NFR Going Solar

Non-fishing related
In a way, I do the “solar thing” with cash.

Here’s how it works…

Figure out your yearly usage…divide by 12…add about 10%… and create an equal pay…the power company can set you up as well, but I like to be in control of my money, so I pay an equal monthly about.

In the Spring/Summer months the bill is below the equal paid amount; this accrues a surplus; and then during the Fall/Winter those bills don’t seem so daunting, as they use up surplus.

Been doing this for about 20 years and for the most part this has been the winning ticket to maintaining a household budget. 😉
 
Shawn Seeger said:
Can you explain to me, if they explained to you... how do you clean them? I have seen pretty fair reduction in production rate with just a couple weeks of dust and even more by the end of a month. (Both flat and slanted panels). Do you have a mean on your end for production rate or are you dependent on PUD to tell you?

Thanks
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You think I paid any attention to that stuff? 😂

I'll go re educate myself and get back to you
 
FinLuver said:
In a way, I do the “solar thing” with cash.

Here’s how it works…

Figure out your yearly usage…divide by 12…add about 10%… and create an equal pay…the power company can set you up as well, but I like to be in control of my money, so I pay an equal monthly about.

In the Spring/Summer months the bill is below the equal paid amount; this accrues a surplus; and then during the Fall/Winter those bills don’t seem so daunting, as they use up surplus.

Been doing this for about 20 years and for the most part this has been the winning ticket to maintaining a household budget. 😉
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At what point do you save money with your plan?
How does it protect you from inflation?
How much electricity do you produce using this method?
How many miles do you drive on electricity that you produce?
 
Shawn Seeger said:
Can you explain to me, if they explained to you... how do you clean them? I have seen pretty fair reduction in production rate with just a couple weeks of dust and even more by the end of a month. (Both flat and slanted panels). Do you have a mean on your end for production rate or are you dependent on PUD to tell you?

Thanks
Click to expand...
I’m going on year 3 in February 2025 with 7.2 kWh on my roof, designed to supply 110% of demand which is code in California. I have a link to daily/monthly production as an aggregate and per individual panel. Makes it easy to check production, can compare daily, weekly, monthly production to same dates as previous year. Last time I cleaned my panels I gained 10% in daily production. We get less than 9” average yearly rainfall, most between November-March which cleans the panels but dry season requires cleaning about every couple months as we get dusty being an agricultural area. I think in the PNW once or twice a year would be more than sufficient for cleaning, it doesn’t take much rain to clean them. I clean my own as my roof is 3-1/2/12 pitch and composition shingles, takes less than an hour, local entrepreneurs are charging $7/panel to clean.
 
Robert Engleheart said:
I’m going on year 3 in February 2025 with 7.2 kWh on my roof, designed to supply 110% of demand which is code in California. I have a link to daily/monthly production as an aggregate and per individual panel. Makes it easy to check production, can compare daily, weekly, monthly production to same dates as previous year. Last time I cleaned my panels I gained 10% in daily production. We get less than 9” average yearly rainfall, most between November-March which cleans the panels but dry season requires cleaning about every couple months as we get dusty being an agricultural area. I think in the PNW once or twice a year would be more than sufficient for cleaning, it doesn’t take much rain to clean them. I clean my own as my roof is 3-1/2/12 pitch and composition shingles, takes less than an hour, local entrepreneurs are charging $7/panel to clean.
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I have an attachment for my pressure washer that extends to like 15' - I may put the delicate nozzle on that thing and plan to use that. Going to check with my friend I bought through but I don't see what that wouldn't work. Probably won't need much though, like you say. Especially not this time of year.
 
Evan B said:
I have an attachment for my pressure washer that extends to like 15' - I may put the delicate nozzle on that thing and plan to use that. Going to check with my friend I bought through but I don't see what that wouldn't work. Probably won't need much though, like you say. Especially not this time of year.
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I use an inline water filter as we have hard water that leaves spots on glass, works great for washing vehicles also. If you use soap be sure to use one that’s friendly to panels.



 
Love my solar panels and the $7.49 monthly bill from PSE (you still have to pay the monthly meter charge). About 10 years to pay for itself. and that number trends down every time the rates go up. My guesstimate is it will end up being a nine-year payback.
I imagine within a couple years Evan will have plenty of graphs for you all look at.
I use a soft carwash brush on an extension pole to reach the panels from the ground and/or the roof. I clean them once in the spring, after the pollen, and once again in the fall, bird poop, before winter sets in. 21 panels take me about an hour to clean.
 
This was writeup and the follow-up questions were informative. Roofs take a beating where I live and I don't see many solar installations here and I have been looking for first hand experience about the roof impacts. I am looking forward to hearing more about your experiences.
 
Smith said:
This was writeup and the follow-up questions were informative. Roofs take a beating where I live and I don't see many solar installations here and I have been looking for first hand experience about the roof impacts. I am looking forward to hearing more about your experiences.
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If you are concerned with roof mounted systems check into a ground mount. See quite a few in my area.
 
Well we have been without power now since a wind "bomb" went off in the mountains. So the fire is going, using the solar generator to power the fan. Using the 200 watt portable to charge up the small solar generator fire the fan tonight. I am getting between 65-120 watts input as the sun moves and thin clouds.

I have on order a larger storage system that will be here tomorrow for future outages. Considering ground or pump house roof for larger preeminent panels to charge larger storage units.

(Glad I use solar camping and fishing, as I am prepared)
20241218_132440.jpg
 
Once the power came back on, and since the internet is tracking everything, I got ads about solar saving. So I went through the free estimator and here is what it show.

Big chunk of cash up front... but maybe a small system... investigating begins

Screenshot_20241104_154533_Chrome.jpg
Screenshot_20241104_154541_Chrome.jpg
 
Shawn Seeger said:
Once the power came back on, and since the internet is tracking everything, I got ads about solar saving. So I went through the free estimator and here is what it show.

Big chunk of cash up front... but maybe a small system... investigating begins

View attachment 136011
View attachment 136010
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My system did not cost that much. If you want an actual quote, I can put you in touch with my guy. They use satellite imagery and special software to generate system models, so they don't need to be local to you for the quoting part.
 
Shawn Seeger said:
Once the power came back on, and since the internet is tracking everything, I got ads about solar saving. So I went through the free estimator and here is what it show.

Big chunk of cash up front... but maybe a small system... investigating begins

View attachment 136011
View attachment 136010
Click to expand...


That’s a poor ROI, for a $96/month savings. What’s the system kWh? My 7.2kWh system cost $16000 or $2.22/kWh after federal tax credit.
Take Evan up on his offer or try Solar.com, they will get you 3 bids in 3 business days and no pushy sales people. Very good experience.
 
Just to give you another comparison, I'm on Whidbey Island, and install date was April 2023. 21 - 400W panels, 8.4kWh. $15,393 after tax credit. ROI 10-12 years. Panel life 25-30 years.
 
12.24 KW system
34- 360W panels
24K after all tax credits

In B'ham by a local company.
I don't pay a electricity bill except the 9 bucks or whatever to be on the grid. I do pay a loan to a credit union. It was uber cheap money.
I will save 25K over the 25 years assuming an energy inflation rate of 4%.
 
charles sullivan said:
12.24 KW system
34- 360W panels
24K after all tax credits

In B'ham by a local company.
I don't pay a electricity bill except the 9 bucks or whatever to be on the grid. I do pay a loan to a credit union. It was uber cheap money.
I will save 25K over the 25 years assuming an energy inflation rate of 4%.
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This is about what mine cost for the same size system.
 
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