Solar Electricity - Grid Connect
Anyone know anything about this.
We are getting quotes from 'Modern Solar' (Newcastle) and 'Energy Matters' (Melbourne) on a 1485 - 1620 (9 panel) system.

Thin film amorphous panels are about the same "dollar per rated watt" as other panels, however the wattage rating is measured with the panel at 25 degrees. In practice the panels in operation are closer to 50-75 degrees, which poly and monoscrystaline panels are putting out a drastically reduced output, thin film amorphous panels produce considerable more under these conditions, as well as cloudy or overcast conditions .mine dont seem to put out any less on hot days, (unike a friends polycrystaline array) and even still produce when the sun is shining on the back of them (as happens on late afternoons in summer) Thin film amorphous panels also take a lot less energy to make.
The downside is (unless you want to shade a lot of roof area?) is that they are about 3 times larger in area, meaning companies which dont come to your house to measure up (Energy matters from my expirence) dont like them as they want to install the smaller and easier amount of panels.
The solar shop (and if you mention me I will get a $200 kickback) do the thin film panels preferably. Mind you ask for the good installers, they do have them) not the ones I had that fell somewhere between trained gibbons and untrained monkeys. Rendering first aid to them I felt was a bit over the top, although the week before one fell through a skylight so it could have been worse.
The current renew magazine has a good article on the difference between the types of panels.

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cheers
Chris.
1990 landcruiser 80, 1HD-T two tank, copper pipe HE+ 20 plate FPHE, toyota solenoids and filters. 1978 300D, elsbett one tank system. 1979 300D veg oil/ diesel blend for now.

The old system was ended by the "minister without hair" early, and they have been fart arsing around for ages. I suggest contacting an installation mob, they should know what the go is. Probably going an inverter and switching between panels and whatever else would be the go, inverters that have 2 inputs may get people asking questions best not asked.

And is it just me or has the abovementioned minister been the only person in history to go from someone not on an electoral roll to a minister and member of a political party in power and become LESS of a political influence in the process?

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cheers
Chris.
1990 landcruiser 80, 1HD-T two tank, copper pipe HE+ 20 plate FPHE, toyota solenoids and filters. 1978 300D, elsbett one tank system. 1979 300D veg oil/ diesel blend for now.

Chris - you are right about the minister!
No rebates currently.
NSW just went to a gross feed in tarrif of 60c/kWh - locked in for the next 7 years.
That means I get 60c/kWh for what I put into the grid and pay 15.6c/kWh for what I take out of the grid. Meter does not 'run backwards' there are 2 meters, one for in and one for out. fitting a 1.5 kW system I should get on average a $200 cheque each quarter instead of a $130 bill.
If you can connect a generator to your inverter you could put in more.

Use of a generator when the solar panels are not producing will allow you to use the same inverter for both, providing the inverter is rated for use with generators.

Some technical information here:
If the grid disconnects from your home (power outage), the inverter will disconnect and shut down.
If solar panels are in use, the voltage at the inverter DC input will rise to the Open Circuit voltage. The inverter is rated to withstand that voltage.

If you are using the generator to supply DC voltage for the inverter and it disconnects, the output voltage of the generator can rise up to 10 times the nominal voltage, or more. Most inverters are not rated to withstand this voltage on the DC input. Result - one fried inverter.

There are inverters which can operate from wind generators, engine generators and/or Solar. These would be the types of inverter to use. They may require you to install a battery bank to limit the peak DC voltage if the inverter disconnects.

We use a large battery bank and 2.5kwp of solar panels, for our stand alone power system. The diesel generator will charge the batteries directly (specifically in winter when solar generation is low).
We also have a 1kwp Grid connect system, which generally makes up for the small amount of power we use from the grid (3 phase pumps, oven, etc)
I hope this information is of use to you.

Regards,
Tony

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Adding images and/or documents to your posts

Thanks Chris,
I went on the net to Solar Shop and used their message system to request they call me. They haven't yet so I will call them this morning.
I said on their contact form that I was referred but there was no space for your name. Please PM me you details (surname etc.) so that I can make sure they know you sent me.