Solar update

[sensesurfer]

I had my first solar company come out and give me a quote. I am looking to put up Sunpower panels as they have 19% efficiency vs an industry typical 14%, and I have limited roof area

Comments

[darxus]

That's something I'm definitely curious about. How long do you expect the panels to last? How much of your electricity usage do you expect this to cover? How much efficiency do you lose by not having panels that rotate to point at the sun? The Colony (tv show), season 1, had a really neat setup with two brightness sensors that automatically pointed panels in the brightest direction.

[sensesurfer]

Panels should last 25 years, although with future increases in efficiency I can see wanting to replace them sooner. I believe trackers can add 25-35%, but it would be a pita on a rooftop and now you have added moving parts ie things that can break more easily. The system that was quoted should cover 60-70% of my bill. I am going to re-measure, because I have a feeling i can squeeze 2 more panels(8%) in.

Supposedly Massachusetts is now the 2nd best place in the country to install solar due to the rebates and srec program.

[darxus]

I don't live in Massachusetts, but I do have decent size barn with half of its roof facing basically South.

[sensesurfer]

http://estimator.solar-estimate.org

[perspicuity]

can you also add one evaporative panels for the hot tob? the savings there in consumption might be worth it.

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[sensesurfer]

Evaporative panels to cool it down?

[perspicuity]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_water_heating

apparently i was thinking of evacuated type design, not evarporative ;)

jbvb has one, apparently they're almost TOO efficient :>

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[sensesurfer]

I've considered putting one of those in to preheat domestic hot water, but am not really excited about the idea as I have little enough basement space is, and do not want to lose space to another hot water tank. The tub is entirely self contained so re-plumbing and adding an external tank and heat exchanger would be a pita..... In terms of capturing the suns energy..... I am looking at solar panels that are 19% efficient..... I believe solar hot water is 30-60% efficient so yea say 2x as effective, but I am not liking the added system complexities space and maintenance issues. OTOH they work better than pv when shaded or pointed in less optimal directions so adding that at a future date is a possibility.

snow removal and active monitoring

[capybaron]

How do you plan to deal with the removal of snow?

Recently, I heard acquaintences talk about panels that can give information about the status of various part of the panel so that one can have display the health of an array. Are you planning on something like that?

Re: snow removal and active monitoring

[sensesurfer]

Our roof has a 36 degree pitch. According to the people that gave me the quote said the the panels will clear themselves of snow generally within a few hours. Many systems do have monitoring capability, built in or it can be added on. The system I just got quotes on comes with it.