Australian Politics Forum - Solar Power, which is the best?

mozzaok Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 6741 Melbourne Gender:	Solar Power, which is the best? Sep 12^th, 2008 at 7:27pm I am moving soon, and am thinking of putting solar power in, as I live in melbourne, I have heard that the heat pump types ar more efficient in colder climates, anyone got any suggestions? Has anyone here got solar power?
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athiest Ex Member	Re: Solar Power, which is the best? Reply #1 - Sep 14^th, 2008 at 2:28pm Hi Moz, are you thinking about solar hot water or solar electricity? I live on solar powered electricity, if thats what you're after I can give you some tips if you'd like.
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Sprintcyclist Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 41980 Gender:	Re: Solar Power, which is the best? Reply #2 - Sep 14^th, 2008 at 5:16pm Athiest - cool. Does it work ok? I assume you have solar panels and batteries ? Cost much to install ? Been there long? Take care
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mozzaok

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Re: Solar Power, which is the best?
Reply #3 - Sep 14^th, 2008 at 6:00pm

Yes, I am considering both Atheist.

I wont be taking possession for another month, and I plan a pretty extensive reno, adding a second storey, so I have the freedom to choose optimum roof orientation, and pitch, for solar panels.

It will probably be at least six months before I start, so I am keen to get as much feedback as possible.
Any of your experiences that you could relate, would be much appreciated.

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athiest

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Re: Solar Power, which is the best?
Reply #4 - Sep 15^th, 2008 at 9:40am

Sprintcyclist wrote on Sep 14^th, 2008 at 5:16pm:

Athiest - cool. Does it work ok?
I assume you have solar panels and batteries ?
Cost much to install ? Been there long?

Take care

Yep, it works good, I have six eighty watt panels and a battery bank of twelve two volt sealed gel batteries which have a life span of seventeen to twenty years.
The batteries are about 500 amp hours , I only replaced them last year after running lead acid ones for five years, these new ones are great, much better than the lead acid and no maitanence.
It cost about twelve grand six and a half years ago and I got a pretty big rebate so in the end it was about five and a half grand all up.
I would think most people pay around 200 to 250 a bill for their mains power so my system has already payed for itself .
As I said I'm happy with my battery bank but I'd like maybe two more pannels and I'd also like a wind turbine to tie it in as a hybrid system, there are some really cheap turbines around now and if you had a hybrid system of solar and wind I think it would compliment each other really well, but I live on a farm, so you probably couldn't use a wind turbine in the city.

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athiest

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Re: Solar Power, which is the best?
Reply #5 - Sep 15^th, 2008 at 9:56am

mozzaok wrote on Sep 14^th, 2008 at 6:00pm:

Yes, I am considering both Atheist.

I wont be taking possession for another month, and I plan a pretty extensive reno, adding a second storey, so I have the freedom to choose optimum roof orientation, and pitch, for solar panels.

It will probably be at least six months before I start, so I am keen to get as much feedback as possible.
Any of your experiences that you could relate, would be much appreciated.

Mozz, if the place you are buying already has power keep it on.
I dont know what its like in Vic but in NSW you can install a solar system and then sell the power back to the grid supplier, a friend of mine has done this and it has wiped out any bills they had.
They have a much bigger system than me but they run an electric oven which are huge power guzzlers opposed to a gas stove/oven and they also run air conditioners and large freezer units which like ovens use a lot of power, anything that heats up like ovens, irons ,electric heaters all use a lot of power so I'd look at a gas stove if you are putting in a new kitchen, I assume down there you need some sort of household heating, so again gas is a better option, if you are'nt allowed wood fired heaters in melbourne.

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Sprintcyclist Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 41980 Gender:	Re: Solar Power, which is the best? Reply #6 - Sep 15^th, 2008 at 10:55am That's a good idea - using gas for cooking/heating. Cooking on gas is way better as well.
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energetictom

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Re: Solar Power, which is the best?
Reply #7 - Sep 15^th, 2008 at 10:09pm

Hi Guys,

We've started an energy cooperative based in Sydney (Sydney Energy Cooperative http://www.energycoop.com.au) primarily to lower the cost of grid connected PV and energy efficiency, but also stand alone Solar PV. Grid connect is great though, especially for Sydney and Melbourne, because it means no batteries and less cost.

As a solar engineer, I'd be happy to answer any questions from you guys that come through the co-op website, and of course give atheist some great rates on extra panels! (BTW we have some of the old 80W in our system and they are going well).

If it is hotwater you need, and the ambient air can get cold, look into an evacuated tube style solar hot water system like apricus or endless.

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Sprintcyclist

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Re: Solar Power, which is the best?
Reply #8 - Sep 15^th, 2008 at 10:22pm

energetictom - good, I have a few queries.

next year I will be moving to another house.
It has electric heating and cooking, but the stove is really bad and the hot water system is about 15 years old, so may need renewing in the medium term.

I was thinking of getting mains gas put on.
Then I get a gas oven (great for cooking on) and may as well put on continual gas hot water at the same time.

I have my doubts solar is economic for hot water heating.
Any ideas/suggestions/rules of thumb ??

thanks

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