Solar install

[pmosier]

Part of a 30 Kw system near Santa Barbara, CA

[Cole]

Wow, nice work.

[kadoka]

pmosier

Did you install the system?

[Sparks]

Tell us more. What is this powering and is it the prime source? How much did the materials cost? Potential ampacity?

[rabadger]

Yes, please do!

Details, details, we want details:D

[Sparks]

Pmosier, why have you abandoned us? Something we said?

[rabadger]

Don't you hate it when that happens.

[pmosier]

I am the installation foreman for a solar energy company. I do pool systems, domestic hot water, and solar electric. I have to look back at which one I sent to give you details on it. I have many pictures at http://affordenergy.com/gallery
Ummm I'll post again when I look back at what I have sent. Maybe I'll post a few more.

[pmosier]

std, the system is rated for a bit over 500 volts DC at 100 amps. I was up there the other day and it was putting out 17 kw mid winter. It is a grid tie system, meaning when it produces more power than is used, your utility meter spins backwards, when you use more than you produce it obviously spins slower is all.
I designed the layout of the modules and all the wiring, as all of the plans were not accurate and under designed.
As before, my work is all posted at http://affordenergy.com/gallery
Be advised I work for a different company currently and these pictures are only jobs that I was a foreman at.
Pat
pmosier@affordenergy.com

[pmosier]

I get all this attention and then abandoned. Ok already......I'll check my posts more often

[Sparks]

So really, how much $$? Typically speaking when all is said and done. How much is the local power company involved with these systems regarding permission and inspections?

[pmosier]

I do not get involved in the cost too much, I am the installation foreman, not the sales rep. I did see the invoice for a 3 kw system. Total price was about 23k, around 7k in rebates, so the home owner payed me around 15 and some change out of his pocket. That system was 16 schott or sharp 185 watt panels, the mounting system, a xantrex gt 3.0 and all the misc wiring materials.
The county building inspector is who I have to deal with, and they are concerned with any trenching, conduit runs, and disconnects for the most part. As far as the utility company, I have never had to interact with them as an installer.
The utility companies are involved directly, but that is more with the office staff than it is me in the field. The links below will take you to the system I described above.
What state are you in? California seems to have the most government subsidies, but I am not even sure about that. 10 hours everyday on the roof and an hour or two of research trying to figure out what the heck I am doing reallly puts a dampener in studying all the financial info.
Pat
http://www.affordenergy.com/gallery/Test-Album/Paso_robles_008
http://www.affordenergy.com/gallery/Test-Album/Paso_robles_010

[Sparks]

Oh I understand. I'm from the Buffalo New York area so solar is not exactly feasible considering the limited amount of sunshine we have. Wind power is the hot topic currently in my area. The odd thing is Niagara Falls is in our back yard along with the Power Generating facility, yet we have some of the highest prices for electricity in the entire nation, go figure.

[David]

Very interesting! Do you install systems that have a power reserve (I forgot the name) that acts like a rechargeable battery? Do you work on ZEHs - Zero Energy Homes?

[pmosier]

I deal with battery backup systems a bit, there are certainly more experienced people in the newsgroup. I predominantly install Grid Tie systems, domestic hot water, and pool collectors. I will be building a place off the grid hopefully late this year.
Are you looking to build?

[pmosier]

Oh I understand. I'm from the Buffalo New York area so solar is not exactly feasible considering the limited amount of sunshine we have. Wind power is the hot topic currently in my area. The odd thing is Niagara Falls is in our back yard along with the Power Generating facility, yet we have some of the highest prices for electricity in the entire nation, go figure.


So is the new york government subsidizing the effort?

[David]

So is the new york government subsidizing the effort?

:lol: :lol:

[David]

I deal with battery backup systems a bit, there are certainly more experienced people in the newsgroup. I predominantly install Grid Tie systems, domestic hot water, and pool collectors. I will be building a place off the grid hopefully late this year.
Are you looking to build?

I am preparing (or more like investigating) to build some spec homes for sale and ultimately (like 3 years) build my family's next home.

I am very interested in ZEHs. I thought ZEHs for the most part required an energy store/battery. But really, I suppose that if 100% of the energy is used or sold back immediately, there is no financial reason to "store" it. I would make a nice emergency backup, but then it's just a fancy replacement for a gas generator.

[pmosier]

Makes no sense to me, if you want to live off the grid..... Get an outback inverter, solar panels, wind generator, and a backup diesel generator. Have a battery bank to store your energy, and configure the above items in amounts that would suit your consumption, and the area you live in. If you're building a home, look to insulate it as well as possible, look towards efficient items such as LED lighting, and various other systems like Domestic Hot water, yet another warm water collecting technology. We had the pool discussion already.
I would like to hear more of your design as it comes to be.
Pat

[pmosier]

:lol: :lol:
Our state has a number of different incentives for installing alternative energy. Funny you laugh when I ask that. Look for the good in things, it will get you alot farther in life.

[Sparks]

So is the new york government subsidizing the effort?

Yes, New York State has been talking about this for many years and is finally getting serious about it by offering many incentives and programs. I'm not actively involved in this technology but I've been reading about it. The vocal minority has been raising hell about the potential for bird injury and death, overall aesthetics and the noise associated with wind turbines. Many people, including myself, are all for it. Anything to reduce our dependency on foreign oil that is putting this country is such a financial bind is a good thing in my book. Don't quote me but I think right now wind power only accounts for 1-3% of overall power generation in NY. It still seems to me that with Niagara Falls in our back yard, that alone would create enough energy to power half the country if engineered correctly. The local manufacturers do get a break on power, the rest of us pay dearly.

[pmosier]

Yes, well it's going to take a big push at the government level to get them to subsidize alternative energy installations. California seems to be leading the way in that. The aesthetics and bird people are always funny. They aren't going to care how it looks when the power in thier city is out for a few weeks, they will be the first people to sit up and ask why we didnt do something about this earlier.
Thanx for the info.

[David]

Pat -- I just found it ironic that the discussion went like this:

"...yet we have some of the highest prices for electricity in the entire nation, go figure."

"So is the new york government subsidizing the effort?"

Don't you see the irony of these two sentences? I really wasn't trying - this time - to be critical of any government! Ahhh, just forget I said anything....

[David]

Makes no sense to me, if you want to live off the grid..... Get an outback inverter, solar panels, wind generator, and a backup diesel generator. Have a battery bank to store your energy, and configure the above items in amounts that would suit your consumption, and the area you live in. If you're building a home, look to insulate it as well as possible, look towards efficient items such as LED lighting, and various other systems like Domestic Hot water, yet another warm water collecting technology. We had the pool discussion already.
I would like to hear more of your design as it comes to be.
Pat

Hey, if we're both still around in a few years I'd be glad to chat with you. I know absolutely nothing about how to install this equipment, where to buy it, and how well it would work here.

I wouldn't necessarily want to live off the grid (what if panels got destroyed by no fault of my own...I'd still probably like to run the dishwasher, keep the fridge running, etc). My goal is to limit my dependence on the utility companies around here. We have lots of sun around here, so I'd be willing to up the cost of my house and thus mortgage, while in turn lowering my utility bills.

At this point, I'm just trying to research the matter. I'm grateful you're sharing with us!!