I was also investigating the installation of a solar system. I see now that they have a simpler system if you just want to supplement your electrical usage. It involves just the panels and a converter to change the high voltage DC (wire all the panels in series for a simpler set up, albeit much higher voltage) to AC. That is hooked directly into your existing circuit box.
I just installed a The Energy Detective model 5000C (TED) and am having fun chasing down 'phantom' loads and wasted electricity. Quite a few people are also using it to track their attached solar supply as well as their regular usage.
The main problem for me is that I will be dead and gone before the system is ever paid for. Also, now that we are finally and hopefully going to cut some waste out of DC, I imagine that cuts will be made in the energy subsidies that are now offered. Even with them, it takes 15-20 years to pay off the system. It would be great to stick it to the electric company as we have stuck it to the oil companies with our pellet/corn stoves but it's just too expensive AND we are supporting the Chinese who make the panels. I keep hoping for a breakthrough in technology to improve the efficiency and cost of the panels.

You are on track. The loads that cause your bill go up can be dropped down to the point they really don't make any money. My bill is $25 in the winter $20 in the summer. $9 is the service charge. Panels will drop in time but at this time just cut your loads. One person on the ridge near me has batteries in her truck with a large alternator that charges the batteries while driving to work and plugs into them at night. This is not practical for many people but it may help you think outside the box.

This may eventually help.

www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/51586633-79/...els-biggest.html.csp

cgi.ebay.com/Solar-Panel-Frames-diy-usin...9d70b#ht_1247wt_1139

If you watch the videos, this guy has a system that lets you make a 'relatively' commercial grade array at a reasonable price.

Read more before trying DIY solar electric panels. They are prone to bad solder connections, broken cells, etc. The cells are extremely fragile, think glass potato chip.

Yea, I've been reading up on alternative methods to make them and everyone cautions about how fragile they are. As for soldering, I've been doing it forever as a hobby and part time job and a HAM. I just enjoy tinkering and if you get good cells, the panel will either work or it won't! Then you find the bad cells or lousy solder joints and get on with it. Prices are coming down but still way high. I see Obama's company, GE, is starting a new, very large cell making company BUT they won't say in what country! I guess we'll be paying for that one too.

tjnamtiw wrote:


You may want to check your state's incentives for solar electric and solar hot water systems. Arkansas went from 20+ year payback for PV to about 8 or 9 years with the additional state incentives. I install systems so I keep up with all solar programs.

Pricing has come down some in the last four or five years and we are hoping for better pricing down the road. As far as US manufacturers of solar PV modules, www.magesolar.com in Dublin, GA has setup operations and I've started installing their product. You are right, many modules are made over seas. We need more manufacturing here in the US. I try always to offer US products. SMA inverters are now made in the US.

Hopefully we will see more manufacturing of green products in the US in the coming years.

Got Sun? Go Solar!!!

AR

Solar PV pricing has definitely come down in the last year. Something like a 35% reduction in price.

GE has announced a huge PV plant to begin operation in 2012 in Colorado.


AR