BUILDING A 10,000 WATT SOLAR FARM - Part 3

[@AlexWaardenburg]

I really like the MC4 connectors coming from the junction box. That's cool.

[@electronicsolutions1126]

Yes they work well. You can buy the mc4's for box mounting. They have a rubber o-ring to seal around the hole.

[@iKingRPG]

@@electronicsolutions1126 I had no idea those existed, thanks!

[@sethandjosiah]

I’m glad to see the update!

[@CorvetteAustin24]

Thanks for sharing, this will be a great guide for anyone else doing their own solar project. Fantastic wire management! Do it right the first time and you won't have to mess with it again. Great video!

[@electronicsolutions1126]

Thank you. Its still working good!

[@electronicsolutions1126]

Thank you for your kind comment!

[@taylormills08]

Awesome vid series. Best video I’ve seen yet. Thank you so much for sharing. I’m getting ready to build a rated 12.64kw system on my south facing hillside out back. Starting with galv 4in channel to be delivered from local steel supplier in a couple days. I’ll share my story when I get it all done as well.

[@electronicsolutions1126]

Be sure to let me know. I would love to see your progress and i could share your videos here!

[@szandras2524]

Congrats for sharing the video and your work!

[@RyanWinkleForMesa]

Thank you!

[@davidjackson5318]

Thanks, great video, I’m about to get my 7.6 kw system and install it here in New Zealand

[@electronicsolutions1126]

Sounds good! You will love it.

[@DigitalAwareness]

Music has been good in this series.

[@JohnMeyer3]

Could you provide a list of components used so that we can compare or buy ourselves?

[@anthonystamper3355]

I think you should be getting the same retail price per kilowatt as the utility company is. Their electricity isn’t more valuable yours and they didn’t make the initial investment to take a free 11 cents of your profit. Maybe charge them a lease fee for 2/3 of the land occupied by the solar footprint and see how they like that. I think you did a kickass job here.

[@longshot305]

I love this project. How large of a farm can build using this basic method? From an electrical perspective, what would be the limit?

[@electronicsolutions1126]

Its up to your utility company on how large they allow. Commercial contracts pay more and you can go much larger.

[@captainobvious9188]

Did you use any stainless hardware with the unistrut rails to mount the panels, or just for the electrical connections? I'm looking to just make sure the electrical connections don't have galvanization problems.

[@chucktrotter9699]

Very nice video well done. Could it be possible to download some kind of parts list and where these parts were obtained? Thank you.

[@electronicsolutions1126]

I will see if I can put some sort of links in the description soon.

[@gregwilcox1696]

question why did you add two grounding rods, nice job

[@douglasrichardson9585]

A NICE LOOKING SUPPORT SYSTEM. HOW FAR APART ARE YOUR POSTS? ARE THOSE 2X8?

[@OutdoorsandCountryLiving]

How’s the system working and what brand of panels did you use? Thanks!

[@smferreiro2610]

It's displayed at the end of the video...

[@lancefaure3945]

Why were 4 wires brought into the bottom of the IOM DC rotary disconnect but only 2 from the top?

[@restoringbonaire]

Where did you source the surplus panels?

[@guytech7310]

I think you mean 50kwh per day, 50kw is 50k joules in one second which isn't much energy. I presume you averaging about 10kw for about 5 hours per day (Solar convolution calc) which would produce about 50kWh per day from a 10kW PV array.

[@electronicsolutions1126]

Yes measured in kwh, just like a meter on a house measures. You are correct, the 2 are really different!

[@citytravelagency3502]

THANKS IAPPRECIATE YOU AXPERT WHERS THIS PLACE

[@ricksantos8178]

Thanks for sharing all this info! How many panels did you hock together on each string?

[@electronicsolutions1126]

We had 9 panels in a string. Its based on the inverters open circuit voltage limit.

[@prophotoservices]

Can you make money if you had a vacant lot with a power pole on it? Is it a money maker if you have access to parts and labor at the right price?

[@electronicsolutions1126]

Yes, you can make money but you need a decent size solar array. Most power companies will pay more per kwh if you have over a certain size. They will want a contract commitment of probably 10 to 15 years. I think around here its 25kwh or less is considered residential and they pay about 4 cents per kwh. A larger commercial system could earn 10 cents per kwh. It will vary a lot between power companies. I watch one video the other day and the guy was getting 14 cents per kwh at his house in a different State. That's very good buyback about!

[@prophotoservices]

Electronic Solutions I am thinking of buying some from a wholesaler and putting them on a cheap metered lot.

[@zazaluchi8287]

Sir, I watched all your parts, but you never mentioned anything about power storage? Do you only sell the excess electricity?

[@electronicsolutions1126]

Yes, the excess is being sold. Its not the best solution for savings but on something this size its still a decent return on investment. Its looking like 3 1/2 to 4 years and the amount of savings on the power bill will match what was spent. Since Georgia Power only pays about 4 cents per kilowatt for the excess and we pay about 14 cents including taxes and other charges, it would save more money to do some sort of storage battery where the power could be used at night. During the day when it is sunny you don't have to worry about usage though. Its hard to use more than 10,000 watts per hour in a normal household so daytime electricity is free, especially nice in the summer when the AC is running keeping the house cool. We may be doing a battery upgrade on this project. We are hopeful some sort of solid-state battery will be mass produced soon! That would be the best solution and probably worth the wait.

[@jamesdylanburge]

I've heard that a used EV battery can be a great way to go for a battery pack they can be useful for another 10 to 20 years. Nice job on the solar farm. I hope to do something like this one day.

[@electronicsolutions1126]

@@jamesdylanburge I have been thinking about looking for a used EV battery. I am not sure of the life expectancy. I am hoping new battery technology comes out soon like Solid State Batteries.

[@jamesdylanburge]

Here is a link to the video where I got my information. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaKtiGeEnNSVirc

[@chadgra]

@@electronicsolutions1126 sounds like the perfect spot for a Tesla Power wall, or if you are deciding to go bigger I suggest going with a Tesla Powerpack, that way you can utilize the battery system to discharge during peak power pricing.

[@peterchristensen320]

Excellent video! I also am in west GA and am looking into solar farming have several acres. Would like to check out your farm and have a ton of questions. If you have Time? Looked for a email in the description but did not see one. Thank you for your time.

[@HonestlySpeaking028]

What type of panels are you using

[@MilkandCookiesAU]

Im worried about building a frame with wood in exposed weather. Is wind and rain an issue? How much did this whole project cost you?

[@electronicsolutions1126]

No problems so far. We have had some bad storms with high winds. Its. Rather heavy. About 1500 lbs per unit. I don't have any wind concerns unless its a tornado heading right towards it. We used the super treated lumber rated for direct ground contact. In the future if one beam is going bad it can easily be changed without taking everything apart. I think the next one we build will be all bolt together unistrut steel anyway. I think it will be easier. This entire setup costs about 90 cents per watt to complete.

[@stevenmyers2252]

Is that a 6*6 used for your posts ?

[@chinggop1]

Did you need an assistance from a licensed solar installer regarding a printed plan of your system, proper wiring it to the grid, all necessary paperworks and other requirements needed to present to your power company for final inspection and approval for net metering?

[@iKingRPG]

Did you get the federal tax rebate? Did your system have to be approved by the utility companies? I liked these videos, very interesting.

[@HomesteadingNorthernMichigan]

So are you using a battery bank?

[@Mr.Roncharles]

Is high wind from a storm a factor?

[@belindawest3558]

Do you install systems for others

[@carlschmiedeke151]

So the total investment was, 10,000 + another what total ?

[@Hercules_tootoo]

Hey. Do you guys work on independent solar power projects? if yes, how can I contact you? Thanks.

[@ismailoluwo9572]

How much did the entire project cost?

[@Airbrushkid]

I have a question. I just a video where the guy is only using 9 solar panels. He is getting 10,000 watts. So why are having to use 36 solar panels to achieve 10,000?

[@electronicsolutions1126]

He is probably making 10,000 watts per day. The one we built can do up to 10,000 per hour.

[@yarpos]

basic units confusion, non trades/tech/emgineering people tend to talk in watts and the systems are sold in units of max watts output (which is rarely if ever seen) Watts is an instantaneous measure of power. Real usable output is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh) or Megawatt hours (MWh) i.e usable energy delivered over time. That guys 9 panel system will really deliver something like 9x250W=2250W then over time (say 4 hurs around lunchtime) he would produce 4hrsx2250w=9kWh Not for all the talk focussing on the optimal wattage rating , solar installtions are only about 40% efficient (mostly less than that depending on location) that is they will only ever produce 40% max of the theoretical kWh output . This is due to night, weather, orientation, shading, dirt, snow, bird crap (the love perching on those high points) and panel degradation over time.

[@btfscbfa]

Each panel is probably 310W. 36 x 310 is 11,160W. That is ideal perfect output max. This is not realistic so there is some loss. 10KW from 36 panels @ 310W is probably realistic on a very sunny day with a ideal adjustment angle.

[@trayvonw5385]

I had some questions on the project. At your earliest convenience would you be able to reach out through email, phone , and or text ?

[@electronicsolutions1126]

Can we message or email privately on youtube?

[@edwardshomestead9074]

@@electronicsolutions1126 Hi. Can you tell me the name and where I can find the dc disconnect switch that you are using

[@HomesteadingNorthernMichigan]

I need the link to those clips.. Please.. Still watching lol

[@electronicsolutions1126]

I found the link. www.ebay.com/itm/193299057295

[@robdrag7762]

Hi do you have a single line diagram of your project

[@alfredolibreros6106]

How much you invested in this project?

[@xsauce3858]

How much did it cost ?

[@110F-z6c]

How much you investment for this project ? share report total items with me ? Thank you

[@bubthegreat1]

Did you write off your labor in taxes?? That's something a lot of people forget to do!

[@electronicsolutions1126]

Of course. :) Plus there is currently a 30% federal tax credit going on till the end of 2019. It starts to reduce next year down to 26% in 2020, then 22% in 2021. In 2022 the tax credit is only 10% for commercial installs. If anyone is thinking solar you should buy as much as you can this year even if you don't have it going yet. You can claim the purchases on your taxes and get 30% back as a credit. Check with your state as well. some states offer a tax credit or other incentive.