nifty-stuff.com
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- Joined
- Oct 3, 2019
- Messages
- 126
Hey all, I could use some help!
My existing 3.96 kW system (10 years old) consists of:
My original plan was to add more panels + new TIGO optimizers + new inverter, but pretty much every solar installer just wants to do a new system in parallel.
I finally found one installer that has a GREAT track-record and we're going through possibilities. The one we're leaning towards: Swap-out TIGO and SMA inverter on my existing panels for enphase microinverters, add more panels with enphase, tie old panels into new panels.
Does that sound like a good plan? It's taking a system that is "working fine", removing / replacing those parts... so not cheap, but I figure my inverter is at the end of it's life and will need to be swapped out sometime soon anyway.
The next big question: Which Direction?!?
I was thinking about facing them West and playing the TimeOfUse arbitrage game with the EV rate plan where I could sell energy back at $0.48 and use it late at night / early morning when it's $0.17 https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/rate-plans/rate-plan-options/electric-
vehicle-base-plan/electric-vehicle-base-plan.page
... but I haven't actually run the numbers to see if that rate plan / my gameplan of having the West-facing will be better than another rate-plan and having the panels south-facing.
One of the installers had a good point that if I face them west based on the existing rate-plan, that PGE could completely change rate-plans, net-metering, etc. and completely change all my calculations, etc.
I look forward to your thoughts and ideas!!!!
My existing 3.96 kW system (10 years old) consists of:
- 18 REC 220 W panels
- 18 TIGO optimizers
- SMA Sunny Boy SB3000US Inverter
My original plan was to add more panels + new TIGO optimizers + new inverter, but pretty much every solar installer just wants to do a new system in parallel.
I finally found one installer that has a GREAT track-record and we're going through possibilities. The one we're leaning towards: Swap-out TIGO and SMA inverter on my existing panels for enphase microinverters, add more panels with enphase, tie old panels into new panels.
Does that sound like a good plan? It's taking a system that is "working fine", removing / replacing those parts... so not cheap, but I figure my inverter is at the end of it's life and will need to be swapped out sometime soon anyway.
The next big question: Which Direction?!?
I was thinking about facing them West and playing the TimeOfUse arbitrage game with the EV rate plan where I could sell energy back at $0.48 and use it late at night / early morning when it's $0.17 https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/rate-plans/rate-plan-options/electric-
vehicle-base-plan/electric-vehicle-base-plan.page
... but I haven't actually run the numbers to see if that rate plan / my gameplan of having the West-facing will be better than another rate-plan and having the panels south-facing.
One of the installers had a good point that if I face them west based on the existing rate-plan, that PGE could completely change rate-plans, net-metering, etc. and completely change all my calculations, etc.
I look forward to your thoughts and ideas!!!!