Q: A 3-4KW residential grid tied PV system costs about $25-$39,000 for panels & install. That is still too much $ even w/incentives, payback being 12+ years. So I keep reading about DIY panels (100W apparently you solder cells & assemble yourself). Intended more to power specific appliances, they can be connected & grid tied if connected at box by qualified electician/pro. How much would it cost for that connection? DIY worth considering? We built our own solar water panel 25 yrs ago, still in use.
Asked by Leena
A: Any solar is good solar! If you have the technical skills, there is no reason not to give it a try. However, DIY solar thermal is much more simple than solar electric. First, the incentives are only available for grid tied systems and panels usually come with a warranty that may only be available with professional installation. DIY is always worth considering but because the specific placement of the panels has a great deal to do with their efficiency, its usually worthwhile to speak with a pro. Even if a professional system takes 15 years to pay off, there will be 15 years following of free energy.
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All the DYI plans make it sound so simple. Build a 120 WT panel for $150.00. I guess I must be missing something. A toaster, coffee pot or microwave all take about 1500 watts so doesn’t that mean that you would have to build 1500/120 or 12.5 panels at a cost of $1875.00 just to power a toaster?
It has been 2 weeks since I asked my question and it is still awaiting moderation??? Is anyone on this site or do you just not want to answer my question?
Ron, sorry for the late reply. Your calculation is a bit off. All appliances are rated for a given wattage, say 1500 watts as you state, but you would most likely use a small appliance like that for say 15 minutes a day or 375 watt/hours. A 120 watt panel in a state like California can produce up to 120 watts * 6 sun hours a day or 720 watt/hours in a given day. So 1 panel would be more than a enough to power a small appliance like that. Does that make sense?
If this is the holy grail, then the power comapnies would be very wise to get them accepted into building codes ASAP and become the supplier/installer for this tech. As today’s Houston weather proves, solar arrays alone will not be anywhere close to sufficient. They will need to be tied into the grid in a sophisticated way that permits centralized power generation to supplement it. Large power companies have the network and the capital to implement something like this effectively.But this is based on a big “IF”.