I'm installing batteries which will make up for it. With the dual purpose of covering in the case of outages.
Free nights plans in Texas are great this time of year.
- Thread starter woe
- Start date
azjeff
Solar Enthusiast
Many are first to suggest extra solar panels because they are the cheaper part of the equation. And it absolutely makes sense,
particularly where you are located.
But the free night deal makes me agree with you working on increasing battery storage.
More battery storage is never a bad thing.
I’d try to manage to acquire both, depending on deals at the time you are wanting to purchase.
particularly where you are located.
But the free night deal makes me agree with you working on increasing battery storage.
More battery storage is never a bad thing.
I’d try to manage to acquire both, depending on deals at the time you are wanting to purchase.
1201
Net zero
Good point!
i guess if op has an alternative source for heat and a good battery bank it shouldn't be a problem
Yeah I am installing a 12kW inverter and 30kWh of batteries to hopefully assist if we get another freeze/derecho/Harvey...
1201
Net zero
HVAC? That's a lot of usage. Even our 5tn AC uses 5kw (both compressor and fan). She runs for about 40 min an hour. I'm the middle of summer. How are you using so much?
My heater is natural gas so the power is just the fan or about 800w while running. Need to run freeze protection of my pool which is about 800w too. Depends how much sun is shining hopefully I'll be able to adjust our usage if it's cloudy. The freeze of 2021 was very sunny.
1201
Net zero
JäseH
New Member
During an emergency, don't heat the entire house. Get some portable heaters, put them in bedrooms, and everyone can camp out there. I have natural gas and 45 kWh for backup. But we use portable heaters in my camper and they can heat ~400 sq foot space, like a bedroom. Open floors plans can be difficult, as the heat escape elsewhere. But if you can put the heaters in your bedrooms you should be fine. I also have a 13,000 watt Duromax configured to burn NG for long duration outages. Usually if an outage will be more than a day, I fire up the generator.
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I just remember all the news articles about $3000+ electric bills after the freeze. They were generally people who were on some sort of free nights plan. I'm on Entergy, so mine didn't change drastically.
I'm doing the same as you except focusing on a window AC during summer outages. If we lose power in the winter, I'll plug in the oil filled radiator heaters and hope for the best. Also a couple Big Buddy heaters & a few days worth of propane.
Currently have 15kw battery, but only 3kw solar. No sense getting more battery until I can charge them.
Also looking passively at building a gasoline powered DC generator to help charge in a pinch. I'm currently 24v, so no Chargeverters for me.
I'm doing the same as you except focusing on a window AC during summer outages. If we lose power in the winter, I'll plug in the oil filled radiator heaters and hope for the best. Also a couple Big Buddy heaters & a few days worth of propane.
Currently have 15kw battery, but only 3kw solar. No sense getting more battery until I can charge them.
Also looking passively at building a gasoline powered DC generator to help charge in a pinch. I'm currently 24v, so no Chargeverters for me.
1201
Net zero
Actually those were people on market based variable plans. They are no longer allowed in Texas..
I stand corrected.
HarryN
Solar Wizard
If my only energy source was electricity for an all electric home, I would add a generator of some kind or another way to heat - such as a fireplace or similar.
JäseH
New Member
I suggest evaluating propane or natural gas if you have it. After Beryl, I heard horror stories about people having to make multiple trips to find gas to keep their generators running. Most people just aren't equipped to store gasoline for a multi-day outage. Propane is much easier to store for long periods of time. A modestly sized, propane-fueled inverter generator with one or more 100 gallon vertical tanks could probably go for days if you're realistic about your needs. I don't tell many people I have a 13,000W portable wired to power the house because once everyone does it, I suspect gas supply might be inadequate. For now, I let them think they have to drop 15K on a 24 kW whole-house install.
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The Genny will only be to charge if solar is inadequate (like after a hurricane when my panels are in the neighbors yard or worse) It's not a complete plan, just a figment in the ether. I have no natural gas so would have to go propane. Dual fuel has crossed my mind as well.
UPDATE: Sorry I saw @1201 Already answered....
Yeah those people were on a company called Griddy which sold power as the retail rate place a $10 monthly charge. Issue was the kwh rate went up to something silly like $3k. Texas State ended up saying the homeowners didnt' have to pay and the company folded. Had nothing to do with Free nights plans.
I have a 12Kw Tri Fuel generator which plugs into my home NG that I will use in the event of extended outage and no sun. It's just very very noisy and I prefer to not pee off my neighbors if I can avoid it.
JäseH
New Member
During an emergency, they just need to suck it up. I'm sure they would trade places if it's a choice between being noisy and having power. Interestingly enough I stick a folding table in front of mine and it cuts down the noise. I keep saying I'm going to put some foam on it and see if it makes a difference, but it's just not been a priority. I think some of the sound reflects off my fence as well. I want to put the tables on both sides to see how much difference, if any, it makes.
Yeah I think the same in the event I actually need it but my generator is in the side of our house away from our bedrooms and right next to all of theirs. It's so loud I can hear it in our bedroom... I figure I should my able to run in battery at night and charge from Gen/solar during the day to at least let them sleep in peace.. at one point I did look at fitting sound deadening foam to plywood.
But at the end of the day batteries will hopefully cover me for the nights.
begna112
New Member
Just a warning to anyone considering free nights in Texas from Direct Energy, it seems that they removed solar buyback on these plans. I just cut over on March 16th and have been surprised to see no solar credits at all. Got my first bill and same thing. Call to customer service said no buyback.
Had asked multiple people who discussed these plans on here and all confirmed they had buyback, just at a rate of .03¢/kwh. So this is a super recent change.
16.2kw solar
93kwh batteries
... So now what am I going to do with my excess? Maybe I'll take up crypto mining or something. I've got like a 6-8kw excess at basically any time during the day and free at night.
Had asked multiple people who discussed these plans on here and all confirmed they had buyback, just at a rate of .03¢/kwh. So this is a super recent change.
16.2kw solar
93kwh batteries
... So now what am I going to do with my excess? Maybe I'll take up crypto mining or something. I've got like a 6-8kw excess at basically any time during the day and free at night.
Free nights is a crypto dream for a solar setup.
cs1234
Solar Wizard
- Joined
- May 9, 2022
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- 3,606
The bitcoin miners are so expensive and seem to be from such shady companies. It's too bad there aren't any more reputable looking brands/vendors of bitcoin miners. They all seem similar to buying speakers from the back of a van.
Yeah. I saw this too. But I did the math on this, Just Energy has REAL nights free (free TDU at night) and solar buy back but at 3c/kw it's not worth the effort. Direct is a couple cents more more kw but gives an extra 2 hours free (7am-9am). On my best month at 3c/kw the buy back only came to around $25. After doing the math with Direct Energy Free Amazon Prime ($15/mth) I still come out better with Direct energy.
As for the excess I generously donate it to Direct Energy since they are certainly losing money on me.
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begna112
New Member
I'm basically in this same boat. I just don't know what to do about it. First month bill was still 15$, trying to isolate when/where/why it's pulling grid at all during day. Then might consider some things like heat pump water heater, HVAC, etc. but those cost money to implement. Crypto has the same issue of being both expensive as hell, inconsistent generators, and requires a bunch of electrical work too. But still might be worthwhile, especially with maybe cheap used miners.
Wonder if there's some "paid at-home EV charger" I can get and set up outside my house lol.