Solar Panels for a house ?

Question

How hard is it to add to an existing home? How much power would one panel generate? Can you install yourself? Any idea of start-up cost?

Answer 1

Start-up cost... about $20,000

Yes it can be added to any home. (unless building codes or "codes covenants and restrictions" prohibit it.

They can be self-installed... if you have the capability to lift the darn things onto the roof... the panels large enough to power a house are HEAVY and bulky. One person won't be carrying them up a ladder.

Answer 2

A decent on grid system will be about $20,000 installed. It will produce about 3Kilowatts (3000 watts) peak power, or maybe about 15-20 Kilowatt-Hours (KWH) on a sunny day.

The average cost of power in the US is about 10 cents/kwh. It will range from about 8-20 cents according to where you live. If every day is sunny where you live, it will save you about $2/day.

This systems 15-18 panels will cover a fairly large area (maybe 1000 sq ft) so will need roof space.

You could save the earth and yourself a lot more just by trading in a large car on a little one, or getting a smaller house, or a thousand other much more beneficial things.

Solar is primarily for the wealthy. Don't believe the lies the media spouts.

Answer 3

Generally solar electric cells on a private house are a waste of money and resources and are a wealthy fool's luxury. However replace your hot water service with a solar system if the climate in your locality will not freeze and split the pipes in the collector. Alternately use a system with a non-freezing fluid. This can reduce power bills by 20-40% depending on the climate if you use an electric hot water service.

To save power elsewhere, use a clothes line, not a drier, don't install or use air conditioning, reduce central heating temps. to 20C and wear a pullover/sweater inside, and use a timer to drop temps. to 15C when out or in bed. Replace incandescent lights with compact or full size fluorescent lamps.

Answer 4

1. Gather up your last 12 months electric bills.

2. Total the kWh from all 12 electric bills and divide it by 365 days. (kWh equals 1000 watts)

3. Look on a Solar isolation map and find the average Peak Sun hours for your area.

4. Divide lines two and three.

5. To allow for heat losses in the solar modules, voltage loss in long wire runs, power loss in the inverter (inverters use electric to operate) add 15% loss.

6. Get a site shading survey, This will track the sun’s path and give the effect a tree, fence or house might have. Add this percentage to the above. (normally a dealer only item)

Or just go read it and other how to's here

http://www.oynot.com/solar-info.html

Answer 5

the hardship is that it is so costly to have put in and as you say that's going to take some years till now you somewhat start up saving above what the installation fee became, i in my opinion does no longer pass forward and make that form of investment, it may be greater worthwhile to maintain the money in a construction society, get the interest from it and use that to pay on your electrical energy however the challenge that I rather have against photograph voltaic Panels is that till you reside in that abode for a minimum of twenty 5 years you will no longer attain the element the place you're saving and to capitalise on it you may could stay there for some years greater, so which you will no longer have the alternative of shifting abode without dropping your investment and on the 2nd having photograph voltaic panels does not boost the fee of the valuables, it rather is barely a good merchandising element, once you purchase your new abode, you may probable could start up yet back and then because of the years will on no account stay long adequate to attain any funds in on it.

Answer 6

It's not a do it yourself project if you want to keep a power line connection to use when it's not sunny, and to sell the excess power back.

Even an "off-grid" system is no easy deal. You're dealing with dangerous amounts of power.

The best thing to do is to let a local solar energy company come out, give you an estimate, and explain the tax breaks, and concepts of selling your excess power. They're generally local folks, these guys do the northern California Sierras.

http://www.planitsolar.com/

Answer 7

You can do it yourself or have it done. Expect a system to cost about $20,000. But of course the cost depends on how much power you need. See the source. The few cases I have heard of where anybody did this they got the utility company and government to pay most of the cost.

Answer 8

solar panels come in all sizes. I don't think you can install it yourself but after having a few, it can lower the cost on your energy bill.

Answer 9

We did it, and in the end, it proved to be very economical. Once finished, we received a tax break. You could do it yourself, but would need to do a lot of researching. I say, find a reputable builder in your area.

Answer 10

its not hard to add to a house... well, its a huge investment but will be economical in the long run... u need to consult a specialist for more detail...