Dave's Solar Panels #484

[ttyler333]

I have recently taken note on your solar panel install. I have taken the time to design a system and workout the costs ( it needs perfecting  ).
Anyways I noticed Dave uses http://pvoutput.org to display is solar output and that the data has stopped coming in. What happened? Any updates as far as your solar panels go?
I also noticed your 3000w system was putting out +300w per panel according to http://pvoutput.org.


Details on my system I plan on researching further.
28x - Solar Panels -"300W"
Maximum Power at NOCT (Pmax) = 220W
Optimum Operating Voltage (Vmp) = 34.1V
Optimum Operating Current (Imp)  = 6.44A

So before losses is it realistic to expect and get an inverter based on the NOCT information?  My local power company is actually paying $1.50/W - Yes a watt but you're maxed out at $37500 a year.

[EEVblog]

Anyways I noticed Dave uses http://pvoutput.org to display is solar output and that the data has stopped coming in. What happened? Any updates as far as your solar panels go?

I'm slack in updating it.
I tried to set it up automatically to log each day or week, but that failed. So have to do it manually and I forget, so I have a whole bunch of data missing as the Sunnyboy inverter only keeps data for the last 14 days.
Since we have installed it, I think we have basically exported as much to the grid as we have used form the grid, not including the energy we use during the day, so looks like we are net exporters as a household 
But we only get 8 cents feedin tarrif, so payback period is going to be about 5 years or so I think.

[ttyler333]

Wow thanks for the fast reply.  I have noticed my house uses ~28.39kWh a day - I had no clue and from the start I had assumed the house used maybe 12kWh. Since then I've been impressed.
Based on information i've found Missouri(usa) gives a 30% tax rebate on the systems cost. Then the power company has a program that pays per a watt. This should be the link, http://kcpl.com/save-energy-and-money/for-home/home-rebates/mo/solar-power-rebate.  I ran some quick figures but assuming you could build a relatively cheap system for $10k-$15k and have a 8kwh system, it'd be fairly quick to get paid back.  I used a solar "Calculator" to assume what kind of system I would need and it seems the returns would be fast, almost too good to be true.  It does seem Missouri has some good programs in place to support solar powered homes.

The calculator assumes that i'd break even within the first month.

[EEVblog]

The calculator assumes that i'd break even within the first month.

It used to be months here depending upon your circumstances, the government was offering 50 cent feed-in at one stage, but they stopped it.

[ttyler333]

The local power company is working to lower the $2/w by operation times. A system for this household probably wouldnt be functional until after 30/6/2014 and at that point the pay drops to $1.5/w.  If the fine details allow for multiple properties getting $37.5k each, then a purchase of some land just for some cheap solar panels would be a great opportunity. Seeing as im 19, picking up land to have for myself when i move would be the grand scheme of things.  I can see some real benefits honestly.   I am unsure how australia works but how easy is it for you to expand your system from 3000w to 3500w or even 4000w.   


Thanks again for the fast replies, I am going to go finish setting up my 40w laser cutter. It just arrived in the mail today  definitely can't wait to design and cut out/etch things. Have a good day.