DIY solar panels

[Sunny Solar]

The ones you see on poor roof tops have the tank on top and are more than ugly!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Russ they may not be the prettiest thing you can have but they work well. My father had one in use in our home until he died in1998.It was installed bout 1976 ,and it was still working fine when I sold the house in 2004. Well and truly paid for itself. Maintenance was very little.

[tjames]

Back to PV panels, anyone find much less than a $1 for 6x6 untabbed? That's a common price.

[russ]

Given that solar water heaters are found on some of the poorest rooftops in the world, I'd have to agree.

Do you know the difference between types of solar thermal systems?

The ones you see on poor roof tops have the tank on top and are more than ugly!

[tjames]

Given that solar water heaters are found on some of the poorest rooftops in the world, I'd have to agree.

[SunEagle]

6 year payback is GREAT assuming the life of the system is a lot longer.

Unless I lose the panel due to a CAT 4 hurricane the system will easily last the 6 years. The payback will depend on how much I really save on my electric bill which has been variable due to a lot of reasons.

As Sunny Solar indicated my system was a gold plated one. Other systems may be just as good but for less which will get you a better ROI.

[tjames]

6 year payback is GREAT assuming the life of the system is a lot longer.

[Sunny Solar]

6yr payback aint all bad anyways.
But as you have said you bought and had installed more than just a basic solar water heater..
Russ it seems is just in the wrong country to get rebates and a decent purchase price.
I would find it also would take a much longer time for payback in Philippines where I live a lot of the time,as no rebates there either. There would be if the people in govt found a way to rip off the system for them selves.

[SunEagle]

150 x 12 x 7 = $12600.. ?? Was that the gold plated version?
Mine cost $4600 about 2001 and had govt rebate $1800 .Total $2800.

Todays price same system of 2 panels and 300l tank is $6400 with $2200 of rebates available.. total $4200

My total price came to just about $12,800 but included the solar water heater system (40 sq ft panel & 80 gal tank), radiant barrier, AC duct sealing and extra attic insulation. I know I spent too much but got hooked by the promise of almost $200 a month savings.

My bad. I forgot to subtract my Federal rebate which I believe brought the price closer to $8500. So with the average savings per month is closer to $125 so the real savings has just under a 6 year payback.

[Sunny Solar]

150 x 12 x 7 = $12600.. ?? Was that the gold plated version?
Mine cost $4600 about 2001 and had govt rebate $1800 .Total $2800.

Todays price same system of 2 panels and 300l tank is $6400 with $2200 of rebates available.. total $4200

[SunEagle]

Russ WHY..?My solar water heating system will never pay for itself to be quite truthful.Mine here in Aus would have paid for itself inside 3 yrs.Mine went one time about 18 months before we realized we had not turned the aux heater back on after some maintenance Solar hot water systems and roof collected water into tanks are compulsory for residences and commercial buildings in most cities and towns now here. You get used to seeing the panels on the roofs everywhere that you hardly notice them.

I installed a solar water heater system and radiant barrier back in August of 2010. I have seen my electric bill drop between $100 and $150 a month which is lower then the advertised $200 per month but still a respectable savings.

Even with that lower bill I expect my pay back to be longer then 7 years which is acceptable but not great because I do not expect to stay in this house through 2017. Hopefully during that time I have no equipment failures which would extend the payback period even more.

So like russ, my solar heating system my never pay for itself while I'm in the house.

[russ]

Russ WHY..?My solar water heating system will never pay for itself to be quite truthful.

Full price for an active Schucco system of three panels plus import duty - I could pay for a lot of kWh with what the systems cost.

In Turkey you also see solar thermal on many rooftops - but the simple and cheaper systems.

You see zero PV - with full price plus import duties it is a loser.

[Sunny Solar]

Russ WHY..?My solar water heating system will never pay for itself to be quite truthful.Mine here in Aus would have paid for itself inside 3 yrs.Mine went one time about 18 months before we realized we had not turned the aux heater back on after some maintenance Solar hot water systems and roof collected water into tanks are compulsory for residences and commercial buildings in most cities and towns now here. You get used to seeing the panels on the roofs everywhere that you hardly notice them.

[russ]

Hey thanks for correcting Russ. Will definitely search for things in details now.

It is a neat way (if not true or ethical) for the company to advertise - sounds like they have something different though they have zero that is different, cheaper or new.

[CharlesLeof]

Hey thanks for correcting Russ. Will definitely search for things in details now.

[russ]

http://www.popularmechanics.com/scie...r-wind/4317039 will help you to get details about DIY solar panel and the installation process.

Actually it is nothing more than an advertisement for the so called AC panel from one solar firm. It is also totally wrong in most statements.

All requirements to be met with any other panel still are there - same permits, code requirements, racking etc. There are no short cuts and no reduced costs.

In short - the article is blatant BS. You would expect better from Popular Mechanics.