Pellet heads!! What's up today?

Well, a few months ago, I decided to have a solar panel system installed on the new shack here in N.C.
Yes, electric rates are low here, but probably won't be that way forever.

I had a company design a system that (hopefully) will generate just about what I use each year......no sense making more, as the utility is allowed to eliminate any unused credits at the end of each May.
Install started today. I'll try to keep pic updates coming.

PS......Yes, I know that roof is in shade, but that was taken earlier this morning (it's 10:50 am now)....that roof faces mostly south, and gets blasted with sun starting in about an hour from now. It's also almost at the optimum angle for the latitude here (35º). Also, today is first day of Fall......sun hits it much sooner in May-Aug.

 

I can't believe it... I leaf blow my driveway at least once a day..
Otherwise you smash them, and then they do not want to move.
I have filled 1/2 of a 32 gallon barrel already!!!
And they are dropping more today than they have been..


Dan

 

Solar install....cont'd.
Enough warning stickers????

 

Done

Now, just wait for Duke to come inspect and swap out meter, then panels can be brought online.

 

Looking great.

keep us in the loop as to how well it works.

 

Does the solar system have an inverter and batteries too ?????

 

Power company actually swaps out old meter for new one that actually DOES go backwards. The one on the house now is digital, and I imagine the new one will be too. Looking at 2 weeks before actual turn on (town inspector, meter swap, and company inspection).

 

The panels I got each have their own mini-inverter.....that way if one panel goes haywire & shuts off, it doesn't take the rest of them with it (that's what happens with a system that has a central inverter)......all the other panels still function 100%.

Panels are Heliene all black & black frames, made in Canada. Mini-inverters are Enphase. I attached scans of the info pages....figured you'd be interested Snowy.

No, didn't spring for the Tesla battery back-up........$$$$$$

System does have cellular system built in the big box shown in post # 41363. Company monitors output and performance. I can also monitor the system with the Enphase "Enlighten" app on my phone.

Panels are guaranteed to give minimum of 80% output for 25 yrs, or they replace them. "Linear" warranty.

 

Got the not so great news that the nut shells are going up in price this fall.

With the new plant they have to use more manpower to get small quantities of shells off the line.

Sooooo..the new price per is $80 per ton compared to the $30 per ton we have paid for the last 27 years.

Also some of the original line managers have retired and ya never know what sort of crap will get pulled by new folks that don't care about loyal customers.

Decided to contact another plant in the area.

A bit farther to drive, but very friendly and there price is $60 per ton.

Spent about 30 minutes at their plant this morning getting acquainted with them.

We are going to spread out our purchases between the two this year to be sure we can have a reliable source of fuel.

I do hope the original supplier keeps us going... as they are close by. (15 miles round trip...the new one is 40 miles round trip)

Still well worth the drive.....
Ah well...ALL GOOD THINGS YA KNOW.

 

PM sent

 

Very interesting stuff.

Thank you for sharing

 

How long do you figure ROI is?

 

Great day today hiking Cadillac mountain in Acadia

 

Want some acorns??


Dan

 

Thanks.

Shells are still very plentiful.

Just the new plant was laid out in such a way that it makes dealing with smaller amounts of the stuff more labor intense.

So the company is not going to pay an employee to go do it for nothing...

Back in the old days I could weigh in... drive out back..pull under the silo.. line up under the drop door and open the thing a bit and fill my dumpster.

Drive back up front...weigh the load and GONE

I did not need anybody to hold my hand.

Weigh in. fill up..weigh out and pay in less than 15 minutes.

Now its ..Weigh in...they call a fork lift operator on the radio
He goes and gets a couple totes of shells
He pours them in my dumpster
I go weigh out and then pay

At least 30 minutes if we are lucky ...and they have to get somebody to go get the shells and load me up...

Poor set up...
They can load a semi easier at the load out pipe.

The pipe is higher than a semi and will drop the stuff right in.

My dumpster is only 7 feet off the ground on the trailer.... the drop pipe would make a big mess all over the area.


They were going to move the silo...but the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ were too much and the new manager said NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...

 

Not sure

 

Happy Fall! Just figured I would pop in and see what y'all are up to. Nice job Macman! I have given this a thought as my house is in an absolutely perfect spot/orientation for solar. Unfortunately I would have to replace my roof before I could install panels so that puts the job out of my reach for now.. I will be watching your posts...I will be very interested to see how everything works!

I spent most of the day....in 90 degree temps...tearing the stove apart and doing a deep clean. Even took all the venting out and cleaned it that way. Too warm to work in the yard so.....I'm ready for colder temps now!