Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Any Freepers have experience or recommendations regarding Ion Solar (Vanity)
https://ionsolar.com/ ^

Posted on 02/07/2021 4:09:31 AM PST by Steely eyed killer of the deep

Doing preliminary research to install solar on my new house.


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: ion; solar
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-43 next last

1 posted on 02/07/2021 4:09:31 AM PST by Steely eyed killer of the deep
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Steely eyed killer of the deep

Just curious, what’s the total cost of the installation compared to your monthly savings?


2 posted on 02/07/2021 4:14:47 AM PST by Hot Tabasco
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steely eyed killer of the deep

Where do you live and what is the life expectancy of those panels?


3 posted on 02/07/2021 4:16:44 AM PST by Hot Tabasco
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steely eyed killer of the deep

Ask them what it is going to cost you to recycle the panels in 20 years when they wear out. Bet you can’t get a straight answer...


4 posted on 02/07/2021 4:25:35 AM PST by Trteamer ( (Eat Meat, Wear Fur, Own Guns, FReep Leftists, Drive an SUV, Drill A.N.W.R., Drill the Gulf, Vote)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steely eyed killer of the deep

First, make sure your power company will “buy back” your power. Some are not equipped to accept backfed power into their grid as they’re primarily in the business of selling not buying power.


5 posted on 02/07/2021 4:27:38 AM PST by MountainWalker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steely eyed killer of the deep

ask your roofer/builder what the life expectancy of your roof with solar installed is


6 posted on 02/07/2021 4:42:13 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steely eyed killer of the deep

Solar is a joke unless its a passive system.


7 posted on 02/07/2021 4:42:26 AM PST by Mashood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Trteamer

I saw somewhere that after 10 years they begin to weaken and should be replaced


8 posted on 02/07/2021 4:43:29 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Hot Tabasco

Depending on where you live (avg sun power per day in watts per square foot) the number of panels you have to put up varies widely. Those are a big part of the variable cost.

Then there’s a discussion about intended use and loads.

If you intend to operate modern US electric residential structure with solar, hope you got spare money to throw at a huge expense for batteries and panels. Electric dryers, ranges, heat pumps and ranges/ovens are generally beyond any ‘affordable home solar system.

A reasonable solar system,say $20-$30k in Florida-like latitudes and below will give you a payback, and even allow you to go ‘net’s during sunny days, ie selling power (at wholesale rates) back to your power company. But if during that sunny day in Fort Lauderdale your AC is running, you take a hot shower, run the dishwasher and dry a couple loads of clothes, then you can expect to reduce your power bill. If you live alone simply, as a FL retiree, you will likely have months where FL Power pays you, instead of you paying the bill.

Solar will absolutely meet expectations for an emergency backup for fridges, freezers and lighting, the well pump and maybe the water heater if you are smart about total load per hour. Most places in US solar WILL reduce your total power grid consumption, but a fast payback for a typical US home is a Don Quixote quest. Solar helps, and if done right it can help a lot. It will enable you to live a somewhat modern lifestyle during a power outage. I look at solar as something I paid for, an asset, that provides me peace of mind. Sure it let’s me heat my greenhouse forn’free’ ... as long as I ignore the $5K I spent making that possible.

I am wandering a bit here.

If you set reasonable goals for solar, it’s a good deal and it’s reassuring to have it.

1. Be realistic about your available sunpower, YEAR ROUND.
2. Cost is directly tied to peak and average loads. Omit the dryer, range/Oven electric water heater, electric HVAC and it’ll be a reasonable cost.
3. The big items are panels, batteries, inverter/charge controller and installation. All are variables.
4. Depending on where you live you should probably expect to replace panels at a roughly 5% per year rate due to failure and date. It can be less.

Net: if you design for ‘survive the ice storm’ and maybe reduce my bill a little, you’ll be happy. Or just invest in solar to power for off grid structures like a greenhouse, deer camp or garage (sans heater) you’ll be happy.

Power a normal house? Write big checks.


9 posted on 02/07/2021 4:46:52 AM PST by Blueflag
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: PIF

Excellent point. Don’t install solar over old roofing. $$$$ ahead if you do.


10 posted on 02/07/2021 4:47:48 AM PST by Blueflag
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Steely eyed killer of the deep

The payback may exceed the life of the toxic solar panels.


11 posted on 02/07/2021 4:48:10 AM PST by cp124 (The government is the enemy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steely eyed killer of the deep

Break even point 11 years. Panels die in 20 years. Too many sloppy installs. Ideas: More insulation in the attic. Energy efficient windows. Capture waste heat from the air conditioner and thermosiphon it to your hot water tank. (Still wanna play? Buy a $120 deep cycle battery and a cheapo $80 solar panel. Go camping and impress everyone.)


12 posted on 02/07/2021 4:56:26 AM PST by QBFimi (It is not your responsibility to finish the work of perfecting the world... Tarfon)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: QBFimi

I’m looking for a portable solar unit for when we have the inevitable brown outs.

I want my liberal neighbors to look longingly at my flickering lights all evening

Suggestions ?


13 posted on 02/07/2021 5:16:42 AM PST by Josa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Hot Tabasco

If it is like my liberal BIL, it is a 25 year payback. He is 65


14 posted on 02/07/2021 5:17:27 AM PST by eartick (Stupidity is expecting the government that broke itself to go out and fix itself. Texan for TEXIT)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: cp124

A neighbor lost his one solar panel to “an object from the sky”.

Because this was in Miami, we speculated on its source. :(


15 posted on 02/07/2021 5:27:19 AM PST by Does so ( Off-screen female to Biden: "Just sign it"..........Vote for new "SERF Party". )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Steely eyed killer of the deep

I’ve heard that some shingle warranties are voided if you install solar. At the least, unless your roof is only a few years old you should re-shingle first. Of course that kills the solar “savings”

Where in China are the solar cells manufactured?

There are some UV efficiency maps online. You might want to review some of them to see if your locale is optimal. As I recall, not too many parts of the country are highly rated. Most range toward the middle of efficiency.

We used to have a printout to show the door to door solar scammers since we live in a medium optimal area.

What direction does your roof face. As I recall, facing South at about 30deg. is best.

Do you need to cut down any trees?


16 posted on 02/07/2021 5:33:05 AM PST by cyclotic (The most dangerous people are the ones that feel the most helpless)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steely eyed killer of the deep

Find out if you get any subsides that reduce the cost of your solar install. Are there any tax breaks that you can get? There is nothing like a little redistribution of wealth and corporate welfare to solve any non-existent problem.


17 posted on 02/07/2021 5:37:41 AM PST by ConservativeInPA (“When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.” ― Thomas Jefferson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Blueflag

I can’t see them being cost efficient in say Michigan when they could be covered with snow most of the winter and then as you say, air conditioning in the summer....


18 posted on 02/07/2021 5:39:10 AM PST by Hot Tabasco
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Steely eyed killer of the deep

How often do you get hail? snow? High Wind? Number of sunless days?

Good luck!


19 posted on 02/07/2021 5:47:52 AM PST by Pete from Shawnee Mission
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steely eyed killer of the deep

Don’t discourage him. For every solar panel that goes on a roof, it leaves just that much more cheap electricity for me from the power company.


20 posted on 02/07/2021 5:59:08 AM PST by super7man (Madam Defarge, knitting, knitting, always knitting.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-43 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson