Solar power? (14)

Nov 20, 2012 4:56 AM CST Solar power?
Blizzard14u
Blizzard14uBlizzard14uGosnells, Western Australia Australia67 Threads 2 Polls 1,430 Posts
I have booked a power setup too be fitted too the new house, it was supposed too be fitted today? But the guy that did the plan was new and since then the company have rang me twice about the fitting? it’s a 2kw system with a 3kw converter that can be upgraded, I talked too the guy next door, he has a 5kw system that cost him $24000.00. After the rebate mine will cost $6000.00 with three times the power output I am using now, do you have solar power and what are your experiences?
professor cheers
Nov 20, 2012 5:46 AM CST Solar power?
wash2u
wash2uwash2uMelbourne, Victoria Australia79 Threads 1 Polls 3,768 Posts
Blizzard14u: I have booked a power setup too be fitted too the new house, it was supposed too be fitted today? But the guy that did the plan was new and since then the company have rang me twice about the fitting? it’s a 2kw system with a 3kw converter that can be upgraded, I talked too the guy next door, he has a 5kw system that cost him $24000.00. After the rebate mine will cost $6000.00 with three times the power output I am using now, do you have solar power and what are your experiences?


Blizz, sounds like a good deal......except many many things.

2kW will most likely be enough to mangage your lighting, maybe if you have the energy saving ones. Upgradable to 3kW is next to nothing, you can have the fridge light on as well. But then you have to pay for more solar panels for it to work.

Guy I work with has installed mega kW stuff that he thought would do him good. Saves him $32 each month - high electronic household with internet 24/7, and all the gadgets under then sun (no pun intendedrolling on the floor laughing ).

Then there a few other considerations that do not come with all the blurb. Most electricity solar panels need to be replaced every 10 years (cureent reference material). Odd that solar panels for hot water seem to last very very much longer life-span but that is a different story. Loved having solar hot water but not where I am now.frustrated

Okay. If you manage to save $32 each month = $384 each year. Over 10 years = $3,840. Cost to replace is currently system is $6,000 with rebates which are going to disappear as Govt can't afford to keep doing this. So you are looking at $24,000 at todays rebated price for a decent sytem. Allowing for a 3% CPI in costs over 10 years, maybe about $35,000 (with current rebates) to replace a decent 5kW system. Who am I kidding, CPI is never that low but I do not have the data to contradict the Govt's figures on real CPI. Realistically, I would estimate $50,000 but I do only look at forward predictions and that is only based on past history.

Yep, Blizz, go for it. At least it will create aome employment in some areas and we tax-payers will not have to fully fund more dole-bludgers.rolling on the floor laughing And create some employment opportunities in those third-world countries (especially China) currently doing all the production of this technology.
Nov 20, 2012 6:06 AM CST Solar power?
kizzy27
kizzy27kizzy27a south coast beach, New South Wales Australia106 Threads 6 Polls 7,413 Posts
I have soar hot water a solar pond pump & solar garden lighting I looked into the solar electricity conversion however as wash says it didnt add up to any realistic savings.Love my solar hws tho !
Nov 20, 2012 6:35 AM CST Solar power?
Blizzard14u
Blizzard14uBlizzard14uGosnells, Western Australia Australia67 Threads 2 Polls 1,430 Posts
Blizz, sounds like a good deal......except many many things.

2kW will most likely be enough to mangage your lighting, maybe if you have the energy saving ones. Upgradable to 3kW is next to nothing, you can have the fridge light on as well. But then you have to pay for more solar panels for it to work.

Guy I work with has installed mega kW stuff that he thought would do him good. Saves him $32 each month - high electronic household with internet 24/7, and all the gadgets under then sun (no pun intended ).

Then there a few other considerations that do not come with all the blurb. Most electricity solar panels need to be replaced every 10 years (cureent reference material). Odd that solar panels for hot water seem to last very very much longer life-span but that is a different story. Loved having solar hot water but not where I am now.

Okay. If you manage to save $32 each month = $384 each year. Over 10 years = $3,840. Cost to replace is currently system is $6,000 with rebates which are going to disappear as Govt can't afford to keep doing this. So you are looking at $24,000 at todays rebated price for a decent sytem. Allowing for a 3% CPI in costs over 10 years, maybe about $35,000 (with current rebates) to replace a decent 5kW system. Who am I kidding, CPI is never that low but I do not have the data to contradict the Govt's figures on real CPI. Realistically, I would estimate $50,000 but I do only look at forward predictions and that is only based on past history.

Yep, Blizz, go for it. At least it will create aome employment in some areas and we tax-payers will not have to fully fund more dole-bludgers. And create some employment opportunities in those third-world countries (especially China) currently doing all the production of this technology.[/quote

But its at an interest free loan over three years? My current powers bills are around $130.00 every two months, so I will be paying more for power for the next three years, if you work it out that way, but the system I am buying has a 25 year guarantee, after three years my power will be for free and I have sell back to the grid money , don’t forget here in WA we have 16 hours off sunlight per day, over summer but that reduces too just 12 hours per day in winter, a guy at work makes $1000.00 per year off the power company? But the rebates have changed since then so has the technology and the cost off setup! Making money for nothing has an added value too the house. I don’t expect too make a $1000.00 per year, but at my current power use I wont be far off it? Well until I get the ducted air-con fitted,
professor cheers
Nov 23, 2012 4:23 AM CST Solar power?
Lok_Simpson
Lok_SimpsonLok_Simpsonbundamba, Queensland Australia38 Threads 415 Posts
I have a 2kw system on my shed roof , highest bill before solar was $250 , average was $220. Since having it installed , ive had 4 bills. 1st on wasnt a full 1/4 , and bill was $11. the rest of the bills have been in credit ( usually $20 ). I havent paid anything for 9 months , so , with an "average" of $220 , total system was $2850 , it'll be paid for in just under 3 years. Usage has stayed almost the same , i have been using a little more ( compressor and welder in shed more than usual ), hence not having credit build up.

The plan was to , in the future , fit another 2 or 3kw system to the house , but once the rebate changed , you couldnt upgrade without losing the 44c feed in tariff , if i upgraded to 4 or 5 kw total , i'd be feeding back in at 8c.
Nov 23, 2012 4:39 AM CST Solar power?
Blizzard14u
Blizzard14uBlizzard14uGosnells, Western Australia Australia67 Threads 2 Polls 1,430 Posts
Lok_Simpson: I have a 2kw system on my shed roof , highest bill before solar was $250 , average was $220. Since having it installed , ive had 4 bills. 1st on wasnt a full 1/4 , and bill was $11. the rest of the bills have been in credit ( usually $20 ). I havent paid anything for 9 months , so , with an "average" of $220 , total system was $2850 , it'll be paid for in just under 3 years. Usage has stayed almost the same , i have been using a little more ( compressor and welder in shed more than usual ), hence not having credit build up.

The plan was to , in the future , fit another 2 or 3kw system to the house , but once the rebate changed , you couldnt upgrade without losing the 44c feed in tariff , if i upgraded to 4 or 5 kw total , i'd be feeding back in at 8c.


I think its down to 4c here? But if you build up credits, don’t you go on them first before you get a bill? I would prefer to get credit during the day when I am at work so I can put the light on at night, most shops and businesses run during the day, I thought that would be peck use time?
confused
Nov 23, 2012 4:58 AM CST Solar power?
arapaho
arapahoarapahobrisbane, Queensland Australia3 Threads 678 Posts
i'm thinking of solar hot water,
but i keep getting told gas is better,
full solar for me now,,i don't think its worth it,
i work all day get home in the afternoon, would use solar power for a few short hours then back on the grid when the sun sets,
Nov 23, 2012 2:25 PM CST Solar power?
LiLee
LiLeeLiLeeIpswich, Queensland Australia53 Threads 1,760 Posts
A house was renting a house years ago when it was fitted with a solar hot water system. It had the ability to switch back to electricity should there be no sun for a few days. i never ran out of hot water and I noticed a big reduction in my power bill. It was great. I'd like to get one on my house but have a few other renovations to do first.

I always wondered, when the government was in full swing of promoting solar energy and handing out large rebates and incentives to the general public, why they didn't put solar cells on public buildings such as public schools and hospitals. Maybe they did somewhere and I just haven't heard about it. Seems to be logical that it would reduce the cost of running these buildings and save the government money.

That may be a simplistic view of what I would have thought was a smart idea. dunno
Nov 23, 2012 6:25 PM CST Solar power?
curly28
curly28curly28Perth, Western Australia Australia53 Threads 5,450 Posts
Blizzard14u: I have booked a power setup too be fitted too the new house, it was supposed too be fitted today? But the guy that did the plan was new and since then the company have rang me twice about the fitting? it’s a 2kw system with a 3kw converter that can be upgraded, I talked too the guy next door, he has a 5kw system that cost him $24000.00. After the rebate mine will cost $6000.00 with three times the power output I am using now, do you have solar power and what are your experiences?



In the not too distant future it will be compulsory to have solar power pannels fitted to every new home built why it isn't done now has me beat confused when you consider how much a new home cost what's another 20-30 thousand added to the price of home most folks have morgages and it will be on going for next 30 - 40 years so who cares when your cost of power bills go down to just about nil makes a whole heap of sense to have it. I am sure it will happen in the near future. Unfortunately I don't have it and don't have the extra dollars to get it installed wish I did. sigh
Nov 23, 2012 6:33 PM CST Solar power?
jem1964
jem1964jem1964Foothills of Dandenongs, Victoria Australia30 Threads 1 Polls 2,441 Posts
curly28: In the not too distant future it will be compulsory to have solar power pannels fitted to every new home built why it isn't done now has me beat when you consider how much a new home cost what's another 20-30 thousand added to the price of home most folks have morgages and it will be on going for next 30 - 40 years so who cares when your cost of power bills go down to just about nil makes a whole heap of sense to have it. I am sure it will happen in the near future. Unfortunately I don't have it and don't have the extra dollars to get it installed wish I did.


what is silly is the technology and products are out there on sale already.
There are roof tiles with solar cells embedded in the tile, would make sense to give incentives for new builds to use these rather than some of the bonuses currently around.
Nov 23, 2012 6:44 PM CST Solar power?
curly28
curly28curly28Perth, Western Australia Australia53 Threads 5,450 Posts
jem1964: what is silly is the technology and products are out there on sale already.
There are roof tiles with solar cells embedded in the tile, would make sense to give incentives for new builds to use these rather than some of the bonuses currently around.


totally agree morning jem wave daisy If I didn't have to have a pergola put up I would consider it but am on a budget.
Nov 23, 2012 11:01 PM CST Solar power?
Blizzard14u
Blizzard14uBlizzard14uGosnells, Western Australia Australia67 Threads 2 Polls 1,430 Posts
arapaho: i'm thinking of solar hot water,
but i keep getting told gas is better,
full solar for me now,,i don't think its worth it,
i work all day get home in the afternoon, would use solar power for a few short hours then back on the grid when the sun sets,


I have solar hot water with a gas booster now, the new setup is the tank is on the ground with the gas booster sitting next too it, its thermal controlled so you never get a cold shower or run out off hot water, the cost off hot water is up too you, I shower every morning before the sun is up, before going to work, I am a truck driver so I need to be awake and fresh before I start work, if you have gas connected then yes use a gas boosted solar HWS, if you can afford it and when your current system goes down, as I said earlier, my gas bills are three months apart as I pay so little, but the new smart technology they have now your electric boosters will probably do a simular job? Who knows?

I can only comment on what I have used if I give any recommendations, as I only recommend things I have actually used rather that what I have heard from others? But my gas bills where more than double to what I have now with a gas hot water system alone in the last place I lived in,
professor cheers
Nov 24, 2012 1:51 AM CST Solar power?
wash2u
wash2uwash2uMelbourne, Victoria Australia79 Threads 1 Polls 3,768 Posts
jem1964: what is silly is the technology and products are out there on sale already.
There are roof tiles with solar cells embedded in the tile, would make sense to give incentives for new builds to use these rather than some of the bonuses currently around.


Had a guy ring last night from some flue cleaning mob. Hang on, not going to use the gas heating for at least another 8 months. Told him that the gas heater had died the other month (about 30 years old) and was looking at ripping it out and replacing the sytem. Not in a arush as I do have a wood fire, another gas heater and decent air-cons in the place.

He then went on to ask if I had considered the hydro-whatever heating systems. Yeah, I know people who have that but really I only expect to be here another 5 years and may not see a return on the investment. He actually agreed with me. Some things are long-term investments, like the solar hot water (which I love).

And Jem, I do not understand why these energy saving devices are not installed in new housing. They have the insulation as mandatory now (probably so we don't have another fiasco like the last Federal Govt incentive).


Oops, maybe the Fed Govt has no faith in them. rolling on the floor laughing rolling on the floor laughing

Yes I do, the Fed Govt wants to collect Carbon Taxbanana banana banana help
Nov 24, 2012 3:38 AM CST Solar power?
Blizzard14u
Blizzard14uBlizzard14uGosnells, Western Australia Australia67 Threads 2 Polls 1,430 Posts
Actually all new houses have too have one or the other, solar hot water or solar panels!
I chose SHW as that would cut my bills straight away, it is now illegal to fit a new home with electric only HWS, its ok too replace an electric HWS, but not build a new house with one?

And I think the labour govt has run out of money! As they haven’t sent me any extra for six months now?

Its ok too feed and house illegal boat people, you just don’t have to feed Aussies! I think I may have to arrive illegally to get any benefits out off this govt or the other,
professor doh rolling on the floor laughing rolling on the floor laughing cheers
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