Solar power systems for the home

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

Is there anything I need to do once I get solar panels installed - notify Enmax? My rate ends in June. If I sign up for a solar club does that impact anything with Enmax? Has anyone signed up for solar offset credits?

Your solar installer should be handling everything with enmax, including the bidirectional meter.

By signing up with a solar club they should handle the switch from enmax, shouldn't need to do anything on your end.

[calgarygeologist]

I'm making power. I have made just over 3kwh so far with the installation of my first 15 panels. This is really cool. I didn't think I would be this excited to see the system up and running.

Pics on my install.
12 panels on the garage:


7 panels on the house:

[Calgary14]

Finally got the solar panels installed, I just need the city to come out and sign off on the inspection and then I can flip the braker and start producing

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

Finally got the solar panels installed, I just need the city to come out and sign off on the inspection and then I can flip the braker and start producing

Nice. It is a lot of fun checking the app to see how much power is being generated when the system is first installed. My first 3 days of generation were my best and then it started to drop because of weather. I still haven't beat those first three days despite the daylight hours increasing.

[Texas]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

Finally got the solar panels installed, I just need the city to come out and sign off on the inspection and then I can flip the braker and start producing

I've seen many people flip on the switch anyways, start producing power, and just flip it off for when the city inspector comes...

I'm not saying that this is what I did... Just saying that some people do this...

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Texas

I've seen many people flip on the switch anyways, start producing power, and just flip it off for when the city inspector comes...

I'm not saying that this is what I did... Just saying that some people do this...

My installers turned on the system on day 1.

[Calgary14]

Yeah it's probably more of a formality at this point, I just wish it didnt take 2 weeks for the city to come out to do their inspection

[Street Pharmacist]

My solar gets turned on tomorrow. I'm excited. I have a 10.9kW system installed but waiting on BC Hydro service upgrade and new panel

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Nice. It is a lot of fun checking the app to see how much power is being generated when the system is first installed. My first 3 days of generation were my best and then it started to drop because of weather. I still haven't beat those first three days despite the daylight hours increasing.

Maybe its the smoke?

[bagofpucks]

Might have been answered earlier in the thread, but I didn’t see it…are those of you that installed panels also upgrading your panel to 200A? Our neighbor just got a quote and the electrician is heavily recommending upgrading his panel at the same time and I was curious if that is common practice these days.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by bagofpucks

Might have been answered earlier in the thread, but I didn’t see it…are those of you that installed panels also upgrading your panel to 200A? Our neighbor just got a quote and the electrician is heavily recommending upgrading his panel at the same time and I was curious if that is common practice these days.

I am. I had 120A and if you ever want level 2 charging and potentially heat pump, etc you'll need it. If they're needing to mess with the panel anyways, why not just do it then?

[Fuzz]

Ya, the other reason to do it sooner is that most neighbourhoods are not engineered for everyone to have 200A panels, so at some point, Enmax will reject the upgrade request until it makes sense to increase larger area capacity. Basically get in now so you can lord it over your neighbour if they get rejected.

[CroFlames]

Who do I talk to to get solar panels? I already have 200A service.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Ya, the other reason to do it sooner is that most neighbourhoods are not engineered for everyone to have 200A panels, so at some point, Enmax will reject the upgrade request until it makes sense to increase larger area capacity. Basically get in now so you can lord it over your neighbour if they get rejected.

And as the number of people electrifying their home increases the harder it'll be to find someone to do it

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

And as the number of people electrifying their home increases the harder it'll be to find someone to do it

Anyone know rough cost for the upgrade? Since from what I am reading makes sense to get the electric car first followed by the solar panels since you can only get enough panels to match your current electrical useage.

[Street Pharmacist]

Not sure about Alberta. In BC it was about $1700 for the panel and labor. BC Hydro service upgrade charge was around the same I think

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by bagofpucks

Might have been answered earlier in the thread, but I didn’t see it…are those of you that installed panels also upgrading your panel to 200A? Our neighbor just got a quote and the electrician is heavily recommending upgrading his panel at the same time and I was curious if that is common practice these days.

I already had 200a in my home.

[bagofpucks]

Thanks for the responses! The first neighbor to get solar panels in our area did not upgrade his panel and that was about 5 years ago. We are out in the country and it is going to be a pretty massive undertaking to make any of these upgrades. I believe for just the panel upgrade it is going to be about $20-$30K as they have to upgrade the wires to the property line and then from the property line to the house. It sounds like at this time we may not even have the ability to do a panel upgrade as our house is 400 meters from the transformer. And yah, if you’re going to do it the time is now as there are going to be massive capacity constraints in our area. I haven’t been able to do the detailed calcs, but my back of the napkin math has it that only 25% of the houses that are tied to a specific transformer will be able to do any kind of upgrade. Interesting times ahead!

[Barnes]

Have been following this thread from the start but I am only now considering getting solar. The answers are probably in this thread but.... For those of you that have gone through the process has it cost you anything?

Like did you pay anything out of pocket for install? Did the loan / grants cover equipment, install and upgrades costs?

Is your monthly loan payment > or < or == to electricity usage $ minus the $ you save/re-sell back to the grid averaged over the year?

[Tiger]

Originally Posted by Barnes

Have been following this thread from the start but I am only now considering getting solar. The answers are probably in this thread but.... For those of you that have gone through the process has it cost you anything?

Like did you pay anything out of pocket for install? Did the loan / grants cover equipment, install and upgrades costs?

Is your monthly loan payment > or < or == to electricity usage $ minus the $ you save/re-sell back to the grid averaged over the year?

I have questions too overall. I've been looking into this for and getting quotes for a couple years now, and just cannot pull the trigger. I worry what will happen in a few years when all the large solar systems come online in Alberta what is going to happen.