Building second home in Asheville, NC; is solar for me?

[Stephen850]

I'm about to build a 1500 sq ft second home about 2500 ft up in Asheville, NC area. We want to get our feet wet with solar and start with solar water heater. Should we consider any more solar for a home we will only use periodically from spring - fall but keep heated in winter to 55 degrees. Probably use a heat pump for heating/cooling. Someone else is putting 9 panels on her home for ~$22k? and she expects to sell back to utility and break even in 7 years. She is probably living there full time. I assume she gets a 30% fed tax credit on purchase price. My wife is not in mood to make such a big investment. I don't know enough to argue one way or the other. What do you guys think? Is there another alternative?

[Mike90250]

Plan on building 2 sheds for future expansion, 1 for generator and water heaters/tanks and 1 for solar batteries and inverters. Not attached to main house, in case something bad happens.

Is there grid power on your lot, or is it off grid? planning for solar PV can be done now, before building starts. (roof angles and such)

[Stephen850]

Plan on building 2 sheds for future expansion, 1 for generator and water heaters/tanks and 1 for solar batteries and inverters. Not attached to main house, in case something bad happens.

Is there grid power on your lot, or is it off grid? planning for solar PV can be done now, before building starts. (roof angles and such)

Power and other utilities will go in while the house is being built. It is a small lot with covenants so I think everything is going into house and crawl space. I think the women whose house has 9 panels on roof has everything contained inside house. I like the ground unit you installed. If I add other panels other than water heater in future, I might want to do it the way you did but might have to use basement or crawl space instead of shed or is that too dangerous?

[Stephen850]

Plan on building 2 sheds for future expansion, 1 for generator and water heaters/tanks and 1 for solar batteries and inverters. Not attached to main house, in case something bad happens.

Is there grid power on your lot, or is it off grid? planning for solar PV can be done now, before building starts. (roof angles and such)

What "bad" can happen???

[Naptown]

What "bad" can happen???

If you build your own panels very bad things can happen. If you buy commercially available SRCC rated hot water equip and UL listed PV equip you will be all right.
Ah and BTW your neighbor got ripped off or purchased a year or two ago her system would be about 1/2-2/3 what she paid today.

[Mike90250]

What "bad" can happen???

Have you never heard of Mr. Murphy ?

Batteries leak acid. Batteries vent gas. Gas goes Boom.

Generators make noise. Fuel can burn.

What could go wrong?

[russ]

The best bang for your buck by far is solar thermal water heating.

During the season you mentioned you should manage to spend zero for hot water.

A drain back system would be highly convenient - no propylene glycol (anti-freeze) to care for or worry about.

Russ

[Naptown]

Uh guys
He will have grid available and in the house according to one of his posts
And I agree with Russ on the drain back hot water system considering the season he will be there.

[Stephen850]

The builder estimates are in; what do you think?

If you build your own panels very bad things can happen. If you buy commercially available SRCC rated hot water equip and UL listed PV equip you will be all right.
Ah and BTW your neighbor got ripped off or purchased a year or two ago her system would be about 1/2-2/3 what she paid today.

Here is what I'm hearing about a 1700 sq ft house; 2-story with small basement. "Solar hot water will cost you around $6,800 complete and installed.* As for true solar electric, brace your self, just a small system will be in the neighborhood of $9,000 plus! Small meaning it would run the fridge, TV, other small appliances but, not all at once."

I don't have any details yet about the system he's thinking about.*

[rbtrrer]

Naptown.......Is that the 1/2-1/3 you mention?

[Naptown]

Naptown.......Is that the 1/2-1/3 you mention?

Hot water will be more than previously quoted unless unglazed collectors are used considering the seasons the house will be used

PV has come down about to 1/2 of what it was a year and a half ago if that is what yu mean

[Stephen850]

Naptown.......Is that the 1/2-1/3 you mention?

Rbtrrer, I don't think so. That other women paid for a full not partial system.

[Stephen850]

The best bang for your buck by far is solar thermal water heating.

During the season you mentioned you should manage to spend zero for hot water.

A drain back system would be highly convenient - no propylene glycol (anti-freeze) to care for or worry about.

Russ

Thanks for feedback. So it wouldn't make sense to pursue total or partial solar for rest of house?

[russ]

Hi Stephen,

1) For the drain back type solar water heater (and other styles) please see the Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_water_heating - the bubble action type of pump is interesting but overly expensive the way it is presently packaged plus the system has to be maintained under a partial vacuum which is not terribly practical the way solar panels are made and systems installed.

2) Solar PV should cost between 5$ & 6$ per watt - Asheville is a good sized city should be enough competition to have the cost under control by now. I used to live in Charlotte. My grandfather on Mom's side came from the Asheville area a long time back.

3) A 3 kW DC solar PV system would save you 35 to 40$ per month during the summer months according to Sharp's energy calculator - take a while to make that one turn green.

For a part time application where you have access to the grid it would be impossible to recommend solar PV electric power.

Russ

[Stephen850]

Russ,

Thanks!! I appreciate you doing that analysis. My wife was very happy to hear your conclusion. The homefront is peaceful once agin.

Steve