5 Solar Myths

www.altestore.com
There’s a lot of wrong information out there on the Internet. We thought we’d take a moment to correct some of the incorrect myths floating out there on solar.

[@sirroxalot]

This woman RRRRRREEEEEEEAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLYYYYYY loves her job. She's cool.

[@AltEStore]

I really do.

[@ChrisDIYerOklahoma]

Great video. Thinking outside the box. That is what I did with my backyard fence-line...removed 12 Renogy panels from atop the pergola and mounted them on the fence. Used grout (the high PSI concrete used for garage floors) filled stockade fence posts, Superstrut, spring nuts, and brown paint. (videos on my Channel). Anyway, set them for 54 deg (avg annual solar angle for this latitude), ran 125' PV cable, wired them series-series-parallel, and VIOLA! cranking power. That fence receives great sun all day. Recently, been seeing about 1,000 watts out of the 1,200 watt array. Not too shabby! Zero issues with the long PV feeder cable run...high MPPT volts. Thanks Amy...cool videos.

[@closertothetruth9209]

Exactly our payback time was almost exactly 2 years for a 5kw system here in Au, and we have no bills anymore.

[@ramunasgudauskas7582]

Nice! Enjoy the rest of 20+ yrs mate!

[@HappyfoxBiz]

going to battery backup can help with decreasing the costs further, however you need to understand that with each add-on you have to solar it gets more hands on and sometimes the costs are not worth it.

[@HappyfoxBiz]

told my dad about solar... "oh, I don't need it, the rates are low and it's going to cost too much" 5 years later "I have solar installed on my home and I've saved almost the cost of the entire system in 2 years" *does a silent fist pump*

[@Paul-pi5xr]

Can you use solar panels and or a solar charged battery bank to power things like a domestic oven. Does the voltage have to be stepped up to mains voltage via a transformer which decreases efficiency?

[@MrNigel1340]

Thank you, a very well laid out and informative set of video,s that will answer most of the questions people ask, we will be having a shorter payback time than expected on our system here in England and making approximately £100 per month, regards Doc Cox.

[@monckeywrench4823]

very well said ms amy,,thanks for this..

[@KVUSMC-KU4SMC]

Great Video Alt E Store Very True Great Information

[@AltEStore]

Update to #5. China has just released a system to further reduce the energy used and pollution generated during solar panel production, "which leads to a significant reduction of solar PV panel’s energy recovery period from 1.17 year to 1 year or nearly 15 percent,” www.greentechlead.com/solar/china-releases-clean-production-evaluation-index-system-for-pv-cells-31411

[@inakiibarlucea5624]

Definitely the prhase of the next decade, Think outside the box! .. There are a lot of renewable myths everywhere, and many of the just for lack of knowledge.. Great video!

[@jamest.5001]

I just saw a video about using a grid tie inverter with out a grid. I think what they was doing is using a small full sine inverter with a larger grid tie inverter. is this possible? like if I had a small off grid system 1500watts full sine. then add a 3 or 5 kW grid tie inverter . to an off grid home. will this work?

[@AltEStore]

That is called AC Coupling, where the outputs of two inverters are connected together, so the battery inverter sends out a pure sinewave and the grid tie inverter sees it and thinks it is the grid, and turns on. It is done to add battery backup to an existing grid tie system. The problem with using a small battery inverter is that when the grid tie inverter is on, it is backfeeding its whole output through the smaller inverter. So in your example, a 1500W inverter will have 3 or 5kW of power backfeeding through it. Boom. Most inverters that support AC Coupling recommend no more than 80% of the rating of the inverter for the grid tie inverter, so you'd be limited to a 1200W grid tie inverter. See more about AC Coupling in some of our other videos, kzbin.info/www/bejne/jauao32MZamApc0

[@HR-rt9nh]

what about the hazardous waste disposal issue that is associated with manufacturing a solar panel... that is a HUGE issue that is not factored in the cost or environmental impact.

[@EjitEnergy]

Hi, My question is: when you install the panels, one facing east and the other face west, can the go on the same mppt controller? Knowing fully well that they are not having the same exposure to the sun at a particular point in time, though the panel are of the same wattage.

[@AltEStore]

That's a tricky one. It is much better to have each direction have their own charge controller. If that is not possible, I would wire them as if they are mismatched solar panels. The volts won't be as affected as the amps, so I would wire them in parallel as if they were both the same voltage but different amps. I am doing a series of videos right now showing examples of this, that example will be out in a week or so.

[@AltEStore]

Since you asked about it, I just released this example first. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmS8pXWortJ9mqM Current is more affected by low light than volts, so you will have to deal with different amps more than different volts. (The video with different volts but same amps will be out next week, spoiler alert, different volts prefer to be wired in series.)

[@EjitEnergy]

+altE Good! Let me watch it now

[@palebluedot285]

Awesome video

[@NuttyforNissan]

My 3kw grid tie systems been in 5 years and has made 21 Megawatt Hours, this has already paid for itself, I'm pretty sure it didn't take that much energy to make or deliver the system. The price of power is 25c per unit and its win win for me.

[@AltEStore]

That's terrific!

[@davidjames1684]

Terrific if it is accurate but where is the proof? Also, 25 cents per unit but what is the unit? Here where I live, it is only about 12.3c per KWh and it is illegal to go completely off the grid.

[@johnpuccetti9383]

I am in love with you. Great job.

[@catgolfer1]

I am buying a Harbor Freight 100 watt system for my RV. It is portable. What are your thoughts about amorphous panels. From what I've seen, they work really great in overcast weather. David 💐

[@AltEStore]

Amourphous are very inefficient, which means they are much bigger than a silicon panel. I have also heard that they degrade much quicker, so you may see less power output in the first few years until they settle in. But yes, they are better in low light than silicon.

[@catgolfer1]

Thank you very much. Keep up the great videos. David

[@TheWickerShireProject]

@@catgolfer1 Any update on how your system did? Where are you at now ( in solar ).

[@ramonfco.morales6186]

Amy, thanks for your video, plus nice and pretty know how to express with precision the subject of photovoltaics. All information is true, return on investment, totally reliable and friendly systems environment and our pockets, and so on. It will be very interesting that on, you could expand on the issue of batteries for off-grid systems is exciting what comes with Tesla powerwall. regards

[@baconsledge]

I had been somewhat of a solar skeptic but the information presented here is great and I am seriously considering putting together a system.

[@AltEStore]

Glad to be of help. Give us a call and we'd be happy to help you design a system for yourself.

[@EarlBalentine]

be prepare to keep your house for 15 or 20 years to pay for the solar system. Only then you will save money.

[@philiplane108]

Brilliant!

[@nomadchad8243]

North facing roofs face the sun in the south! *Mind Blown* I wish I lived in the southern hemisphere my roof would be perfect if I lived there.

[@siafulinux]

Average kwh used in America is around 900 kwh per month. At 500 kwh generated per month, most people would be short and would still have to pay the power company for the compensated energy unless they cut back usage. In that case they might as well stay with the power company in the first place and not have two bills. You could increase the number of panels to get the 900 kwh but do you have the space for all those panels? Of course the cost goes up nearly double and your ROI time is increased. So I'm still not convinced it's worth it. Not a panel system anyway.

[@andrewd.harris656]

I'm on limited income, but we had some extra cash and bought solar panels. It will save us around $20 per month. $20 a month that I don't have to pay for power is worth more than $20. That would buy a meal a day. That's a big savings compared to paying for the total amount of kwh's we use.

[@picobyte]

Inverters can in many occasions be repaired,usually the capacitors fail in those.

[@AltEStore]

Great point. Most grid-tie inverters, and many off-grid inverters have boards that are field replaceable. For example, Fronius Certified Installers can stock all of the items that may need replacement, so with one visit, can get your inverter up and running quickly.

[@passedhighschoolphysics6010]

NIce video.

[@skyerenard8939]

Seeing these is really making me interested in getting solar though I am still confused on how much I will need as it seems like what I use is going to need a lot of solar power. Though I really think solar would be great for at least running the power for Air Conditioning in summer at least

[@AltEStore]

The best way to go solar if you already are connected to the grid is to install a grid tie solar system. You don't specify what appliances use the power, it just goes into the house and whatever happens to need electricity at that time uses the electricity. If you need more than you make, you just get it from the grid, same as usual. If you make more than you use, it goes out to the grid and your neighbor uses it. You don't need to make all of your power, just reduce the amount you buy. That's called net metering. It's a great setup.

[@skyerenard8939]

Cool. Is there a grid tie system that uses batteries too so it's also like a UPS?

[@AltEStore]

Absolutely, it's a hybrid grid tie with battery backup. You may be interested in watching this video that discusses the different types of solar systems, kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKC2ZZyffMhpi68

[@mauriceupton1474]

Not so good if you buy and sell a few houses over your life time. Grid tied not so great if your power supply company charges you extra line charges because you have solar system and they only pay you whole sale rates.

[@user-ws1ju2bb8j]

oh,nandeka,kishoiaru.

[@chenelson185]

i like the way you talk & explain ,right now we AMERICAN are in Afghanistan trying to steal lithium,copper some gas and oil , from the people of Afghanistan 'why we need war for lithium if we have salt battery , and heat are house with geothermal instead oil & gas

[@Wallabynge]

I dispute the quoted lifespan of solar panels. They often quote 80% at 25C, but there is signs of more loss than 20% at normal operating temps (60-80C). In Australia, panels are often cooked at 80-87C in 37-43C weather. This causes blistering of the encapsulation, so soldered wires are ripped off the back of cells, and around junctions. If the panel was constructed by inexperienced idiots, you are more likely to get blistering. And there is no way to tell, without putting it in the sun for 14 years. Besides Sunpower, I don't think there are any manufacturers that have a track record long enough to be sure their methods work. Sunpower has now relocated to China, so cross your fingers. Jinko, a tier 1 manufacturer puts rather thin aluminium frames on the panels, which is not passing physical stress tests. I have a 26 year old Solarex panel - the best one of 10 - that still outputs 26W out of 58 (@60C). The other 9 died from random reasons. 3 from corrosion around outputs. I had 10 BP panels which all blistered by 8 years.

[@THOMASTHESAILOR]

500 kw a month ? Maybe in the dessert. My family and I use 20+ kw a day.. That's 600+ kw or more a month. usually a lot more during hot summer and dark winter.. My Electric bill says 26 cents per kw.. Every house is different, Different size, location exposure, etc. You can't use these numbers, you need a salesman to come out with a high pressure sales pitch and hope he leaves before he aggravates you.. I did a little research on my own, the Government has energy/weather charts online for your area. In Connecticut, there's not enough sunshine hours to power my home, nor enough wind for a wind mill. i would need both to provide enough electricity.. Of course any reduction in utility cost would be great, but it's such a hassle, and I rarely believe "Salesmen" . Once that system is installed on your property, You are committed to the payments, whether it delivers the power you were promised or not.. If there's a problem, You will get a construction lien on your house in a heart beat.. Lawyer fees to solve the problem will cost more than the solar system.. *Nobody talks about the traps* ..

[@AltEStore]

PVWatts is an online tool that has been proven quite accurate in predicting the output of a grid tied solar system, as long as you enter the right information. Randomly picking Bristol, CT, and increasing the system from my 5kW example to a 6kW array, if you have a south facing roof at 30 degree tilt (another random guess), you can get an average of 7600kWh a year. Check out the screenshot here, i.imgur.com/BkKPcLy.png That's as little as 400kWh a month in the winter, and almost 800kWh in the summer. Some installers will provide an output guaranty, it is usually based on PV Watts. If a salesman needs high pressure to sell you something, it's not worth buying. Find another installer. If the numbers are there, the system should sell itself. If the numbers don't add up, don't buy it.

[@EarlBalentine]

I was wondering most of us have a high and low monthly electric bill. What happens when you in the summer you are using a lot of power so you want the solar system to be big enough to cover 90% of your power needs. But in the low usage months you generate more power than you need and then sale the extra power back to the electric company for pennies. As far as the installation I guess you could save a lot of money if you install it your self saving on labor cost.

[@AltEStore]

It depends on the net metering agreement with your electric company. Most will give you credit for extra electricity generated, then you can use that credit in low generation months. But if your high loads match your high production, and low production months match your low usage, it may work out even better. I suggest checking with your electric company to see what their credit policy is, can you carry them over to other months? Also, go to PVWatts and enter your location, and it will show you estimated monthly solar output. Match that up with your monthly electric bill. You may be able to figure out the perfect size system that doesn't create any credits, just produces what you need. pvwatts.nrel.gov/index.php

[@Hiker_who_Sews]

My utility company charges a monthly fee even without any usage, so your comparison isn't accurate for people like me. ($65 bill vs. $62 loan payment.) I'd have $65 bill vs. $62 loan + $10 utility fee.

[@AltEStore]

Every utility company has different rules and rates, so it is impossible to give a one size fits all example. Yours is an excellent example of the grid costing more due to their rules. You also have a pretty low electric bill, good for you. You should be proud of that.

[@markjob6354]

Solar, until very recently, was a total elitist - toys for the rich only endeavor. Finally, the price of quality solar panels, pure sine wave inverters, and charge controllers has come down to prices most middle income and low income folks can afford. I also must add, many of the wind power windmills are still very heavily priced out of reach for many middle income folks. Once you get over $5,000.00 + for a decent wattage producing windmill , then it's hardly something which is being aggressively priced for adoption by the masses.

[@AltEStore]

Solar itself is also more accessible to more people than wind turbines. Due to the amount of wind needed to make significant power, wind isn't really meant for the masses. However, in the right location, wind can be a terrific solution.

[@patrickeh696]

#5 is NOT a myth that is going around. The myth is that solar panel production is not environmentally friendly (the materials and procedures needed) which IS true. Myth 3. Solar is obviously not only for the rich. HOWEVER, to replace your grid tie (produce your own base load system) with solar IS generally for the wealthy as it will cost you MORE than the cost of being on the grid.

[@AltEStore]

#5 When solar is used to replace electricity from coal and other fossil fuel power plants, the negative impact from producing solar panels is wiped out in about 2 years. Continuing to buy power from a coal plant, the pollution goes on and on and on. #3 is talking about grid-tie solar, which in many places is affordable to most homeowners, as it can immediately reduce your electric bill, therefore saving money month 1. Going off-grid is an entirely different story, which we discuss in kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmOnnZeumZ6Hf5I

[@patrickeh696]

altE Irrelevant that wasn't the stated myth. Did you read what I wrote vis-s-vis #3? I was talking about GRIDLESS. Reread what I wrote until you understand what I actually said rather than what you are used to knee jerk replying to.

[@AltEStore]

I was agreeing with what you were saying. Staying on the grid can be a great way of saving money. Going off-grid, except for extreme exceptions, will cost you more than staying on the grid. As I said in this and other videos, any time you stop using the grid as your battery bank, and have to provide your own batteries, the cost of the batteries and extra equipment will negate any cost savings.

[@davidjames1684]

I see some comments about producing 11 to 21 MWh total over many years using solar kits of several thousand watts. Well, at $0.15 per KWh, that is $150 per MWh so 11 to 21 of those is $1650 to $3150. That seems to me like they did not even break even yet if it is really a several thousand watt solar setup. Also, they might wrongly be measuring the power produced by the panels but not the actual power used. There is a big difference. Unless you use up the power from the solar, where will it go? If your battery bank is already topped off and you are not selling the power back to the utility company, it has no place to go. People that meter their solar power should meter the power coming out of their battery bank and multiply that by about 0.85 to account for losses in the power inverter. To me, I am mainly interested in how much solar power I can actually put to use running loads I normally need to run, not just running lights and TVs just for fun cuz they are "free" My plan for many years down the road is to have a whole house inverter (rated at 220V 12,000 watts continuous, 36,000 watts peak for 20 seconds). I will have a battery bank of at least 300Ah at 48V, possibly as high as 600Ah at 48V wired in series/parallel. When I test how much running the entire house for 24 hours drains the battery bank, and how much the solar can put back, I can then manually go offgrid for a few days a week to save electric (most likely on the sunny days so that I don't drain the batteries down so much). On the cloudy days, I will likely just stay on the grid. There is a balancing act going on here. Once I dial that in, I will both be saving money and have emergency backup power that can run the entire house for probably 24 to 72 hours (depending on battery bank size and power usage). Even if I run the house for only 2 days a week offgrid, that should help keep the batteries healthy and also give the solar ample time to top them off, while lowering the electric bill by almost 30%. Plus it will be a fun thing to do during retirement, maintaining a battery based solar system.

[@chulhogan1445]

getting ASMR with her!

[@MrMeanderthal]

want to explain how using solar is cleaner than hydro electric?..

[@AltEStore]

What a great question. I'm not sure how to judge which is cleaner. Micro hydro from the grid is certainly tremendously cleaner than coal, oil, or even natural gas generators. I think any available renewable energy is terrific, not really sure there is one clear winner of which is best. We just started carrying a micro hydro turbine, the Idenergie River Turbine. If you live on a river with a flow of between 1 to 3 meters per second, you may be able to harness the 24/7 energy available from the river! www.altestore.com/store/wind-turbines-river-turbines/river-turbines/idenergie-river-turbine-p40461/

[@marcuslex8654]

Myth #6: Solar Power Installation so expensive with an ROI of about 6 years. The battery, which was left out in this discussion, is replaced every 2 years. It is the most expensive of all the components. So until this system becomes truly affordable, Im not buying this.

[@AltEStore]

Your timing is perfect. I'm doing myths # 6 - 10 right now, I'll release it this weekend. The first one talks about the expense of going off grid. (Spoiler alert, good batteries need to be replaced in maybe 7 years. If you are replacing them every 2 years, you are doing something wrong.) Stay connected to the grid with grid tie solar, just buy less from the grid, you won't need batteries, and you'll save money.

[@potc420]

Marcus Lex a proper lead acid battery bank will last 25 years. 😂😂 2 years this guy says. What are you using? Car batteries?! 😂😂😂

[@potc420]

Go big or go home. Maintain your surrette 2 volt batteries and they will last 25+ years

[@johnchase7667]

This guy is obviously a do-it-yourself guy that didn't do something right or didn't research the right equipment. We always try to stay grid connected, but in the event that we do a battery only system we do a battery replacement every 7 years. A lot of batteries will last longer then that but a single battery failure will affect the whole bank of batteries so we replace while they are still going to avoid the customer losing power at a random time. Always control your downtime. But seriously don't use car batteries which sounds like what this guy has done.

[@davidjames1684]

It seems the power company will NOT pay the full price per KWh that its customers pay. Even if they do in some places, it is not very high such as 11 cents per KWh.

[@dksta2346]

Incentives are subsidized by taxpayers. If every taxpayer were to take advantage you simply add the incentive to everyone's cost. If you are grid tied you still need a power company.

[@raymondchan2439]

I don't think the solar incentives are subsidized by taxplayers in Australia. We call STC rebate.

[@EarlBalentine]

I can't seeing paying $25k to $35K solar system on my house and making payments for next 15 to 20 years. All you are doing is trading your electric bill for a solar bill. The monthly cost is about the same for both. I have never lived in a house longer than 5-7 years. All I would be doing is paying for a solar system for the new home homers.

[@AltEStore]

Earl Balentine if you move frequently, then you are absolutely right, solar is not for you. But for the people who stay put for 10 years, it can be a terrific savings, depending on where they live.

[@AltEStore]

However, if it costs the same monthly payments to buy a solar system as paying for dirty energy from the grid, I'd get the solar. Plus, a owned solar system can make your house more valuable and easier to sell.

[@EarlBalentine]

I don't think I would want commit in living in the same house and same location for 15 to 20 years. As they always say, buy a house that already has a swimming pool or solar system, let the seller take the hit.

[@thereturningshadow]

This video doesn't change the fact that solar energy panel systems for houses are still expensive and unless they develop a way to PERMANENTLY not need electric power from poles for at least 50 years guaranteed, they the middle class home owners will NOT be buying panels.

[@AltEStore]

+Returning Shadow Tremendous price reductions have occurred, and prices are continuing to go down. Depending on where you live, the cost of solar can be one of the best investments you can make. Here in Massachusetts, solar has about a 5 year payback, then free power for the next 3 or 4 decades. That's why the middle class are in fact buying solar panels.

[@thereturningshadow]

altE But right now to buy the amount of panels required to run a single family home without electric from the pole, a home owner would have to take out a second mortgage to pay for it ALL unless companies don't mind 30 years of payments. Sure it may be a lower price then what it used to be even ten years ago but it's still VERY expensive to buy and install. I am not saying solar ISN'T a great option for reducing costs when it clearly is, the problem is the initial money needed to do it. If so many people were getting solar power by the middle class, as you indicate, then a possible average of 1 in 10 homes would have panels when they clearly don't. If the prices can be reduced to say a used car as opposed to a new car or new home (depending on how many panels you get) then I would easily believe more people would get solar power.

[@AltEStore]

+Returning Shadow You are correct that it is too expensive to take an average house off-grid and not require the grid at all. But most people who install solar stay connected to the grid, and simply reduce the amount of solar that they buy. This is easy to do for the cost of a new car. I have my eye on a new Subaru for $24,000. For that price, I can get about 6000W of grid tie solar installed that would produce about 600kWh a month on average for my location, and after incentives, I'd get about half of that back, plus SRECs every quarter to pay for my clean energy production. I'd probably get about 7 a year, at $300 each (price right now), that's $2100 cash I get each year (although that number may drop as more installs happen). At $0.20 per kWh, that would reduce my monthly electric bill by $120 a month, saving me $1440 a year, plus the $2100 SREC, I'm up $3540 each year. That will easily make my low interest solar loan payments, while keeping me net positive. So I am saving money from the day I install. This is why we make these videos, to explain to people that it is possible, and depending on where you live, affordable. If you live in an area where there are no incentives, and dirty cola power is cheap, then the numbers don't add up there. Yet.

[@davidjames1684]

1 to 2 years payback my ass. Not here in USA. More like 5 to 10 years.

[@AltEStore]

Depends on which state.

[@davidjames1684]

What state? I don't see how for someone who has to buy all of the required equipment, thus incurring a large startup cost, can recover that cost in only 1 to 2 years of using solar. Can you give an example of all the pieces required and how it can be recovered in that short amount of time?

[@AltEStore]

@@davidjames1684 we were talking energy payback, not financial payback. If you are in a state that makes most of its electricity from hydro, it will be a longer time to cover the energy used to make the solar panels than a state that makes it from coal.

[@davidjames1684]

I don't have the energy to listen to this BS

[@davidjames1684]

Who cares about that crap? People likely want to know if solar will save them money on their electric bill.

[@davidjames1684]

To me, the best solar is none right now. The technology is just not there yet. The price of solar panels is way more than $1 per actual watt (not that advertised wattage crap you can never achieve). Also, here is Florida, the price of electricity is cheap. I am seeing about 12.3 cents per KWh on my electric bill. There are ways to get free electric legally without using solar. I will wait about 10 more years to let the technology advance. I am not impressed with solar panels that are only around 20% efficient. Imagine hiring a worker than was only working at 20% of their full potential. People that are spending lots of money now on solar are (in my opinion), stupid. The technology is still in its infancy. In 10 more years, everything will likely be affordable lithium batteries and high efficiency (50% or more) solar panels. Why would anyone want to invest now when the solar technology sux? That is just throwing money away!

[@AltEStore]

The state you live in makes a huge difference in the payback of solar. If you live in a state that has good incentives and expensive electricity, like RI, CA, MA, NJ, etc, the payback is very fast, in the single digit years. If you live in a state with cheap electricity and no incentives other than just the federal 30%, then the financial payback is in the double digit years. However, many of those states have cheap coal power, so the environmental payback may be worth the money to you. You can see how your state falls at this site, solarpowerrocks.com/2018-state-solar-power-rankings/

[@wifighostcruiser9665]

Yes, alternative energies will be great in the future but right now they are pitiful scam. It's ridiculous to think that creating power at the point of use is cost-effective. You can never apply this current solar crap to heavily populated areas of living or businesses etc etc. Solar power and electric cars are ridiculous and it's just a way to keep the economy moving temporarily to make things look good, Elon Musk and the like are laughing all the way to the bank. Someday, maybe soon, they will get fusion power or working or some unknown idea which hasn't been thought of yet and we will probably still need a national grid.

[@davidjames1684]

This link is not working for me. www.solarpowerrocks.com/2018-state-solar-power-rankings/

[@davidjames1684]

I don't think in your financial payback calculations, you compensate for cost of living increases. For example, if someone spends say $10,000 on a solar system (after all incentives and discounts), then recover that $10,000 say 9 years later via solar power, that $10K recovered is not worth the same as the initial $10K spent, due to cost of living increase. Also it doesn't seem you are taking into account growth of that initial money. For example, person S gets solar for $10K but person D does not. Person D instead takes that $10K and invests it and gets 8% rate of return annually. Person S after 9 years thinks he recovered his $10K money, however that $10K is only worth a fraction of his initial investment. Person D however, turned his $10K into $20K and just paid his normal electric bill. Unless you are paying the equivalent of $0.20 (or more) per KWh and have lots of sun hours (no tall buildings, no tall trees... closeby), it seems solar is NOT worth it. Also, what happens when someone makes a large investment in solar, and then has to sell their house and move before they recovered their investment and the new home buyers don't want to fuss with solar? That is a bad situation. The new owners don't want it and it is expensive for the original owners to have it removed and installed at their new house. Also, what happens to the roof where the solar panels used to be for many years when they are removed? Does it leave a pattern in the roof indicating something was previously there? Overall, I am NOT impressed with solar technology in 2018. It seems they need another decade or so to make it more efficient and cost effective. My timing is near perfect as I will be considering solar in about 7 more years in an area that has intense sun and a rather high cost for electric and I already have lots of batteries. For now though, solar is a total waste other than just to tinker around with, but the tinkering is what shows me the technology is not there yet as most solar tests I have done end in disappointment (as expected).

[@davidjames1684]

There are ways to get substantial (hundreds of $ worth of) free electric from the electric company legally and it has worked for me. That will throw a monkey wrench into your already bogus solar calculations (which didn't even mention battery cost and maintenance). I've never seen someone try to pitch a bad idea and hide so much information from the viewers. Many of them have already caught onto your BS. Most people I have seen with solar posts on KZbin use battery based systems, yet you are not even mentioning the cost of battery based systems.

[@AltEStore]

Since you've been commenting on many of our videos, you know we have over 200 videos on different topics. In this video, we are talking about the cost of the most common type of solar deployed, grid tied solar with no battery backup. Therefore, we don't need to include the cost of components we aren't using. We have plenty of videos on battery based solar systems as well, and have never claimed there is a fast payback for them. Quite the contrary, we explain there is likely not a financial payback on battery based systems unless it is versus paying 10s of thousands of dollars to have the grid installed at our location.