Try our new info resource - "Aladdin's Cave" (Main menu)Just added a separate link to Ash's Dropbox thread (shortcut)
Ken, Sesman.The 40 panels attracted a healthy govt subsidy, we paid $20K for 40 panels. Here in QLD (tho’ not in the UK anymore I believe) there is a useful feed-in tariff, meaning the energy supplier pays us for the surplus energy. It gives us abouts $1000pa back into our hands, ie we never have a bill.Add to this we’re saving $800 per quarter in ‘no bills’ - or $3000pa.What all this means is that the panels are ‘cost free’ at the 7 year point, in their 20 year life. We then have 13 years of simple credit…. at todays rates this is getting on for $50k.And in all the above, I have not factored in the free motoring.Sesman. Why on earth would you think the firemen could not isolate the PV array?? By law they have to, and on all houses (here anyways) there’s big stickers on the switch box warning them, with an isolation switch inside. We bought a top quality German Fronius Inverter, which I bloody hope will last a lot longer than you suggest!That said, I suspect we will be updating it at some point, as I’m interested in adding a battery…. which at this point in time, is still not financially viable. But soon…?Typical payback in the UK is around 20years. We don’t have your sun hours. However using net present value and the financials are much bleaker. Good luck with your inverter, the life is very much dependent on the installation average daily ambient temperature, which’s normally around 20deg C. I’m afraid the DC input and AC output switch disconnectors simply isolate the invertor, the PV is still ‘live’ while it’s receiving light.
I was shocked when we had a Sky Dish fitted - the bloke was not allowed to attach it on our chimney so he fitted it to a dorma side wall a heady 13 or so feet high - he drilled safety eyes in our wall to secure the ladder & attach a line!I would climb onto the flat roof then walk up the slope in my trainers to straddle the roof apex when repacing storm damaged ridge tiles - tbh that was 20 years ago when I could get my leg over the apex without my hip locking up.
Back to Ted’s starter topic, the landlord from our local pub, recently had a ride on a demonstrator Live Wire Harley EV. He described it as bloody incredible, with the linear torque just wanting to pull his arms out of their sockets, accompanied by an uncanny lack of noise.I’ll admit an EV bike intrigues me, and honestly I’d like one when the range becomes a useful 150 miles. I did consider the Harley briefly, but am put off in that it only offers Type 1 or Type 3 charging. The first is extremely slow (via your 13A home socket) and the Type 3 a ‘commercial’ fast charge which homes are unlikely to have. I’ve Type 2 charging in our house (3 phase wired)…. the HD wouldn’t accept this…. meaning a 12-16 hr wait between rides 🙁.