Down the $olar Equipment Rabbit Hole - Solar Mini-Split Wins!

[Sundog33]

So, since the Rebate is ending this year I bit the Bullet and bought the EG4 - 6000XP and Wall Mount Battery.

I already had the EG4 Hybrid Mini-Split which I love, Love , Love!!!!! In June and July when we never broke out of the 90's I paid half of what my Daughter paid using this Hybrid A/C Technology to keep me plenty cool all day.

I had 4 -300w panels dedicated to the Mini-Split at the time. I added a 5th Panel removed them from the Mini-Split and Tied them to the 6000XP.
And figured it should be pretty much a wash and the 280a - 14kw Battery would most likely hover in place just powering the Mini-Split if not add a couple watts with the extra Panel. IT DID NOT!

Within a week of just running the Mini-Split with more Solar Power than I used before the Battery setup, my Battery level dropped so low I had to Quick charge it from Grid Power just to keep it above 20%

So, obviously the Solar Hybrid Mini-Split is way more efficient at using PV Power then trying to stuff it back into a Battery and send it back out as AC.
So, after $5500 bucks I could not even run my original Mini-Split A/C system. Very disappointing.

So, back to the drawing board. I ordered 10 more Panels at $1200 bucks from Signature Solar. Set up 3 Panels dedicated to the Mini-Split and I was back in business...
or so I thought... Ya I would get Power to charge up the Battery now, but Overnight, with very minimal Load in my opinion:
- Garage Fridge
- Couple LED security light
- Fish Tank Pump
- Floor Fan
- Battery standby power

I was eating up 30% to 40% of the Battery Power overnight. Into about $6700 bucks at this point.
Now, I still have 6 Panels left, that I need to mount that will greatly reduce the time to Top the Battery off in the morning,
but I didn't like losing that much Power overnight.

So, back to Signature Solar for a Second Battery at $3500 bucks. Now I can add more circuits and have a reasonable loss at night.

So, the bottom line for me is.
- Get the Hybrid Mini-split with dedicated panels if you intend on using a Mini. So much more efficient than a Battery System.
- Know what you will pay - Like firewood: whenever you think you have enough. Triple it.

In the middle of this all PSE&G raised their Electric rates by 18.5% - and this is the last year to get the 30% Rebate
which equals $3300 on my $11000 out of pocket
I don't regret the purchase, but way more than I expected.

 

[WorldwideDave]

Ask your neighbors what they paid for their systems, though - mine just spent $65,000 and can't even sell back to the grid (neither can I - unpermitted off grid setup).

 

[Sundog33]

Ask your neighbors what they paid for their systems, though - mine just spent $65,000 and can't even sell back to the grid (neither can I - unpermitted off grid setup).

I agree. It’s just craziness. People get ripped off so bad. They will never save enough money to get their return on investment.
Maybe in 20 years if they are lucky and then their panels will be need of replacement. So ridiculous.

I haven’t had the township knock on my door either. Knock on wood.