Author Topic: Solar Panels are APPROVED! (Read 4244 times)

valterra · « **on:** December 23, 2009, 12:45:35 PM »

I was completely honest in the application - even painfully so. For example, under the Estimated Completion section I wrote something like, "Because Solar Panels are expensive and modular in nature, this application is for a project that will be ongoing for an undetermined period of time."

Also, I had to include a sketch drawing on my house's plot plan that showed generally where and how large they would be. I drew a bunch of giant rectangles that took up my entire south-facing roof plane. I wanted to shoot for the most wild thing possible, to hopefully have room to negotiate. Imagine my surprise when it was approved!

Another thing I thought would make it go bad was early on in the process. Their correspondence kept referring to them as "solar screens." I decided to be honest, and describe, in detail, that they were Photo Voltaic (PV) modules and that they would be brown or blue in color. I even instructed them to type in "Solar Panel" into Google for lots of images (because they want pictures / samples of your project).

Anyhow. Here in Texas, my attic is fully-accessible. That makes roof-mounting so much easier than my Nebraska house where I did it all from the outside with lag screws, then ran the wires down the roof and in through the side wall.

Wind is probably still out. I guess since the application is free, I could always throw one out there, haha.

I've been away from this board quite a lot since my recent job change and move. I really miss my wind projects, and my batteries have been sitting on the charger for months. My panels have also just been sitting around.

Hopefully this is the start of many good things to come. Just wish I had money for solar... well, don't we all?

Tritium · « **Reply #1 on:** December 23, 2009, 01:02:29 PM »

Kaneka 60 watt CIGS panels $.98 per watt at www.sunelec.com .

4 minimum, 25 maximum order.

Just a satisfied customer with 1500 watts and climbing.

Thurmond

ghurd · « **Reply #2 on:** December 23, 2009, 01:55:47 PM »

Cool!

Except for the part about an attic in TX.

G-

ghurd · « **Reply #3 on:** December 23, 2009, 01:57:04 PM »

Do you have the kaneka's?

G-

DamonHD · « **Reply #4 on:** December 23, 2009, 02:09:24 PM »

Good for you!

Rgds

Damon

SparWeb · « **Reply #5 on:** December 23, 2009, 04:05:56 PM »

Back in 2006, I gritted my teeth, picked up the phone, and asked the municipality for the application process for installing a tower for my wind turbine.

To my utter surprise, they informed me there was no municipal regulation and that it could be as tall as I wanted it.

Sometimes asking for permission isn't as bad as asking for forgiveness afterward...

valterra · « **Reply #6 on:** December 23, 2009, 05:40:55 PM »

You are correct, sir. The attic is no place to hang out, except this time of year... the "cold" season.

(That's cold in quotes.)

valterra · « **Reply #7 on:** December 23, 2009, 05:42:46 PM »

I might as well try. There is a local (Texas State) Representative that is supposedly trying to champion wind and solar in his district. I've heard that he's trying to get some kind of solar manufacturing plant to build here also.

So I'm thinking that this might be the beginning of a new trend.

Can't hurt to ask!

valterra · « **Reply #8 on:** December 23, 2009, 06:07:35 PM »

Thurmond,

Can you send me an email (or post it here) with your 1500 Watt configuration. I am trying to figure out exactly what I would do with 90 VOC panels.

My email is jehmobile at gmail (written that way for the Spambots).

Volvo farmer · « **Reply #9 on:** December 23, 2009, 07:00:15 PM »

Congratulations!

I find HOAs a little distateful, as I have never found one that would let me farm Volvos on my property. However, with the current green movement, and media attention on the subject, you might just be able to shame them into thinking functionality outweighs aesthetics.. So strike while the iron is hot!

taylorp035 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 24, 2009, 06:56:10 PM »

I once asked my local peoples and not only did they day that I could not, but they also realized that my house was too tall, even though I live in the woods where the trees are 60ft and my house is is about 40 ft.

At least there is someone out there who doesn't have to slash through red tape.

Tritium · « **Reply #11 on:** December 24, 2009, 08:28:33 PM »

Ghurd,

No I wish I had the funds available for the Kaneka's. I had just bought 6 100 watt panels at $1.75 a watt when the kaneka's were placed on their site. I have 2 small CIGS panels from 25 years ago and they are still going strong though.

Thurmond

jaskiainen · « **Reply #12 on:** December 25, 2009, 01:35:58 AM »

Hi!

I'm not familiar with solar panels, but i have been lurking around panels for that price. What makes them so cheap compared kyocera's? I would be temptated to order

4 of them that price. They would come cheaper at 240W than single 50W Kyocera panel. Is it something to do with their Imp readings? Kaneka panels say 0.90 Imp and Kyocera say 3.11 Imp. Can someone explain that difference to me?

Tritium · « **Reply #13 on:** December 25, 2009, 06:31:34 AM »

.90 IMP is the maximum current produced by the kaneka at the VMP. The IMP times the VMP gives the panel wattage. The kyocera has a lower voltage so the IMP is higher.

I do not have the kanekas since I had just used my funds for SUN-100 panels at $1.75 a watt when the kanekas went on sale so I cannot comment on configuration but if I had 24 I would wire them in parallel to a mppt controller and charge batteries at 48V or less (I think an outback MX 60 would handle it just fine). They of course could be wired in some series parallel configuration for grid tie applications.

Thurmond

richhagen · « **Reply #14 on:** December 25, 2009, 06:59:45 AM »

Tp3, your sun 100 panels are likely made from sunpower cells like mine. I have some of those and they seem to be very good panels. The sunpower cells are monocrystaline, and have back side contacts so there is no visible grid array on the front of them. They have a good efficiency in terms of Watts per square meter. The Kaneka panels are thin film technology, and are likely less efficient per square meter of space that they utilize, a consideration for me in an urban environment, with relatively little roof area with good sun exposure. I had a bad experience with early thin film panels, and although I suspect that the new ones are better, I am reluctant to buy them when I know the mono and multi crystaline panels will last for more than 20 years. Rich

Tritium · « **Reply #15 on:** December 25, 2009, 03:27:35 PM »

Hi Rich,

Yes I was expecting and hoping for SunPower but not on these. The Sun-100's this time are 72 cell panels with front side metal. I have 2 of the SunPower from an earlier buy though.

Thurmond

jaskiainen · « **Reply #16 on:** December 27, 2009, 02:26:44 AM »

So does this affect on wich way they should be wired? If Kanekas are wired for 12 volts do they still produce that 60 watts? Well maybe never 60 but you guys know what i mean... Even if they produce 40 watts they come cheaper than 1 kyocera wich makes them very tempting for me to order.

valterra · « **Reply #17 on:** December 27, 2009, 01:03:52 PM »

If I understand solar correctly, they are basically Current pumps. A "60 watt" 15V, 4A panel is not the same as a "60 Watt" 60V 1A panel.

If you hook a 15V, 4A panel to a 12V bank, it will pump in about 4A.if you hook a 15V, 4A panel to a 12V bank, it will pump in about 4A.

On the other hand, if you hook a 60V, 1A panel to a 12V bank, the battery will "regulate" the voltage down to its level (say 14.5V) and keep pumping 1A.

It's the same principle that we call "stall" on our wind turbines. The regulation of the voltage creates a lot of pressure on the line, but 60V, 1A won't "automagically" turn itself into 15V 4A. That's where a charge controller would come in.

Am I wrong about this? This idea is the main reason you can't get 45 watts from "45W" Harbor Freight panels. They're something like 27V, 2A. Hooking them up to 12V bank results in around 2A input.

Your mileage may vary. I might be full of it.

Tritium · « **Reply #18 on:** December 28, 2009, 09:47:36 AM »

To use the Kaneka panel you need to use a MPPT controller in most instances. To charge a 12V nominal battery bank would be one of those instances. I have my panels(not kaneka) wired in a series parallel arrangement for 60V output going to an Outback MX60 which does the MPPT magic to charge my 12V battery bank.

Thurmond

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Author Topic: Solar Panels are APPROVED! (Read 4244 times)