solar pool heating

[pmosier]

http://www.affordenergy.com/gallery/Test-Album/1_5_028
http://www.affordenergy.com/gallery/Test-Album/1_4_008
http://www.affordenergy.com/gallery/Test-Album/1_5_029

[David]

I just saw this post. I mean this in the nicest of ways: you suck. Am I allowed to say that? I wish I had that when I lived in Chicago. We had a 24' round, above ground pool. We hardly got to use it. Heck, I'd even like to have solar heating on a pool down here.

How much control do you have over the panels output? I assume the panels power an electric heater, correct? So just configure the panels for 110/220 volts and unlimited amps, or just 20amps perhaps?

I love the details. Please share.

You are usually removed from costs, but I still have to ask:
- How much for the panels installed?
- Is the electric heater more/less expensive than a gas one of the same specs?

[pmosier]

I just saw this post. I mean this in the nicest of ways: you suck. Am I allowed to say that? I wish I had that when I lived in Chicago. We had a 24' round, above ground pool. We hardly got to use it. Heck, I'd even like to have solar heating on a pool down here.

How much control do you have over the panels output? I assume the panels power an electric heater, correct? So just configure the panels for 110/220 volts and unlimited amps, or just 20amps perhaps?

I love the details. Please share.

You are usually removed from costs, but I still have to ask:
- How much for the panels installed?
- Is the electric heater more/less expensive than a gas one of the same specs?
Nice dude. Those are warm water collectors, and quite cost effective. Do you homework before you make yourself look as bad as you just did. Maybe don't assume things? I dunno.
Your apology accepted.

[midnightscape]

Wow, take sarcasim literally I guess? I believe he was being sarcastic with the "you suck" comment.

And if he did assume (that they were electric, like I did when looking at the pics) I don't know that constituted name-calling. Why not just correct him with the details (which he asked politely for)

Again Wow.
Jason

[pmosier]

Not sure about that, someone tells me I suck, yeah, I sort of take that literally. I take pride in my work and if someone says it sucks, when they know nothing about it I am going to defend myself with a bit of sarcasm back. So I have been wrong before, if I'm wrong now, oh well. I don't go looking at people's work and tell them they suck. I thought I was rather reserved in my response.

[David]

Not sure about that, someone tells me I suck, yeah, I sort of take that literally. I take pride in my work and if someone says it sucks, when they know nothing about it I am going to defend myself with a bit of sarcasm back. So I have been wrong before, if I'm wrong now, oh well. I don't go looking at people's work and tell them they suck. I thought I was rather reserved in my response.

Sorry Pat. I guess my personality didn't show well in that post. It really was meant like this: "<I'm jealous you understand these things, so> you suck. =)" Maybe if I had used a smilie icon or something.

It really was not meant to be literal. A woodworking forum I visit uses the "<I'm jealous so> you suck" lingo all the time. I just figured it was prevelant.

Even in the post I ask for the details. I'd love to learn. I know they are cost effective because I've seen TV shows about homes in CA that are ZEH. And I've read in a CO newspaper about a ZEH home near Denver. I think it's great.

Sincerest apologies.

Dave

[pmosier]

sorry if I was harsh, been averaging 10 hours a day, and 6 on the weekends too so maybe I am stressed out. Everything good?

[David]

Hey, I've not no harsh feelings! I'm good.

I'd still like to know more, esp about the solar panels that supply electricity (in the other post).

[pmosier]

sounds like you wanted to be off the grid completely. You are going to want to figure out the amount of consumption, and the hours. You could have a battery bank, charge controller/inverter, solar and or wind power, and potentially a standby generator which could automatically kick on when the batteries get low. Try to pin down your usage and needs, I'll help put a package together.

[David]

I wouldn't want you to put much time into "putting a package together." I am just in the daydream phase of this. I'm not even sure how realistic it is for this area. I mean I haven't seen or heard of such homes around here => low supply of knowledge service technicians, installers, etc.

What are the rough costs? I mean, say I want to have a large house (5,000 sf) and there are 2 of us now but maybe 4 total in a few years. So 2 water heaters, medium to high AC consumption on 2 units for 6 months of the year, maybe electric dryer, and regular general use (fridge, tv, computer, ...). If we are fortunate enough, I'll be building the house in 2 years and maybe we can have a pool.

And do you think it would hold it's value if we sell the house in 5 or 10 years after completion?

[pmosier]

Well what is the rough cost of a car? will you have the grid, city water, and septic to use? I recommend all the alternative energy you can muster while you are in new construction. It will increase the value of the home and there will be alot of incentives surfacing more often than they are now. I have some other good forums I am a part of, plenty of reading to do there for you.
http://www.wind-sun.com/smf/index.php
http://www.solar-guppy.com/forum/

[David]

In ideal conditions I'd have city water and septic, and I'd like to be on the grid to sell back and to run at night and on rainy days.

I will begin reading what I can when time permits. Thanks for the references.

- How do I find out if government rebates are available? I'd guess that TX doesn't have any, just what the feds offer.
- How do I find out if I can sell back to the grid? Is it mandatory for electric companies to offer this? There are three (or more) electric companies that service this area, should I call all three?

[pmosier]

I would assume only one utility company is going to service your area. Maybe there are some solar installers in the area. City and/or county planning offices, architectual boards of review are good places to start as well. Back up battery banks are nice, when the utility company has an outage, a grid tie system won't provide you with any electiricty. I am sort of the wrong guy to answer all those as they are more sales oriented questions, but I am curious to see what you find out.

[David]

I have been learning a lot over at the Wind-Sun forums and www.homepower.com (http://www.homepower.com).

Also, www.dsireusa.org (http://www.dsireusa.org/) has info on the rebates/incentives. I learned there that TX has mandated the power companies buy back the power, aka, it's required to offer meters that spin backwards (some exceptions). Also, we can invest X into the system, the house appreciates by X, and we don't have to pay taxes on X amount.

There are currently federal tax credits of 30% up to $2,000 for PV systems, 30% up to $2,000 for solar water heating, and $500 for something else. They must be installed completely between 1/1/2006 and 12/31/2007.

There are actually 3 utility companies that serve our area where I am currently at.

Most home solar PV systems can be installed by DIY'ers, however, some of the wiring at the panel requires an electrician.

Battery banks are nice, but very, very expensive and decrease the effeciency by over 10% b/c they trickle charge the batteries.