Adding more Solar

[JR]

So with a looming $3k trueup bill I have hopped into finishing my add on solar.

My current system makes about 3k max sometimes a little over 25k a day. Problem with this system Is it was kept on the smaller size when installed (location and home type) and is not cutting it now. It faces south, but around 6pm it puts out close to nothing and there is a large tree in the front yard that limits it output during winter, spring and autumn. Tree does need trimming big time.

To remedy this some I am adding 10 more 240watt mono panels with an SMA Sunnyboy 4000watt inverter. I have had all this for a few years. Newer stuff would be better i'm sure, but I paid about 1/2 retail for the new panels and got the inverter through a friend who does solar. I also got all the mounting hardware from him at cost.

SMA has been mounted for a couple years, conduit run just wating. Still need to run wire from panels to inverter. This inverter includes a 1500watt 110ac plug if the grid goes down.

[JR]

I can run the panels in series for best efficiency or even add to it later. These panels will point west giving me power from midday to sunset all the time including autumn, winter and spring when the sun is low.

Got the footings in this AM. Its been almost 100 here with high humidity, making it nasty outside. Trying to run the DC wires through the attic.

[JR]

Before it got hot I got the rails on, squared up and level. Funny how far off a roof can be when you lay a string on things.

Just about then the sun hit, wow I don't how these guys do that all day long.

Everything is 13mm-1/2in. then layed another sealing bead just ahead of the clamp. Bolts are SS, clamp is flanged with a nice rubber boot between the it and the clamp.

Oh, and its going slow I know. I've been fighting a cold for a few days now. I run out of steam fast but getting something done everyday at least.

[JR]

Got all but 1 panel up, pretty straight. Last panel will cover the junction box. Thought I had a bad panel, but it was the installer who forgot to plug in one panel 

System is really cool, all 13mm and grounds the panel to the rail. Ground tab on each section. I have #10 stranded for the power and #8 solid for the ground.

With 9 panels up I get 480v, about 50v with no load. Under load they are rated for about 45v. Inverter (4000watt) will take 600v so I will be fine.

Thought I had a bad panel, but only cosmetic. Shows full power and no breaks in the surface.

Now to run the conduit through the attic and up through the roof. Trick is to turn the conduit up 35ft from the vent area.

[JR]

Well, being the procrastinator I am I should have finished this earlier this year before the heat. Now July, temps have been 90-100+ about every day. AC is working thank gGod but afraid the bill is going to kill me again.

So a couple early mornings, and yesterdays cool evening gave me just enough time to finish it up. Hardest part was pulling the wires through the attic in conduit as I didn't want the stuff up on the roof. Plus I have pool solar up there. 

[JR]

Yep, those rafters are just 2x2. I rebuilt that entire roof about 10 years back (posted someplace)

Had my buddy check the hookups and I had to run a neutral I had left out. Plugged in and turned on last night with just enough light to energize the system.

My normal old "professional" 5K system makes just over 25k a day, but pretty much shuts down about 1800 with the suns angle. It faces S/E and is mounted on an angle. Most power is from 1000-1800.

This new DIY (2400w) system faces S/W and doesn't really get direct sun until midday. But is faces the sun all the way down in the evening.

So today the new system was up all day. It made 11k watts with a system 1/2 the size and used panels I got 10 years ago.

I am very optimistic with this so far. The smaller array, 1/2 the size is making about 1/2 and doing it when the other system is shutting down.

Sunworks installed system was 18k when installed, this system cost me about 3k. SMA 4k inverter and racking are new.

[Mrwoody]

looks good JR    Will you keep us posted on the cost savings?

[oklawall]

Good work JR

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

[JR]

My solar guy calculated I would save between 2000-2500 a year with this add on. My true up was at 2K about a month ago, but the AC I'm sure has added to that. Hoping I will get it well under 2K before true up in Pct.

[JR]

Made the same power today, 11k watts. At least now when the AC runs the in/out power meter is not racing across the screen.

Trying to set up monitoring. I have a wired unit somewhere, but want to go wireless.

Warranty is already out, which was 10 years. I know I have it had it for a few, but it must have been a older unit when I got it.

[JR]

Pretty steady at 11k per day. Today is cloudy, sure it will be down but it still goes until the sun is down now.

True up is sitting at $2400 and the AC has run a lot. When the AC slows runs less and the sun is lower is when this will do its job all year.


From my research, most US homes average 50k Watts a day. I am using from 30 to 60K (high now) not including what I make (it deducts that by default). There are VERY few days I actually make some power over what I use.

[JR]

Still holding at 11k per day. Seeing 2100 watts mostly from the 2400 watt setup.

I will post again if something changes.

[JR]

Output is down a little on both setups, days shorter. True up is holding about $1000 less than last year.

Also with checking the monitoring on the PGE sight, I made more power than I used several days last month during the scorchers.

I am hoping next year my use/make ratio will be much better with the new system working all year.

[Bob Smith]

That is cool. The people down in Bullhead City AZ are saying the contractor and PUD have it some way where a person will never break even.
We have thought about solar panels but one they take away from looks of home and 2 cost never paying back investment. Now if I knew how to set things up and knew where to buy needed supplies I might consider installing. Prices to run the air conditioner and needed repairs that jump up are getting high enough to get my attention.

[Bob Smith]

We don’t use the place in the summer months so hold the air conditioner at around 85 degrees. We are only down there winter months , the furnace runs a lot to keep wife happy but the big electric use is the air conditioner in summer but we set it pretty high.