All things Solar (merged threads)

[Mercury Bullet]

Cheers Poppa.

I was reading that you need a 4kw system at a minimum to really make charging viable. As you know I'm way off that.

This ABC article seemed fair I thought.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-0...energy/7130392

[poppa smurf]

yep! pretty good article, I'm a bit sceptical about the 92% efficiency cycle, yet to see a battery that good, but new technology.

the problem with charging these things is that they will not accept 100% charge at 100% input, or in other words they need "trickle charging" over an extended period to achieve maximum charge, I don't know if the inverter will be that good.

it could be done with less power from solar, but as you say, really, to make it viable the quicker they charge the better it is and that means more power input.

[Mercury Bullet]

I've got a gum tree that has recently had a growth spurt and is now starting to shade my roof at around 3-4pm at certain times of the year.

Would it be affecting my output enough to need cutting down?
As stated, yesterday I was getting ~1100w from my 8 panels on a perfect day.

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

I've got a gum tree that has recently had a growth spurt and is now starting to shade my roof at around 3-4pm at certain times of the year.

Would it be affecting my output enough to need cutting down?
As stated, yesterday I was getting ~1100w from my 8 panels on a perfect day.

yep! it will affect output quite a bit.

[CJR09]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

I've got a gum tree that has recently had a growth spurt and is now starting to shade my roof at around 3-4pm at certain times of the year.

Would it be affecting my output enough to need cutting down?
As stated, yesterday I was getting ~1100w from my 8 panels on a perfect day.

Depending your panel/string arrangement - the generation preceeding the shaded area is consumed by 'rejuvenating' the dead shaded area prior to making its way onto the inverter obviously at a reduced wattage

If you had say 2 strings of 4 panels then the partial shading only affects the output of the one string - you likely only have one string so it is probably affecting the system as a whole

[Mercury Bullet]

Thankyou gentlemen.

Said tree will be meeting chainsaw tomorrow then.
The joys of living in the country where no do-gooders can see me having fun with a chainsaw.

[wodahs]

im on the phone now to the tree huggers

how do I tell them your killing a tree to save emissions

[Mercury Bullet]

hahaha

You can inform the tree huggers I won't be turning on my aircon.

It will be going into the fireplace to keep me warm and make lots of smoke.

[buggerlugs]

So has "Choice" picked a company that we should be using for power. Poppa checked my 2 recent bills and AGL are putting there prices up "again"......

[wodahs]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

yep! pretty good article, I'm a bit sceptical about the 92% efficiency cycle, yet to see a battery that good, but new technology.

the problem with charging these things is that they will not accept 100% charge at 100% input, or in other words they need "trickle charging" over an extended period to achieve maximum charge, I don't know if the inverter will be that good.

it could be done with less power from solar, but as you say, really, to make it viable the quicker they charge the better it is and that means more power input.

so how did the battery research go Poppa they worth it or not ? any other suggestions on the board ??

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by wodahs

so how did the battery research go Poppa they worth it or not ? any other suggestions on the board ??

in a word mate......no, not at this stage, the numbers (and I've run a heap) just do not add up.....too much money for not enough power......but as time goes by!!!!!

as for best power providers well thats a whole different story altogether, all I can say is if you are going to try and save a quid then you have a hell of a learning curve ahead.

power companies are very good at bamboozling the customer to such a stage that most simply throw their hands in the air in frustration and give up.......which is what they plan to achieve, don't let them.

if and when you do go down the comparison rate then

(1) check the pay on time discount then ask for a better one

(2) take a good look at the "tiers"....some have two (summer/winter) others have three or more based on usage, this will take a lot of research to unwind the rubbish

(3) don't accept exit fees or "contracts"......they are not in your favour or best interest and don't be afraid to leave the one you have now, be prepared to threaten to shift providers, and actually carry out the threat if you find a better deal

(4) don't be afraid to compare rates and phone your supplier if you find a better one and tell them you are going to shift if the provider can't at least match or better the deal

(5) phone your provider and tell them "not happy Jan".......they can and will do better, works most times

it's a jungle out there and it is ruled by bears.......you gotta be smart nowadays.

[ebxr8240]

Have you fitted time switches to turn things off at night ? HWS ? Even fridge, freezers till suns out .. I guess the midnight to dawn tariff is still high ? LED TV and lights use bugger all..

[my_gxl]

one big switch got some good deals done through click energy.
You can switch to them, or use their deals to push better outcomes from your current provider.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by wodahs

so how did the battery research go Poppa they worth it or not ? any other suggestions on the board ??

The article I was reading regarding batteries (Tesla) suggested holding off for a while.
They seemed pretty certain that the cost will start falling soon.

How long is soon?

[EgoFG]

Originally Posted by mickyyyy

Is it still worth it to get it installed now?

Also who is good in Sydney to supply and install?

I have installed twice in the Sydney basin, without the 66c feed it Tarrif (I moved homes)

I could not make the numbers work on 66c, as the installer took a huge amount of coin.

but with a Net FIT (your electricity is used by you - measured instantaneously)

I have been ably to pay off the install cost in 4 years

I work from home, and can switch on the A/C, Drier when the sun is out.
Origin give me a net FIT of 6c.

[xisled]

Originally Posted by my_gxl

one big switch got some good deals done through click energy.
You can switch to them, or use their deals to push better outcomes from your current provider.

The deals they got were the same as the ones people can get from the street. They have a high discount but rates and supply charge is quiet high.

Have a read of their Facebook page in the visitors posting section.

Also they push this so much as they get a commission of $40 per Person that signs up with click and also not sure how true a payment every
Month the customer stays with click.

Working for a electricity retailer, who was part of a previous campaign by one big switch, I can confirm that they do her a commission per customer they sign up.

If they were doing to get a better deal they wouldn't be getting a commission per person.

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

The article I was reading regarding batteries (Tesla) suggested holding off for a while.
They seemed pretty certain that the cost will start falling soon.

How long is soon?

I've heard five years......

[wodahs]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

I've heard five years......

When to bite the bullet
How long to wait for the price drop over power price gouging ?

[poppa smurf]

Ah! the million dollar question.....when!!!.......I'm just holding off until Mr Government man actually fulfils his promise to voters to make SA the "green state".

steps are being made in the storage direction but as yet they are baby steps and relying on the power industry to make, not the way to go given the past history of the multinationals.

the power industry already has an "exit" strategy so when or where the changes will explode is any ones guess but it will.

government and industry are shocked and totally bamboozled by the uptake of solar, no matter how expensive or how many road blocks are introduced us pesky damn consumers keep installing solar and thus taking the money out of their pockets, HOW DARE WE.

industry will do all, in it's, not so minuscule, power base to continue to grow it's profits and lie about the cost of solar to non solar power consumers ( some folks will swallow anything) in order to protect it's investment, but a little bit of study will quickly belie this myth, government is bound to the contract it signed upon sale of the asset to protect and guarantee vast profits for investors.

so we are the meat in the sandwich, when to buy, if I knew that I would buy next weeks lottery ticket as i would know the results, but those who jump in relatively early MAY be the ones to gain but then as technology grows and the strangle hold by multinationals weaken, the price and capacities will come into their own.

waiting game I'm afraid.

[Mercury Bullet]

I might sell up and move to Hutt River.

Is that place country still in existence?

[Mooka]

5 years ? Will total savings be greater on Tesla purchase in 5yrs ? or will it be greater on power savings leading up to this forecast ?

People are buying to stick it to the power companies, taking control of costs & safe guarding against ever growing price increases.

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by Mooka

5 years ? Will total savings be greater on Tesla purchase in 5yrs ? or will it be greater on power savings leading up to this forecast ?

People are buying to stick it to the power companies, taking control of costs & safe guarding against ever growing price increases.

Tesla is not the only player in the system, many more waiting in the wings.

People are not buying them to stick it to the power companies everyone that I have spoken to are buying in an effort to reduce costs and try to continue with their standard of living, ask anyone here for example.

The technology is already out there and affordably in everyday use over seas, the problem with Australia is that Govco and the multinationals have got us and kept us in their back pocket.

Problem with Australia ATM is that Battery technology is not affordable, $ - Kw conversion is not feasible just now, but as sales climb, prices fall until we get to the stage that mass production and importation of different systems will allow a lot more folks, who already own solar, a way in, and those without solar will purchase as systems become cheaper, that is what the power moguls are afraid of.

The multinationals have already foreseen this and have an exit strategy, the future of power to homes is "self sufficiency".

Five years, or so my research has shown, will be a point of change, batteries that are in the pipeline will begin to filter through to Australia, larger (but smaller in physical size) will suddenly appear, different storage systems will come on line and start to become cheaper, alternative power generation techniques will begin to arise.

it will not be a matter of savings, it will be a matter of self generation as seen in other countries now, the question will be what will we need to go without in order to go to the next level and will we be willing to do so, not all of us can afford tens of thousands of dollars to avoid power bills, there will always be those that have none as now.

I'm not a greenie but I do spend a fair amount of time on studying current affairs/global trends and solar/storage is a hobby of mine.

[Franco Cozzo]

We're all talking viable as in money, right? So its not worth going off grid because cost benefit analysis fails?

Might not make monetary sense but what price do you put on being able to give the one fingered victory salute to the power companies?

[xisled]

Also another point that needs to be looked at is what will happen when people start going off the grid, will energy companies start to charge you for having the service out the front, just like the water company does here in Vic.

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by xisled

Also another point that needs to be looked at is what will happen when people start going off the grid, will energy companies start to charge you for having the service out the front, just like the water company does here in Vic.

That was actually raised here a few months ago, the energy minister was talking about it, stating it would never happen nor would he allow it.

However as Leon Byner stated.....Ministers come and go......so open slather, profits will be maintained at ALL costs.

Not really interested in giving the one fingered salute to multinationals, they just go onto the next honey hole which, in the case of Australia, will be gas.

I just fight each battle for survival day by day, no good scoffing at defeated windmills.

I wonder where the power is going to come from when the majority of taxpayers go off line.....those that are left behind will have stonking accounts and continuous rolling blackouts I predict.

one thing though I guess, industry won't take much.......none left.

[buggerlugs]

Hey Poppa, next door neighbour is right up on Solar (the fees that is ) He was with CLICK but reckons this mob is the go.........
http://diamondenergy.com.au/home-solar-eg/

You still got those invoices I sent you ? How does that compare ?

[Mowdit]

Hey Poppa
Speaking of gas, i remember years ago the CSIRO were developing a home gas turbine, the premis was that it could be used as a generator or for back up for those off grid.
Any idea what ever happened to that ?

[Mowdit]

Diamond energy still seam to be like the rest.
How is it you pay a "supply charge" to the property, then if you have off peak there is "another supply charge" so that the rate can be ever so slightly cheaper...........
Double dipping the pig in the trough if you ask me

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by Mowdit

Hey Poppa
Speaking of gas, i remember years ago the CSIRO were developing a home gas turbine, the premis was that it could be used as a generator or for back up for those off grid.
Any idea what ever happened to that ?

yep! and it is a beauty and works very well, but with the price of gas it is more expensive to produce energy this way than the grid.....one other benefit from it was it also did your hot water.

many of these units are in use right now all over the place but mainly in larger manufacturing sectors.

this mob (as well as others) are looking very promising http://www.mtt-eu.com but a home, reliable unit is still in the pipeline, won't be long they reckon, along with quite a few others.

[wodahs]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

That was actually raised here a few months ago, the energy minister was talking about it, stating it would never happen nor would he allow it.

I had a simular situation with a state gas supplier here in WA

I had paid a bill for gas connection for five years and never used it as I don't have anything to run gas and there is only one bayonet in the house any ways
so I cancel the account
around six months later I recieved a letter stating that they were going to charge me $x.x amount a day for just having it there as it was costing them to have it at my door and was more than just having an account , at which I replied that's more than having an account for something im never going to use , so they informed me they will remove the meter and if I was ever wanting it back the cost was going to ne huge , my answer - meh remove it ill never use it and what ill save till the reinstatement will off set the cost anyways , another six months the meter still hasn't been removed