2 Jun 13 9:15 AM

If you let the "wetback do the work" then you would probably need the fire roaring as you noted - and have sweltering heat - probably not the outcome you are looking for? For us, the water ......read more

27 Mar 13 6:11 PM

Thanks nzspark - I'm going to do this! (Our area is unlikely to get smart meters so that isn't the issue, but the idea of radio and electrical silence is really appealing. The cellphone towers will st......read more

27 Mar 13 11:43 AM

Interesting post. Do you know if the meter will still transmit if you turned the mains off completely? I know it has battery for data holding until next wireless interrogation/dump. I had also though......read more

8 Mar 13 1:27 PM

Hi Darren Battery banks don't like to have one of their members replaced - even if there was great warranty support to do so. Once a bank is bedded in, they don't like working with newer members. Sin......read more

8 Mar 13 1:19 PM

Omar Would you consider having your system "audited" if say there was this services available? It takes about 1/1.5 hours. Basically a system walk-through with someone who is expert, and who......read more

8 Mar 13 8:48 AM

Hi Patrick Are you now on an"uncontrolled" tariff? Seeker...read more

8 Mar 13 8:47 AM

What price would you think would be fair, and how many cells? I can do some hunting around (I don't use them so have never asked my overseas-based suppliers about them). Note that NZ volumes mean the ......read more

1 Mar 13 9:20 PM

Harm Less - are you in Wellington, or have I got you mixed up with Solar Chris? Seeker...read more

1 Mar 13 9:18 PM

Harm Less I monitor our Auckland systems daily (sometimes hourly) so am curious about your array's performance in your Wellington location - I am trying to get a feel for which technology is the best ......read more

1 Mar 13 6:27 PM

A 5.16kW array putting out 7650kWh - nothing wrong with that performance - 4.06kWh per kW installed for a fixed tilt array. What is the peak summer day output you've got - do you have the numbers or h......read more

1 Mar 13 5:48 PM

I am thinking of importing some night-store heaters: to be "charged" by PV during the day... then on typically cold winter nights, they will radiate the PV generated power stored during the ......read more

1 Mar 13 5:15 PM

Harm Less - are PHEV "plug-ins"? I thought only the Volt was plug-in?? The only question I have about the EV's (plug-in ones) is how long does the battery last? I have a couple of systems pu......read more

1 Mar 13 4:36 PM

Did one of the other posts say that Meridian has about 140 grid-tied customers in the whole of NZ? Out of a total of 1.6 million customers? Steve: you haven't commented on my earlier post on what happ......read more

1 Mar 13 3:37 PM

I could never figure out why any of the buy-back tariffs were so high given how much lower the price on the wholesale market is normally (sometimes there's a glitch and the price goes up, but on avera......read more

1 Mar 13 3:20 PM

Hi Steve Yes - very nice looking. What brand and wattage are those poly's on your array? Seeker...read more

19 Feb 13 6:52 AM

Your system at ~$6500 for 1.84kW works out at $3.53/Wp installed - pretty close to best prices achievable right now. (Was the electrician's cost included?) .. I am presuming that GST is included as we......read more

19 Feb 13 6:47 AM

Oops - acted too quickly - re-read all the earlier posts rather than just go by the title. My apologies.... Seeker...read more

19 Feb 13 6:46 AM

DSN Solar I am horrified to hear you have grid tied home made panels. Seeker...read more

13 Feb 13 12:45 PM

Or just buy cheap and biff the panels when they pack a sad ..... possibly the cheapest option....aside from landfill.......read more

13 Feb 13 12:36 PM

I understand that the Chinese govt has decided to force amalgamations and bankruptcies among its too many PV manufacturers. So we won't know who will be left after all that takes place. So any 25 year......read more

31 Jan 13 9:27 AM

The math looks OK - but what are you working out? Seeker...read more

28 Jan 13 10:12 PM

Hi Rosie41 20 Apricus evac tubes is a lot of solar thermal capability. Surprising that it won't give you enough hot water in summer. Suggest you get someone to check the system - you have access to go......read more

18 Jan 13 12:38 PM

There are many counterfeit certificates floating around that says panels are compliant to this and that, but they aren't the real deal. Seeker ...read more

18 Jan 13 12:34 PM

Most of us don't install other people's imports because we aren't able to tell if they are legal and compliant in order to be used here, and not set someone's house on fire. Seeker...read more

16 Jan 13 10:13 AM

Thanks Nick. The numbers give me some perspective. I also know Dunedin fairly well and warm, dry houses ain't the norm there! I'll do some research on the low surface temp radiators. (There are not ma......read more

16 Jan 13 7:36 AM

Hi Nick B I'm struggling to understand this post about radiators - and have decided to post some thoughts for debate below. Firstly I had understood that water filled radiators heat mainly by "ra......read more

28 Nov 12 8:56 AM

The above links relate to someone I know who runs an off-grid system in Otago. If you make contact with Murray, he will be able to point you in the direction of other people as well, in Otago, who hav......read more

28 Nov 12 8:48 AM

http://www.odt.co.nz/your-town/dunedin/41143/life-grid-one-pioneering-family039s-experience Murray Grimwood, The Good Life: http://powerdownkiwi.wordpress.com/ ...read more

28 Nov 12 8:48 AM

http://www.odt.co.nz/your-town/dunedin/41143/life-grid-one-pioneering-family039s-experience Murray Grimwood, The Good Life: http://powerdownkiwi.wordpress.com/ ...read more

20 Nov 12 6:06 PM

Slight hijack of thread: The way things are set up, homes will NOT be more independent in natural disasters with PV systems that are normally on-grid: all the on-grid inverters in NZ (and elsewhere) a......read more

18 Nov 12 2:54 PM

Hi Beautygirl Can you please read the meter today (note the time - whatever it is), then read it again tomorrow (again noting the time) and post the readings? The size of your bill indicates either a ......read more

1 Nov 12 2:32 PM

The panel I was using was an amorphous panel, and the difference in output between STC and NOCT is fairly high. Crystalline panels would have a different ratio. So the realistic output of "our&qu......read more

1 Nov 12 2:25 PM

You now multiply the efficiency figure x the cumulative kWh per square metre figure x the area of your panel to work out, under STC conditions, what the maximum yield is for your panel. For example, u......read more

1 Nov 12 2:17 PM

Your panels may be 20% efficient, 12% efficient, or 9% efficient. The company you are buying off may say what the efficiency is, but you can work this out. Be aware that the panel output (kilowatt pe......read more

1 Nov 12 2:00 PM

Add the 12 numbers up. (I get 46.85 for the numbers on the default address). Multiply by 30. (Which is 1405.5 kWh/per square metre per annum). This is basically the total kWh which can be collected at......read more

1 Nov 12 1:53 PM

What you are now seeing is explained in the following link: http://www.niwa.co.nz/our-services/online-services/solarview/solarviewexplanation You can read this to get a better idea of what the numbers......read more

1 Nov 12 1:44 PM

NIWA Solar view is a site that allows anyone to work out the yield they may get from a PV system in NZ. You need to type in a location on the following link and hit the "Find Address" button......read more

1 Nov 12 12:17 PM

Up to you......read more

1 Nov 12 11:47 AM

Stu, SolarKristy I can step you through the NIWA site I posted above to determine the yield from a system anywhere in NZ - if we do it through this forum, other people can also see how to work it out.......read more

31 Oct 12 2:00 PM

Stu My apologies to you if I seem a bit heavy handed. Some months ago a forum post kept appearing using either a similar or the same immigration site, trying to sell PV systems with totally over the t......read more

31 Oct 12 1:39 PM

I should add that I am absolutely against compulsory feed-in-tariffs or non-compulsory "PR" exercises dressed up as feed-in-tariffs. Having been involved in solar hot water, any subsidised s......read more

31 Oct 12 1:09 PM

Hi SolarKristy Yes - I concur with the comments in your post. The NASA data seems to overrate actual output based on a number of previous posts as well as data from the field of which I am aware - bu......read more

29 Oct 12 10:53 PM

JK - how does someone make contact with you? Seeker...read more

29 Oct 12 10:47 PM

Xrious - this is misleading. Why are you using an immigration website to show solar yield? Anyone who is keen to work out how much you actually get should try this NZ government site: http://solarview......read more

22 Oct 12 7:53 AM

Probably not a lot you can do to stop another losing it's vacuum - it's just a manufactured product with the usual failure rate for these things, even if you purchased the best quality money can buy! ......read more

21 Oct 12 9:22 PM

Hi Lorna I would have gone the instant gas route as well - have you spoken to the motorhomes people or the boatees? - you may find they have the technology you need that won't cost the earth for what ......read more

21 Oct 12 9:19 PM

Vacuum is gone. Replace tube. Seeker...read more

18 Oct 12 1:01 PM

Reality check here: The video says, quote: "you can get a return of investment around 10% - which is impressive compared to the rates banks offer". So: is this true? 1. Average NZ sunlight (......read more

16 Oct 12 8:14 PM

I think the Xantrex is OK too. I'm wondering whether you can do something to the earthing wire routing. You noted that you ran the inverter earth to the ground spike on your first post - before you ......read more

15 Oct 12 6:49 PM

What inverter are you using? Link to brand name, specs, etc. Seeker...read more