Have you considered going solar?
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Since this is a DIY site, I'll post pics of my DIY 17.28kW ground mount solar system.......payback 6.5 years on a "net billing" system contract with local POCO. System produces power at $.03 per kWh but I have no outside labor costs in the design, build and maintenance of the system.
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Even with our relatively high cost of electricity of 18¢/kWh. My bill doesn't justify solar. I have opted for conservation or energy efficiency vs more generation. My average bill is about $55/mth. A little higher in the dead of winter, and less in the summer if we don't have a major heat spell. Most solar telemarketers terminate the conversation when I tell them about my bills.
I disagree with the quote in your post about "you will save money doing it yourself vs the contractor". It implies that everyone can do it. Only the DIYer with higher electrical skills should even contemplate it. And they should study
Article 690 of the NEC before making their decision.
Simple mistakes like using the wrong wire type to connect their panels can become expensive when they have to pull all the wire out and toss it before reinstalling the right wire. Using AC components on the DC side is another common error.
Most people should opt for a good solar installer.
I disagree with the quote in your post about "you will save money doing it yourself vs the contractor". It implies that everyone can do it. Only the DIYer with higher electrical skills should even contemplate it. And they should study
Article 690 of the NEC before making their decision.
Simple mistakes like using the wrong wire type to connect their panels can become expensive when they have to pull all the wire out and toss it before reinstalling the right wire. Using AC components on the DC side is another common error.
Most people should opt for a good solar installer.
This is a DIY site and I think most DIY'ers are coming here to get encouragement to either starting or finishing a DIY project and thus they should get appropriate advice.
IMO there is a BIG difference between a competent DIY'er and a run of the mill hack. The electrician Pros that come here to this site should be commended for helping the competent DIY'ers. The hacks will come here and do it their way no matter what the Pros say or what the NEC requires.
So......in addition to Article 690, I would suggest a true DIY'er become familiar with Articles 250, 300, and 310 to properly install a solar power system. It is super important to follow the safety rules.....get a copy of NFPA 70 (ie NEC) and read it. Think of it like a cookbook...all the ingredients are there and how to put them together.
A true DIY'er WILL save money, but you have to do your homework.
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And you also need to do the sums
Most people seem to think that they will save heaps of money
This may be true for some but not all
The outlay and instalation costs are not trivial
And will cost thousands of dollars
payback will be years away
Assuming that it lasts that long.
For most people it is still cheaper to buy from the grid.
Especially if you are a high user.
Most people seem to think that they will save heaps of money
This may be true for some but not all
The outlay and instalation costs are not trivial
And will cost thousands of dollars
payback will be years away
Assuming that it lasts that long.
For most people it is still cheaper to buy from the grid.
Especially if you are a high user.
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11,194 Posts
I think you got the wrong impression of what I was saying. I have no problem with a competent electrical DIYer attempting a Solar system. We have a number on this board that could do it. From your photo, you have already done it.
But most of the DIYers coming to this site are having difficulty with rather elementary tasks. That group (the majority on this board) are not ready to take it on.
So, on that basis I think I gave appropriate advice. Most people (not all) should consider a good solar installer. (I did not say electrician, because not all electricians are experienced in solar. Its not that they can not learn, I don't think someone should have to pay for the electrician's learning experience.)
For me "saving heaps of money" was not the goal. I just wanted to halt the rising cost of power....in my case doubling the annual inflation rate for the last fifteen years...yes that's right, doubling the inflation rate for the last decade and a half year after year.
In 2011, sitting in my easy chair, reading about the EPA "Clean Power Plan" I realized that the dirty, mercury polluted Indiana coal will not be an acceptable power source for the foreseeable future. My power source was already importing "clean" coal from Utah to mix with the dirty Indiana stuff to meet the current pollution rules.....where was this going to go.......
So my solar project was and is nothing more than a hedging project.
So maybe you are satisfied with your current cost of power......but if you live in the Midwest, the cost of power is going to change big time and you don't need a crystal ball to make that prediction.
I was pretty serious about it several years ago. Had enough $$$$ for a system that would roughly equal my usage. Called the power co., no problems there. Called the building department and it went downhill rapidly from there.
They had never done solar system, and have a reputation of being....well.......lets just say 'difficult'.
I decided that I didn't need my $40,000, 2 weekend system to end up being a $200,000, 6 month nightmare, so I scrapped the idea.
They had never done solar system, and have a reputation of being....well.......lets just say 'difficult'.
I decided that I didn't need my $40,000, 2 weekend system to end up being a $200,000, 6 month nightmare, so I scrapped the idea.
I have an off-grid cabin with a 750W solar system (actually separate 500W and 250W systems for different load types). That's the only solar electric system I want right now. The economics just don't quite work out for a grid-tied system yet. It can be a break-even or profitable investment, but not quite profitable enough to justify allocating the money to it. The return on investment isn't good enough, especially when risk-adjusted. Don't forget to figure that the power company's net metering rates may change in the future, reducing your revenue. That risk must be considered when evaluating the investment in solar.
With that said, I am probably about to install a small grid-tied solar array on a commercial property. It's mostly for show and brand image rather than as a strictly practical investment. Even if it loses a bit of money, it will make this property a bit more attractive to certain tenants.
With that said, I am probably about to install a small grid-tied solar array on a commercial property. It's mostly for show and brand image rather than as a strictly practical investment. Even if it loses a bit of money, it will make this property a bit more attractive to certain tenants.
I am currently looking at putting solar panels on top of my camper so I can be off the grid when I want to be. A system cost is around $1300 for somewhere between 500-600w. Baby steps..... an off the grid cabin in the woods would be my next step, the main house seems very daunting as of now.
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