Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Guys are up on the roof doing the install.

In Qld here we are with AGL as the supplier and get 52cents rebate (probably drop to 15cents once its installed). Here is from their web page.

"AGL will now pay 52 cents* per kWh of electricity that customers generate and don’t use themselves.

The increase is made up of two parts. The first is the State Government scheme rebate of 44 cents* per kWh. On top of this, AGL is adding an extra 8 cents* per kWh above the Government scheme rebate."

Currently our average daily usage is just over 30kWh so hopefully will cut out the bill. Still investigating rate for different times, and will let you know results.

Chainsaw, if your PV system is 3.2kW, you would only expect about 20kWh/day under ideal conditions. So you won't be exporting much if you use 30kWh/day, unless all your electricity use is off-peak. Do an energy audit to see what is using all the power and see if you can conserve energy and reduce your consumption.

My energy use, as stated in an earlier post is 7kWh/day, even with aquaponics.

bythebrook, Yeh I would expect my usage to be low as there is only the wife and I here. Last bill was $560 and we dont use the aircond or dryer much. Was wondering if I had a leak somewhere thats causing high usage. Gold fish fountain did have a tingle in the water when I touched it. But disconected the pump (now in one of the FTs) We have gas heating, off peak HWS and all else is elec, even run off rain water tank, so has a pump which chews up a bit when on.

Dont want to make any money out of it, just break even would be good. Pensioners (us) have to declare it as income, then they reduce your pension

Post some photos later.

I know pensioners have to declare extra income, which is why I've left my account in credit and haven't taken any money out. I expect to go slightly backward in winter, so my credit will drop a little bit. I'm just one year with my PV panels, and last year we had almost no rain, so I was making around 7kWh even in winter.

I think it's bit mean to make us declare the income when we aren't allowed to claim the cost of the panels etc in the first place. You can't earn much because I think it's limited to 5kW maximum.

You might like to look around for a power meter. My local library loans one out. I know that's no good to you in Qld, but you may find a local group that loans them out. You plug it in between the wall socket and the plug and it records energy usage over time.

The reason you cant claim the depreciation is because the ATO do not look at solar power generation as a source of income, their theory is that it doesnt generate more than $5000 p/a so is classed as a hobby.
If you place them on a rental property (from memory) you get to depreciate over a 20 year period.

You need to advise centrelink that you have solar panels as they class it as a form of income and may adjust any pension you receive because of it.
It doesnt matter if you are getting a credit from your power company or not, it is still classed as an income according to centrelink as your power bill is getting reduced.
Ahhhh, government agencies, so backwards about moving forward

werdna, read this:

http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/i ... ariffs.htm

It states that from 14 May 2010, you don't have to declare energy company account credits, but you do have to declare cash payments.

I stand corrected!
That is brilliant, always seemed a stupid idea to me

Smart or not so much meter was installed today. All the thing tells me is kwh used and kwh to grid and nothing else. Cant work out much from that

Bythebrook Thats great info, my philosiphy was if you dont ask the question you dont get..
Well the girls never ever did see it my way OOps back on subject.

Mantis My Inverter is by Aurora and they supply (and install) a connection to the PC that allows you to hook into a software program that monitors all your inputs and usage, hourly, weekly, monthly and yearly. What brand is your Inverter they may have same soort of thing?

I have (Qld Gov initiative) whats called a "Climate Smart Meter". Cost $50 to have about 10 low energy globes fitted, a water saving shower head and this portable wireless monitor which works each time you turn on/off an appliance. The insaller set it up for me and it tells me in Cents/Hr what it is costing, Shed is on a sub board from the house (which runs the AP tanks) able to watch at the meter box when I turn off the shed. WOW from 45c down to 15c. Oh well the price of running a hobby, do have to keep my Barra warm (Heaters total 1600W)

Good to see you have a new toy, chainsaw.

Inverter is a CMS and the guys that installed it said they are looking for some decent monitoring software for it.

They will charge People in receipt of Govt Pension for harvesting Rainwater next......

Its the farking SUN its FREE

Not a silly comment Jamey, I have not claimed any gov rebate for my water tanks for two reasons.
A/ they are not worth the paper work
B/ The statement you just made, if they know you have em............

Same here

Ok here is the update.

Took just over five hours and the system was working. On the bottom run of panels he made a mistake..........Set it out for 8 panels instead of 7 so had the extra mounting sticking out, which he was going to cut off. No No No I says, I can get an extra panel on there later. Can get an extra 7 panels along underneath plus the one will make 1800 W, for later (when they get cheaper).

I went with the Suntech 225 Polycrystaline Panels and Aurora 3Kw Inverter. Was going to put in the 5Kw Inverter originally but the salesman talked me out of it. He stated that to work most efficiently the Inverter has to be matched to the output of the panels. Talking to the electrician that did the install said, True but not that much of a difference and if plan to add extra panels best to have installed the larger now. Never trust salesmen. Cost of the extra 2Kw in the Inverter would have been $2K.