February sets record output

February 2010 was the fifth month of operation for my solar PV array. The panels produced 100 kilowatt-hours, the best monthly total so far. Total production since installation has reached 375 kwh. Here’s a monthly breakdown:
Oct. 2009 = 87
Nov. 2009 = 85
Dec. 2009 = 51
Jan. 2010 = 52
Feb. 2010 = 100

Even on cloudy days some power is produced, and a combination of longer days and a higher sun angle result in more potential electricity. Snow accumulation was a significant factor in February; I had to clear the panels about 10 times. When possible, I try to clear snow in the morning. By noon, unobstructed panels usually produce enough heat to melt small amounts of snow that fall during the day. Once the panels stop producing electricity, they stop producing heat. Nighttime snow piles up for the next morning’s clearing.

While not an exact comparison because of electric company billing periods, I used 326 kwh during February 2009. So last month’s production was about 30% of my consumption. As we continue into months with more solar gain, this percentage should only improve.

Snow on panels

My solar array produces no electricity with about two inches of snow, so my solution has been to purchase a roof rake to push the snow off the panels. Even on cloudy days the panels make a few hundred watts of power, so the effort is worthwhile.

I removed about two inches on both Monday and Tuesday with items purchased from RoofRake.com. I checked at local big box home centers, but I couldn’t find a tool that extended longer than 16 feet. I wanted a longer tool that I could use without climbing on the roof or needing a ladder to reach all the panels. I located the RoofRake site on the Internet and phoned for further information. I ordered:

21-foot Dix Roof Rake
5-foot extensions (2)
Snow Pro head
1-foot elbow

The rake needed no tools to assemble and extends the 30 feet required to remove snow while standing on the ground. The Snow Pro head is made of a hard foam material that screws into the elbow; it is the only component that touches the panels. With a combination of pushing snow off the top of the array and dragging snow down to the ground, I have been able to remove a two-inch accumulation in about 20 minutes. Once the snow is removed, the panels seem to give off enough heat to melt any residual flakes. Checking the inverter after each removal session, I confirmed that the panels were again making electricity.

The company is located in Michigan, and I placed my order through the Web site. According to the packaging, the components are manufactured in the U.S. The cost for all items and ground shipping was $131.

Contact information for RoofRake.com
Phone: 734-560-7153
E-mail: rrotole@roofrake.com
Web: http://www.roofrake.com/

Making Electricity!

Installing solar panels on my roof is just part of the process, of course. The next step was to connect them to the inverter and the electric service panel. This was accomplished on Wednesday, September 30, when technicians from Kozma Electric made the necessary connections. The panels were operational that afternoon, making electricity from the late day sunshine poking through the clouds.

The system made even more electricity the next day, when fewer clouds blocked the sun’s rays. For a few minutes the panels were making more electricity than the house was using. I enjoyed seeing the dial on the electric meter turn backwards, indicating I was sending electricity into the grid. The installer’s estimate is my system should make about 60% of my electric consumption each year, so there will be several opportunities to observe the meter turning in my favor.

By Sunday, October 4, the day I participated in Green Energy Ohio’s Solar Tour, the system had made about 10 kilowatt hours of electricity (10 kWH). A meter installed next to the inverter logs the kWH made over the life of the system. The picture below shows the equipment located near the electric service panel in my basement.

Since the panels create direct electric current (DC), a device is required to convert DC to AC, the alternating electric current used in homes. The inverter is the large box in the center of the picture that performs this task. The digital display panel indicates the number of watts being generated at any given time. In addition to the meter tracking total kW hours, the electricians installed a data logger to track electricity production on my laptop and on an Internet site. This last component is scheduled to be operational later this week.

More than 30 individuals visited my stop on the Ohio Solar Tour on Sunday, getting a chance to see the system and ask questions. Thanks go out to John Flower, a representative from Dovetail Solar and Wind, who spent the day answering questions about solar power and my installation. Special appreciation goes to Cindy Woodward, who has helped in every step of the process.

Welcome to Greener Warren!

The PV solar panels are installed on my roof, and the electrical hookup should be completed next week. I plan to use this blog to explain the steps I've taken to get to this point and describe the results of my energy conservation efforts. Watch for more details.

Picture caption: The crew from Dovetail Solar and Wind install the 3.2 kW photovoltaic array, 16 Sharp Model 198V PV modules, September 2009.