Great topic. That's my experience too over 3 years of operation. But for northern climates, higher winter angles also promote self shedding the snow. I enjoy hearing the insights of your lived experience. Thanks for posting videos.
My 42kWp are steep for winter production when my 5 heat pumps need the power. Anywhere from 45 to 66 degrees. Azimuth mostly 180, but some 150 and some 210. I produced 230kWh yesterday. The first sunny day in several weeks. Only needed the generator about 4 hrs so far this winter, which means I'm sized about right finally. I'll have plenty to recharge my future EV work van during the summer months, my busy time. Two 12K's and a Shneider XWPro6.8.
Good to know! I've often wondered about this. Can't tell you how many times I have driven past a tracking system where one part of the system was not functioning. Yes, my utility will only allow a 10kw array and still give net metering. They don't want a surge of power when they don't want it and then none when they do need it in the evening at peak. They will allow a larger system but then only pay their cost for electricity they purchase and then sell. Actually, that's fair. We shouldn't be forcing the utility to pay us what they charge us. They have to make a profit too.
The value of seasonal adjustability really depends on your climate, latitude, the system size vs load, as well as the goal of the system... If you have no grid connection at all in a cold northern climate, it's very valuable. But that value fades away relative to its cost as you go south and your options of energy sources go up
57kw of solar here (soon to be 70kw), 2 days ago I made 357kwh in a day. Season adjust needed here for snow shedding. I had a few test panels on a roof, and cleaning them sucked!
I used 10 gauge stranded wire. It’s about a 100ft run between the solar array and my inverter. But at 400 volts which is the voltage in running back to my inverter there’s virtually no voltage drop. You can download my pdf that has the wiring details at solarpdfdownload.com
I plan on going with two different styles of inverters 50% microinverters which are actually less than the cost of a string inverter ... plus they are the one device lible to crap out. 50% on a smaller sized string inverter to charge batteries. looking to put in a 11kw system Figure that is all I will really need. Additionally will have the string inverter on a south facing array and then one array facing the east and one facing the west .. basically so I have full power production and not a duck curve output. The arrays with the east and west will be using the micro inverters as they tend to start producing power at a lower mppt Batteries are dropping in price and likely will continue dropping thru the year
I would recommend your East and west facing arrays not be due East and due west. Have them be facing South East and South West. That’s just my opinion. You’ll get a lot more overall power, yet still capture more of the sunrise and sunset sunlight.
@@unpluggedtexan true.. I figure that this is why I asked because someone likely has more ideas and experience. What do you think about the micro inverters?? might be better to add a separate hybrid 6.8 kw inverter
@@stevepailet8258 I’m more of a fan of DC coupling. If you want to monitor each panel and get better efficiency in shaded areas then use optimizers that way you are still sending DC current to the inverter. But that’s just my opinion. And as a disclaimer I’m not a licensed solar installer or electrician. Just a DIY’er with some experience.
Honestly I never have understood what possesses folks to buy 30+K worth of solar equipment, plus installation cost, maintenance and acreage to have what already is provided by the local municipality. And before you start I have a 24 KW Generac stand by with 500-gallon propane tank. I can be off-grid for 2 months in Winter or Summer and not turn off a single light bulb. And I spent about 15K for the whole shooting match. Sure there is some maintenance and I have a pad for it, but nothing like solar.
Ive got 8000 watts of solar 6000 constant watts with 10kw hours of backup for $9000 and i crypto mine on it and its more than paying its self off and no its not worth using propane
Today is a perfect example of why I oversize my solar array. It’s cloudy today, as of right now I’m still bringing in 6 kw of solar power. My batteries will still be 100% charged in about 2 more hours.
@@PazLeBon I have 5 homes on my property. I have a deep water well with a 240v pump that runs a lot of the day. I also run another 240v water pump to pressurize the water system for all 5 homes. My home is also all electric (except for the oven). I can use a lot of power when everything is running.
![HIWWHEE | OHM [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OJJLtTLqLag/mqdefault.jpg)
Great topic. That's my experience too over 3 years of operation. But for northern climates, higher winter angles also promote self shedding the snow. I enjoy hearing the insights of your lived experience. Thanks for posting videos.
with foldables getting better all the time,might as well buy a dozen of them to plug in for a few months
I have 2 small arrays at the moment but definitely going to atleast double it in the near future. Im good on sunny days but those bad days...
Flat solar exposure during cloudy days, very interesting!!
My 42kWp are steep for winter production when my 5 heat pumps need the power. Anywhere from 45 to 66 degrees. Azimuth mostly 180, but some 150 and some 210. I produced 230kWh yesterday. The first sunny day in several weeks. Only needed the generator about 4 hrs so far this winter, which means I'm sized about right finally. I'll have plenty to recharge my future EV work van during the summer months, my busy time. Two 12K's and a Shneider XWPro6.8.
That’s some impressive solar production! Nice system
@@unpluggedtexan and still needed a generator, whats he doing,operating a nucleur power station? haha
Good to know! I've often wondered about this. Can't tell you how many times I have driven past a tracking system where one part of the system was not functioning. Yes, my utility will only allow a 10kw array and still give net metering. They don't want a surge of power when they don't want it and then none when they do need it in the evening at peak. They will allow a larger system but then only pay their cost for electricity they purchase and then sell. Actually, that's fair. We shouldn't be forcing the utility to pay us what they charge us. They have to make a profit too.
The value of seasonal adjustability really depends on your climate, latitude, the system size vs load, as well as the goal of the system... If you have no grid connection at all in a cold northern climate, it's very valuable. But that value fades away relative to its cost as you go south and your options of energy sources go up
Sounds like good tips.
Thank you sir
57kw of solar here (soon to be 70kw), 2 days ago I made 357kwh in a day. Season adjust needed here for snow shedding. I had a few test panels on a roof, and cleaning them sucked!
What are you running to be able to use 357 kwh’s of solar? That’s a ton of power.
All electric house and shop, 2 ev's, a little bit of bitcoin mining.@@unpluggedtexan
@@unpluggedtexan Full electric house and shop, 2 ev's, and a bit of bitcoin mining. I am off grid so system is oversized to help in winter.
@@snoflite5234 impressive system. 👍
@@unpluggedtexan Thank you, it has been a ton of work. My daughter and I have done all the labor.
Yes, they are!!!
What is the distance between your solar array and the inverter? Which gauge wire did you use?
I used 10 gauge stranded wire. It’s about a 100ft run between the solar array and my inverter. But at 400 volts which is the voltage in running back to my inverter there’s virtually no voltage drop. You can download my pdf that has the wiring details at solarpdfdownload.com
I plan on going with two different styles of inverters 50% microinverters which are actually less than the cost of a string inverter ... plus they are the one device lible to crap out. 50% on a smaller sized string inverter to charge batteries. looking to put in a 11kw system Figure that is all I will really need. Additionally will have the string inverter on a south facing array and then one array facing the east and one facing the west .. basically so I have full power production and not a duck curve output. The arrays with the east and west will be using the micro inverters as they tend to start producing power at a lower mppt Batteries are dropping in price and likely will continue dropping thru the year
I would recommend your East and west facing arrays not be due East and due west. Have them be facing South East and South West. That’s just my opinion. You’ll get a lot more overall power, yet still capture more of the sunrise and sunset sunlight.
@@unpluggedtexan true.. I figure that this is why I asked because someone likely has more ideas and experience.
What do you think about the micro inverters?? might be better to add a separate hybrid 6.8 kw inverter
@@stevepailet8258 I’m more of a fan of DC coupling. If you want to monitor each panel and get better efficiency in shaded areas then use optimizers that way you are still sending DC current to the inverter. But that’s just my opinion. And as a disclaimer I’m not a licensed solar installer or electrician. Just a DIY’er with some experience.
Honestly I never have understood what possesses folks to buy 30+K worth of solar equipment, plus installation cost, maintenance and acreage to have what already is provided by the local municipality. And before you start I have a 24 KW Generac stand by with 500-gallon propane tank. I can be off-grid for 2 months in Winter or Summer and not turn off a single light bulb. And I spent about 15K for the whole shooting match. Sure there is some maintenance and I have a pad for it, but nothing like solar.
Ive got 8000 watts of solar 6000 constant watts with 10kw hours of backup for $9000 and i crypto mine on it and its more than paying its self off and no its not worth using propane
@@BLEACH500 1k per kw hour now overall for full kits
Yea but those standby generators don't pay for themselves everyday!
A worthy investment fulfills a need while also giving returns.
@@ClearWaterPumpWell tho a generator is maybe 5oo quid and a solar battery system 5k
are you going to have panels in storage incase hail hits you?
how much did your project cost to acheive these results?
Seasonal adjustment costs almost nothing. How could it not be worth it? It costs allot more to over panel a system like this guy.
Today is a perfect example of why I oversize my solar array. It’s cloudy today, as of right now I’m still bringing in 6 kw of solar power. My batteries will still be 100% charged in about 2 more hours.
@@unpluggedtexan what are you rinning that uses somuch power off grid?
@@PazLeBon I have 5 homes on my property. I have a deep water well with a 240v pump that runs a lot of the day. I also run another 240v water pump to pressurize the water system for all 5 homes. My home is also all electric (except for the oven). I can use a lot of power when everything is running.
@@unpluggedtexan Thanks for explaining, didnt realise was quite so much ;)
How much does your 19kw system generate on a cloudy day with no clear sun?
With rain all day I’ve seen as low as 7 kwh. Typical cloudy days with no rain I’ll produce around 25-50 kwh’s.