Spring has sprung?

[Joeboy]

Good news, great warranty support. What is peak for you Mike? Can do a lot with 2kW when set up correctly for it's efficient use.

System rated 6.8 KW That would be around noon in the summer (when aligned perpendicular to the suns rays)/ But peak power is not a useful measure of solar power. Energy over the day is taking into account alignment, shading, etc. This is a "grid tied" system so my "battery" for storage is essentially infinite. Energy over the month tends to even out for day to day weather (corresponding months reasonably similar year to year, especially summer and fall - winter and even spring can vary between snowy years and "open" years)

My annual production very constant, within 100 KWh or so of 8 M WHh.

I should have asked "system size". Thanks for the lesson.

[MikeNovack]

I should have asked "system size". Thanks for the lesson.

24 panels (back then, about 285 watts/panel pretty standard)

They are on the roof of the barn/garage, across a drive (that is a "right of way"). So on a separate meter from the house with production from the solar system account transferred to the house account (in dollars, not KWh). When the prior owners (or the ones before them) ran a wire between house and barn they did so with too small a diameter pipe for us to pull a larger wire and so put the solar directly on the house meter. Penny wise pound foolish not to have used a larger diameter pipe. There would have been a lot of red tape/legal stuff for me to have done a new crossing of the right of way (and the owner of the other house dying of cancer). So I went with a solar installer that had lots of experience dealing with such rural issues. Adds a small expense for the second meter/account and the nuisance of getting the electric company to allow the "transfer" << they stall, which is why you want an installer who knows who to nudge >>

[Joeboy]

I should have asked "system size". Thanks for the lesson.

24 panels (back then, about 285 watts/panel pretty standard)

They are on the roof of the barn/garage, across a drive (that is a "right of way"). So on a separate meter from the house with production from the solar system account transferred to the house account (in dollars, not KWh). When the prior owners (or the ones before them) ran a wire between house and barn they did so with too small a diameter pipe for us to pull a larger wire and so put the solar directly on the house meter. Penny wise pound foolish not to have used a larger diameter pipe. There would have been a lot of red tape/legal stuff for me to have done a new crossing of the right of way (and the owner of the other house dying of cancer). So I went with a solar installer that had lots of experience dealing with such rural issues. Adds a small expense for the second meter/account and the nuisance of getting the electric company to allow the "transfer" << they stall, which is why you want an installer who knows who to nudge >>

Sounds good Mike, sorry about the neighbours health...

Any photos to share? We are trustworthy, honestly.

[Stinsy]

I should have asked "system size". Thanks for the lesson.

24 panels (back then, about 285 watts/panel pretty standard)

They are on the roof of the barn/garage, across a drive (that is a "right of way"). So on a separate meter from the house with production from the solar system account transferred to the house account (in dollars, not KWh). When the prior owners (or the ones before them) ran a wire between house and barn they did so with too small a diameter pipe for us to pull a larger wire and so put the solar directly on the house meter. Penny wise pound foolish not to have used a larger diameter pipe. There would have been a lot of red tape/legal stuff for me to have done a new crossing of the right of way (and the owner of the other house dying of cancer). So I went with a solar installer that had lots of experience dealing with such rural issues. Adds a small expense for the second meter/account and the nuisance of getting the electric company to allow the "transfer" << they stall, which is why you want an installer who knows who to nudge >>

285Wp per panel is miniscule by todays standards! I've seen 750Wp and higher!

[MikeNovack]

285Wp per panel is miniscule by todays standards! I've seen 750Wp and higher!

Uh..... what size panels? That 285 w/panel was good THEN but yes, they have gotten better. I believe THAT SIZE panel now should be maybe 320 watta to be considered good. There are larger panels made, but these are the standard size for installation on homes.

However, keep in mind that for the "net billing" program not allowed more than we were currently using.The barn roof had space for 24 panels with ideal alignment (over the year) what we were using. Any excess would simply leave money in the account. No refund, only can be used to pay electric bills AND only "new production" credit can be transferred. At the start, it took THREE MONTHS of nagging to get the "Z transfer" going by which time the barn account had a couple hundred dollars credit. It took a couple years to get that back at $7/month (the flat few for an account -- now it's $10/mo)

[Stinsy]

285Wp per panel is miniscule by todays standards! I've seen 750Wp and higher!

Uh..... what size panels? That 285 w/panel was good THEN but yes, they have gotten better. I believe THAT SIZE panel now should be maybe 320 watta to be considered good. There are larger panels made, but these are the standard size for installation on homes.

However, keep in mind that for the "net billing" program not allowed more than we were currently using.The barn roof had space for 24 panels with ideal alignment (over the year) what we were using. Any excess would simply leave money in the account. No refund, only can be used to pay electric bills AND only "new production" credit can be transferred. At the start, it took THREE MONTHS of nagging to get the "Z transfer" going by which time the barn account had a couple hundred dollars credit. It took a couple years to get that back at $7/month (the flat few for an account -- now it's $10/mo)

A typical panel is 450-550Wp these days. The 600Wp or higher tend to be for large-scale solar farms. However I’ve seen them on canal boats, garden sheds, and suchlike.

Perlite do a special “mini” panel for difficult installations, that is 300Wp, but the cost per Wp is 3x compared with the cheapest panels.

As for your 2nd paragraph. I’m going to have to take your word for that!