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--></style></head><body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">I finally <span style="color:#1f497d">connected</span> the extra solar panels on my <span style="color:#1f497d"> junk hauling </span>Van not only for <span style="color:#1f497d">the </span>very rare <span style="color:#1f497d">(1%) </span>use in providing power at <span style="color:#1f497d">Ham Field</span> events, but more importantly for capturing the extra 500W <span style="color:#1f497d">(99% of the time) </span>into my house.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://aprs.org/Energy/solar/boat/VanPanels509xX.jpg">http://aprs.org/Energy/solar/boat/VanPanels509xX.jpg</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Once you have <span style="color:#1f497d">a</span> <span style="color:#1f497d">Solar </span>NET-METER account, then every solar panel you have <span style="color:#1f497d">lying around </span>can contribute to your <span style="color:#1f497d">daily energy needs</span>. This includes panels on my van (shown), o<span style="color:#1f497d">r</span> on an RV if you have one.<span style="color:#1f497d"> In the photo above, you can see my 6’ cube Ham radio Comm shelter (trailer) overgrown with vines, but it is operational and ready to go. The other panel you see is going on its roof. See shelter photo on: <a href="http://aprs.org/FD-Prius-Power.html">http://aprs.org/FD-Prius-Power.html</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">This way, you can justify buying large panels for these other vehicles because now they are contributing 100% 0f the time, not just the 1% of the time you might be using the actual vehicle.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d">Large 250W panels are now under $200 from <a href="http://sunelec.com">sunelec.com</a> (sales)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d">Connect them to a</span> 500W or so Chinese grid-tie inverter<span style="color:#1f497d"> (</span>under $1<span style="color:#1f497d">5</span>0 on Ebay<span style="color:#1f497d">)</span>. But again, this only works if you have a net meter account OR if you generate less power than the absolute minimum that your house draws <span style="color:#1f497d">at ANY TIME </span>during the day. If you<span style="color:#1f497d">r meter goes backwards (without a net meter) it will still count UPWARDS </span>and you <span style="color:#1f497d">will </span>pay<span style="color:#1f497d"> the utility for the excess you gave them.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">The economics of solar comes from net metering<span style="color:#1f497d"> and 24/7/365 production</span>. If you have to store your energy in a battery, the battery costs will be 2/3rds of your investment.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Just using solar panels to trickle charge backup batteries has no economic value. The solar panels <span style="color:#1f497d">are producing nothing</span> when the batteries are full. And you are wasting your solar investment. But hooked to grid tie, you get full retail value for every watt you produce.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Thus<span style="color:#1f497d">,</span> my recommendation (if you haven’t gone solar already) is to <span style="color:#1f497d">contract for</span> the SMALLEST Solar system <span style="color:#1f497d">you can get estimates for</span>. <span style="color:#1f497d">When they are done, you are official, permitted, inspected and certified and have a net meter. From</span> then <span style="color:#1f497d">on, </span>ANY <span style="color:#1f497d">extra solar </span>you feed to your<span style="color:#1f497d"> </span>grid-tie gets retail value to you<span style="color:#1f497d"> 24/7/365.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d">Solar is here to stay and amortized, costs less than half the utility. See</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"><a href="http://aprs.org/solar-now.html">http://aprs.org/solar-now.html</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Bob, WB4APR</p></div></body></html>