I'm on the 5th year with a 5400 watt system. Array has twenty-seven 200 watt panels hooked in series-parallel. I built a special barn with one roof pointing south as the desired angle 600 feet from house. Besides housing solar equipment we also use it for farm equipment. I.e. dual-use.
Solar panels are hooked up to twin 3600 watt Outback inverters and twin Outback MX80 charge- controllers. Battery bank has eight Rolls-Surrette 6-volt deep- cycle batteries. S-460 rated at 350 amp-hours, cost $310 each, and estimated life is 7-10 years.
Also needed - is a way to charge the batteries if run down - like during a long power outage when the sun doesn't shine. That required getting a large 48 volt Iota battery charger that I can hook to the 13 KW PTO generator on my tractor to charge the batteries. If someone has no back-up system to charge - a they get severely run down - they could get ruined.
Note that all the equipment except the panels themselves only has a 5 year warrantee. After that - anything fails and I pay for it. And yes,stuff fails. I've had to fix the Outback inverters twice already under warranty.
We make, on average, 320 KWh per month every year. Even though we use slightly less - we still pay $17.35 per month hook-up fee to the power company.
I paid - out of pocket - around $8000 cash (that is no longer getting any interest on). In reality the total system was 40-something thousand bucks. This system - in theory - would pay me back for only my out-of-pocket cost . . in 10-11 years IF nothing ever broke or wore-out. I find that doubtful but we'll see. I doubt I'll be around to find out anyway.
Note that I am in central NY. People in better sun areas can use less solar panels.
Also note that last year we were away for 8 months. Made a lot of extra power that the power- company has. We will not get it back not will we get paid for it. National Grid runs a credit for one year and then wipes it out. I.e. they pocket it.
Also - solar panels are half the cost now then when I installed. But the electronics cost more.
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Today's Featured Article - Women and Tractors - Tractor Engine Repair - by Teri Burkholder. One of the great things about working on a tractor engine with your other half is that you know what he is thinking of at all times and can anticipate his every move and his next thought of what he will do. With Ben, anyway, I can tell! He'll be busy working and I�m handing him tools and he says, "give me that..." and I�ve already got it in his hand or "hand me that....."and I�ve got the portable light right where he needed it placed to see. "Run in the house and get me a...."as I open th
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