Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Just went with our local electrical company. Their price was comparable with others we had got and we like to use local workers.

I feel the same way, even though Solargain are a big company the family that owns it live not far from me so i am happy to support them

I am looking at the moment and as we fall into the Perth Solar Cities area we get extra discount if we use certain partner suppliers and instal Sunpower panels. At first I was sceptical as they are heaps more expensive than the soar fun or other panels but when you start reading about them it does make you want them and you can see why Solar Cities is pushing them. Their new panels are 19% efficient compared to most of the other panels which run around 14%. When you think about it this is a 25% difference which would soon add up over 10 years of $0.40/kw govt rebate that they are offering in WA for feed in.

Unfortunatley I will be pushing it to afford a 1.5kw system - would love to have the money to plonk a 3kw or bigger system on the roof.

This is an interesting site if anyone is researching what type of return on investment they would get.

http://pvoutput.org/

All installed so now just need the inspector to sign off so we can turn it on. Tested it late in the day with the sun down behind the panels and got 200W. Will flick it on tommorow in the middle of the day and see what it gives

Just turned it on and its producing 700>750W and meter has slowed to a crawl. If I turn off the evaporative air con it stops. Turn off the AP and it still crawls so the air con is a power hog

Got up to over 1200W after lunch then I turned it off. Supposed to wait till its inspected so we had better do the right thing I suppose.

Two weeks ago paid a deposit on 2.6 kW sys.
14 Canadian Solar 190W mono panels with a 3 kW Aurora One (2MPPT) inverter.
Total $8k with EnergyAware

Not happy with the rates offered by our current retailer so looking for a better deal.
Waiting a call back from RED, was listed by Choice as the best (last year) and followed by Energy Aus.

I signed up for a 1.5 KW system Origin
and got a 10% discount because a friend signed up to
Total $2,690
$125ish deposit and $213ish a month for 12 months
Should get it in March sometime.
44 cents feed in 22 cent feed out
11PM to 7 Am and weekend is off peak.
My bill currently is a bit under $300 a quarter.
I use roughly 15 Kw a day.
3 fridges sometimes 4 and an Electric Hotty.pooter,2 lcd tv, ceiling fans(no air con),Low energy lights,front loader,clothes dryer(never use) and a dishwasher,column heater (used twice this year for about 3 hours total).


Next purchase is an Solar Hotty.(hopefully before the rebate runs out)
So far quotes have been about $2000 to $2900 after all the rebates and install.

Dont think the system is producing as much as it should with only 10.4KWH on the best day. Panels are only at a 10 degree tilt which may not be optimum. Will talk to the company tommorow and see what they reckon

I really have very little knowledge about solar systems and I'm looking to get one installed. I'm hoping I can tap into the accumulated knowledge of you guys that have clearly done alot of research already on how much power can be generated by the different size systems.

My consumption according to my power bills is on average 11 units per day (not sure what exactly one unit is according to power company).

Can anyone suggest what size system wopuld be suitable for covering my energy needs?

Thanks in advance

1 unit + 1 kW used for one hour or a Kw hour I think. 11 units is pretty low, if this is a yaerly average them a 2 kW or slightly larger would average out to cover that in a year.

Why not get 12 x 190w panels, this will give you 2.28kW just to be on the safe side

have you got an old meter, I found that when I got mine converted they install the new import export meter, I used to use 10-15 units per day when I got the new meter I started using 20 -25, I asked for my old meter back, lol, They told me I had an old lazy meter which they would have eventually changed anyway, I have now moved into a rental for a while, while I build and got my first bill at 31 units per day, with an old but obviously more efficent meter, just keep that in mind, It can be a rude shock and definately leaves a foul taste in your mouth when you pay out for solar and end up worse off, which you will be anyway, or u may just be good with power, My next system is definately going to be at least 3kw, My neighbour has one and his first bill has him $365 in credit, accumulate that and live off it through winter. I made the mistake with my first system going for 1kw, barely made a dent in it.

pjenkyn, yep it's an old meter. That sounds like a pretty shitty experience you've had.

Do you think it would make any difference what quality meter/inverter you get? What company did you go with for the installation?

I was thinking a 2.28 kW system.

It was Solar unlimited I went through but we cant blame them they installed a good system, It was just unfortunate, If I knew then what I know now i would perhaps get the meter tested then work on getting a system that will work for what you are actually using, I am power hungry although I am constantly buying more and more efficient products, And trying to work out where I am getting greedy on the power, I compared with my neighbour our power usage and his 3kw system sounds the go for sure. He has two fridges and a solar heated pool 2 kids computers T.V's etc. I am about to get a quote from solar gain though coz I got my hot water system through them and they were a pleasure to business with and they never did P.V at the time. but do now. so hopefully a package deal for my new home. I had a chat to synergy the other day about it and they say solar isnt for everyone some win some lose you need to be careful how you use power and when to make it work with the right sized system. I hope this helps. Mistakes are what we learn from and sharing is caring.lol