5 Years Later with my Solar Panels - Is DIY solar Worth it?

Summary

The video script details a homeowner's journey to achieving free electricity through a grid-tied solar setup. After five years, the setup has paid for itself with a return on investment (ROI). The script shares monthly billing records, lessons learned, and modifications made post-typhoon damage. It highlights the importance of preparing for extreme weather, maintaining the system, and the potential for long-term savings with solar energy.

Takeaways

• 🏡 The speaker's home electricity is now free due to a grid-tied solar setup that has paid for itself.
• 📈 The solar setup has been operational for five years and has undergone changes and improvements over time.
• 🔆 The original setup consisted of 16 polycrystalline solar panels with a total wattage of 5.28 kilowatts.
• 🌪️ Five panels were damaged during Super Typhoon Odette, emphasizing the importance of preparedness for extreme weather.
• 🔄 After the typhoon, the setup was modified to include new monocrystalline panels, increasing the total wattage to 6 kilowatts.
• 🌡️ A temperature-controlled cooling fan was installed to prevent the inverter from overheating during high solar harvest periods.
• 💡 The speaker suggests that it's acceptable to oversize the solar array by 5-10% to maximize the inverter's capacity.
• 📊 The speaker has been meticulously tracking the system's performance, including monthly billing records and energy production.
• 💰 The return on investment (ROI) has been achieved, with the system's cost being offset by the electricity savings and credits from the utility company.
• 🔋 The inverter has a maximum input of 5.8 kilowatts, but the actual maximum output observed is around 5.2 kilowatts.
• 🔔 The speaker encourages viewers to subscribe and turn on notifications for updates on the solar setup's longevity and future improvements.

Q & A

What is the speaker proud of achieving with their house electricity?

The speaker is proud to have achieved free electricity for their house due to the return on investment (R.O.I.) from their grid-tied solar power setup.

How long has the speaker's solar power setup been in operation?

The speaker's solar power setup has been in operation for five years, starting from July 26, 2019.

What is the total wattage of the speaker's solar panels before any changes?

Before any changes, the total wattage of the speaker's solar panels was 5,280 watts or 5.28 kilowatts.

What changes were made to the speaker's solar panel setup in 2022?

In 2022, the speaker combined ten 330-watt polycrystalline solar panels into one array and replaced the second array with six new 450-watt monocrystalline panels after some were damaged by Typhoon Odette.

What was the impact of Typhoon Odette on the speaker's solar panels?

Typhoon Odette damaged five out of seventeen solar panels, which delayed the speaker's R.O.I. due to the need for replacement.

What additional equipment did the speaker install to address overheating issues?

The speaker installed a temperature-controlled cooling fan to prevent the inverter from overheating, especially during high solar harvest periods.

What is the maximum input capacity of the speaker's inverter?

The maximum input capacity of the speaker's inverter is 5.8 kilowatts.

How does the speaker calculate their R.O.I. for the solar power setup?

The speaker calculates their R.O.I. by adding the total monthly credit from the exported power and the savings from daytime consumption, then subtracting the total cost of the setup.

What is the total harvest of the speaker's inverter after five years?

After five years, the total harvest of the speaker's inverter is almost 40,000 kilowatt-hours.

Why did the speaker experience a higher electricity consumption during the summer months?

The speaker experienced higher electricity consumption during the summer months due to the use of air conditioning and the fact that the children were at home with increased usage of computers and TVs.

What advice does the speaker give regarding the maintenance of solar panels before a typhoon?

The speaker advises not to be overconfident and to remove or secure solar panels before a typhoon to prevent damage.