9 years, still going strong

[Brian53713]

Over 9 years and 1300 kW later, my small off grid system working well. I have 3 x 100A Farm & Fleet, East Penn AGM in parallel. 4 x 100W Renogys, 100/30 Victron MPPT for my pool pump, tvs, fans, night lights, etc. I rarely go below 12.6v, according to Victron app. For the last two years, I dealt with it saying I was using or taking a lot less power than I would expect. I cleaned the white powder of one of the terminals. I don't know if that straightened it out, but now seems to be taking more power than I would expect at times to run stuff. Thanks to all the experts and their advice years ago and any comments on the current would be appreciated

[J.P.M.]

Did you ever resolve the issue of whether or not the IRS allows taking a 30% federal tax credit for an off grid system ?

[Brian53713]

I received the credit, and was not questioned on it.

I have a question on the matter below.

Since I cleaned the white powder off of one of the posts that had built up over a few years, a charging situation has appeared to be resolved.

On plenty of sun days, during warmer weather, it would stay in float, saying I only needed approximately 90w of solar to stay in float when I know I was needing 50, to a 100 percent more than that.
And the next day, it would take quite awhile to get to float.

Is it possible the white powder, on I believe just one of the posts, was causing this?

[azdave]

I received the credit, and was not questioned on it.

Why would IRS disallow it? I've never read anywhere that the tax credit required a grid connection to be valid. Plenty of other rules of course but none mention a mandatory connection to a utility.
This quote is directly from a DOE guide about the residential solar tax credit

"A solar PV system does not
necessarily have to be connected to
the electric grid for you to claim the
residential federal solar tax credit, as long
as it is generating electricity for use at
your residence."

Since I cleaned the white powder off of one of the posts that had built up over a few years, a charging situation has appeared to be resolved.

Poor connections could cause many troubles but we can't know for sure what caused or fixed your issue. If it seems to be fixed, keep an eye on it and all your connections.

[J.P.M.]

Why would IRS disallow it? I've never read anywhere that the tax credit required a grid connection to be valid. Plenty of other rules of course but none mention a mandatory connection to a utility.
This quote is directly from a DOE guide about the residential solar tax credit

"A solar PV system does not
necessarily have to be connected to
the electric grid for you to claim the
residential federal solar tax credit, as long
as it is generating electricity for use at
your residence."





Poor connections could cause many troubles but we can't know for sure what caused or fixed your issue. If it seems to be fixed, keep an eye on it and all your connections.

Dave, on the tax credit issue: Way back in the day when Brian 53713 was new around here, he had a question pertaining to whether or not his off-grid system was eligible for the 30% IRS tax credit.
At the time and through subsequent posts, I couldn't see where he got an answer, nor did I see where he posted he'd obtained an answer he got elsewhere.
If he had not responded to my most recent post on the matter in the affirmative, I'd have enlightened him (as you just did).