Starter Solar/wind..GTI System NO Batteries. would like some help $500 startup cost

[cashaber]

hiyas

here we go.... I want to get into getting my home solarized. I cant use DYI kits or home made TXU will not allow them to be connected to the grid. Also on a DYI panel if there is a fire Ins wont pay due to it not being certified.


INFO
not concernered about TXU/ENCORE as in saving money on my bill.
Permits codes etc... must be observered I can get the permit




my requirements
GTI system... no batteries
LOW LOW BUDGET I'm not talking about a $1500 system since I would have bought that to start with were talking get my foot in the door with under $500
solar or wind, I would like to try wind power
to produce 100 - 400 watts my first month
I just need to know what items to get... best way for my money I can get this started.
for not I can not get a sunnyboy inverter or any other in that price range.

I have seen many items on ebay including a 1 panel (100 watt system) with 400w stackable grid tie inverter for about $400 or 200 watt system.
have also seen 2000watt inverter GTI for around $200. if I were to get a 2000 watt inverter could it run off of 1 panel? will the inverter try to push out 2000 watts and shut down?
the cost of the inverters say that I should get the 2000watt but the 1 panel or 2 panel makes me think they can not supply the inverter w/ the proper power needed.

If I go the solar panel way... whats better mono or poly?

[billvon]

LOW LOW BUDGET I'm not talking about a $1500 system since I would have bought that to start with were talking get my foot in the door with under $500
solar or wind, I would like to try wind power

Solar - you might be able to get a single panel with an Enphase inverter installed for $500 if you have a very, very good friend who is an electrician and who has some spare parts sitting around. $500 won't cover parts, labor and permitting fees, so you'll have to get part of it donated to you. Basic breakdown - Enphase M215 inverter $170 Kyocera KD235GX $320 so you're at $490 without any labor, mounting hardware, wiring, disconnects, labeling, permitting fees, inspections or conduit.

Wind - nope. $500 wouldn't even pay for the footing for the tower.

If you really want to get started with solar, get an AGM battery, a small panel, a charge controller and a cheap inverter. You'll be able to run a few CFL lights, maybe a laptop, and you'll learn a lot about solar in the process. Then when you can afford it you'll have a much better idea about what to order.

I just need to know what items to get... best way for my money I can get this started.

Find someone who is a solar installer, wine and dine them. Saving them from choking during dinner wouldn't hurt either.

I have seen many items on ebay including a 1 panel (100 watt system) with 400w stackable grid tie inverter for about $400 or 200 watt system.
have also seen 2000watt inverter GTI for around $200. if I were to get a 2000 watt inverter could it run off of 1 panel?

Short answer - no.

If I go the solar panel way... whats better mono or poly?

Whatever is cheaper per watt. Mono is more efficient by area but at your cost levels you don't care about area.

[Sunking]

not concernered about TXU/ENCORE as in saving money on my bill.
Permits codes etc... must be observered I can get the permit

GTI system
LOW LOW BUDGET I'm not talking about a $1500 system since I would have bought that to start with were talking get my foot in the door with under $500

None of this makes any common sense. You cannot have your cake and eat it too.

First you say it is not about saving money. That can only mean money is no object to you and you want to have less green cash in your pocket to be GREEN. Then you say you only want to spend $500 or less to get your foot in the door?

As Bill said if you can get all the labor, wiring, and support materials donated to you, you might be able to purchase a single panel and micro-inverter. Then you have to ignore the fact the permits and inspection will likely be more than $500. If it needs a PE Stamp from someone like myself I will charge you $500 to stamp the drawings and plans so you can apply for the permit. You are not even close to being realistic and living a fantasy.

But let's just say you could get everything donated to you except the single 200 watt panel and micro-inverter. In Texas that would generate about 800 watt hours average per day year round. You pay by your own admission a whopping $0.08/Kwh so that means your little 200 watt panel will generate approximately .8Kwh x $0.08 = a whooping 6.5 cents worth of electricity per day, $1.98/month, $23.79/year.

Those incentive and rebates you are talking about is a 1-time deal. You only get 1 shot at it, and they are slowly going away. So to take advantage of it you have to do a full system initially right up front. Sounds like you use about 30 Kwh/day. That means you would need a 9000 watt Grid Tied System, and will cost you about $40,000 right up front in cash. Then you go apply for your Federal Tax credit and any local rebates. No electrician is going to even bother bidding a single panel/inverter job. Electricians charge anywhere from $50 to $100/hour, and to install 1 panel is an all day job. $500 will not even pay for the labor.

So get real.

[russ]

What people have to realize -

1) Sticking it to the power company? The power company could care less whether you are connected to their grid or not and PV power will in most cases be considerably more expensive than from the utility. Forget the escalation calculations and assumptions - no one really has any idea of the cost of power in 2025

2) Residential wind
- In most cases it is a bad joke - if you don't have to hold your hat on when you go out doors there isn't adequate wind
- Turbines fixed to the roof are totally useless despite all the garbage you see on green sites. At roof level even good wind is far less powerful - turbines have to be on a tall tower to produce.
- Turbines built into the roof ridge of a home are juvenile and stupid.
- The VAWT Darieus type turbines have never worked well anywhere and until someone comes up with a new approach they never will.
- Turbines are rated at 25 to 30 mph wind speeds. A turbine that is rated at 1000 watts will put out damn little at a far more typical 5 to 10 mph wind speed
- The turbines that will produce power are not light - they are heavy pieces of equipment on a tall tower