Solar Power for home

[pk-sd]

Anyone knows a good (active) online forum for residential solar energy? Anyone here has any experience with getting solar panels installed at home.

Thanks
PK

[jwelch87]

If you find one please pm me and let me know.

[SolRo]

Dont get solar quite yet, california should be redoing the solar panel rebate system soon.

For the better.

[JoeJ]

Here's a site with San Diego info.
http://www.energycenter.org/
I've got a 5kW system installed by Borrego Solar since December 2005. Look out for the solar home tours. Last year, the tour was in Sept.

[pk-sd]

SolRo....I will keep my eyes open for that.

jcjuarez......Thanks for the link and info. Would you mind if I PMed you with some questions later?

Thanks
PK

[GoTakuF1]

I did some consulting work for Solatubes (http://www.solatube.com/res_products.php) awhile back. It's a neat product. There are some people on RC experimenting with these things on their reef tanks. Nice way to supplement lighting if you got a couple hundred gallon reef to light.

[jwelch87]

Do you know of any in Texas?

[GoTakuF1]

You mean Solatube lit tanks, Joe? I'll check for the link for you.

[pk-sd]

I did some consulting work for Solatubes (http://www.solatube.com/res_products.php) awhile back. It's a neat product. There are some people on RC experimenting with these things on their reef tanks. Nice way to supplement lighting if you got a couple hundred gallon reef to light.

We are trying to reduce our total electric cost and also do the right thing for the environment. Since we have a home based business, most of our electricity is used on business machines.

At this time I have decided to not even setup another tank as I had planned to (not to mention moral struggle with the one I have right now). Just trying to do our part in being “green”.

[GoTakuF1]

Ah, godspeed then!

[pk-sd]

Ah, godspeed then!

Thanks !!!

[Kee]

http://sunpowercorp.cleanpowerestimator.com/default.aspx

This is a pretty cool calculator for solar panels.

[MrKrispy]

I did some consulting work for Solatubes (http://www.solatube.com/res_products.php) awhile back. It's a neat product. There are some people on RC experimenting with these things on their reef tanks. Nice way to supplement lighting if you got a couple hundred gallon reef to light.


I had a co-worker that installed solar tubes for his 200 gallon reef tank. He wasn't too impressed with the colors the corals turned.

[dvincent]

Here is a link to a do it yourself solar installation that is being put on by an electrical engineer through the grossmont adult education program.
http://www.guhsd.net/adult/summer/summer_2007.pdf
The class description is on page 51.

[Saltwater Taffy]

What about those led lights that are supposed to be just as good if not better than halides? They are realively new (saw a thread on it a few months back), i don't know of anyone that has any yet. Anyone have any new info on that style of lights? That could be an option for you.

[pk-sd]

Here is a link to a do it yourself solar installation that is being put on by an electrical engineer through the grossmont adult education program.
http://www.guhsd.net/adult/summer/summer_2007.pdf
The class description is on page 51.


Thanks !!!!!! That is going to help me out a lot. !!!!!:) :)

[JoeJ]

SolRo....I will keep my eyes open for that.

jcjuarez......Thanks for the link and info. Would you mind if I PMed you with some questions later?

Thanks
PK
I don't mind PMs. I guess I'm set to receive.
Ask anything you'd like!

[pk-sd]

Starting to get serious about this. Here are the question. You can post the reply here(so others can benefit from it also) or PM if you do not feel comfortable.


1. How big is you system: in kW ? I think you said 5kw

2. How much did it cost you ? System and labor.

3. How much of that are you or will be getting back in rebates/incentives.

4. Any lessons learned?