We're considering installing a solar system, since there are so many rebates going on right now. Anyone else have solar, and have any recommendations? What do you use for monitoring your system, to make sure it's working correctly/at peak efficiency/etc?

I am only slightly up on solar. I look at the amortization time and the numbers always come out unfavorably. However, I did go on on a tour sponsored by a local solar dealer here, and picked up a few interesting pointers.

I came away thinking I might be interested in passive solar (basically black pipe on the roof) to reduce the load on the hot water heater. That will pay for itself relatively quickly. The other thing I saw was a surprise to the solar dealer. One of the clients had set up a water sprinkler on his roof where once a week he turned it on to wash the dust off the solar panels. He claimed a 20% increase in output when the panels were clean.

tanstaafl.

Really? What kind of rebate do you get on a gas giant?

This is so often overlooked it is sad.
People have the impression that solar panels are a 'no maintenance' item. While solid state does a lot for this reputation, it's more than just the clouds, tree-shade, and angle of impingement that matters.
Another tid-bit that's is often swept under the table is how panel temperature affects efficiency. Heat = bad

Other than that, I have grand dreams of a multitude of solar panels for my off-grid hide-away. I'd prefer to go overboard on solar than install any sort of wind-power.

Oh- and yah, solar for water heat is THE best thing going for solar strategies. Agreed.

Why do you say that ? It is always so windy where I live I keep saying we should get a windmill. Can imagine it ever happening though.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/should-you-spring-clean-your-solar.html

Relevant article from Google about their solar panels and cleaning them.

Yeah... I have a sneaky suspicion that we get enough rain here in Portland that there's no need to worry about cleaning.

Don't make me smack you with a dead trout. :p

Right now, we can get a 3kW system installed for about $12K US (it's more expensive than that, but the installer gets a rebate that drops the cost for the consumer). Since my wife is working from home as a consultant, we may get to write off just under 9% of that from taxes (woo-hoo self-employment). By the time the state ($6000 across 4 years) and federal (30% on out-of-pocket costs) rebates are paid back, it will have cost us about $2100 (plus the lost opportunity for investing that money elsewhere). With our current energy use, we should have recovered that cost in (theoretically) 4 years. Potentially less, if electricity prices go up. Potentially longer if if stays cloudy more than usual in that time. Across the (warrantied) life-expectancy of the panels, we'll save about $35K -- not a lot, when spread across 30 years, but it's about 12% ROI, which is better than a lot of other returns that I can think of. Not to mention, it's a better way to use green energy than ticking the box on the utility bill saying "Charge me more for pretending to send me green energy."

Mechanical things need service. You either have to be able to drop the mast or shimmy up. I'd just rather avoid everything about it.
We get enough sun at my ranch. It's windy, too, and that's a viable option. It's just my personal preference.

If you live on a ranch or on a property with a stream or running water micro-hydro would be a good power source to consider. As long as it doesn't dry up it gives you electricity 24/7 which no other alternate power source can guarantee.

They do make floating/soaring wind turbines that are attached to a tether that holds it in place and transmits the power. This means that maintenance can be performed by drawing the tether down (I assume). It also allows the turbine to be at a much higher altitude than a mill can reasonably be at, which provides for more consistent winds.

I've always like the solution of the Wind Belt, but unfortunately the idea doesn't seem to be commercialised on a larger scale. I do think it's got potential though. Imagine a large fence around your property, with on each stake one of these things attached, all working in series. That should be able to produce some nice results, and it's a lot more efficient than a wind mill.

These are interesting ideas, but for me solar still remains the key.
Hydro is out- no water. Also, mechanical maintenance is required.
(I'm ok with maintenance, mind you, it's just if I can limit it I would prefer to)
Other wind options are interesting, but come back to maintenance and (an often overlooked element) noise.

I don't live at my ranch and there's nothing there that requires energy at the moment, so all this (from my perspective) is just so much mental masturbation (aka daydreaming).

The OP asks for info on solar home options and all I can really say is that google is your friend.
That, and a subscription to Home Power Magazine.

I think Rob meant http://homepower.com/home/

Oh, hadn't found that link, yet. Thanks for sharing.

Whups! Indeed I did!

That's pretty impressive; what system were you looking at?

We've got a 30 panel system with 16 batteries and a generator for backup. Completely off the grid. I don't have all the info with me, since I'm in the city right now, but I can get whatever info you're interested in our system when I return.

Also, while several have noted the required maintenance for the panels, if you don't have a grid-tie system, the battery maintenance is much more labor intensive: maintaining water level, pH, doing equalization charges, etc... you'll see far more degradation from your system from not maintaining the batteries than the panels.

We were looking at getting 14 SolarWorld panels, in a grid-tied system. Not sure about the inverter, yet. We don't have nearly enough un-shaded roof space to go completely off-grid. We got a quote from http://www.solarcity.com/, who have been doing a pretty big push in conjunction with the city of Beaverton. The slickness of their sales pitch is a bit nauseating. We also got a quote from a local (reliable) contractor, which was ~$600 or so cheaper. As for monitoring, the most interesting product I've been able to find has so far been a TED-5002.

Down here in the SF Bay Area there are many, many solar contractors to choose from. Even Home Depot is in on the act.
There are also companies that will install the system free and charge you 'rent' (so to speak). Not sure I'd go that route for a grid tied system.

Grid-tie is nice- no batteries to fuss with, for one thing.
The only drawback is that if the grid goes down, your power goes down with it. There are hybrid systems, though, that switch you onto a backup source when the grid goes down (those pesky batteries that were just mentioned).

Sorry I can't find some of the links to good articles and blog posts about personal experiences with home solar. I had several saved up from when I was doing this sort of research a couple years ago. Oh well- If I found them, then certainly anyone else could as well.

The nice thing about researching home solar is that the early adopters are often the type of geek who monitors and publishes everything about their system, so you should be able to gather heaps of info. Good luck!

Having experience with this, it's probably easier to just have a generator for backup rather than batteries. I know the idea is to get away from fossil fuels, but it really is more effective and convenient.

Yeah, and rather than having diesel fuel delivered, it probably makes more sense to tie into the natural gas lines. Assuming you have those where you are.

heh- I'll just drop this over here for now...

Not Likely.

But in a couple more weeks, I'll be able to run a hose to the waterside and pump up my own crude. Thanks BP!

Note: Since that photo was taken we've added a lot more solar panels.