Looking to invest in a solar grid for my home, what is your opinion about this?

Quote from: Seawolf on April 28, 2012, 03:06:56 PM
Looking to invest in a solar grid for my home, what is your opinion about this?

If you are doing it to cut the grid out, then do it, but if you're thinking about saving on you electric bill, forget it.
It is not an investment, it's a scam.

In a couple of years the PUC will change the rules regarding buying your energy back and you will be stuck with a huge bill.

Quote from: Solar on April 28, 2012, 03:12:22 PM
If you are doing it to cut the grid out, then do it, but if you're thinking about saving on you electric bill, forget it.
It is not an investment, it's a scam.

In a couple of years the PUC will change the rules regarding buying your energy back and you will be stuck with a huge bill.

I want the ability to cut the grid out.  PUC stands for?

My roof points east front side and west back side.

Quote from: Seawolf on April 28, 2012, 03:16:03 PM
I want the ability to cut the grid out.  PUC stands for?

PUC Public Utilities Commission.
If you want to cut out the grid, then I'm your guy, I'll walk you through it, but be prepared to spend at least 50 grand.
Personally, I love it, and wouldn't live any other way, but it's not for everyone.

Quote from: Solar on April 28, 2012, 03:25:28 PM
PUC Public Utilities Commission.
If you want to cut out the grid, then I'm your guy, I'll walk you through it, but be prepared to spend at least 50 grand.
Personally, I love it, and wouldn't live any other way, but it's not for everyone.

A quick quote from this vendor was about 30K with apparent tax breaks available.

Here is the website of the gentleman who we spoke to, let me know what you think.

http://www.offgridgreenlivingcenter.com/

Quote from: Seawolf on April 28, 2012, 03:27:20 PM
A quick quote from this vendor was about 30K with apparent tax breaks available.

The tax breaks don't amount to much since you are cutting out the grid.
If they are selling single cut crystal cells, then they are selling a good product, or more commonly known as mon crystal cell.
If they aren't run like Hell.
I can get you top of the line for all your components, the solar panel is the heart of the system, its like the foundation of a house, if it's crap, the house is worthless.
Here is the best panel on the mkt.
http://abcsolar.com/pdf/sp140pc.pdf
http://www.solarelectricsupply.com/pdf/shell/SQ-165-175.pdf

The best thing you can do right now, is educate yourself about solar panels.
Do some research and I'll answer any questions you have.

What do you make of this man based on his website?  He also gave me a Sun Electronics Catalogue.

Quote from: Seawolf on April 28, 2012, 03:33:31 PM
Here is the website of the gentleman who we spoke to, let me know what you think.

http://www.offgridgreenlivingcenter.com/

I went through the site, they use the best battery and Outback charge controllers but the inverter is not top of the line.
I also couldn't find what type of panel they use, I did see reference to polycrystalline, which is second best, but is a very low second on the scale.
If they try and sell you polycrystalline, tell them to either get you mono crystal from Shell or take a hike.
The cost will be quite a bit higher, but the output is much higher.

Quote from: Seawolf on April 28, 2012, 03:48:25 PM
What do you make of this man based on his website?  He also gave me a Sun Electronics Catalogue.

Honestly? When I saw the Earth Day bull shit, I'd have run like Hell, but that's just me.
I look at what is their motivation behind their business model, if it's as I suspect one of those "save the planet" crap ideas, then it's a waste of time.

Like I say, the panel is the most important part of the system and if he truly wants to do what is best for his customers, he won't sell anything less than a mono crystal cell.

I saw that too but he was speaking about preparing what is coming.  Of course his view is our natural resources are running out but either way, whether you believe that or that our society could collpase under the weight of debt does not matter to me as long as the product is good and it meets my needs.  He is a distributor of Sun Electronics products.

Quote from: Seawolf on April 28, 2012, 04:08:40 PM
I saw that too but he was speaking about preparing what is coming.  Of course his view is our natural resources are running out but either way, whether you believe that or that our society could collpase under the weight of debt does not matter to me as long as the product is good and it meets my needs.  He is a distributor of Sun Electronics products.

What area of the country do you live in? That makes a big difference.
If it's hot and still with little breeze, you definitely don't want polycrystalline panels.

He can get me practically any cell according to our conversation.  He spoke of Suniva and Sanyo HIT, have you heard of these?

Quote from: Solar on April 28, 2012, 04:12:50 PM
What area of the country do you live in? That makes a big difference.
If it's hot and still with little breeze, you definitely don't want polycrystalline panels.

I live in Virginia