[Milsurplus] OT: Solar Panels

[Peter Gottlieb]

  It depends.  In NY the rates are twice that.  In remote areas it might 
cost so much to bring power lines there that solar is a very attractive 
option.  As solar cells and inverters decrease in cost it also gets 
closer to being worthwhile.  But for most users, right now, in areas 
where electricity is cheap, solar does not have a good value proposition.



On 10/3/2010 2:37 PM, David Stinson wrote:
> Probably considered OT, but I trust this group's good sense.
> Please reply off-list (unless a lot of people say they
> want to see the thread :)
>
> One of the more effective ways of using solar panels
> to help with your bill is to connect them through
> a "grid synchronizing" or "grid tie" inverter.
> These create a pure sine wave at a slightly higher
> voltage than the line, so that they actually feed power
> back to the grid.
> They used to cost like $2000, but the Chinese have
> gotten into the act and moved that decimal place
> to the left; you can get one for less then $200 now.
>
> I need some smart people to tell me
> if I have this right:
>
> I have 400 watts worth of solar panels.
> I feed these to a grid-tie inverter.
> Fudging for losses, let's say I can deliver 350 watts
> to the grid for about 14 hours a day (in the summer).
> That's 4.9 kWh a day.  Times 30 days is 147 kWh.
> My electric rate is 12.6 cents per kWh.
> That's $18.52 a month discounted to my bill,
> best case.  Average it out over the year for
> low-output days and let's call it $12 a month.
> That's $144 a year.  Payback time on that
> small system would be long.
>
> Hardly seems worth the trouble.
>
> 73 Dave S.
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Milsurplus mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milsurplus
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>