{"id":2314,"date":"2022-01-16T13:00:49","date_gmt":"2022-01-16T18:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/matthannan.net\/blog\/?p=2314"},"modified":"2022-01-16T13:52:06","modified_gmt":"2022-01-16T18:52:06","slug":"one-year-with-rooftop-solar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/matthannan.net\/blog\/one-year-with-rooftop-solar\/","title":{"rendered":"One Year with Rooftop Solar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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On Dec 23, 2020, I was finally given the OK to flip the switch to bring our eleven panel solar system online. It has been a learning event, for sure, this past year. The main thing I have learned is that we needed that spruce tree (at right in photo) removed, the consumption monitoring CT clamps installed, and five additional panels installed. HA! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honestly, the CT clamps should be installed with the rest of the system. Why they are not just included by default is beyond me. They were cheap (like $50) to buy directly off the web site<\/a>, and so far we’ve yet to be billed to have the electrician out to install them. He didn’t even need to enter the house, but rather installed them right at the mains power meter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking at the numbers over the course of the year, one thing was obvious. We were not collecting enough photons to offset the cost of our electric usage (we are just dumping our solar onto the grid) plus the loan for the solar system. The first thing that needed to be done was removing the tree to lengthen our daily maximum-capture window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The last sunny day with the tree<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the above image, check the production (blue) in the morning. That is entirely the tree casting a massive shadow on the roof and panels. I have been looking at that same pattern for a year. We were not reaching full production from the panels until after noon, even in Summer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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