DIY $300 Grid Tie Solar System
Рет қаралды 150,280
5 жыл бұрынHave you been put off by the high initial cost of solar panels? It often takes 10-20 years to make your initial investment back. This to me is too long and makes the investment return a bit risky. If you want to try solar out to test its potential, you could consider to buy a small system that is only enough to supply the typical constant usage and not the peak usage. This creates a system that does not require a battery. This in combination with doing it yourself allows for an extremely low cost of only $300 for the system I built.
DISCLAIMER: Before purchasing any products, know that in order to feed power to the grid, it is required to have a contract in place with your utility company. Since solar products generate live electricity, these things require proper installation for safe usage. Improper usage and even not installing a breaker at the power output of this system could cause fire and/or death in rare cases. Please use these products at your own risk. Just because it is sold on the market does not mean using them guarantees safety.
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Grid Tie Inverter: amzn.to/41mDFAI
*edit 7/7/2019: I tested this inverter and if you unplug the output AC cord from the wall, the inverter will also cut off powering it. Hence it will NOT power the grid if it ever goes down so that utility workers will be safe. Therefore, I have put the link back.
Note that a grid tie connection to your utilities typically requires a contact with your electric company. Check with your utility company before attempting any grid tie system installation yourself.
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Ending Song: Rondo Brothers, Mr. Tea
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
Many asked how this all connects. I made the video here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Z9ukfKWpt7CxqZ8.html
@cristianocostadasilva293 4 жыл бұрын
Sou uma empresa de instalação de placas solar e vendas. Gostaria de entrar no no mercado com a melhor preço
@mjk8019 4 жыл бұрын
BeatTheBush Thanks to you I installed mine as well. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aMqVmsWCy7abc6M.html
@iwaraiwara9442 3 жыл бұрын
I love your video I am interested i learning more pls
@miguelrebolledo6291 3 жыл бұрын
Appreciate Video clip! Excuse me for the intrusion, I would love your initial thoughts. Have you thought about - Schallingora Computer Reconstruction Scheme (probably on Google)? It is an awesome exclusive guide for saving money on your electric bill using this simple technology minus the headache. Ive heard some amazing things about it and my work buddy at very last got excellent results with it.
@a-niqazmi2913 5 жыл бұрын
the best vid i've ever watched on solar panel! i've been surveying these for couple of months now. the huge initial cost seems ridiculous as u said. grid tied no battery, genius idea!
@ShorTyPC909 5 жыл бұрын
The backpack turn just made my day. 😂
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
You’re the only one that caught my favorite part!
@jlina 5 жыл бұрын
I laughed!
@sprinkhole58 5 жыл бұрын
@@BeatTheBush, I bet that back pack was full of stuffed animals. No wonder you were so happy with it on your back.
@richard1113 4 жыл бұрын
He should have put a lens flare on one of his teeth with the "ting" sound though. :)
@chidude 4 жыл бұрын
I liked that stylish move too :-) (1:16)
@ChavezDIY 5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for making this video! I've been wanting to do this. I like that you added that caution about the inverter powering the house even if power to the grid is off.
@jahnkaplank8626 4 жыл бұрын
if the power is off due to a storm, then you should just turn off your main breaker. That way your power doesn't back-feed into the system that's down due to a fault, but you'll still have some daytime power in your house, although with only 2 panels, not enough to run anything besides a few lights, or charge your phone.
@ajarivas72 3 жыл бұрын
@@jahnkaplank8626 And you will need a different inverter, battery and charge controller.
@nulledrust9809 Жыл бұрын
Solar is Terrible honestly. We spent over $20,000 on a full system and I wish I had my $20,000 back. Don't listen to all these liars. Solar is VERY Expensive and NOT Reliable at all.
@Practice_Kindness-1st 5 жыл бұрын
Thank you! I'm more interested in OHM because I live in Texas. Can't wait to read more about it. Thanks btb!
@dhickey5919 4 жыл бұрын
Thank you. You answered all my initial questions about on-grid solar systems!
@harrison298 5 жыл бұрын
This is exactly what I'm trying to do! Thanks so much for making this video.
@WookieSenshi 5 жыл бұрын
Yeah, I have solar system on the van that I live in. 3 100 watt monocrystalline panels. Eventually once my family comes into a bit more money I would like to help my grandma set up solar at her house. DIY is definitely the way to go.
@whatfayesay6607 5 жыл бұрын
Thank You BTB for this video, I have always wondered about this.
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
=D Please read my pinned comment about the legality and safety of this.
@gerry2345 5 жыл бұрын
I like this vid.. I was just thinking about solar panels this week. Perfect timing..
@ajarivas72 3 жыл бұрын
Google reads your mind
@goahnary 3 жыл бұрын
Excellent video! Thank you! This is a great place to start. Sending love from Kentucky!
@SirenaSpades 5 жыл бұрын
I *SUPER* love the idea of this stuff! I've been researching this for the past months and weeks. I do need some batteries. I'm in an area without a huge amount of sun so need a storage (batteries). Please do more videos like this, especially geared for dummies :)
@LoveMyAbeshaWomen 5 жыл бұрын
Sirena Spades watch AltE basic solar. They have a whole series of it starting from the basics :)
@ajarivas72 3 жыл бұрын
Sirena: Fossil fuels are solar batteries.
@nulledrust9809 Жыл бұрын
Solar is Terrible honestly. We spent over $20,000 on a full system and I wish I had my $20,000 back. Don't listen to all these liars. Solar is VERY Expensive and NOT Reliable at all.
@chidude 4 жыл бұрын
To shorten your ROI, claim the 30% federal tax credit for the cost of your system. Also, there were a lot of comments about potential issues with connecting to the grid. One alternative is to add a charge controller and battery, and use the output to power a new electrical outlet for your refrigerator. That outlet would only be connected to your small system, not the existing house wiring. That way your fridge runs for free, even if the utility power goes out.
@alexanderrodriguez6305 4 жыл бұрын
You can also expand on it over time, double up on panels every 1-2 years. Next upgrade power up the hvac system
@denisbbb218 4 жыл бұрын
I have that setup - separate off grid solar to battery bank with transfer switches and Wemo timer. Free power from 9-6 in the Summer. The downside to a battery bank system is that they go bad every 2-3 years due to over-draw. A low voltage battery auto-disconnect was installed to mitigate this issue but I still need a fresh batch of batteries every 5 years or so. I'm wondering if those Tesla or Enphase battery banks will last longer since they are made of Lithium cells, but at the same time, don't want to burn down the house with Lithium batteries.
@davidhamilton8984 3 жыл бұрын
@@denisbbb218 check out lifepo4 prismatic cells, long stable life and way safer than lion or lipoly cells.
@jasongrinnell1986 3 жыл бұрын
There is no problem connecting to to the grid when using the style of grid converter that he mentions. Don’t seem real smart to buy expensive batteries when you can let the power grid be your battery. Unless you are wanting an off grid system.
@davidhamilton8984 3 жыл бұрын
@@jasongrinnell1986 I don't wanna be the guy with solar panels but no batteries when the grid goes down and i cant charge my phone or watch tv.
@thisISaPENn 3 жыл бұрын
This video inspired me to make my own setup at home. Its been a year so far and i love it! I own many lizards and they need lighting during the day so its been great!
@BeatTheBush 3 жыл бұрын
That is awesome! Be sure to follow safety precautions and add a circuit breaker between the output of the grid-tie and the grid. Also, this is not solar installation advice for disclaimer.
@BrianLindahl 4 жыл бұрын
Thanks much for doing all this work and sharing the great information. Trying to do the same thing on my end for fun and with the kids.
@jayc9003 4 жыл бұрын
Very well explained. It answered my question about grid tie setup. Thank you!
@argstudio 4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for posting this. We have wanted to get into solar for a long time, and your setup really opened our eyes! We already bought the linked inverter (what a cool discovery!) and are ready to invest in panels -- 400 watts seems like a good bet. I like your style; you’re doing a good job with your channel. :D
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
Make sure to install a circuit breaker box for this because the danger is the panels providing electricity to something in the same circuit without the protection of 'breaking' the circuit if there is a short. This is also not approved so attempt at your own risk!
@artisticagi 5 жыл бұрын
I learned so much from your video, thank you! I hope they don’t take it down
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
Yeah... it might have some people not feeling 100% about this.
@chachingfm 5 жыл бұрын
This is a pretty intriguing topic
@ajarivas72 3 жыл бұрын
Right. If you want to save money. Stick to the power company. Invest the money on better insulation and better energy efficient equipment. Or buy a gas ⛽️ generator and feed power to the electric company
@jamesadieze9537 4 жыл бұрын
thanks for demonstrating that one does not really have to have batteries to get electricity from solar panels.
@Call-me-James 5 жыл бұрын
I did a similar DIY setup, and my experience was the same - it is MUCH cheaper than what you would get from a commercial solar company. I used an inverter from China, and even though it isn't officially UL approved, it still functions according to the UL 1741 specification. I really believe that people are profiteering from solar, and making it much more expensive than it should be. I don't think people should be setting up solar systems without knowing what they are doing, but setting up solar should be something that any electrician could do without having to charge a lot of money.
@ajarivas72 3 жыл бұрын
I completely agree with you
@robindas1207 5 жыл бұрын
Great analysis dude keep it up
@apex007 5 жыл бұрын
I'M GOING TO TRY THIS!!!
@michaelcloresandersm.d.7050 5 жыл бұрын
Great video, thanks for the novel approach.
@MLFranklin 4 жыл бұрын
Interesting video and very useful information. Well documented. Thanks for doing that. But it's also kind of freaking me out because I used to have a living room with that exact floor plan back when I lived in Pinole.
@Almamater8888 4 жыл бұрын
Love it!! Be very careful getting on your roof.
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
They have these safety harnesses you mount but for a DIY thing, that might not be easy to do.
@Naturenerd1000 5 жыл бұрын
Nice knew you would eventually try solar pannels. Great video.
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
Fun little project.
@TheCodesterr 4 жыл бұрын
Best solar panel video. I’d want to build stands that go on the ground to mount them in the direction of the sun instead of on my roof.
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@Eric-xj4qj 5 жыл бұрын
I’m going to do this!
@ShichaoChenhongyu 2 жыл бұрын
woo, this is my looking for idea. Thx!
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
I have to add, in order to do this, you need to sign a contract with your power company to tie into their grid. Therefore, this video is just for entertainment, do not try this at home! Do not try this. The danger here is the power company intentionally powering down your part of the grid to work on while your solar panels did not turn off. *edit 7/7/2019: I tested this inverter and if you unplug the output AC cord from the wall, the inverter will also cut off powering it. Hence it will NOT power the grid if it ever goes down so that utility workers will be safe. Therefore, I have put the link back.
@tywarkentin 5 жыл бұрын
BeatTheBush I’m a solar expert in California and am a huge fan of your show. I’d love to help you do another solar video on how people can go solar with or without investment. Will fit the narrative of your show perfectly 👍🏻
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
I think the deal with these free solar is that you pay for the system, but you also get the profits after the panels pay for themselves.
@tywarkentin 5 жыл бұрын
BeatTheBush there’s 3 different ways to do solar. Always you’ll end up paying for the system somehow, otherwise the solar business wouldn’t make money. I don’t like to say “free” because it’s not just like you said. It’s more “no investment” or “no upfront cost”. But just the 3 ways to do solar would be a whole video in itself. We could go over the differences and benefits of each one and why Californians get charged almost double anyone else in the country for their electricity. I could easily provide you with 10-15 minutes of free content for a video if you’re interested. Would love to see it! 👍🏻
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
If I were to get one, I would rather pay for the system and reap the benefits after 7-10 years. That is, I would rather invest and get some returns later on.
@rossmacintosh5652 5 жыл бұрын
Mr. Beat - please see the comments in the posting by "TheRainHarvester" where the safety issue is discussed and I try to steer you towards a solution.
@kevindouglas8768 4 жыл бұрын
Loved your video:)
@ataleofthreecabins1025 4 жыл бұрын
I’m going to give this a try. Since your using a 110 outlet to feed back into your home, is it only powering one side of your panel? So if most of my daily electric usage comes from circuits on the left of my panel and I feed back with the inverter on a circuit on the right would that be a waste?
@ChristieNel 5 жыл бұрын
I've been off grid for a year and run everything off solar and lithium batteries. I am developing a product that proportionally diverts excess solar to heat my water, so all my hot water is free. I'm over the moon with my solar.
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
NICE! ... like... if there is extra, it will use the electricity to heat the water. What if it' is hot already?
@ChristieNel 5 жыл бұрын
@@BeatTheBush It works with a standard hot water cylinder, so the thermostat just turns off. Unfortunately nothing else to do with the extra solar after that.
@michaelgrodecki4159 5 жыл бұрын
@@ChristieNel use excess power to mine crypto. Even just one gpu and can add up as needed. Even use storj storage uses mininal power
@jamesthacoolcat9926 5 жыл бұрын
I would totally try this on the roof, if i had a house. Or replacing roof shingles with mini solar panel shingles.
@toysareforboys1 5 жыл бұрын
mini solar panel shingles are less efficient and more expensive. better to just stick up some ugly panels instead ;)
@jamesthacoolcat9926 5 жыл бұрын
toysareforboys good point. Maybe the price will go down by the time im looking to buy a house; years away, if not decades
@mjmbishop 5 жыл бұрын
You should look into grid tie inverter with limiter. That way you can use more power when needed. It won't send power back to the grid, some electric companies charge for that. The limiter sensor reads how much power your using and supplies that power minus 5 watts so you never feed the grid
@loungelizard836 5 жыл бұрын
Can you provide a link? Thanks!
@korishan 5 жыл бұрын
Or go with a full on hybrid-inverter. That way installation of batteries later on is possible and easy to connect.
@CroatianNinja 5 жыл бұрын
Yes please provide a link that would be awesome are they difficult to install
@robertpryor7225 5 жыл бұрын
Great project
@greggeryssolarpower8520 4 жыл бұрын
Great advice! It did recently and saved money on energy bill! I just uploaded some videos where I'm using drywall lifts for the panels. I'll definitely be watching your videos.
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
Drywall lifts to secure it you mean?
@nulledrust9809 Жыл бұрын
Solar is Terrible honestly. We spent over $20,000 on a full system and I wish I had my $20,000 back. Don't listen to all these liars. Solar is VERY Expensive and NOT Reliable at all.
@epicbomb2 3 жыл бұрын
Summer time in Texas this would really help out a lot
@jamesmoore6003 4 жыл бұрын
Great information and very simple to do. Thanks for the video. I'm looking to do something like you have done.
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
Just remember, when you mess with your electricity like this, there are liabilities involved in case anything happens. This means you may need a circuit breaker right after the inverter to isolate it from everything else.
@nulledrust9809 Жыл бұрын
Solar is Terrible honestly. We spent over $20,000 on a full system and I wish I had my $20,000 back. Don't listen to all these liars. Solar is VERY Expensive and NOT Reliable at all.
@pigtailsboy 4 жыл бұрын
You could always consider becoming a local utility and sell via contract to your neighborhood at a cheaper rate than they receive.
@ThomasBomb45 3 жыл бұрын
Becoming a utility has much higher responsibility than generating power for your own personal use. Not a small task
@ajarivas72 3 жыл бұрын
@@ThomasBomb45 Hi Lily. I agree. Additionally he won’t be able to sell the power at a lower price. You can only make money selling the power 5 times the price during power outages.
@WoodUCreate 5 жыл бұрын
I learned a lot and have always been interested in solar. I never knew how the inverter tied into the grid, by simply plugging it in makes the whole experiment much easier to give it a try.
@helixlee9778 4 жыл бұрын
im interested in doing this, sounds like a fun project!
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
Its like a little hobby. It's fun to monitor the power.
@1jasonover 5 жыл бұрын
I LOVE LOVE my Ridge!!
@alexbright7735 5 жыл бұрын
I want one looks good
@najirban 5 жыл бұрын
I'd do this but no capital and more importantly no house! I'd charge my hypothetical electric commuter vehicle as well. Thanks
@Whatsthis1do 5 жыл бұрын
BTB OMG! I have been trying to do off grid forever but the cost is crazy (getting cheaper by the day). I never thought to just plug it into my wall *head smack* I will now have more than just my shed using solar. Thank buddy from your friend in who pays through the nose for electricity.
@tywarkentin 5 жыл бұрын
Whatsthis1do I could probably help you get an off grid system if you’re interested 👍🏻
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
Technically, you have to have a contract with your power company to do this. So I guess I cannot recommend doing exactly what I am doing.
@Whatsthis1do 5 жыл бұрын
@@BeatTheBush DAAAA. I thought you needed a net meter account. I was thinking/hoping the electricity may take the path of least resistance which would be in the walls rather than from the power lines. I will look into this further
@Whatsthis1do 5 жыл бұрын
@@tywarkentin Thanks for the offer. I believe you are in the US, I'm in Canada which complicates costs a little bit. I may or may not be selling this house in less than 5 years. My next property will be my coffin house so that will be the off grid project. Appreciated!
@JamesTomlinson2 3 жыл бұрын
Great stuff brother thank you I plan on doing something close to the same just looking to save a little.
@MrTespro 4 жыл бұрын
You've described exactly what's been in my mind as an experiment. I had already concluded that battery storage - even if buying used batteries - would run the cost WAY up! At 1000 KWH per month, my rate goes up. Here in the SE USA, we pay some of the highest rates in the country and I've been thinking about how to try to keep the peak usage down and this may do it. Here in Florida, I'm sure I can't match your already-low usage since I HAVE to use air conditioning. Great video!!
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
Only works when the sun is out though. But then it only gets hotter when the sun is out. Idea is to only have just enough panels to provide what you use. =D
@ajarivas72 3 жыл бұрын
Financially speaking is better just to invest in better insulation and a better energy efficient AC. And proper maintenance to the AC unit.
@gsk9s 4 жыл бұрын
Awesome Video!!
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
=D
@dauntiekay2768 5 жыл бұрын
I'm very interested and curious about solar but my knowledge is limited as to how to set up a system like this--I would love to see how you go about setting up this system--as always your videos are so interesting!!!
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
Seems like I cannot make further video on this because most laws does not allow the tie in without power company approvals.
@johnwyman6331 5 жыл бұрын
@@BeatTheBush Guerilla solar for the win!
@dauntiekay2768 5 жыл бұрын
I see you updated your title to this video--lol. We love your little "fun" projects!
@geoffreycintron4471 5 жыл бұрын
Be careful about what your power company knows about your system. Most do not allow you to send power back to the grid without a contract. Also; if you install the panels permanently on your roof you will be getting a surprise visit from your local building inspector. If they find you used substandard wiring like speaker wire you will get a hefty fine and have to pull it all down.
@jamess1787 5 жыл бұрын
I don't pitty the poor lineman who has to work on the distribution lines next time it's sunny... in his area. 120v + transformer == cooked lineman (potentially) :(
@geoffreycintron4471 5 жыл бұрын
@@jamess1787 These small grid tie units can't operate without the sine wave from the line power so if the line goes down they stop putting power back in. I hear ya though, pushing power back into a wall receptacle with a sketchy electrical device that was never UL rated is throwing dice IMHO. There's no way that this unit is made to any US electrical code.
@jamess1787 5 жыл бұрын
@@geoffreycintron4471 that's what I thought, but thinking about it more: how does it tell if the sine wave it's 'receiving' is not the rectified sine wave that it's producing? I'm thinking this protection is only from cold-start but can't be trusted in the event of an actual outage? There's reasons the prosumers have a separate panel for isolation :). Less sketchy and less risky :D
@geoffreycintron4471 5 жыл бұрын
@@jamess1787 I have experimented with these and they do shut off when the line voltage is removed. However they are still attached to the solar panels so where all that solar power current is going is not certain. I could see one of these going up in smoke with a loss of line current.
@deadbolt91765 5 жыл бұрын
This is why residential power systems have warnings near the electrical panel and utility disconnects that linemen can operate while doing work nearby. Warning the power company that you have a system gives linemen the knowledge that there is a PV system on the circuit they they’re working on.
@Changwei888 4 жыл бұрын
very interesting approach
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
=D
@Daniel-qj3tp 5 жыл бұрын
My RCDs on my board might trip, will have to give this a go, thanks
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
I have to add, in order to do this, you need to sign a contract with your power company to tie into their grid. Therefore, this video is just for entertainment, do not try this at home! Do not try this. The danger here is the power company intentionally powering down your part of the grid to work on while your solar panels did not turn off.
@Daniel-qj3tp 5 жыл бұрын
BeatTheBush yea cover your ass, I’m a registered electrician so I be alright thanks
@williamcox1176 5 жыл бұрын
Great video, and a very clever take on the whole idea. Something I never thought of. Keep it up.
@eco_guardian 4 жыл бұрын
Very cool, I didn't know you could hook up like that.
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
The inverter is made to do it. You cannot just plug any inverter. It must be a grid-tie inverter.
@misteraranda 4 жыл бұрын
good advice
@shanemike3070 5 жыл бұрын
I have large solar panels hooked to a grid- tie inverter (1000) watt and just pluged it into a outlet and it really makes a big change on your electric bill, easy to set up and safe, I did not tell the power company but I should so I get money back from them. My meter runs backwards most of the winter, but my AC unit is always running in summer. My summer bills are one third of what my mom pays. One thing about grid-tie inverters when the power goes out they dont work so people working on the power lines dont get electrocuted.
@CroatianNinja 5 жыл бұрын
So I just bought two thousand Watts worth of solar panels and I'm going to split it up using a cup low grid-tied inverters my only concern is PG&E knocking on my door asking me where I'm getting all this power phone and is it hooked up properly do you think they would do that? As we speak I only have two panels that are hooked up and it does run into the negative when I have very little load this weekend going to hook up to 2000 Watts can't wait
@shanemike3070 5 жыл бұрын
@@CroatianNinja Depends on where you live, here in New Mexico is OK, but my Sisters in Arizona say they are not allowed or the power company could cut your power. Some Power companies are greedy ass holes. I also have close to 2000 watts with grid tie inverters, our power company does nothing, our state State promotes going green so the power company just increases rates.
@larryteslaspacexboringlawr739 5 жыл бұрын
please do more energy videos (solar or wind or geothermal or home insulation or cooling or heating or off grid)
@glendakillough6726 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you.
@johnb56112 5 жыл бұрын
Im glad you posted this, im getting ready to do my home. I would suggest getting rid of the speaker wire it will burn up fast you would be better off splicing an old extention cord or something of that nature.
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
What do you mean burn up? Like literally catch on fire? Or melt from the sun? I think it will more likely get brittle from UV.
@johnb56112 5 жыл бұрын
@@BeatTheBush more then likely melt the wires
@CriticoolHit 4 жыл бұрын
Good video. Good information.
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
=D
@motolifts 5 жыл бұрын
Few comments: first, power workers ground the lines when the work on them if they are turning off the power. This would create a line to ground short and instantly blowup your inverter if it doesn’t have self protection. So while the sensing for grid tie power is important safety feature, it will just normally destroy your equipment. Second, a little known fact about smart meters is that they count for electricity in both directions as electricity billed. Such as without the proper “solar meter” from the power company, you will be putting power back into the grid, but you will be charged for the power as if you used it, not generated it. This is a default as many people used to steal power by rewiring the meter socket. So first half of the month run the meter forwards, second half, run it backwards. I suggest a system that charges an off grid battery and runs certain high power appliances consistently, such as your fridge, your washing machine and drier (if it is a gas drier only) with about 300-500 watts and two 6v batteries in your latitude, you should be able to run all of that fairly well. I used to be a design engineer for a solar company who designed commercial installations. I have a similar system at my house. 900w of solar (3-300w panels) 4-6v batts in series. I run my washing machine, drier, deep freezer, fridge, whole house fan, and run everything in my garage. It’s not a true off grid system, as I still can’t run my AC off the solar system entirely. But buying the panels used, and finding good deals, I have about 1500$ into the system. Just another line of thought.
@C45PE12 5 жыл бұрын
Nathan Polt spot on Nathan! Not sure if he has a Net Meter installed by his local utility because I wouldn’t approve of that DYI set up if I worked at his power utility (I’m an engineer at another power utility) since the inverter is not IEEE 1547 and UL 1741 and no physical disco switch. So if he’s backfeeding into the grid without a Net Meter, his AMI meter will signal a back flow to the utility and if they see he doesn’t have a Net Meter account, they can flag him and disconnect his service until he get the proper permits or tell him to remove his solar.
@castingcauldron6578 5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this good video Francis! I am back from Cancun!I love harnessing nature and the power of the sun. I had solar lights all around my house to light it up at night. Electric companies have needed competition for a long time I hope to have solar panels in the future. 😎😆🤸
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
Nice! Solar lights? Oh, like ones for the yard I think.
@jamesthacoolcat9926 5 жыл бұрын
Very interesting about solar. I see it greatly reduces you electric bill. Just when i thought beat the bush covered everything, he further reduces his expenses.
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
Lol... you noticed the double dipping? Ohmconnect + Solar. I am getting more back than my electric bill.
@jamesthacoolcat9926 5 жыл бұрын
BeatTheBush Yes i see youre using both and gaining. Youre very efficient in different expense categories, basically wiping out electric.
@jeffescortlx 4 жыл бұрын
A grid tie inverter with limiting might be a good option. It monitors the power your house is using and makes sure it doesn't feed back into the grid.
@thomashardin911 5 жыл бұрын
YOU ROCK! 🤘🤘🤘
@grannygoes7882 5 жыл бұрын
Thanks! Just right after we put in our solar system lol! It won't take 20 years, more like 12 years to break even and you get a pretty big tax credit, about a third of what the system costs so that helps too. I would have loved to do it ourselves but we didn't even think about that. We did it because my husband is getting ready to take early retirement and we wanted to reduce our bills for when we lose his paycheck. Actually I guess how long your ROI will be different for everyone. We felt like we have the money now just sitting in the bank so this was a good use for it.
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
12 years to break even is with the tax credit or without? Yeah... it's around 10-20 years depending on what you get. I think the installers get a huge amount, same with roof installations, or water heater installations.
@jouman450 5 жыл бұрын
I had a closer look at my cheap grid-tie inverter. Protective ground was not connected to the chassis. Inside the insulation creepage distances were too small (not up to standards). It generated a lot of radio frequency distubances on both connection sides. It also consumed about 15 watts at night when on standby. I do not recommend to use it without modifications (proper grounding, additional RFI filters and a timer).
@WorldtravelerEve 5 жыл бұрын
@Beatthebush can you do a diy video or a video or the actual setup cause I'm very interested in doing the same thing at my home. Not clear how you tie it into your home
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
I just plugged it into the wall.
@Practice_Kindness-1st 5 жыл бұрын
@@BeatTheBush - Heck! That's worth making a video for! lol
@brianwilson7217 5 жыл бұрын
Your inverter is not UL listed so if a fire starts insurance will pay nothing. Also grid tied systems have to be designed to shut down when the power is out so you don't shock and kill a lineman. if caught you could be fined.
@toysareforboys1 5 жыл бұрын
All of these types of grid tie inverters shut down automatically when the power goes out.
@TotalServicesShows10 4 жыл бұрын
I am very interested for my home. Keep us posted.
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
Will do. I still haven't mounted them on the roof yet. Maybe I'll just buy a whole installation from a company, lol.
@MIKE-il6mu 5 жыл бұрын
You can also run those grid tie inverters on batteries so you can produce power at night. $10 for a charge controller and $50 for a small deepcycle battery. Or you can use the micro inverters that attach to the panel ad run the ac output from the roof. These are more efficient better bank for the buck
@SUHABOUT 4 жыл бұрын
1:16 That smile on your face was amazing!! lol (=
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
=D =D =D
@vevenaneathna 5 жыл бұрын
cool video :D
@Gary65437 5 жыл бұрын
Excellent project/hobby for an electrical engineer. You could start a business installing the system in your area. Like a guy that makes outdoor TV antennas and installs them for people that want free TV and no hassle of making and installing it themselves..
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
Seems like there's too much liability for power the system when the grid is intentionally off.
@rossmacintosh5652 5 жыл бұрын
@@BeatTheBush -- I'll repeat myself from an earlier posting because I hope you'll see my idea: "Mr. Beat - please see the comments in the posting by "TheRainHarvester" where the safety issue is discussed and I try to steer you towards a solution. "
@Kyle-gq7tk 5 жыл бұрын
Meters typically have two channels one for grid to house and one for house to grid. This is called net metering. If you call your utility they can enable this feature. They’ll also install what is called a solar disconnect which will prevent you from back feeding the grid when utility working are working on lines. This help to keep utility workers safe.
@CroatianNinja 5 жыл бұрын
But then they would have to send somebody out to check out the installation right I'm guessing that would be big bucks to get it completely to code
@Kyle-gq7tk 4 жыл бұрын
@@CroatianNinja Some utilities do the programming over the air and do not check certificates. Other utilities program the meter manually and double check your electricians permit. You could probably call your utility to inquire. At any rate - i thoroughly enjoy your videos. Please keep them coming :)
@vampire64 5 жыл бұрын
I notice what no one talks about is the life of the existing roofing system. If you have a roof made of asphalt shingle it usually last up to 10- 15 years. Which means when it comes time to re-roof your home it will be more expensive because now the roofers will need to remove the solar panels, conduits, and mounting equipment to re-roof. Your solar system will take 20 years to break even but roofing system will fail before that. Also its not including the add extra cost of re-roofing and continuous maintenance of the solar panels. Dirt gets stuck on the solar panels which you will need a long window washer handle or climb the your roof to clean the solar panel. Blasting it with a water hose and soap won't get the panels truly clean.
@johnjacobjinglehimerschmid3555 5 жыл бұрын
Great informative vid!
@TJAzton 5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for making this video. I have been curious about a low cost/DIY solar system. Did you do a video on the actual set up of your system? If not, could you do a video of an overview of your system? Thanks for your time, always look forward to your videos.
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
I thought this was it. I have the components and hooked it up in parallel. There is not much other than the two panels and the inverter plugged into the wall.
@toysareforboys1 5 жыл бұрын
Yeah, the only part he didn't really show is plugging in the power cord. You plug the inverter into your wall outlet like you would any device, a computer for example, but instead of drawing power from the outlet it feeds power back in! Put one inverter on each phase of your house (each side of the breaker panel) and your 240v devices (dryer, stove, water heater, etc.) will draw from the solar as well.
@ajarivas72 3 жыл бұрын
@@toysareforboys1 BeatTheBush showed that on other video.
@surenbono6063 5 жыл бұрын
...i run the same grid tied as you...only 2 deg north of the equator...it is summer all around , right in the middle of both tropic change every 6 months....malaysia
@welders485 4 жыл бұрын
Yea an honest person about solar. Solar is not expensive. It's paying someone in the solar business that's expensive.
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
They take a huge cut but that's how they make a living.
@OnlyMyOpinion 4 жыл бұрын
I'm already in the process of installing a 500 watt solar panel system. I bought 2 used solar panels off CL, one cost me $20 because the glass was shattered. I just cleaned it and covered it with polyurethane which will keep water out. It worked and the panel is producing the correct amount of electricity. Both panels are around 250 watts each. Total investment in panels $120. I had a 500 watt grid tie inverter that I bought years ago off Ebay, not sure what I paid for it though but it was cheap. I can't wait to test the results. Wish me luck!
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
Is it water tight? Might be a real issue when it rains if not. Maybe spray some water on top to test?
@OnlyMyOpinion 4 жыл бұрын
Yes, its absolutely water tight. We live where it rains quite often. Another way I believe I could have fixed it was to use clear epoxy. But it's just fine the way it is for now.
@доброум 4 жыл бұрын
Great video, thanks! Do you think it's possible to plug a grid-tie inverter into a UPS when there is a power outage? This may trick it to think it's plugged into grid. I assume the UPS needs to be plugged into itself as well. And then you can plug devices into it and they will be powered by UPS which is being charged by the solar inverter.
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
This may mean you have to plug the output of the UPS back into the input. I have no idea if the UPS will support this.
@ajarivas72 3 жыл бұрын
@@BeatTheBush Great videos. I just discovered your videos. From now on, I am your # 1 fan on KZfaq. Regarding the power outage, it is more convenient to get a normal 12 volts inverter and hook it to the car 🚘 battery 🔋 and turn on the engine when needed to recharge the car battery 🔋. He should get a deep-cycle battery for his car.
@michaelsmith5463 4 жыл бұрын
I'm gonna checkout the link.
@KungFuChess 5 жыл бұрын
Best return on that DIY project is probably learning the skill to set up and maintain a solar system.
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
Exactly. This is for learning for cheap.
@Psychokitten113 5 жыл бұрын
when i read DIY solar system - my immediate thinking was - planetary system, Jupiter, Saturn Mars Venus etc - not solar energy
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
Oh! Ha ha ha!
@robertpryor7225 5 жыл бұрын
What about Uranus?
@xyzxyz4575 4 жыл бұрын
Your anus?
@ajarivas72 3 жыл бұрын
@@xyzxyz4575 You are sick 🤢
@ajarivas72 3 жыл бұрын
Same here
@millertadeo7123 4 жыл бұрын
tnx for sharing :)
@gedw99 5 жыл бұрын
Got a link to this inverter ? I was just thinking of doing this. Also you should buy a diverter - it prioritises heating the watrr on you boiler and so making the boiler a battery ! Pretty smart and easy since you boiler is on its own fuse
@toysareforboys1 5 жыл бұрын
Link is in the description.
@MrJeffro01 4 жыл бұрын
dude you ROCK! Thank You for doing this video for us.
@WanderingWonderer808 5 жыл бұрын
Can you explain how your system works in more detail
@SkylerF 5 жыл бұрын
Although you are probably not allowed to feed power into the grid when the power goes out, the power company always assumes a line is live, and someone at their home may turn on a generator at any time. They make sure to ground the wire before they work on it. It will however possibly damage your own equipment if they ground the line.
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
True. But you wouldn't want things shorting out and possibly causing some damage or fire.
@SPdesi1 4 жыл бұрын
Excellent explanation, but your narration is for a novice who is hardly scratching the surface of the grid-tied residential solar system however at least it is a step in the right direction for a bigger system someday. QuickMount PV videos and its webinars are a great way to understand the installation of a roof mount PV System.
@benjiandmckenzie8269 4 жыл бұрын
Great job. Would it make a difference if you buy a cheap lead acid battery, and set on a timer where it discharges when Ohm hours are max? Makes sense if it's similar to time of use
@BeatTheBush 4 жыл бұрын
You would need an inverter and an automatic switch. When you have this kind of system, it gets much more expensive than this.
@mungewell 5 жыл бұрын
As others have pointed out, there are large legal implications of this type of "guerilla" installation. If you want to save some money with minimal outlay, looking into water heating. Either a SDHW system (using fluid panels), or simply a PV panel directly powering an electric element in hot water tank. Of course your best 'bang for buck' is to unplug all that 'vampire' equipment....
@robertpryor7225 5 жыл бұрын
Unplug refrigerator?
@ajarivas72 3 жыл бұрын
@@robertpryor7225 Unplug the whole house and you will save a lot of money
@pb7379-j2k 2 жыл бұрын
@@khwolter9038 you are 100% correct. I installed a solar tube system just for fun but the payback is basically “never”. The best answer for hot water is a “hybrid” heat pump water heater
@naps3386 5 жыл бұрын
Good timing. The earthquakes occurring in California are all around geothermal electric power generators. If they were damaged or will be in the future, power supply will be lower and OHM will be more frequent.
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
Interesting. I think they had a map of where all the power plants are in ohmconnect.
@ViktorSwimwell 3 жыл бұрын
Great video i learned a lot. So all you did was plug it into a home socket and that supplies all of your home sockets?? 😃
@ajarivas72 3 жыл бұрын
As simple as that.
@czarrevs3616 3 жыл бұрын
Great video. When are you going to install the system on the roof? Are you going to increase the number of panels?
@chrissh0485 5 жыл бұрын
Omg I was just talking about this in another video where you were showing your house. Lol what a coincidence. By the way I’m catching up on your videos! Been busy with school and work so if you notice an influx of comments from me just know I’m not stalking just catching up lol 🙃
@BeatTheBush 5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for catching up! Although I don't expect it, it is appreciated.
@WesTpaintninjagc 5 жыл бұрын
Hi mate. Just letting you know I had a good mate about 3 weeks ago wired his own solar, and had a reasonably good idea what he was doing worked fine for years. Then about 3 weeks ago he went to maccas for breakfast came home to a smouldering wreck. Lost everything. I wouldn’t risk it unless off grid, even then his was off grid as well.
@Handlebarrz 5 жыл бұрын
What was the fault. A million things can go into play and can go wrong if you don't know what you're doing
@WesTpaintninjagc 5 жыл бұрын
tripple-d 2146972 if you don’t have an electrical trade fair bet you don’t know what your doing. He says he isolated it before he left who knows.
@johnwyman6331 5 жыл бұрын
Was he telling the newspapers or social media about it? Sharing the facts that he doesn't need to pay one of those huge multibillion-dollar monopolies? If so, then I wouldn't doubt if one of those monopolies made sure the place burnt down. I've heard of it happening before through a good friend of mine that it happened to.
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