Does anyone have off grid solar or know much about it? It's going to be $7,000 to run power to my house, wondering how realistic and reliable doin solar would be instead. Just started looking into it, not sure what questions to even ask.

Use a generator plus some solar?

$7000 + the cost of electricity.

I've researched it and it gets pretty expensive to set up a whole house on solar. When I researched it, the cost would have been more than $7000--assuming you have standard appliances, etc. Of course, you wouldn't have an electric bill going forward.

I'd roll with the 7 G's

I know someone that paid $ 50,000 to get rid of their solar

I'd also go with the 7K. I talked to a fella that spent $10 on solar 10 years ago, and then you're responsible for the upkeep also....like replacing batteries.

From a preliminary glance I'm seeing around $15,000 for solar, if my electric bill was 125 a month it would be break even at 5 years

Parents have a Tesla solar set up, came with the house when they bought it. The seller had to pay off 45 grand when they bought it. Parents highest power bill was 75 bucks last August with ac set at 68 degrees

Solar power only makes sense if you don't use an AC system as that eats a lot of power. I went that route once and used propane for the water heater and the cooking stove, heated with propane and a wood stove. Lights around the house were LED etc. if you lay out the house as a low consumption project, Solar energy can be the way to go. If on the other hand you want a workshop with the usual stuff like welders and a few fixed machines in it tile planer and table saw fans for dust extraction and that sort of thing, you will need a good size generator as well as the solar / batterie / inverter setup.

House will be a double wide on a foundation. Wood heat with propane backup, gas stove. Lights could be swapped out to LED with little issue.

Concerns are Washer and Dryer and Well Pump.

My shop is on the grid so no power tools etc will need to be run off of the house.

The well pump is a none issue. Its just the dryer if you feed the washer hot water from the propane heated tap. But a washing line works with solar and wind power I heard. Thats what i used.

Federal tax credit for solar installation in 2021 is 22%. Depending on what state you are in there might be a state credit as well.

The well would be the biggest obstacle for us. Our well is almost 400 feet deep and requires a 30 amp 240 volt circuit. Central air unit is about the same electrical circuit.
Solar also would depend on your location depending on how much sun shine you get to charge the batteries.

I have been thinking about installing a 10kw grid tied system to play with. 10- 15k. By my rough calculation that will eliminate most of my electric bill except for about $100 a month in the summer.

Now I'm in a big old leaky house with 26 windows that need replaced and little insulation.

You can put some DC outlets in your house and that would help reduce the size inverter you need.

Get a gas clothes dryer. Sell the electric dryer. If you run a generator on propane, you will want a very large tank.

How much are you budgeting for maintenance of the solar system? How long til you have to start replacing stuff. $7k for power install is pretty typical around here, just part of the cost of building. I'm a fan of solar but I wouldn't do it for that price.

One more thing, did you get your power line estimate from the utility or a contractor? Around here a qualified contractor can usually do it significantly cheaper than the utility unioners.

5- 7 years the battery will need replacement.

When figuring cost vs savings don't forget to add in how much electric rates are going to increase. With the increase demand coming to the grid and reducing of coal. That grid will become less reliable and may also see rationing.

You will never be off the grid if you have no way to store the solar extra your not using on a daily basis. Unless you have another source for nighttime use for heating and other necessities.

You will need battery's of some sort to capture it. Solar packs are not cheap yet, most run between 6 to 8 grand and only last 7 years before needing replacement right now, new one being worked on but not available for a few years yet.

You can't store any extra if your KW design is at or lower than your daily needs either, you must put more panels up to store with, many people forget that and wonder why they are not storing anything.

My solar generates about 50 to 70 KW daily right now and I average 33k use everyday, my storage exceeds easily my use per month and is carrying over for the winter right now thru credits with the power company it will move into the 100's here next month until late fall when the sun is less. By then my credits will carry me thru the winter until March when the credits start over again.

I went with 110 percent of usage to gain the extra and also the 3 to 1 trade with the power company, I'm basically only paying for meter use now and my billing used to be 150 a month average. I've not had my solar for a full year yet either !

I got a 25 percent rebate on the install and turned around and put it on the payment of the install this year, with another 1500 they owe for next year. My loan will be paid off in five years, if I had solar battery packs I would be off the grid with just the meter fee. I'm waiting a few years to see just how much better the packs develop out to be then decide. I also have a 10k generator, propane or natural gas if I need it for help with my shop work.

Don't let others tell you solar don't work, it works fine if you do your numbers right and don't put in to small a service of panels.
We are looking forward to this summer and not to worry about how cool we can keep the house with the AC and next winter opposite with the furnace which we also just put a new one in thats high capacity and low current.

Do your numbers with a competent outfit, not one just starting up the last couple years, you will be surprised !

Good things to think about, thanks guys.

good friend does it and been doing for many yrs.pm to you