What lessons have you learned working with solar?
- Thread starter JJJJ
- Start date
Brucey
Velcro Man
Mrs Danke looking good
dougbert
Solar Wizard
First Lesson learned,
After buying most of the system and laying out the first panel and hooking up a panel tester, then seeing what just a " little" tree shading did to the panels power output,
Immediately changing my mind, from mounting the panels close to the house and moving them almost 400 feet away to get the best southern tree-less sun view, was the first and best thing I learned, this site and that little panel checker really saved me from a poor performing array.
Oh and batteries are HEAVY use whatever means you can to save your back.
OH, again - Always seem to need more Battery!
After buying most of the system and laying out the first panel and hooking up a panel tester, then seeing what just a " little" tree shading did to the panels power output,
Immediately changing my mind, from mounting the panels close to the house and moving them almost 400 feet away to get the best southern tree-less sun view, was the first and best thing I learned, this site and that little panel checker really saved me from a poor performing array.
Oh and batteries are HEAVY use whatever means you can to save your back.
OH, again - Always seem to need more Battery!
Attachments
Last edited:
Chicat
New Member
When you talk to 5 solar professionals you will get 5 different answers.
Realize how little you actually need to be off grid, moved from a 200 amp home to a 40 amp home and only gave up air conditioning
Realize how little you actually need to be off grid, moved from a 200 amp home to a 40 amp home and only gave up air conditioning
CaliSunHarvester
Solar Addict
Similar here.. house has 200A service, and I power it now with a 10kW inverter (41A)
Heat pump technology makes a huge difference (dryer, water heater in our case).
Naturally planning for power needs beforehand is invaluable. Having said that, performing a dry run of your system can be an eye opening experience. It is good to test it against basic items to see how it performs. In my case I ran a test with basic lighting and a freezer and compared usage with the Victron smart shunt projections. While not perfect, one gets a better idea how long their system would perform should the grid go out during a storm or line disruption.
On a related note, when I was able to power the TV and video system as well as some basic lighting during a power outage, my wife was inclined to approve my request to add to our battery storage system.
On a related note, when I was able to power the TV and video system as well as some basic lighting during a power outage, my wife was inclined to approve my request to add to our battery storage system.
Trees are a huge part of planning ahead. While experimenting with different locations in my yard, I ended up pruning just about everything. You will need to study the path of the sun (use a sun tracker website) to see how the suns path will change from summer to winter, based on that data find the right spot for your array like others have said, do it right the first time and it will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
Did you take that picture yourself? that is the funniest thing I've seen all week.
Did you take that picture yourself? that is the funniest thing I've seen all week.
I've learned that a lot more people should be using solar energy, but most won't because 1) they've grown addicted to the utility umbilical cord and 2) they're just too lazy to explore solar energy. We have amazing amounts of free energy hitting the ground every day, and all we have to do is pick it up. But most won't take the few steps needed to do that. Sad, and I was one of 'em for far too many years of my life. We should start teaching kids the benefits in nursery school.
Yep, that was yesterday. Did have help lifting it up onto the mount, but picked the Power Pro up with the backhoe in the garage and then slowly lowered the boom and extended the dipper stick to get under the roof line, while driving backward to to get it close. Trees in front of the house block access from the front.
Battery is integrated and working.
I see the plastic Flowers are still in bloom as the snow falls
Last edited:
Chicat
New Member
We are in the process of upgrading to a 6000 watt system so we can add a mini split this year, even in the Arizona mountains it gets pretty warm in the summer
fatjay
Solar Wizard
Don't work on a live panel if you're not willing to get shocked a few times.
I think everybody's experience will be a little different based on your local climate and zoning and inspection requirements.
But generally speaking, I think the planning phase of a system is the most important. Anybody contemplating a PV system who doesn't have one doesn't really understand how they work. They can ask a lot of questions and gather information, but hands on is the best learning tool.
I work around these caveats:
Solar production will be the least in the winter in Northern Hemisphere due to shorter hours of sunlight and lower position of the sun. Decide then for heating if you will be using electric or gas or wood too and if you will need to add insulation to the structure and obtain a backup generator.
Solar production will be the greatest in May-June because there are long hours of daylight and this is generally before the most severe Summer heatwaves have arrived. July, August and September are the hottest months with heatwaves and this means demand for electricity is the highest to cool the residence and maybe run the pool pumps and filters. NOTE THAT THE TEMPERATURE ON THE SURFACE OF A SOLAR PANEL ACTUALLY REDUCES THE POWER OUTPUT OF THE PANEL AT THE SAME TIME YOU NEED THE MOST POWER AVAILABLE.
All solar panels have a label that will tell you the laboratory power output of the panel at 77 degrees, the ideal outdoor noon power output of the panel at 77 degrees and then other numbers that will tell you the power increase below 77 degrees and power decrease above 77 degrees. In my location, the surface temperature of my panels has been measured to be 148 degrees in the summer months resulting in a marked decrease in performance from the laboratory ideal maximum. also to note, you panels will not be making power just at noon and will almost never be directly facing the Sun in the best position. Panels now come with information telling you how much the power will increase or decrease with heat and cold. do the calculations. Panels also come with numbers about shade optimization. If you will get any shadows on the panels from a chimney, power line or pole, tree or anything else, shade resistant panels minimize the loss of power output which is very important.
Using a DC system of chargers and inverters and batteries is more efficient that using AC microinverters to then store power in DC batteries and then convert this back to useful AC power.
Try to avoid a proprietary solar system. For example (just an example, not to denigrate), suppose you install a Franklin Whole home battery inverter system and the company fails. This equipment will essentially be orphaned and finding repair parts and service persons will be very difficult. If you stick with the more name brand components that are the most familiar in your area, you will get better future service. Ask around. any company that just does one manufacturer's system only and offers nothing else is a red flag to me that they will not optimize your system needs and will be in and out as fast as they can to maximize profit.
Work with a design engineer and structural engineer if needed and then get system bids from local contractors if not sourcing the producting and hiring a helpful contractor / electrician to help with your project.
And there is more, maybe in another post.
But generally speaking, I think the planning phase of a system is the most important. Anybody contemplating a PV system who doesn't have one doesn't really understand how they work. They can ask a lot of questions and gather information, but hands on is the best learning tool.
I work around these caveats:
Solar production will be the least in the winter in Northern Hemisphere due to shorter hours of sunlight and lower position of the sun. Decide then for heating if you will be using electric or gas or wood too and if you will need to add insulation to the structure and obtain a backup generator.
Solar production will be the greatest in May-June because there are long hours of daylight and this is generally before the most severe Summer heatwaves have arrived. July, August and September are the hottest months with heatwaves and this means demand for electricity is the highest to cool the residence and maybe run the pool pumps and filters. NOTE THAT THE TEMPERATURE ON THE SURFACE OF A SOLAR PANEL ACTUALLY REDUCES THE POWER OUTPUT OF THE PANEL AT THE SAME TIME YOU NEED THE MOST POWER AVAILABLE.
All solar panels have a label that will tell you the laboratory power output of the panel at 77 degrees, the ideal outdoor noon power output of the panel at 77 degrees and then other numbers that will tell you the power increase below 77 degrees and power decrease above 77 degrees. In my location, the surface temperature of my panels has been measured to be 148 degrees in the summer months resulting in a marked decrease in performance from the laboratory ideal maximum. also to note, you panels will not be making power just at noon and will almost never be directly facing the Sun in the best position. Panels now come with information telling you how much the power will increase or decrease with heat and cold. do the calculations. Panels also come with numbers about shade optimization. If you will get any shadows on the panels from a chimney, power line or pole, tree or anything else, shade resistant panels minimize the loss of power output which is very important.
Using a DC system of chargers and inverters and batteries is more efficient that using AC microinverters to then store power in DC batteries and then convert this back to useful AC power.
Try to avoid a proprietary solar system. For example (just an example, not to denigrate), suppose you install a Franklin Whole home battery inverter system and the company fails. This equipment will essentially be orphaned and finding repair parts and service persons will be very difficult. If you stick with the more name brand components that are the most familiar in your area, you will get better future service. Ask around. any company that just does one manufacturer's system only and offers nothing else is a red flag to me that they will not optimize your system needs and will be in and out as fast as they can to maximize profit.
Work with a design engineer and structural engineer if needed and then get system bids from local contractors if not sourcing the producting and hiring a helpful contractor / electrician to help with your project.
And there is more, maybe in another post.
OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
What I learned in the four years on this whole Solar Journey:
When you think you just need lights and a few 120 outlets, you will not be satisfied with that set up for very long,
When you think you just need to add in a few Critical Load items, you will not be satisfied with that set up for long,
When you think you just need to add some more storage to take advantage of ToU rates, you will not be satisfied with that for long,
When you think you just need to add more capacity for a small EV, you will not be satisfied with that for long,
When you think you just need to run the whole shop, and house next door and two EV's. you will not be satisfied with that for long either!!
And it's fun.
When you think you just need lights and a few 120 outlets, you will not be satisfied with that set up for very long,
When you think you just need to add in a few Critical Load items, you will not be satisfied with that set up for long,
When you think you just need to add some more storage to take advantage of ToU rates, you will not be satisfied with that for long,
When you think you just need to add more capacity for a small EV, you will not be satisfied with that for long,
When you think you just need to run the whole shop, and house next door and two EV's. you will not be satisfied with that for long either!!
And it's fun.
timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2022
- Messages
- 24,669
Plan for 3 times what you think you will need.
And leave room to triple it later.
And leave room to triple it later.
BarracudaBob
Harvesting free photons from clean fusion
post photon depression syndrome
underdog5004
Solar Enthusiast
Even milliamps at 70vdc will white flash my vision if I let the two leads graze my forehead when doing maintenance after sunset
Rednecktek
Expert Newbie
Easier than understanding women or teenagers.
Similar threads
