Solar power question ?
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From: eastern nc
Solar power question ?
I have a general idea of how solar power works. My question is; if you have a 200 watt solar panel, does it generate 200 watts of power continuously (allowing for variances in output due to sun strength, clouds etc.) or is their a formula like, 3 hours of direct sunshine = 200 watts of output?
I am thinking it is like a gas powered generator, output is 200 watts as long as the engine is turning the generator = solar power is 200 watts continuous output as long as the sun is shining.
I am very interested in solar power, just don't know a lot about it.
Thanks!
I am thinking it is like a gas powered generator, output is 200 watts as long as the engine is turning the generator = solar power is 200 watts continuous output as long as the sun is shining.
I am very interested in solar power, just don't know a lot about it.
Thanks!
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From: Goldsboro, NC
Yes, the watt rating is the peak continuous output wattage. You can either connect the solar panels to a charge controller which charge batteries that in turn feed an inverter for AC power to your house or you can connect the solar panels directly to an inverter and feed the electric grid, selling the electricity.
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From: Where's my map???
Originally Posted by scole250
Yes, the watt rating is the peak continuous output wattage. You can either connect the solar panels to a charge controller which charge batteries that in turn feed an inverter for AC power to your house or you can connect the solar panels directly to an inverter and feed the electric grid, selling the electricity.
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From: Leamington, Ontario
I saw an article on solar power in a magazine not to long ago. IIRC, it said that to produce enough power to run a few household items it would cost something like $25000, or it would take you about 40 years to break even. If you were to sell power back to the grid you have to apply for a power generation license first and then the government comes and does a bunch of inspections on your home and setup, and you need to install a special meter that can run backwards, and then it would only take about 25-30 to break even on the cost.
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From: Woodbury, MN
Originally Posted by herman391
I saw an article on solar power in a magazine not to long ago. IIRC, it said that to produce enough power to run a few household items it would cost something like $25000, or it would take you about 40 years to break even. If you were to sell power back to the grid you have to apply for a power generation license first and then the government comes and does a bunch of inspections on your home and setup, and you need to install a special meter that can run backwards, and then it would only take about 25-30 to break even on the cost.
I don't know what kind of setup he has or how much the initial investment is though. I'll ask him next time i see him.
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From: eastern nc
Thanks for the info.
I have looked at some pricing information and it would probably not be economical, in dollars and cents, to purchase a system of any size for the short term.
My thinking is help the environment (no I'm not a tree hugger), the cost of electricity is not going to go down, a backup power source without having to buy fuel for a generator, the life expectancy is over 25 years, you can sell the excess to the power company and I think how they work are amazing.
There are tax breaks for business and residential and grants to help offset initial costs, they vary from state to state.
I haven't read or seen any information about any inspection or license for power generation. I understand the power company has to buy any excess power from a green generation source.
I still have a lot to learn, again thanks for your help.
I have looked at some pricing information and it would probably not be economical, in dollars and cents, to purchase a system of any size for the short term.
My thinking is help the environment (no I'm not a tree hugger), the cost of electricity is not going to go down, a backup power source without having to buy fuel for a generator, the life expectancy is over 25 years, you can sell the excess to the power company and I think how they work are amazing.
There are tax breaks for business and residential and grants to help offset initial costs, they vary from state to state.
I haven't read or seen any information about any inspection or license for power generation. I understand the power company has to buy any excess power from a green generation source.
I still have a lot to learn, again thanks for your help.
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From: Mexifornia
I have a 5.86 kw system installed and I get credited for surplus on a yearly basis: whereas I used to pay an average of 301.00 per month; last year's total bill was 5.64 and this year's was 26.54...we have a rebate here so I re-couped 16k of the 42k cost and will have it paid off next august (4years) they have a 25 year warranty. I think it was the best investment I ever made and the owner of the place who installed them (you have to use a CEC lic. installer/seller to get the rebate) uses my house to demo potential customers. BTW they do not put out a continuous wattage; you can read that through the inverter as it fluxuates throughout the day.
Last edited by bczolone; May 3, 2007 at 10:50 AM. Reason: misspelling
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From: Calgary Canada
I work for an oil company and we use solar power on some of our remote sites. I do know that the way our system is set up, we get plenty of power even on overcast days in the winter when there might be only four or five hours of sunlight (pretty far north).
In the end, the two important factors are the size of the panel, and having enough batteries to get you through a few days of solid cloud.
For your home, it's probably not cheaper to use solar power, but you can set up a pretty simple system that will reduce the amount of electricty you buy off the grid. My In-laws are looking into a system like that.
In the end, the two important factors are the size of the panel, and having enough batteries to get you through a few days of solid cloud.
For your home, it's probably not cheaper to use solar power, but you can set up a pretty simple system that will reduce the amount of electricty you buy off the grid. My In-laws are looking into a system like that.
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From: Mexifornia
For me I definaltey is cheaper 42K minus 16K rebate, minus 2500 one time tax = 23,500.00. Divded by 3600.00 per year electric bill equals 6.53 years and then its all free juice...we have be applying our previous electric bill payment plus some each month to pay off the solar panel bill...here in Ca electricity from PG&E is expensive and it goes up and avg. 17% a year.
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From: eastern nc
Thanks for all the information.
I read the link posted by Mil1ion and they referred to a solar home in Raleigh, I live in eastern NC and have never heard about it.
bczolone does your system use batteries? Why or why not? (just looking for information to help me decide what I can afford and will work best for me)
I read the link posted by Mil1ion and they referred to a solar home in Raleigh, I live in eastern NC and have never heard about it.
bczolone does your system use batteries? Why or why not? (just looking for information to help me decide what I can afford and will work best for me)
Elder User
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From: Mexifornia
I don't have a battery back up because in order to recieve a rebate and credits I have to be attached to "the grid" so batt. backups were not considered, however there are a lot of people here on ranches and in cabins putting solars sytems that include batt. backup and in addition; wind generators thus providing generating power 24 hrs a day. My inverter (6500.00) is passive but regulates the power and would provide smooth transitions if it were to have a batt. back-up.
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From: Wyoming
There is new technology emerging in the wake of thin film techniques used by the chip industry. The older design is polycrystalline-silicon cell; the new CIGS photovoltaics are made with cadmium telluride (CdTe) and copper indium gallium selenide. They will look like a newspaper roll and be more flexible. They should be about 15% efficient, which is about the same as the crystalline silicon, but be cheaper to make due to high-volume manufacturing.
This might be ready to go commercial by 2010.
This might be ready to go commercial by 2010.
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From: eastern nc
bczolone, can you not be attached to the grid if you have storage batteries and still sell any excess to the utility company?
Spikedog, with the size and spelling of some of those words, they can't be cheap! (jk)
I was going to say 2010 was longer away than I wanted to wait, until I thought of what year it is.
Thanks again for the info, I can use all the help I can get.
Spikedog, with the size and spelling of some of those words, they can't be cheap! (jk)
I was going to say 2010 was longer away than I wanted to wait, until I thought of what year it is.
Thanks again for the info, I can use all the help I can get.