Large Scale Central

Kittatinny Mt RR goes Green

General Discussion
#1

We have been thinking about putting solar panels on our property for a few years but money has kept us from doing it. After looking at some companies we found one, ecolution. They sent out a salesman to go over the system and cost. After talking with him it became a no brainer. NJ has great benefits for those going solar. One you get 30% back from the feds. Then NJ has whats called SREC points. For every 1000KWs we produce we get money back. Those SREC points last for 15 years. If we ever move before the 15 years those points still come to us. The amount of money depends on the stock market. It averages out from $150 to as high as $600 a month. Plus we will be cutting our electric bill by 70% a month. The hardest part is taking out the loan but it will be paid off in 4-5 years because of those points and the 30% back from the feds. Its like buying a car with benefits. We have 35 panels and can add if we want. I guess I can say the KMRR went green.

#2

I notice the panels appear to be in the shade…

:smiley:

#3
Mark V said:
I notice the panels appear to be in the shade...

:smiley:


What, they need sun to work?

#4

LOL na I took the picture late in day when sun goes behind some trees. Those trees are coming down end of month. The Ill have sun on them from sun up till sundown, Right now the sun shines on the panels till about 5 or so.

#5

Just plug into the panel a spotlight. That should keep the 'trons flowing.

#6

If solar was truly practical, it wouldn’t need so many government subsidies.

#7
Ray Dunakin said:
If solar was truly practical, it wouldn't need so many government subsidies.
The problem Ray is its very expensive. Thats why its not practicl. Most people wouldnt even consider it. Thats why NJ has the perks and it is catching on well. Cutting my electric bill by 70% plus the perks is well worth it.
#8

Before we get into a “green ain’t worth it” discussion to nowhere perhaps we should remember if not for massive government support the railroads we all love would not exist as they do, the west would not have been won, and the US would likely be half it’s current size with the west owned by Mexico and Spain.

The railroads were given massive amounts of free land or they would not have found financial bennifit to building the lines accross the vast country. Shawn is simply following in the lines of the great James J. Hill.

:smiley:

#9

Oh, and Shawn…Seriously, is it in the shade???

#10

Lol no mark it actually gets sun all day. The sun was setting when pic was taken. Its in an open field.

#11

Be quiet Rooster your already in trouble!

#12
Mark V said:
Before we get into a "green ain't worth it" discussion to nowhere perhaps we should remember if not for massive government support the railroads we all love would not exist as they do, the west would not have been won, and the US would likely be half it's current size with the west owned by Mexico and Spain.

The railroads were given massive amounts of free land or they would not have found financial bennifit to building the lines accross the vast country. Shawn is simply following in the lines of the great James J. Hill.

:smiley:


Not so. James J. Hill did it with out gummint support. You must be thinking of the Union Pacific. The Great Northern is the only transcontinental railroad that never went into receivership. That is solely because he did it without gummint support.

#13

The biggest cost with solar isnt the panels, they are getting less expensive every year. Its the dc to ac inverter that costs an arm and a leg. Thats were the dc current from the panels has to be converted into ac before it goes into the house or the grid. Its complex and prone to electrical issues. Most problems related to pv installations I’ve seen were related to the inverter going bad after 5 years.

Solar is definetly worth it IF you live in a good sunbelt area and IF you have room for the panels and the inverter panel and IF you can swing the costs, with or without Gov help. There is a big push for solar out here. Not surprising given how much year round sun we get.

Shawn, all you need now is a plug in Hybrid. I recommend the Nissan Altima or the Honda CR-X, dont get a Prius …they are vastly aweful boring cars to drive

#14
Shawn said:
LOL na I took the picture late in day when sun goes behind some trees. Those trees are coming down end of month. The Ill have sun on them from sun up till sundown, Right now the sun shines on the panels till about 5 or so.
Hmmm, going green and chop down the trees to do it. LOL, just giving ya a hard time.

Good for you. I hope it works for you. I wonder, why did you install them on the ground instead of on your roof like I see many houses have done?

I live in a pretty windy area, I’ve been kicking around putting up a wind generator. Mostly for myself when I loose power. Since I am the absolute last guy on the grid, I get my power back last. Undoubtedly, if the wind is blowing I loose power. I’ve always figured since the wind is already blowing get a wind generator to take advantage.

#15
Jake Smith said:
Shawn said:
LOL na I took the picture late in day when sun goes behind some trees. Those trees are coming down end of month. The Ill have sun on them from sun up till sundown, Right now the sun shines on the panels till about 5 or so.
Hmmm, going green and chop down the trees to do it. LOL, just giving ya a hard time.

Good for you. I hope it works for you. I wonder, why did you install them on the ground instead of on your roof like I see many houses have done?

I live in a pretty windy area, I’ve been kicking around putting up a wind generator. Mostly for myself when I loose power. Since I am the absolute last guy on the grid, I get my power back last. Undoubtedly, if the wind is blowing I loose power. I’ve always figured since the wind is already blowing get a wind generator to take advantage.


Jake I chose the ground for two reasons:
- I am limited to the angle of the roof. Most of my roof is in shade. The field I was unlimited and get sun all day.
- another problem with the roof is eventually the roof has to get replaced after 20 years and what if I have a house fire? There goes the solar.
Vic im glad someone sees the postive to solar. I see no problem with the govt helping me if I instal the solar. With the benifits NJ gives its paid off in 4-5 years. If I lived in PA in would take 9 years. If it was not for that I could never do it. Im only 35 years old so I have to look into the future. The 15 year SREC money I get will help pay my kids college and save on electric.

#16

Shawn,

Good luck with the project. I hope it works to your benefit. I’ll be waiting to hear reports of you adventure.

#17

Sounds like a good way to go for you Shawn.

#18

Looks great. I think you need to talk to your installer and see if you can get an 18V DC (or so) tap off the cells. Then you could feed your layout directly from the array and have one of the first solar powered garden railroads in the country :smiley: Add a couple of golf cart batteries for storage and it would work 24/7 rain or shine !

#19

There was an article a few issues back in Garden Railroader on building a solar power railroad. I think the guy in the article used a solar panel that is normally used for charging and electric fence. Shawn will have a lot more voltage from his array.

#20

Thanks guys Jon they put an outlet off the solar panels so I can actually run a cord to the layout and be powered by the solar during daylight hours. I plan on running my pool filter off that then im running it off the main grid. The pool filter uses a lot of electric. (If it was up to me I would fill the pool in and turn it into a RR but the wife and kids like the pool)