Inspect.Net Gazette

Solar Energy System

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:41:00-0400

It's finally time to talk about photovoltaic (PV) solar power. Why? Look at your utility bill ... thats why! The interesting thing before I get started with the technicals is that local utility companies (like PG&E, who provides my power) actually are happy so see these systems come online. Huh, don't they lose money when you install a system? Well, sort of, but these systems do something even more important, so they lose some money while avioding losing even more money, so for now they appreciate them, and are very supportive in efforts to bring residential solar power systems online. So what do these systems offer the utility companies that is so important? PEAK DEMAND ENERGY! The majority of power is consumed during peak hours (afternoons here, with air-conditioners being the major draw), and solar systems do their best exactly when the peak demand occurs. So when someone down the road needs power to run their A/C, its actually my solar system that is in a small way giving them the power they need. How does this help the utility company? It means they now have an additional means of providing power during these peak power use period without having to develop their own additional generation plants. They can use my power, rather than build a peaker plant, or figure out how to build another dam, or nuclear plant (my gosh, do we EVER need to get back to nuclear power, as an aside!) So, here's whats doing with PV solar power, and why I'm a happy camper. First the numbers, my PG&E bill on average was $450/month (I have no gas where I live, so my heating is via a 100 Amp reversible heat pump, OUCH). My solar system retailed for $108K, California rebates brought the price down to $72K, and since I asked the suplier to let me install the system myself, it brought the final cost down to $54K. Guess what? After all the numbering, and the additional cost of miscellaneous hardware required, my system cost me on average ... $450/month! So I'm break even already. And when energy rates go up, and my bill would have gone to $500/month, instead it will stay fixed at $450/month to pay for the loan I took out to pay for the project. So, the loan cost me $450/month for 15 years, and the system lasts for 25 years. That means for 15 years I pay what I'm already paying now, when rates go up I start to save money, and for years 16-20 I pay NOTHING for a system that is providing me with FREE power! Read all this very carefully!!! It really is something that requires a new way of thinking, a lot like the Toyota Prius I drive (c'mon Ford, Chevy, & Dodge lets get with it). I pay what I already pay today, I save money each time rates go up in years 1-15, and I get free power for 10 years in years 16-25. Hello new age of electrical generation, I'd like to introduce you to a very happy owner ... me!!! OK, here's the technicals, I'm going to provide a lot of pictures, and will respond to any comments as they come in. This is a GREAT example, because I installed both ground mounts (more work, suprisingly) and roof mounts (easier, but I really don't like this idea), so no matter what installation you are considering it should be covered here. A little background first, my system is tied into a 400 Amp electric panel (based on how much energy it provides), and this is one of the biggest factors to resolve right away. If you have a small 100 Amp service panel, you may need to up the size of your panel just to support they system. This additional cost should be considered when calculating the total cost of the system. I run both standard 400 Amp 240V service, as well as a 3-phase 100 Amp panel for an agricultural well (to water the orchards). I chose to tie the solar system to the residential panel, because that is where the majority of the power demand comes from. Here's a picture of the overall electrical panel installation: Here's a picture of the 400 Amp residential panel and bus: Here's a picture of the electric weatherhead: And here's a picture of the overall panel installation: Going into more detail about the ground mount system, here is a picture of the piers (those are 12 inch tubes, dug 4 feet down into the ground!) It turns out solar panel systems don't fall down, they tend to get picked up by the wind and fly away for hundreds of yards, coming down with catastrophic results). You can also see the 1 1/2 inch galvanized steel pipes used to create the framework to mount the rail system to, along with the brackets used to mount the rail system to the pipes (very clever stuff). Here is a view from underneath the ground mount system: And here is a picture in detail of the way the rail system mounts to the galvanized steel pipe frame system: Here is a picture of the roof system, it mounts to the same rail system, the only difference is that instead of using clamps to mount the rails to pipes, there are brackets that lag bolt through the roofing material directly into the rafters that the rails fasten to: Power comes from the panels to an electrical box called a combi-box: From the combi-box, an inverter turns the power from 12 Volts DC into 120 Volts AC: The roof and ground systems combine the power into one electrical sub-panel: which sends the power to a main system fuse disconnect: which feed the power INTO my house main electric panel, so when I need power I pull it from the system instead of from PG&E. Whats interesting is that when I generate more power than I use, PG&E takes the power (which makes my meter run backwards), and they pay me the current rate for that power. SInce my system generates the majority of the power during peak use periods, I get the maximum credit for the power I generate (SWEET!!!) Here is a picture of the overall electric solar boxes: Note the top box is not connected yet, since the picture was taken while work was in progress. And for the electrically curious, here are some pictures of a 400 Amp bus gutter to bring in both residential power and 3-phase power to the same location (look at the size of those copper wires, referred to as "500's", they are as round as a penny, and cost a lot more than that), a picture of a 100 Amp 3-phase panel, and the pump starter motor control box: I hope this helps a little in understanding what I believe to be the future of electrical generation. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at jeff@inspect.net It's been quite an experience getting this whole project done, but in doing it almost exclusively by myself (thank you very much Rich Araujo, you the man!) I learned a lot, and am wiling to share the information with whoever else may benefit. If you live in California, and you do not migrate to PV solar power before the rebates go away, you are as silly as the people who did not buy a Prius who also got free carpool stickers and a substantial rebate. As an asise, my Prius has 100K miles, is still running strong, and that carpool sticker is a god send on heavy traffic days! Lets get our act together and do whats best for this country by learning to generate our own power, instead of buying oil from regimes that hate us. It really may be one of the most direct way to support the troops if you ask me. Speaking of the troops, props to Lance Corpopral Tyler Jackson of Tracy, CA ... welcome home brother, I know it was a rough road, but there are a lot of people who support everything you did, like me! Also, to my new friend and client Nick Cameron (11 Bang Bang), thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service, and the opportunity to serve you and your clients. I'm honored and humbled! Stay strong, go green, and remember we need to pass on this nation to the next generation, so its YOUR job to make sure its better than it was when you took it over. Are you doing your part? Really, are you doing your part? Lets go, we need to do this for the future of our nation, I mean that from the bottom of my heart. As an aside, its such a beautiful thought to consider that it is the sun that makes my trees grow, my trees absorb carbon monoxide which helps the environment, the trees also yield a cash crop (buy almonds, a can a week, thats all we ask :), and it is technology that allows me to create the eco-system that allows this all to happen for free (from my perspective). I'm doing my part ... I CHALLENGE you to do yours! As an engineer, I say to every other engineer who is REALLY working on solving the problems of this World, YOU ABSOLUTELY ROCK! Go Cal Poly ... Learn By Doing! Regards, Jeff Bond

PG&E To The Rescue

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:03:00-0400

Perhaps you've heard stories about service interruptions, or increasing energy rates ... but this is definitely NOT one of these stories. This is about the OUTSTANDING service I received from a PG&E electric linesman crew that operates out of the Oakdale, CA office. The mission was challenging, take down an existing overhead electric service drop running through a tree, and install a new 400 Amp service drop through another tree, all while trying to navigate through an orchard. Lets pile on the fact this all had to take place in 3-4 hours, since I needed time to connect the new servie drop to my electric sub-panel inside the house. When three large trucks rolled up my driveway, I immediately knew this was going to be an ordeal. Out steps a gentleman who's name escapes me at the moment, and advises they're going to get right to work. Here's a picture, if you ever have a chance to meet him, I'm sure you'll be as impressed as I was. And get right to work they did, including dropping the old service wires, hooking up the new service: Replacing the transformers (newer and larger transformers were required due to the size of the service): Replacing the pole upper cross member (they didn't find until they got up the pole that the old one was rotted): Installing new insulators: It's always amazing to me to watch linesmen climb a pole to work: And for me the most impressive part of the whole job was watching the way this crew worked as a team. It was not uncommon to see three guys working near the top of the pole all at the same time, while a fourth person was at the bottom coordinating the work and supplying a stream of material up to the crew members: I'm a general contractor, and an engineer, and I frankly don't get that impressed all that much. On this day I was VERY impressed. I like to think of myself as being pretty handy, but these are real guys doing real work, and the skill level with which they performed their job was very impressive. I'd like to thank PG&E for doing an outstanding job, and let everyone know that sometimes things we don't understand or take for granted should be a little more fully analyzed before laying out any criticism. I know it's easy to get pissed off at PG&E when your power goes out, but this is just one of those jobs where nothing less that 100% is acceptable to the public. I think thats an unreasonable proposition to try and satisfy, but its very rewarding to see people like this try none the less to make it happen. You won't hear me moaning about PG&E's service based on what I experienced today. I think sometimes we just need to see things with our own eyes to fully understand the situation. Today I saw ... and today I understand just how much I appreciate having real guys like this around to help bring power to my house. Awesome job, and a sincere THANK YOU to everyone involved. I'd also like to thank Sue Moller at the PG&E Oakdale office for helping solve my problem. I really dropped a load on her, and she came through in a huge way! Without her, none of this would have been possible. Here's a few more pictures of the job: The lasting impression I have is just how much we depend on electricity as a daily necessity. Until we figure out a way to generate power domestically, I think we are avoiding the bigger issue going forward. And when we finally do address the issue with alternatives such as solar energy, it will be people just like this who help make it happen. They literally are a huge component in the future of California, and I'm glad to have had a chance to watch them work. Regards, Jeff Bond

Berkeley Solar Energy Proposal

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 13:40:00-0400

Someting VERY exciting and beneficial for communities is happening in Berkeley, and I think they're exactly right on target! In many cases, with all the open land this is available for use in the Caiformia Central Valley programs like this MUST be implemented, not just for the benefit of the community, but also for REVENUE generation. It is almost irresponsible not to ... cleaner, cheaper power is now even fahionable! Almost every city can easily find public space to mount panels to power the demands of City Hall, the PD, all the current demand for public use, AND even supplement or power street lights. Consider: 1. Develop a plan like Berkeley allowing residents to get a loan to pay for the up front cost to install the solar system, and add the balance to the city portion of the property tax bill, which always remains with the property (not the owner) until paid. Charge below market rate financing on the loans, but still allow the city to generate revenue by negeotiating long-term reduced rates with larger lending institutions, making a margin on the difference in rates. 2. Consider a plan to supplement or replace City electrical distribution system packages from local municipalities to solar (this is strictly a payback calculation based on utility rates projected going forward). These systems can literally be plugged in wherever you have an electric meter, so they are easy to put wherever they make sense. Put them where the demand is, put them where there is room, or put them where they are not an eye sore, it all makes sense. 3. Consider a plan to power City street lights with solar power! The REAL MEAT of this issue is that people are underestimating the price of energy going forward! If you compare energy prices from 25 years ago to today, they have gone up 10X or 1000% (I still remember my parents spending 25 to 30 cents per gallon, so that makes sense). If you project going forward, that makes gas $300/gallon 25 years from now!!! After all, that is historically how much it appreciated the prior 25 years. Of course new technology will eventually replace oil, so it literally already is a dead dinosaur anyways (pun intended). People are looking forward, and I suspect in a worst case pondering how they are going to deal with $5/gallon gas, and a home heating/cooling bill that may double. That is tough enough to consider, but the reality is that the tough part will come when it then continues to triple, then quadruple, all the way up to a ten-fold factor (ouch)!!! A solar system can be installed to power a home, and if the home is energy efficient (insulation, etc.) it can usually save enough money to pay off the cost in less than 15 years, at CURRENT utility bill rate levels. Under the proposed system, the homeowner would just write a check to the City instead of the utility company, and their bill would NEVER go up in price, as opposed to a utility bill which guaranteed will. Think about taking today's gas price, and knowing that for the next 20 years you will never have to pay any more than that for gas! This is a valid comparison, because it is oil many times that is used to generate electricity. A program like this would be beautiful. If congressman McNerney is really a solar guy, and supporter of smart business, he should be helping California communities put programs like this in place. Here's a link to Berkeley's resolution which is up for vote November 6th, 2007: http://www.insidebayarea.com/timesstar/localnews/ci_7305889 The California Central Valley is one of the best places to enact such a program, because we have great opportunities to generate solar power, we travel and use a lot of power to commute and combat the environment, and financially we are less able to come up the money to install a solar system because we are younger, and statistically have less income & savings to make the initial purchase. This is a call to action for all community leaders who are really intent on solving the real world problems of their community. Help Californians help themselves, this is exactly how you build community, how you get yourself elected, and more importantly how you help build a better world for tomorrow. I would like to thank my Dad for initially mentioning the Berkeley proposal to me. Regards, Jeff Bond Inspect.Net, Inc.

Welcome Message

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:46:00-0400

Welcome to The Inspect.Net Gazette ... Topics typically covered include home inspections, real estate, finances, skateboarding, and backpacking. Please feel free to comment in a positive and constructive manner whenever you'd like. Thanks, and enjoy.