Considering a grid tied solar set up at our place... Need help

[samuttodd]

I used to have a very basic off grid solar arrangement 12v for back in the USA. 

 

I am curious about establishing a grid tied set up for our residence here in the BKK  area, but haven't a clue who I should contact.  

 

Any info on a place where I can get the info to do the math to see if it will be cost effective for us over here.

 

 

If you folks could point me in the right direction I'd be much obliged.

 

[CharlieH]

M9VED to more appropriate forum

[KhunLA]

How many PEA unuts / kWh a month are you using on average now ?

 

Assume you own the home and or plan on living there for the next 5-10 years.

[samuttodd]

Not sure the KWH... we are spending @ 3000baht a month.  We'll be here for the next 20 years.

 

[Crossy]

35 minutes ago, samuttodd said:

Not sure the KWH... we are spending @ 3000baht a month.  We'll be here for the next 20 years.

 

OK, that's going to be (very roughly) 660 kWh per month or 22kWh per day.

 

Do you have a conventional spinning disc meter or an electronic meter?

 

Are you going DIY or contractor, DIY would mean you can never legally export to the grid (but "everybody" does).

 

 

[samuttodd]

Looks like we've got a spinner style meter.   I think we'd hire somebody to set it up for us.    There is no way I am going to climb up on my roof.

[Crossy]

Roughly how much of your bill do you want to offset?

 

It would be handy to know your daytime and nightime usage split (read your meter at say 6AM and 6PM for a few days).

 

Budget!

 

@007 RED put up a system that would probably suit, decent return without breaking the bank.

 

Also, check if there are any solar installers in your area and see what they are offering, then come back here with same for an independant view. Global House were offering all-in prices on grid-tie systems but they seem to have gone from the website ???? 

[Pooreye]

We are into this too, our monthly consumtion is in the 500-700 kwh range.

Say average 20 kwh per 24 hours. 

I checked the daytime usage from 6 am to 6 pm, 12 hours of mainly fridges and fans, no AC use during daytime.

We average about 6 kwh daytime use, so 6x30=180 kwh a month.

Worth it to install solar panels for us? Initial cost, maintenance, replacement of faulty things and so on, hm maybe I give it a try

[sezze]

5 hours ago, Pooreye said:

We are into this too, our monthly consumtion is in the 500-700 kwh range.

Say average 20 kwh per 24 hours. 

I checked the daytime usage from 6 am to 6 pm, 12 hours of mainly fridges and fans, no AC use during daytime.

We average about 6 kwh daytime use, so 6x30=180 kwh a month.

Worth it to install solar panels for us? Initial cost, maintenance, replacement of faulty things and so on, hm maybe I give it a try

It is surely worth it . Only covering your daytime use 6kW per day , you need roughly 1.5 kWp installed . This is give or take 4 panels of 400 watt ( 18000 baht) . A grid tie inverter from Sofar 1500Watt does set you back 9500 baht . Then some bits and pieces and a fuse box , lets say another 5k . So lets say 32000 baht investment for making roughly 180kWh per month , savings 800baht per month , so payback time around 3.5 years . The fusebox is pretty reliable piece of kit , the solar panels are also very reliable , there is not much going on there . Only thing which does break down are the inverters , but expect a Sofar to live at least 5y , before replacement .

Remember , this is a grid tied installation . According to different grid tie inverters , you can cover only your own consumption , while the grid is alive . So your meter will not spin back and this is "semi allowed " . Meaning , it is grid tied but since the meter is not running back , they don't care and basically is no issue . 2nd , if you do not install the anti reverse clamp , then the meter will spin back , as a full grid tied system . This is not allowed , but is used many times . Only , remember that your electricity guy who does check your monthly expenses , does not see the meter running back . This is pretty easy to avoid , if you shut down the panels around the day he comes ( he does come always around the same date , +/-1day . ) . If you do go this road , then you better adjust your install , since a 3 kW inverter is only like 4000 baht more and the fusebox is the same . So it only takes a few more panels and you can make even your complete monthly consumption ( payback time this way can go to around 2.5 y ) .

[Crossy]

5 hours ago, sezze said:

Only , remember that your electricity guy who does check your monthly expenses , does not see the meter running back . This is pretty easy to avoid , if you shut down the panels around the day he comes ( he does come always around the same date , +/-1day . )

 

Our man comes 18/19th of the month, the earliest he's ever been is the 16th (regular for February).

 

The comment from our local PEA Boss Chap when we told him we weren't interested in the Solar Roof initiative "You are NOT allowed to spin the meter backwards!!!" on the way out he quietly said "Don't let the meter-reader see it going backwards"

 

I "developed" a simple little unit to enable no export (or disable the panels if your inverter doesn't do it). Details in the Solar Carport thread. I have improved the firmware somewhat from the version in that thread. Anyone can build one, you don't even need to know how to solder although it does help if you want to include the manual bypass switch ???? 

 

@007 RED has built one.

 

 

[Pooreye]

Thanks guys you have convinced me, lots of good reading????