Just had ground panel system installed, waiting for interconnect.

[rbridges]

First post. Just had an 8Kw system installed. I live in middle GA and use GA power. The paperwork appears to be approved, and now we're waiting for a lineman to change the meter. My house generates 2000-2900 kw per month based on last 12 months usage. I'm real excited and hoping to learn more. If we have a good experience, I'd love to expand the system. solar panel install.jpg

[bob-n]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new array. It looks very good.

Just out of curiosity, do you know how the posts are set into the ground? Did they pour concrete around each post, pound the post into the dirt, or do something else?

I think you're saying that you use between 2000 and 2900 kilo-watt-hours of electricity per month. Is that right?

If so, an 8 kilo-watt system may not meet all of your use, but will certainly greatly reduce your power bill.

For future thought, in some situations, people hit a barrier when they try to expand beyond 10 kW. The power company may have infrastructure problems with you putting so much energy into the grid at the instant that all of your personal electrical demand goes off. It all depends on your exact situation and the situation of other power users and utility equipment around you. Don't worry about it now. When the time comes, you'll have to ask and find out.

[rbridges]

Thanks for the welcome. You're correct, 2-2.9k kwh/month. The poles were set in the ground with concrete. I'm using AES for the install. They estimated that the 8.1kw system would provide around 40% of our power but should reduce our bill by 70%. The panels are set on a 210 degree azimuth. I was told this would produce peak power during the 2-7pm time frame when electricity prices would be higher.

[khanh dam]

how much did that cost? I'd put landscaping fabric under the panels. it's a pain to mow under them. Products — BillboardVinyls
or vinyl which lasts almost forever. good move on a ground mount system. I think they are so much better than roof top ones. I wish there was a company that designed them 5 -6 feet taller that way you can sit under them in the shade or perhaps use it as basic storage with some gutters or gasketing.

[rbridges]

It ran close to 28k with everything. We were fortunate to have enough yard to use a ground mount. I'm not sure what's going under it. I figured I'd use roundup until I came up with an idea. Thanks for the idea about landscape fabric.

[bcroe]

Nice looking, it will perform very well if your skies are always that clear. Apparently it
is some distance from the PoCo meter, are you operating a high voltage string system?

The space under my panels gradually collected a whole lot of stuff I try to keep out of sight.
Bruce Roe