For those doing off-grid with batteries, it is also very important to pay attention to the lean months in the winter when deciding roof vs ground. Facing south via the ground mounting is much more important if you aren't net metering during the summer months. Overall yearly power production is less important than maximizing your winter month production.
Good point Peter, off-grid requires special attention to your production vs demand critical timeframe. That will likely be a deciding factor in what you choose to do.
By FAR the best channel for information on Solar!! Thank you so much. In a future video, can you please mention the logistics of paperwork? Permits, Energy company request, inspection and rebates. Did you hire electrician to connect to the grid? What does it take to be eligible for a rebate? Thanks again - keep up with the great content!!!!
Thanks for the feedback! I was already considering making a video on permitting, since you requested it, I'll go ahead and do it. I did not hire an electrician, but I did talk with the utility engineer, and the county inspector to make sure I was meeting all the codes and requirements. The federal tax rebate is available to everyone, you just submit for it in your tax preparation. Often there are utility and local or state rebates as well you would have to research those separately.
The ground base solution allows for perfect angles, with potentially less solar panels needed depending upon your roof angle and direction. Further optimizing to have off grid living you can expand the ground base solution to deal with winter as the key factor. Angled properly for that and expanded a great deal more than any roof would allow unless you’re super lucky with your roof.
Wouldn't mounting on a flat pergola/patio cover be the best of both worlds ? No worries about penetrating a roof, angle/orientation set however you like, safer at just 10 feet off the ground with a flat walking surface for installation and cleaning, creates partial shade under it and if more shade is desired, use reflective mesh and bi-facial panels to capitalize on that reflective flat surface under the panels. With the panels all in landscape orientation, the uprights would only be 18"-20" tall. The only downside is how far apart the rows would need to be to avoid casting shade on the row behind it -- something like 5' gap between rows.
Scalability is a big factor to consider as well. I have a roof mount Tesla system, and not only does it suffer from less than ideal angles, but it is what it is in terms of size. A ground mount system would seem to be much easier to expand!
@@ProjectsWithDave When talking about expanding, I can't decided if using a microinverter setup vs an inverter with optimizers would be easier with out having to change out major portions of equipment. If I'm already at max capacity for the SolarEdge inverter, adding more panels would require upping the inverter capacity...where as with microinverters you don't have that problem...is that a correct assessment?
Asphalt shingle roofs don’t last all that long. I would hate to have to remove and reinstall my entire system to replace the roof. I am going with a ground based system.
I have several videos I need to make ahead of that request, but the quick short answer is they aren't likely to be worth it for the average home owner. If you need more power, it's cheaper to just add more panels.
My quote for ground mount racking $43xx for what I think is your same system- thoughts the one thing I thought I needed to have pe drawings - the rest I think I can draw up in autocad
@@ProjectsWithDave for the 2k I was ok going that route to get the PE drawings but for a little over 4k I think I'll have to go sch 40 and maybe some unistrut or ironridge if I can get a better price w/ shipping-
For the 25% cost increase in metal or shipping do you know why my ground base cost would have been 2x what your cost- I did speak with the manufacturer and no discount was offered even placing a personal call to let them know if they were in the ballpark I might select them-
Watch next Part 3 - How to get a permit for your solar panel system - ruclips.net/video/imiEYDHLG4A/видео.html Find More information for this project and others on my website: projectswithdave.com Other Helpful Solar Videos: Super Cheap Solar Panel Review: ruclips.net/video/qu4iGxBhqzs/видео.html Full Solar System Install: ruclips.net/video/_xA6qOwnYbM/видео.html Check out the first year performance results here: ruclips.net/video/BatTeSq05rU/видео.html See the total system cost here: ruclips.net/video/PNTO83FvaL4/видео.html And How to size your solar system here: ruclips.net/video/rbFnZqA0GCI/видео.html 4 Things to Know About Solar in the Snow: ruclips.net/video/vY3PufzPUnI/видео.html Ground Vs Roof Mount Solar: ruclips.net/video/w-iS_8e7n60/видео.html How to Crimp MC4 Connectors: ruclips.net/video/oH3LqTu4B8E/видео.html 3 Solar Panel Wiring Issues Answered: ruclips.net/video/i7vHEHB3a-M/видео.html Net Metering Explained With Actual Data: ruclips.net/video/IwUK1dNJ3n8/видео.html
Where are the lights? Just add lights to your panels and then you have power 24 hours a day 365 days a year! For wind power just add a fan! For hydro power just pump the water back into the lake!
All of yr videos are excellent!
For those doing off-grid with batteries, it is also very important to pay attention to the lean months in the winter when deciding roof vs ground. Facing south via the ground mounting is much more important if you aren't net metering during the summer months. Overall yearly power production is less important than maximizing your winter month production.
Good point Peter, off-grid requires special attention to your production vs demand critical timeframe. That will likely be a deciding factor in what you choose to do.
Wow you are a great analyst and explainer. Thanks so much for your videos!
By FAR the best channel for information on Solar!! Thank you so much. In a future video, can you please mention the logistics of paperwork? Permits, Energy company request, inspection and rebates. Did you hire electrician to connect to the grid? What does it take to be eligible for a rebate? Thanks again - keep up with the great content!!!!
Thanks for the feedback! I was already considering making a video on permitting, since you requested it, I'll go ahead and do it. I did not hire an electrician, but I did talk with the utility engineer, and the county inspector to make sure I was meeting all the codes and requirements. The federal tax rebate is available to everyone, you just submit for it in your tax preparation. Often there are utility and local or state rebates as well you would have to research those separately.
Video On Permit Process: ruclips.net/video/imiEYDHLG4A/видео.html
Great content in your vids, thanks for sharing and great job on the solar array.
Thanks for watching!
Great show thanks for the info. Quite an investment in time for us watching.
Wow man! Thank you for this presentation all the swesome links!
Best possible summarised 🎉✨👍
The ground base solution allows for perfect angles, with potentially less solar panels needed depending upon your roof angle and direction. Further optimizing to have off grid living you can expand the ground base solution to deal with winter as the key factor. Angled properly for that and expanded a great deal more than any roof would allow unless you’re super lucky with your roof.
If you have the space, ground based is the way to go in my opinion.
Unfair comparisons you should make a video where the house or garage is facing south vs your south array
Thank you for the video. I'm finding them very helpful.
Glad to hear it!
Wouldn't mounting on a flat pergola/patio cover be the best of both worlds ? No worries about penetrating a roof, angle/orientation set however you like, safer at just 10 feet off the ground with a flat walking surface for installation and cleaning, creates partial shade under it and if more shade is desired, use reflective mesh and bi-facial panels to capitalize on that reflective flat surface under the panels. With the panels all in landscape orientation, the uprights would only be 18"-20" tall. The only downside is how far apart the rows would need to be to avoid casting shade on the row behind it -- something like 5' gap between rows.
Scalability is a big factor to consider as well. I have a roof mount Tesla system, and not only does it suffer from less than ideal angles, but it is what it is in terms of size. A ground mount system would seem to be much easier to expand!
Exactly! I set mine up so that I can just extend off the end when I'm ready.
@@ProjectsWithDave When talking about expanding, I can't decided if using a microinverter setup vs an inverter with optimizers would be easier with out having to change out major portions of equipment. If I'm already at max capacity for the SolarEdge inverter, adding more panels would require upping the inverter capacity...where as with microinverters you don't have that problem...is that a correct assessment?
Did you consider using White landscaping stone instead of regular stone to reflect more light onto the backside of the panels?
My original installation did not use bifacial panels so it wouldn't make a significant difference.
Asphalt shingle roofs don’t last all that long. I would hate to have to remove and reinstall my entire system to replace the roof.
I am going with a ground based system.
The more time I spend with solar, the more convinced I am that ground mount is the best way to go!
AJOYS: But the spreadsheet says the panels actually protect the roof to some degree anyway.
Can we get a video about solar trackers? Pros cons and your opinion
I have several videos I need to make ahead of that request, but the quick short answer is they aren't likely to be worth it for the average home owner. If you need more power, it's cheaper to just add more panels.
My quote for ground mount racking $43xx for what I think is your same system- thoughts the one thing I thought I needed to have pe drawings - the rest I think I can draw up in autocad
If you are getting the racking through Ready Rack, they do the PE stamped drawings for you.
@@ProjectsWithDave for the 2k I was ok going that route to get the PE drawings but for a little over 4k I think I'll have to go sch 40 and maybe some unistrut or ironridge if I can get a better price w/ shipping-
For the 25% cost increase in metal or shipping do you know why my ground base cost would have been 2x what your cost- I did speak with the manufacturer and no discount was offered even placing a personal call to let them know if they were in the ballpark I might select them-
Thanks
Watch next Part 3 - How to get a permit for your solar panel system - ruclips.net/video/imiEYDHLG4A/видео.html
Find More information for this project and others on my website: projectswithdave.com
Other Helpful Solar Videos:
Super Cheap Solar Panel Review: ruclips.net/video/qu4iGxBhqzs/видео.html
Full Solar System Install: ruclips.net/video/_xA6qOwnYbM/видео.html
Check out the first year performance results here: ruclips.net/video/BatTeSq05rU/видео.html
See the total system cost here: ruclips.net/video/PNTO83FvaL4/видео.html
And How to size your solar system here: ruclips.net/video/rbFnZqA0GCI/видео.html
4 Things to Know About Solar in the Snow: ruclips.net/video/vY3PufzPUnI/видео.html
Ground Vs Roof Mount Solar: ruclips.net/video/w-iS_8e7n60/видео.html
How to Crimp MC4 Connectors: ruclips.net/video/oH3LqTu4B8E/видео.html
3 Solar Panel Wiring Issues Answered: ruclips.net/video/i7vHEHB3a-M/видео.html
Net Metering Explained With Actual Data: ruclips.net/video/IwUK1dNJ3n8/видео.html
Pro tip: adjust your sound mixing. The intro music is way louder than your speech volume which is a bad experience for viewers.
Already fixed for newer videos, thanks for the feedback.
Where are the lights? Just add lights to your panels and then you have power 24 hours a day 365 days a year! For wind power just add a fan! For hydro power just pump the water back into the lake!