Solar power systems for the home

[the-rasta-masta]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Okay. This is what I am seeing now, which is what I was trying to wrap my head around a bit.





There is one panel on a single inverter, where thr rest are all doubled-up.

This all looks like normal function to me. Even though the panels are 500w, they can only produce a maximum amount of AC power of 384w AC. You're likely to see those panels get a little closer to the 384 max as we get into the summer.

The DS3-L inverter has an output of 768w AC, usually split between two 500w panels, meaning 1000w DC would be converted to 768w AC in the best sun situations. The panel that you have that has an exclusive inverter is still going to be maxed out at 384w AC, because the inverter actually functions as two individual inverter channels with 384w each, so that panel on the single inverter won't produce anymore than the others. There is an open inverter port that has access to the remaining 384w for an additional panel, but a single panel won't have access to that additional capacity.

[Wormius]

One thing I am finding a little annoying is how the billing is done. They aren't just calculated on the difference between imported and exported. I suppose I was expecting all of the fees to be calculated on the difference, which means I'll need to be a bit more conscientious of using electricity during the day when there's some production.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Wormius

One thing I am finding a little annoying is how the billing is done. They aren't just calculated on the difference between imported and exported. I suppose I was expecting all of the fees to be calculated on the difference, which means I'll need to be a bit more conscientious of using electricity during the day when there's some production.

What do you mean? You don't pay any of the variable transmission or delivery fees on consumed or exported. If you are consuming 100% of production when the suns out, you pay nothing. If you are exporting, you're making money.

Do you mean conscientious as in run the dishwasher, laundry, charge your EV during the day and not when there's no production?

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Barnes

What do you mean? You don't pay any of the variable transmission or delivery fees on consumed or exported. If you are consuming 100% of production when the suns out, you pay nothing. If you are exporting, you're making money.

Do you mean conscientious as in run the dishwasher, laundry, charge your EV during the day and not when there's no production?

Before this, I thought transmission fees were charged on the net usage and that it didn’t matter if I charged the car or run the dryer at night because production during the day when I am not at home would offset that.

Spot Power does a better job on their bills of showing the usage based fees and I guess originally I thought if I used 500kwh and produced 200kwh, all the fees would be calculated on 300kwh regardless of when production and consumption occur, which evidently isn’t the case if your consuming and producing at different times.

I mean, there is still the micro-gen credit, but it would obviously be a little better to try to reduce the imports from the grid to keep the fees down.

[Barnes]

Ah, yeah. Utilize your production when it’s producing and import as little as you can. Doing multiple laundry loads at night during the summer at $.335 per kilowatt eats into the days export benefit real quick.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Barnes

Ah, yeah. Utilize your production when it’s producing and import as little as you can. Doing multiple laundry loads at night during the summer at $.335 per kilowatt eats into the days export benefit real quick.

Yeah, that reminds me I still need to pick up an extra charger to bring to the office.