I have watched so many videos and I think I have it all together until it's time to actually implement something. I'm paralyzed by information overload! I currently have (3) and soon to be a total of (4) solar panels. Each are 370 Watts, 41V and 11amps. Will be making a mobile ground mount for them. Currently I have them connected to a cheap plug-in grid-tie inverter. Not ideal. I'm wanting to buy an inverter. I was hoping to start with a small setup and expand over time, initially without a battery, but I'll buy a battery if completely necessary. I don't want to buy something now though, that I can't use later as I expand. That's part of the trouble I'm having. I'm wanting to start using solar to offset some of my grid usage. I'm not sure the best way to do it. Without counting the cost of the solar panels themselves, can you give me ideas on starting a system in the $3k-$4K range? Not really looking to necessarily do net metering, but with what panels I've already got, I have to be careful as I've seen my meter start to go backwards a time or two in the late afternoon when nothing is really on in the house. It's my understanding that the smart meter reports back to the energy company once an hour. Does that sound right? We have a septic tank that has an aerator motor on a timer. I believe it runs 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off. The times I've seen the meter start to feed backwards is when the septic motor is not running. I don't have near enough panels currently to offset my usage so I don't believe the meter has ever been in a negative reading for any given hour.
I live in Ohio and have Duke Energy for my energy company, although our supplier is through the community aggregate. The delivery charges on my bill are greater than the actual energy charges. Ugh! I'd love the simplicity of an AIO but not opposed to going another route. I've started wondering if I should get a Victron because they're so reliable and I do realize they require multiple accessories. I'm okay with that as long as I know exactly everything I need. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I live in Ohio and have Duke Energy for my energy company, although our supplier is through the community aggregate. The delivery charges on my bill are greater than the actual energy charges. Ugh! I'd love the simplicity of an AIO but not opposed to going another route. I've started wondering if I should get a Victron because they're so reliable and I do realize they require multiple accessories. I'm okay with that as long as I know exactly everything I need. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!