Solar panel question - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Dubyagee · #1 06-11-2021, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmash

From what I can tell, this does not change the fact that the solar panels will not supply power to either batteries or the home when the grid if off line.

It does exactly that. It also can remote start a fuel based generator as needed. It is what you asked for.

It kills the grid power connection when the grid is down. It can switch to battery or gen power and you can program what power source is the priority for main power.

INSIDIOUS · #2 06-10-2021, 11:07 PM

Keep your system off the grid. Flip the main fuse and engage your system for, as you say: for power and back up"

davidmash · #3 06-11-2021, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS

Keep your system off the grid. Flip the main fuse and engage your system for, as you say: for power and back up"

There is no fuse to flip.

INSIDIOUS · #4 06-12-2021, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmash

There is no fuse to flip.

Depending on the age of your system fuse = circuit breaker. Are you trying to say you do not have a main disconnect in the service box?

davidmash · #5 06-12-2021, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS

Depending on the age of your system fuse = circuit breaker. Are you trying to say you do not have a main disconnect in the service box?

See above. The panels do not power my household, the grid does. I do not know enough about electricity but according to them, the solar power goes to the grid and I draw power from the grid at the same time. A house with solar that is tied to the grid is set up different than. House with solar off grid.

INSIDIOUS · #6 06-12-2021, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmash

See above. The panels do not power my household, the grid does. I do not know enough about electricity but according to them, the solar power goes to the grid and I draw power from the grid at the same time. A house with solar that is tied to the grid is set up different than. House with solar off grid.

I would never consider a system that couldn't stand alone off grid. But unless you have 2 meters .... you might be able to disconnect from the grid and use your solar.

ah-kay · #7 06-12-2021, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmash

See above. The panels do not power my household, the grid does. I do not know enough about electricity but according to them, the solar power goes to the grid and I draw power from the grid at the same time. A house with solar that is tied to the grid is set up different than. House with solar off grid.

The house draws power from the panels, if it is not enough then it draws power from the grid. Meter goes forward. Conversely, if the panels generate too much power then it is fed to the grid, meter goes backwards. You offset what you used prior, hence net-metering. If you generate too much, then power company will pay you but NOT at retail rate.

Grid tied system needs battery or generator during blackout. Grid tied system is cheap, but adding battery will be very expensive. Get a quote from your 'Sale person' for system with battery ( or generator ) backup and decide for yourself. If the sale guy cannot explain what had been posted so far then get a different company who can.

ah-kay · #8 06-11-2021, 01:58 AM

No grid, no power. It is to sync the incoming AC phase for grid tied system otherwise you can't feed power back to the grid. Grid tied solar with battery backup is more expensive and payback period is long.

Whatever you do, DON'T lease a system.

davidmash · #9 06-11-2021, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ah-kay

No grid, no power. It is to sync the incoming AC phase for grid tied system otherwise you can't feed power back to the grid. Grid tied solar with battery backup is more expensive and payback period is long.

Whatever you do, DON'T lease a system.

Definitely not going to lease.

Perhaps I am missing something but if a house that is not even tied to the main grid can have a solar system powering their home, why cant a house that is tied to the grid work the same way but have a switch that cuts off power to the grid when main power fails. They do it for a generator, why not for solar?

This sounds more like a legal issue than a technical one.

ah-kay · #10 06-11-2021, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmash

Definitely not going to lease.

Perhaps I am missing something but if a house that is not even tied to the main grid can have a solar system powering their home, why cant a house that is tied to the grid work the same way but have a switch that cuts off power to the grid when main power fails. They do it for a generator, why not for solar?

This sounds more like a legal issue than a technical one.

It can be done but it is just more expensive. Grid tied inverter is cheap. You need a more expensive hybrid inverter to do what you want plus a automatic transfer switch. Any competent sale guy can explain all these to you.

ah-kay · #11 06-11-2021, 10:21 AM

Net metering is a gimmick. If you SIZE your grid tied system right and you use what you generate then it is perfect. So it is same as off grid. The power company pays you peanut for surplus generation, not retail price.

ah-kay · #12 06-12-2021, 01:19 PM

No point beating a dead horse. Get another company who understands their stuffs.

davidmash · #13 06-12-2021, 02:35 PM

No horse. I know 4 other people who have solar from different companies. This is how they are designed to work.

I just want to know for my own sake. Curious.

Paulwho · #14 06-12-2021, 06:01 PM

duck duck a go go says it is easy,

https://www.sunnova.com/watts-up/add-battery-existing-solar

https://www.gogreensolar.com/pages/solar-battery-back-up-systems

davidmash · #15 06-12-2021, 07:45 PM

Batteries are to costly and their life span is not long enough for me to justify their expense.

Right now I am paying roughly $2300 a yr on electric. A battery/solar system is going to run $50-$60 thousand. Before financing cost, it would take over 20 yrs to hit the break even point and that at the low end of $50k.

I wish the federal subsides were higher to make the systems more affordable. I think anything we do to reduce fossil fuel use would be a good thing in the long run.