Solar Training Programs

[Chris @ EcoFasten Solar]

One of the things I would like to pursue in 2010 is training. I have taken one of the online courses offered by Solar Energy International out of Paonia, Colorado and found it to be well thought out and thorough. However, I am very much a 'hands-on' learner, and would like to get on the roof and be involved in an installation. Given my role in the industry, it is important to me to be well versed in the common problems, and solutions, that installers encounter on a day to day basis.
If cost was not a factor, what course or courses would you recommend? Location of the course is not as important to me as overall quality.
Looking forward to your recommendations, thanks for reading!
-Chris

[Jason]

Hi Chris,

Here's a thread that may be of help:

http://solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?t=1331

[Chris @ EcoFasten Solar]

Awesome, thanks Jason!

[JohnD]

Last June i hired a fellow to install a 4KW solar cell system, and he claimed it would save me about $800 a year and take 7 years ROI (return on investment).

He was way off.

Since July, the system has generated over $750 of electricity. Probably $1500 a year.

My ROI is probably closer to under 4 years.

I also followed the instructions on conservation at Green Collar for conservation. I noticed that site also has quite a bit of training on solar systems so you may want to look it over.

When I was first approached about installing the system I was a bit skeptical but as it turns out its probably the best home investment I ever made.

[russ]

Hi JohnD - how do you calculate those savings?

Thanks,
Russ

[JohnD]

Russ,

There is a meter connected to the inverter that records and stores production records.

As for the conservation actions I added up my total usage but because the AC is a big influence I used Oct-Dec to compare to previous years. We also had 4 people in the house rather then 3 as the previous four years my son was living on campus, and for Oct and Nov he was living with us.

Coil cleaning on the fridge & freezer units probably made a biggest single difference although we also changed out about 60 bulbs to CFL's, and 4 spotlights to LED's. I chose the LED's because I hope to never have to climb 24' in the air to change them again!

[Mike90250]

.... chose the LED's because I hope to never have to climb 24' in the air to change them again!

Arghhh. I hope you used some name brand LED spots, some of the discount store no-names are pretty bad and fail after a few hundred hours. Crank them up and let them run a couple of weeks, then you can put the ladder away.
LED bulbs need a lot of cooling, even 5 watts, in a fixture with no airflow can and will overheat the bulb and kill it. Just look at the size of the heat sinks on some of them.

[JohnD]

Ouch, that hurts......

It is a concern with the front porch light which sits in a recessed housing - perfect place for the wasps to build nests.

I did a little reseach on longevity but really couldn't find much that gave any good reliability like MTBF @ accelerated temps. So I gambled on the Home Depot offering, I don't remember which brand, but it was a brand name.

I also plugged one in to a fixture and checked the exposed heat sink after about 2 hours - it was about 135

[netttech]

I have yet to see any difference in my power bills from CFL's. I have replaced all the bulbs that get the most use & my usage is the same.

I know theoretically, they should use less, but it is it's not noticable on my monthly usage.

Another quirk about CFL's is the life-span. They burn out at about the same rate are regular bulbs. I placed CFL's in the hard-to-reach sockets so I 'wouldn't' need to change them often.....well so much for that benefit.

If someone else is getting a benefit from CFL's great..I don't see it.

[Mike90250]

In the right sockets, with good cooling, CFL's are great. We have a 5w one from Ikea (they have MANY styles) that is on 24/7 on the front porch, out of the weather but lots of cooling air, get about 14 months of life on it. (about 10,080 hours). and Ikea has a "Return old bulbs here" bin in their stores.

[russ]

There is an immense difference in quality of different CFL brands. Buy bargain basket lamps at the local discount store and guess what the life probably is.

[russ]

Why call themselves an eco company when they are just another company?