how are solar panels wired up when selling power back to the grid , how much on average could one get from selling power back ,
is it worth the investment
i have currently just have 8 150watt solar panels what would i need to get the rigged up to produce power , with how i would have to wire them up and what else i need
could a system me made so i have grid power and solar power and if i have spare solar power sell it back is that how it goes ???
2 users commented in " Solar panels and selling power back to the grid? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThis answer could take up pages….!
I know it sounds so tempting, but in most cases, you get a return on investment only after min. 5 / max. 10 years!
Firstly, check with your utility company whether they actually accept power sell-back, some don’t….
Then look at this picture:
Then check the prices (in your location) for deep-cycle batteries, inverter, charge controller, extra meter, installation…..
Then calculate how much kW-hrs you can produce in your area (average sunshine hours per year), and compare this with how much you pay your utility company for each kW-hrs.
Then compare this with your total investment, and make a decision.
I personally have never seen an installation that gives you “instant payback”, most people do it mostly for the “feel-good-factor”.
It all depends on what you pay for the parts and for the install. Then how much is your electric bill each month.
A grid tie system with no battery backup will last about 30 years. So take your electric bill and see how much you will spend on renting electric over the next 30 years. You will find out even at low prices that you will spend in the tens of thounsends of dollars. About the price of a system installed. Remember that you can sell the system and your home and get your money back plus free electric for all those years. In the USA any where you can get a 30% up to 2000 dollars tax credit and then a lot of states will pay for part of the system too.
So yes it is worth it just takes a little time to get your money back is all. but it is not rent. You do end up with something in the end.
Here is a page that tells you how to plan a system and it has links to show you what your savings are and how to install an off grid system along with other items of intrest.
But if you have 1.2 kw in panels. You just need to pick the correct inverter for the brand and out put of the panels and for your location. If it is hot solar panels put out less and if it is cold they put out more. So In the hot summer you might not put out enough power to start the inverter and in the winter you might burn it out. That is if you pick the wrong one. You will need to ground the solar array and you will need a combiner box and a disconnect for the AC and DC sides. You will need a breaker of the correct size to put in your homes breaker box and you have to put a locking disconnect on the outside of the home beside the electric meter.
There is a lot more to it like wire sizing etc..
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