Browse Forums Eco Living Re: Solar Power - First Impressions 5Jan 10, 2008 7:38 am Synergy still haven't programmed our meter properly. Logically if we are no longer drawing any power at all during peak period, and we are only home for about an hour to an hour and a half in peak period we must be sending power back to the grid.
However as Synergy have not programmed the meter correctly we have no record of this. Therefore shouldn't I send Synergy a disconnection notice . After all they would be quick enough to cut our power if we didn't pay for it. Re: Solar Power - First Impressions 6Jan 10, 2008 3:13 pm Quote: Therefore shouldn't I send Synergy a disconnection notice . After all they would be quick enough to cut our power if we didn't pay for it. Great Idea NOT. Re power usage, if you intend to get major benefits from solar - you need to review how much power you are using in your house if you want to come anywhere near being like selling power back tot hem. Sure any solar system - once wired correctly to the meter, will give you credits, but if you do not modify your habist as well, then the gains will obviously be less. There is a fridge called the vestfrost which typically use up to 1/2 the daily power usage of a standard fridge. If solar is your only power, then a vestfrost goes up to the top of the list of energy efficient devices you desire. Steve Re: Solar Power - First Impressions 7Jan 26, 2008 7:38 am We looked at the solar recommended fridges and found they are not as large as we are used to and none came with ice makers my wife insists on.
After very minimal changes to our set up and a little intelligence in house design with a solar system designed to meet 80% of our previous consumption, we are now running credit positive every day. It will be interesting to see if this trend holds true in winter when the peak power times change and the sun doesn't shine as much. But for now with the incentives in place we are using sfa electricity 48 units in 8 days. Without substaintially comprimising our lifestyle which is where I started from. The challenge was can we adjust things without a significant impact on our lifestyle to achieve a cost neutral or positive outcome? Clearly the answer to date is yes. I have an Access database I am using for data collection, comparison and calculation it is in Office 2007 format. If anyone wants a copy please PM me and I'll zip it up for you and sent it over. You can do what if's with it (though Excel is better at what ifs), and can see you usage over any period of time (as long as you have the readings) 1 day, 2 days, forever etc. I haven't got anything fancy in there yet like graphing trends and likewise, however if you have a clue with Access this is not that hard to add, I just haven't bothered as I am not a visual person. Re: Solar Power - First Impressions 9Apr 21, 2008 7:38 am 2.5 kW although I have never seen it output 2.5. Re: Solar Power - First Impressions 11Apr 21, 2008 8:50 am Casa2 Funny how they sell these systems, but you can never quite get the "rated" performance. OK I'm not an expert in solar systems for houses, however I look after a project where we have lots (hundreds) of small scale solar gear charging small battery sets a rural setting (way of the grid). I let others manage/maintain these systems and therefore the details. One of the issues I was facing was at this time of the year our trickle charged batteries weren't getting much charge so I plotted up solar insolation data of the Bureau of Met (basically the energy from the sun on a sq.m of surface), and found that on average at this time of the year you would be getting roughly 50% of the solar energy compared to that at the height of summer (January). Now these figures are for Melbourne and I'm not sure where dynamictiger is located. My point is...and I'm finally getting to it... ....assuming the percentages hold for most parts of Australia...if you are peaking 2.0 kW out of a 2.5 kW system in April then aren't doing pretty well....and can expect to get "rated" performance for all but a few months. A simplistic analysis I know......and it sounds like there are some experts in this field on the forum who can tell me if I'm wrong... mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Solar Power - First Impressions 12Apr 21, 2008 8:53 am Doh....just realised how old this post is...the system was installed in January....just shot myself in my own foot......better get another cup of coffee!!!! mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Solar Power - First Impressions 13Apr 21, 2008 9:07 am Hey Casa, 1000 posts exactly!!!
Woo Hoo !!!! Re: Solar Power - First Impressions 14Nov 21, 2008 12:10 pm dynamictiger I have an Access database I am using for data collection, comparison and calculation it is in Office 2007 format. If anyone wants a copy please PM me and I'll zip it up for you and sent it over. Here are some ball park figures for comparison: http://forums.envirotalk.com.au/index.p ... topic=4249 Would also like an opinion from anyone that has used xcem over hebel for floors. Thanks 1 18219 2 17330 Our relationship with the owner is good, but I'm not sure if I want to impose putting a pole on their property. Your conversation with your neighbour must have gone well… 4 12862 |