🏡 Better Homes OffshoreDrilling's (mostly) DIY Solar install extravaganza.

[EmersonHart13]

This is awesome, good luck Jared.

Myself and a few others I know came to the same conclusion that Turk is referring to. The numbers just don't make sense.

BUT, DIY could change that.

 

[OffshoreDrilling]

This is awesome, good luck Jared.

Myself and a few others I know came to the same conclusion that Turk is referring to. The numbers just don't make sense.

BUT, DIY could change that.

If you’re paying for install and doing it strictly to save money on energy, I’d agree it’s not worth it.

 

[Turk]

Why do you think it’s not worth it? Too long to get ROI?

Correct. The amount of money spent up front would take me 20ish years to recover. I’m better off investing that money elsewhere.

We don’t use a lot of electricity so that helps.

 

[radioguy6]

Sub'ed. DIY will save you thousands.

I am definitely seeing panels popping up everywhere in my hood. I've run the numbers a few times, it's at least a 10 year return on purchase. If I go with an EV next I think I'd be more intrigued. I have an east-west facing house, not fully ideal but can capture morning/early afternoon sun.

 

[Lord Tin Foilhat]

Let me know when you want to buy a pallet of used ones together

 

[Lord Tin Foilhat]

Isn’t the capacity super low on this? 5kwh probably wouldn’t last the average night for most houses in the summer.

you string them together based on needs.

 

[FESTER665]

 

[FESTER665]

This looks one hell of a DIY solution to storage.

Glubux's Powerwall

A quick presentation of my project. I already produce a part of the electricity that I need. I have 1.4 kw of solar panel on the roof, an old 24v 460AH forklift battery, a Victron MPPT 100/50 charge controler, an 24v to 12v Victron voltage lowerer, and a 3KVA Victron inverter. The plan is to...

secondlifestorage.com

 

[Lord Tin Foilhat]

 

[Lord Tin Foilhat]

This is probably very similar to how I will do a system eventually.

 

[OffshoreDrilling]

BUMP.

This has been veeeeeery slow going.

I got my stamped drawings last week and my permit was approved today. I filed my ComEd interconnection permit on Monday.


I don’t have any of my equipment yet and won’t purchase until I have an approved interconnection permit.

My roof needs reinforcement to handle the solar array which is something I’m going to start on sooner than later. Any rafters supporting the solar array that span greater than 12’6” need to be sistered. This is going to be the worst part of this whole job. As it looks right now I’m going to have to take out the whole supply duct from my attic HVAC system to access the bottoms of the rafters at the eves. The next fun part will be getting 15 or so 12’ long 2x6s up an attic stair. And lastly I have to drop a good size chunk of garage ceiling to sister just 3 rafters. I want to insulate up there and run conduit for more power anyways so that’s a win/win

 

[Yaj Yak]

 

[OffshoreDrilling]

It’s how I do everything, unfortunately.

 

[JBruno88]

Looks like a fun project Jared, looking forward to seeing how things turn out!

 

[OffshoreDrilling]

Interconnection permit approved today! Now to spend all the monies and start working.

I have a couple small house projects to tie up loose ends on and I’ll start sistering all the rafters.

 

[Yaj Yak]

Interconnection permit approved today! Now to spend all the monies and start working.

I have a couple small house projects to tie up loose ends on and I’ll start sistering all the rafters.

That has to feel good. Does your attic have some space at least

 

[Lord Tin Foilhat]

BUMP.

This has been veeeeeery slow going.

I got my stamped drawings last week and my permit was approved today. I filed my ComEd interconnection permit on Monday.


I don’t have any of my equipment yet and won’t purchase until I have an approved interconnection permit.

My roof needs reinforcement to handle the solar array which is something I’m going to start on sooner than later. Any rafters supporting the solar array that span greater than 12’6” need to be sistered. This is going to be the worst part of this whole job. As it looks right now I’m going to have to take out the whole supply duct from my attic HVAC system to access the bottoms of the rafters at the eves. The next fun part will be getting 15 or so 12’ long 2x6s up an attic stair. And lastly I have to drop a good size chunk of garage ceiling to sister just 3 rafters. I want to insulate up there and run conduit for more power anyways so that’s a win/win

damn. That is why I am starting my array on the ground

 

[OffshoreDrilling]

Most of the stuff showed up yesterday. Fed ex lost the rails for the racking but found the package. Fuckers probably bent in half. It’s supposed to show up tomorrow.

I got photos of the equipment before it was picked up from the freight company:



And how it arrived:


Complimentary forklift fork into the back of a panel:

Totally shattered the glass:

I have to make some space to unpack and inspect the rest before the weekend

 

[cdh027]

Why cant anybody deliver shit without fucking something up nowadays? This happens all the time.

 

[FESTER665]

Why cant anybody deliver shit without fucking something up nowadays? This happens all the time.

We had a trucking company show up a week ago and literally the entire skid of parts was laying all over the back of the truck... Like what the fuck were you doing on your way here.

Then he was all pissed because we rejected the shipment.

 

[OffshoreDrilling]

Why cant anybody deliver shit without fucking something up nowadays? This happens all the time.

One word, Schneider

 

[OffshoreDrilling]

I should get a new panel pretty quickly, I’m assuming I’m on my own to dispose of the shattered one though.

 

[OffshoreDrilling]

And pregnant lady isn’t going to let me work on anything any time soon either, so who the fuck knows if this will even hit my roof before winter

 

[Shawn1112]

Why cant anybody deliver shit without fucking something up nowadays? This happens all the time.

Its crazy how bad its gotten the last 4-5yrs, nobody (drivers/dock workers) give a fuck anymore. This is no exaggeration, I'd say 75% of new furniture and other shit I receive has some sort of damage. On a job in Elgin this morning installing 4-brand new private offices that the customer has literally been waiting 4 months for this shit. 1 desk top completely fucked right in the middle of it. My whse guys are receiving like 800 library book carts the last few days. I guarantee you 25%-30% of them will be damaged.

 

[Fish]

We had a trucking company show up a week ago and literally the entire skid of parts was laying all over the back of the truck... Like what the fuck were you doing on your way here.

Then he was all pissed because we rejected the shipment.

Well, they have X amount of time to get to a destination. Screw your product.

One word, Schneider

You spelt Swift wrong.

Im also wondering if I should look more into solar. Ive literally had 5 companies knock on our door in a month saying our roof has "amazing" sunlight and would be perfect for solar. They were all trying to get on the Illinois Shines program, but I dont know much about it and I am not in the market right now. Want to eventually but these people are like gnats.