Going Solar - advice please

[***super_nova***]

We are just about to start some extension, which means I will have nice north facing roof suitable for solar panels. 

Over the past few months we emailed several companies in Melbourne, and had not single answer.  Finally, yesterday we got one from EURO SOLAR, who with the first very basic quote (we are not sure exactly what we want) sent their banking details for deposit - bit too desperate for my liking.

Anybody in Melbourne has solar installed?  Can you recommend the company you dealt with?

[***super_nova***]

I am not looking into solar to make money, it is more not to be totally dependant on the power companies.  It would be nice if on sunny (or sunny enough) days my computer, fridge and whatever else would run on the solar.  My daughter likes to use my place as a beach house, and when they are here they like to run the air-conditioning, and as on hot days we tend do get blackouts because that is when everybody else is using too much power, it would be great if we did not have to worry about that.

I was hoping we can get the system for about $10 000.

[mugssy65]

I'm not talking about making money, the units they buy back contribute to what you are supposed to save, it's a little different over here in WA because our power stations are owned by the state government, we can't shop around for better deals and now the government is talking about putting a tariff on those of us who have solar units! They have already done it on those with bore's!

[the_hawk*]

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@***super_nova*** wrote:

I am not looking into solar to make money, it is more not to be totally dependant on the power companies.  It would be nice if on sunny (or sunny enough) days my computer, fridge and whatever else would run on the solar.  My daughter likes to use my place as a beach house, and when they are here they like to run the air-conditioning, and as on hot days we tend do get blackouts because that is when everybody else is using too much power, it would be great if we did not have to worry about that.

I was hoping we can get the system for about $10 000.

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It doesnt work like that, the inverter requires mains power to sync and no mains = no solar power

[crystal**flake]

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@***super_nova*** wrote:

We are just about to start some extension, which means I will have nice north facing roof suitable for solar panels. 

Over the past few months we emailed several companies in Melbourne, and had not single answer.  Finally, yesterday we got one from EURO SOLAR, who with the first very basic quote (we are not sure exactly what we want) sent their banking details for deposit - bit too desperate for my liking.

Anybody in Melbourne has solar installed?  Can you recommend the company you dealt with?

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I dont think its worth it now, we did it years ago now and we gett 66c, I think its about 30 now isn't it?

[crystal**flake]

I would love more panels but it would break my contract and it just wouldn't be worth it.

[***super_nova***]

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@the_hawk* wrote:

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It doesnt work like that, the inverter requires mains power to sync and no mains = no solar power

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Not even if you get some batteries?  My ex has his whole house solar; no mains at all.  I cannot ask him; I do not want him to know what we are doing, he might want to come and stay when he is Melbourne if he knows I have more space.  🙂

[jimmy*part4]

Wow, 2 informative threads in one day. I see why people come here!

I've been thinking about getting solar too. There are companies here that will put it in for free and then take part of savings over x amount of years (plus they get the government rebate, etc).

I can't help but think of the irony...Super Nova asking about solar power.

[imastawka]

Supa,  do you have a tiled roof?

I had problems with broken tiles a while ago

and quite a few roofers asked me if I had solar

panels.   They said they wouldn't fix my roof if I

had solar panels installed

[blondie.inc]

Supa....it doesnt work like that.

Sunny days do not store solar power for you to use. The solar power that is generated from your panels on the roof is sent back to the electricity grid and are worth so many cents per kilothingy.That amount that you have generated is converted t dollars that reduce your electricity bill. You dont have a whole lot of sun generated power stored for cloudy days or for when there is blackouts

[i-need-a-martini · Accepted solution]

Yes you can do it supanova.

Instead of connecting to the grid, you install an off the grid system. They do it in remote areas all the time. A friend of mine generates her own power in a bush hut she built 10 years ago. 

I am not 100% sure how it all works but I understand her panels charge up batteries and this provdes the power she needs to convert to 240v electricity. Her power is completely self sufficient.

I am sure there must be companies out there that can help you with this. Or there must be environmentalist blogs out there that you can ask questions to.