Solar Panels the house, 1 year on, the results

[WilSurf]

When we just had the solar panels, we still had the old meter.
It as funny to see the meter spinning backwards, untill someone in the hours turned on something. :-)

I replaced some halogen spots yesterday with LED, another step to beat the prices hike.
We try to use the use users during the off-peak hours: dishwasher, washingmachine, chargers.
That helps a lot. Why pay the maximum amount if you can choose?

[briann532]

Garry,

Its nice to see some feedback after real time testing.
I install systems in NSW, and yes as previously stated the gov has bent us over, but most of my customers still see the benefits.
(before anyone gives me grief for self promotion or trying to use the forum, etc etc...........I'm not)

I won't give my details or try to sell anything here. I'm flat out trying to keep up as it is and for those of you on here who know me, you'll know I help where I can, but my business and recreation are kept well apart.......... )

Back to the point.......
A homeowner should expect to have the system pay for itself within 5 years or your being had....
(2 - 3 years for a cheap system, but warranty etc can let you down. Expected life of a good system is 20 - 25 years minimum.)
This is even at the current STC multiplier and low feed in tarrif.
Counteract this with the ever rising cost of energy and you can see the benefits.

I have a family of 4 in a 4 bedroom house with everything electric. Our 3 KW system generates about the same as we consume.
This obviously depends on weather etc as our AC gets a good workout.
We also have a pond and ceiling fans outside that go 24 hours a day.
Our lighting is 12v halogen and we use IXL tastics all the time.....
High consumers - YES. offset with the solar though so I'm happy.

I'm currently trialling a 280watt panel on the Jayco set up but need a lot more time and won't be able to give real results till after I go away at christmas. Fridges running in the summer heat and no driving for 3 weeks should give a good indication.....
I'll have to consume some amber thinking fluid, to help give the fridge some run time and real time testing....
Oh well, the things we gotta do 
Brian

[Barry G]

Must get out the figures on my system and have a close look at the difference it has made.

[Manjimike]

We try to use the use users during the off-peak hours: dishwasher, washingmachine, chargers.
That helps a lot. Why pay the maximum amount if you can choose?

I don't think that is available in the country areas

[Garry H]

Hi all,
thanks for the feed back on everything, great to see some other results as well,
I posted this up and then havn't got back onto the site until today (long weekend),
good to see that some others think along similar lines of thought to myself, payback in 5-6 years, and feeding in as much as what we use so we will hopefully still have a "zero bill" years down the track if the rates change
probably the only other "quirky bit of info" I know of is that if now I move house and take my panels with me I will no longer get the higher feed in tarif, but neither will the next people in my house if I leave it there for them,
it would be even better if we got a gross feed in tarif like some states do (I think)
don't plan on moving house until I have to downsize hopefully a long time away....
cheers
Garry

[WilSurf]

Don't forget that solar panels will be adding value to your property if you are selling.

[Noelpolar]

mmmm not sure on this.......... two new exact same houses for sale side by side,  one with solar..... then maybe. A lot of solar installations I've seen detract somewhat from the street appeal of a house......FWIW I reckon most of the premium one might get from the market at sale time from two similar spec homes in the same location comes from it's emotional grab ie presentation etc. not necessarily a minor spec difference.  (I have solar)


 

Don't forget that solar panels will be adding value to your property if you are selling.

[Noelpolar]

Just did the 12 months figures on mine.........  3.3kw of panels (14x235W), 10 degree pitch roof, facing 10 degrees east of true north,  location is Goolwa Beach (80ks south of Adeliade)

The inverter produce 4,770 KWH, we fed in 2878 KWH, and used from the grid 3758 KWH..... so solar system performing as expected.......... I have an apricus HWS that has a real poor payback though........should have spent the HWS money on more solar panels and kept the off peak electric system.......

Hi all,
12 months ago I lashed out and installed 24 x 180 panels on the roof = 4.32 Kw
paired it up with a sunny boy inverter (4Kw) and had it all installed by one of the bigger companys here in Adelaide
I could have had a cheaper system installed but some companys with shorter warrantys and invertors made in China/Taiwon etc don't sit right with me
my all up out of pocket cost after the rebates (at the time) and the import/export meter was $16,000,
keeping in mind here in SA we get paid for feeding into the grid net @ .44c (.52c with AGL) ie during the day we use from the panels and only get paid for the excees we feed in.
in the first 12 months
the inverter produce 6300 units, we fed in 3725 units, and used from the grid 3200 units
our previous electricity bills were somewhere around the $3-400 mark per 1/4
by my caculations we have now had about a 16% return on our money taking into account credits & electricity used
and am thinking at the current electricity prices and useage we will be looking at around a 6 year payback, less as electricity prices go up. (if the rules stay the same with feed in tarifs etc)

anyway i am happy with the whole setup, I realise that different states have different feed in rules and there is a lot of variables.....
are you happy with your setup and have you "crunched the numbers" on you solar setup?
I would be interested to hear you numbers and opinions on solar
cheers
Garry