Well my pv system is installed and running. This is a picture of the array on my roof. 21- 216 watt Sharp panels with a rated output of 4.536 kilowatts. I have 7 strings with 3 panels wired in series on each string.
A picture taken from the side of my house showing location of the panels.
The system isn't really visible from the front of my house but you can see my solar hot water heater on the garage roof.
One of my solar charge controllers showing this part of the array (half the panels) produced 4.28 kws of power so far today (about 12:30 p.m.) with a peak of 1566 watts.
Showing the system is currently producing 2921 watts.
This is my Xantrex XW 4548 hybrid inverter showing I am currently sending back power to the grid at the rate of 2.58 kilowatts per hr.
Here is a picture of the inverter, distribution panel, dual charge controllers, critical load sub-panel and battery bank(4 Trogan 8d-12 volt agm batteries wired in series at 48 volts). My installer did a great job putting everything together.
My meter runs backwards during the day sending my excess power back into the grid where I receive a credit for it.
I am producing over 20 kilowatts of power on a good day. Yesterday it made 22.4 kws. I am very happy with this investment and more importantly due to the battery back-up bank I will always have power no matter what happens to the grid. That is a very comforting feeling knowing that I am electricity independent. Well worth the almost $42,000 I spent on this system. PV system was $39,400 installed. Solar hot water heater cost after all rebates and credits was $2100 installed. However after I receive the rebates and tax credits the cost will come down to under $14,000 for both systems. I am creating about $1000 per year in electricity which is about a 7% return annually. Since the value of my house has increased (tax-free) by the cost of the system this is a no-brainer as an investment. I could have spent $42k on a new suv like a lot of people do and purchased something which decreased in value from day one. I think buying this was much smarter and I like having my own source of power much better than a car. This system will produce power for a long, long time. I have bought a lot of stuff in my life as discretionary purchases and this is the best purchase I have ever made.
2 comments:
That is awesome. You hear about them but it is so fun to see one actually working. If I am ever able to move away from Michigan to a sunnier climate I definately want to get a system like that. I am so suprised that they aren't almost standard in the sunbelt area of the states.
Good Job! Way to take control of your energy.
I've put off building on 40 acres of high-country Arizona desert land for some time, but your system may just change my mind. Good job !!!
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