Solar Power

[Sabie]

I've got a 5kv system with 22 panels and it doesn't having such an elaborate inverter. Mines an SMA Sunnyboy and it's just one orange box on the wall.

[Couch]

Me too Sabie, I have a 5kw system with 20 x 250 watt panels, facing due North!

I've got a 5kv system with 22 panels and it doesn't having such an elaborate inverter. Mines an SMA Sunnyboy and it's just one orange box on the wall.

[Sabie]

Yer couch, that's it. I'll post a photo of my system.

[Couch]

We're almost blood brothers Sabie.............what a shame your bike isn't WHITE hey!!

Yer couch, that's it. I'll post a photo of my system.

[Sabie]

I don't know about that Couch, but I did hear that your bike wanted to grow up to be a Blue.....

[Couch]

Sabie, seeing that we have almost identical systems I'd be interested to know what sort of maximum power per day you're able to generate up there in sunny (when it's not raining) Queensland. The best day we've had from ours is 27.85kwh, and we've had a few days similar to that, but we're expecting a little more once summer comes along and we have longer sunny days. Our system has only been in about 5 months so we've gone through the winter period, much shorter days and less sun, however so far we've generated 2686kwh!

[Marcus]

What are you guys monitoring daily usage or overal? 

Also I've been buying these, one room at a time

iglobe they make some pretty big claims...

http://www.iglobe.com.au/about-us/

[Couch]

Hi Marcus,  we are with Aurora in Tassie and our daily usage 24 May to 23 August was 44.3kwh a day for a daily average cost of $6.42. Our usage is quite high and there are reasons for this. We have 2 heat pumps (reverse cycle air cons) and at least one of them runs daily, particularly during the cooler months, a 50' Plasma that runs non stop from 6.00am in the morning until well after midnight every day, my wife has MS and has trouble sleeping so spends a considerable time in front of the tele, she also washes and runs the clothes dryer every day of the week because she likes the towels "soft and fluffy", I know this costs us heaps but I can't convince her to do otherwise. I've suggested we stop showering so then we won't need to use the towels but she won't go along with that....bugger! Every time we turn a tap on our water pump cuts in as we're on tank water, and 2 teenage boys who both run computers, playing games on them every night, plus my laptop, Vicki's computer, and so on, and so on!!  Hope this info is of some assistance.

What are you guys monitoring daily usage or overal? 

[Marcus]

Hi Marcus,  we are with Aurora in Tassie and our daily usage 24 May to 23 August was 44.3kwh a day for a daily average cost of $6.42. Our usage is quite high and there are reasons for this. We have 2 heat pumps (reverse cycle air cons) and at least one of them runs daily, particularly during the cooler months, a 50' Plasma that runs non stop from 6.00am in the morning until well after midnight every day, my wife has MS and has trouble sleeping so spends a considerable time in front of the tele, she also washes and runs the clothes dryer every day of the week because she likes the towels "soft and fluffy", I know this costs us heaps but I can't convince her to do otherwise. I've suggested we stop showering so then we won't need to use the towels but she won't go along with that....bugger! Every time we turn a tap on our water pump cuts in as we're on tank water, and 2 teenage boys who both run computers, playing games on them every night, plus my laptop, Vicki's computer, and so on, and so on!!  Hope this info is of some assistance.

Well... aside from the MS part (Sorry to hear)... It's like looking into a mirror... So good to know

Everything else is a the same as you... aside from the kids.... but appliance wise

Me: we may have to change some habits with the new solar system, like using the cloths line...
Wife: But then you won't get "soft and fluffy" towels...


 

[Couch]

I've never seen those iglobes before but I'll certainly give them a go!

What are you guys monitoring daily usage or overal? 

Also I've been buying these, one room at a time

iglobe they make some pretty big claims...

http://www.iglobe.com.au/about-us/

[Biggles]

Phew.  They're as dear as poison, but if you believe their calculator you'd pay for them in a year... if you're paying 30 cents / kw which you solar panel guys aren't.  Of course, lights are only used at night, when you're buying grid power, so I guess it eats into your feed-in rebate.

[Marcus]

Yeah, they are expensive...but on the other flip of the coin. If the 30 year can be believed... and I seem to be always buying globes. We'll see...

[Cerebral Knievel]

No solar panels - average cost per day is $2.74 

[Biggles]

Yeah, they are expensive...but on the other flip of the coin. If the 30 year can be believed... and I seem to be always buying globes. We'll see...

I find the CFCs last thousands of hours and you can get them for as little as $3 each in packs of 6. 
Downsides include most have a warm-up time, unlike the LEDS.

[Couch]

I would never have installed a solar system if I only paid $2.74 per day...........half your luck mate!!

No solar panels - average cost per day is $2.74 

[West Aussie Glen]

36 solar panels, average rebate over $5.00 per day