Solar

[jimg.allentown]

Why would you make the assumption that it is working out for them? Not meaning to criticize here, but this makes me think.

Did they just get taken in by a slick salesman? Are they really getting much benefit out of their solar panels? We had a solar heater for our pool. For the tiny benefit (about an extra week of use), it had detrimental effects as well - such as water too warm in mid-summer - if we forgot to bypass the heater.

A couple of things come to mind. I would never allow any holes or mountings to my roof. No way! Too much potential for leakage, damage, and interference with roof replacement when the time comes. Could you imaging the cost to re-shingle a roof with solar panels mounted to it? Oh, my!

 

[John T]

Solar may be a money maker, not sure.

As for me, there are too many unknowns, too much uncertainty.

X2 I AGREE (for my case) EXACTLY

It works fine for some but NOT others, the price of electricity, net metering, location and sun days, tracking or fixed, grid tie or off line, cost of installation, maintenance etc etc etc

It can pay back and be a good investment for some, but like you at my age NOT FOR ME AT HOME... HOWEVER its great was a good investment and has paid back for my RV use yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Theres NO right or wrong answer to this question, whats great and a good wise investment for Billy Bob maybe be the opposite for Bubba or you or me lol

To each THEIR own. Its YES for my RV but NO at my age location and many other circumstances FOR MY HOME

John T

 

[John T]

my summer A/C load of 70kW?

Thats certainly one huge load but hey a person needs to be cool yayyyyyyyyy

John T

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 06:29:36 11/07/23) Vito.
No solar here.

I would like to see the numbers, the math, when someone says it will pay for itself in X years.
Does the payback include paying interest on the loan you take out?

I invest in many things that make me money.

My latest investment is FDIC CDs paying 5.5%.
You can get paid interest on a 6 month, yearly or even a monthly income.

If I put $40k in a 5.5% CD it will pay close to my total annual electric bill, $2100, and my house, garage and pole barn is totally electric.

And at the end of the day, I will still have $40k cash. I can move to another state and not worry about taking my solar panels with me.

How much does it cost to insure your solar panels?

Do solar panels add to your property taxes?

How often do you need to clean solar panels?

What do you do with your excess electricity?

Neighbor lost two inverts. That can't be cheap.

I know Indiana and Illinois have different rules when it comes to the power company buying back your excess electricity.

Solar may be a money maker, not sure.

As for me, there are too many unknowns, too much uncertainty.

Geo, since all of your questions are very easily answered anyone with any interest would just get the answers. No unknowns, no uncertainty, only inertia or maybe lack of math.

 

[J Hamilton]

It is just that, an assumption because I have no experience with them. And I don't hear many people talking about if they are really helpful or just a huge waste of money. If they were taken by a slick salesperson or they were a waste of money, I'm sure there would be lots of locals badmouthing them, and classified ads with them for sale cheap. I would agree with you on not wanting them mounted on my roof. I have seen a few rows of panels in people's yards, but mostly roof mounted.

 

[Crazy Horse]

George .... is that the charge just for the elecricity (ie. KwH) OR the electricity plus the associated administrative and 'delivery' (or infrastructure) costs involved with being one of their customers. Up here the monthly bill (about to jump) includes both. I suspect it does everywhere, how could it not be both? Do you know the cost per KwH where you live?

 

[Vito]

The 10.5 kw system we specd out was 24 panels at 440 watts each.