Going Solar with SunRay solar

Den65 · 10-22-2014, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HellRaZoR004

Okay, silly question. Who's going up on the roof after every snow storm to clean the panels?

Make sure you have a new roof, otherwise in a few years you may be taking the panels off to replace the roofing due to age.

On a 12 pitch roof facing south they are pretty much self cleaning, just as the roof is now with out them. Also when you are covering pretty much the whole roof the abuse on the shingles stops. The back part which is a SHED Dormer roof (still part of the garage) is a little different with a lower pitch (a 4) which is fairly flat I may have to do something but then again those panels won't be working much for 3 to 4 months and I have accepted that. As the off grid guy said not many people have true south facing roofs but I built my house to be as close to that as I can thats why the tube system I have on my house now for hot water( Main house not garage) works well. I would not be doing it if that was not the case. I would go mounted in the yard. Solar isn't for everyone but I'm betting the price of electicity will go up just as fuel will again at some point and I'd like to be doing something to cut that off if I live long enough to see the whole pay back ok, if not I hope the kids enjoy it...

BroadHopper · 10-22-2014, 10:58 AM

In 2009, I was a project manager for a beautiful home located on the Northern end of the lake. The owner wish to populate the shorefront with solar panels because the law protected the trees. DES claims he could not place panels permanently along the shoreline and solar panels are not a good 'excuse' to cut down the trees. The trees were grown to the point it block the sunlight off season and in the morning and evening hours. He planned on placing the solar panels on movable dollies to circumvent the law. I have yet to see him do so.

Things may have changed since then. I was told there was a number of modification to the law.

ishoot308 · 10-22-2014, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Den65

Solar isn't for everyone but I'm betting the price of electicity will go up just as fuel will again at some point and I'd like to be doing something to cut that off if I live long enough to see the whole pay back ok, if not I hope the kids enjoy it...

That's a great attitude to have and I commend you for trying to reduce your "footprint".

Good luck with your project!! I sincerely hope you will keep us updated as to it's progress and savings!

Dan

Orion · 10-22-2014, 04:49 PM

So far unmentioned is the key benefit of having power when the grid goes down, which could happen due to weather or terrorist activity. It's not a matter of if the power will go down, it's just a matter of when and how often.

MGWillia · 10-22-2014, 04:53 PM

But another question has hit me (as the new guy headed up soon)... How often does the region have power outages? more than the average of other areas?

chasedawg · 10-22-2014, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGWillia

But another question has hit me (as the new guy headed up soon)... How often does the region have power outages? more than the average of other areas?

Today and tonight we are having high winds and a great deal of rain in Tuftonboro. We lost power around 5:00 Pm and our 20KW Koehler generator we purchased from Generator Connections last year is running straight out.
This was the first outage we have had this year. I can't speak for other areas.

MGWillia · 10-22-2014, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chasedawg

Today and tonight we are having high winds and a great deal of rain in Tuftonboro. We lost power around 5:00 Pm and our 20KW Koehler generator we purchased from Generator Connections last year is running straight out.
This was the first outage we have had this year. I can't speak for other areas.

But I haven't seen one actually running. Just how loud are they? I'm thinking my neighbors are going to be pretty close. As much as I would like the security of a backup, I'm concerned (even in an outage) about being an annoyance.
Something you can compare it to?
Thanks

dpg · 10-23-2014, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGWillia

But I haven't seen one actually running. Just how loud are they? I'm thinking my neighbors are going to be pretty close. As much as I would like the security of a backup, I'm concerned (even in an outage) about being an annoyance.
Something you can compare it to?
Thanks

Generally speaking "big box store" "cheaper" ones will be louder than a quality unit built with noise in mind. All the big / better name manufacturers offer "quieter" units at a premium of course.

codeman671 · 10-22-2014, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orion

So far unmentioned is the key benefit of having power when the grid goes down, which could happen due to weather or terrorist activity. It's not a matter of if the power will go down, it's just a matter of when and how often.

A grid tie system is useless when the grid goes down. The only way it will work is if you have a battery bank to store energy to. Battery banks are extremely expensive when brought to scale.

MeredithMan · 10-23-2014, 05:33 AM

MGWillia--

I have a 20KW Generac. I would describe it as perhaps a little louder than when a slab-mounted home Central Air compressor kicks on. (I know this is a relative term, since some AC units are louder than others)

Definitely not as loud as a lawn mower. You can definitely hear it, but it is not that bad.

Also, if you have a well and septic, I can tell you from personal experience it gets pretty gross around the house after a day or two without power.

Don't worry about offending your neighbors!

dpg · 10-23-2014, 06:13 AM

Besides after a day or two without power if you invite neighbors over for pizza, coffee, whatever they will also be happy you have one.

10-22-2014, 10:58 AM	#2
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,519 Thanks: 3,122 Thanked 1,090 Times in 784 Posts	Shoreline Protection Act In 2009, I was a project manager for a beautiful home located on the Northern end of the lake. The owner wish to populate the shorefront with solar panels because the law protected the trees. DES claims he could not place panels permanently along the shoreline and solar panels are not a good 'excuse' to cut down the trees. The trees were grown to the point it block the sunlight off season and in the morning and evening hours. He planned on placing the solar panels on movable dollies to circumvent the law. I have yet to see him do so. Things may have changed since then. I was told there was a number of modification to the law. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

10-22-2014, 04:49 PM	#4
Orion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cow Island Posts: 914 Thanks: 602 Thanked 193 Times in 91 Posts	the key benefit So far unmentioned is the key benefit of having power when the grid goes down, which could happen due to weather or terrorist activity. It's not a matter of if the power will go down, it's just a matter of when and how often.

10-22-2014, 04:53 PM	#5
MGWillia Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Alton Bay! Posts: 165 Thanks: 116 Thanked 128 Times in 46 Posts	Slightly Off Topic But another question has hit me (as the new guy headed up soon)... How often does the region have power outages? more than the average of other areas?

10-23-2014, 05:33 AM	#10
MeredithMan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bedford, NH; Meredith, NH Posts: 868 Thanks: 234 Thanked 769 Times in 303 Posts	Generator Noise.... MGWillia-- I have a 20KW Generac. I would describe it as perhaps a little louder than when a slab-mounted home Central Air compressor kicks on. (I know this is a relative term, since some AC units are louder than others) Definitely not as loud as a lawn mower. You can definitely hear it, but it is not that bad. Also, if you have a well and septic, I can tell you from personal experience it gets pretty gross around the house after a day or two without power. Don't worry about offending your neighbors!

The Following User Says Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post:
Den65 (10-23-2014)

10-23-2014, 06:13 AM	#11
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,560 Thanks: 149 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	Besides after a day or two without power if you invite neighbors over for pizza, coffee, whatever they will also be happy you have one.