.

Clean, Green. No Locomotive Needed, 'cept maybe to Transport Unit[s].

Yep.

Yup.
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Message 1631428 - Posted: 22 Jan 2015, 22:24:08 UTC
Last modified: 22 Jan 2015, 22:25:54 UTC

Ok Grid Alternatives is out for Me, they only install solar when you own the land, I rent the land, I'd have to move My mobile home to a piece of land(after buying the land with a loan), that could cost near $7000 for the teardown, move, and setup at the new location, plus there is the cost of buying the land, I know of two lots(land), one is for $10,000.00 and the other is for 14,000.00, both are for mobile homes and there is no rent there, plus there would be closing costs(probably minimal since this is land), moving and storage for some of My household furniture, for maybe as much as a week, utility deposit fees(Elec, gas, water & trash), concrete foundation for the mobile home to be attached to, a septic system would need to be installed(there is no sewer service in the desert usually), would this be cheaper than just buying a place? Most likely, I'd need a land loan and money from the loan to move this place, plus a building permit from the town in question.

I know of a HUD doublewide mobile home that needs new windows, tree roots under the driveway removed, insulation and drywall in the walls where the last owner added on to the place and didn't finish, hopefully the plumbing and electrical is still in place and not stolen, plus the doublewide is for $71,760.00 right now, but at least it comes with its own land, there I'd need a larger down payment, whereas the mobile home that I live in would be My down payment and would have to be secured to the concrete foundation, My mobilehome is known as a singlewide in the trade.

Repairs to the doublewide are as follows:
Other Repair laundry wall and hall ceiling
Roof Roof inspection is recommended (include wood patio roof). damaged rain gutters.
Electrical Replace electrical panel cover, dining room switch and outlet covers.
Other Replace vent cover.
Other Replace smoke and carbon monoxide detector.
Other Foundation issues in driveway and carport, remove tree.
Other Treat and paint defective paint on fascia and patio supports.
Other Water heater and crawl space cover need to be painted.

I'd rather cut out the tree root and put in new concrete where needed, but then I've owned a few homes in the past, I know what to look for.




Inside looks good of course, old, but good, I'd have to take My gas range and refridge with Me.



In some respects the doublewide is in better shape than My place, though the bathrooms there are better than Mine.



The uninsulated space, looks like the front door is missing, lovely, that's not cheap to replace.

One or the other would be needed for solar, oh and I don't know if its working or not, but the doublewide has a Hot Tub...

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Message 1631448 - Posted: 22 Jan 2015, 23:31:31 UTC - in response to Message 1631438.  
Last modified: 22 Jan 2015, 23:32:31 UTC

Vic,

Ok Grid Alternatives is out for Me, they only install solar when you own the land, I rent the land,

We all told you that but you wouldn't listen to anyone.

I know of a HUD doublewide mobile home that needs new windows, tree roots under the driveway removed, insulation and drywall in the walls where the last owner added on to the place and didn't finish, hopefully the plumbing and electrical is still in place and not stolen, plus the doublewide is for $71,760.00.


So, you can get a mortgage of maximum about $40K as you posted some time back, so where is the rest coming from? And you didn't take those pictures, you downloaded them from the house sellers agents website on the web.

Why are you wasting your time and ours posting stuff like this? You have already said you are stuck where you are for the next 7 years. And you had all these grand plans to replace windows and doors for many thousands of dollars. Then we had all this solar nonsense, now this stuff. What's going on Vic?

SNIP

Well that was with the USDA, the CHF I think would be different, in any case, this place is 203K compatible, but can go straight FHA, if the place is livable, I live in a livable fixer, so I'd be going from one to another, I've called a lender to see if I'd qualify(I'm waiting for a call back), the CHF backed FHA mortgage has a 5.5% down payment(0.5% from Me{$358.80} and 5% from the CHF as a Grant{$3,588.00} total of $3,946.80 down, not a lien or 2nd mortgage) and HUD will if asked pay for closing costs, I've read that will reduce the bid. If I have enough income, I could qualify, though timing is bad currently, I suspect the doublewide would still be there, as these places are traditionally hard to sell.
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