ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area snake oil?

The thing that stops homeowners from putting up an expensive array is the fact that they can't get the government rebate.

The real question I see is how you deal with the "plug in" arrays. These require no alteration to anything in the system. They just plug into a 5-15 receptacle, probably on orange cords and a tree of cube taps.

I'm sure the big box stores are looking into selling them

According to one of the mugs linked, this bunch was previously 'selling' perpetual motion machines! Wait till they turn up in the box stores!

From what I understand Lowes in California is already selling the Westinghouse plug in solar array

Hmmm....west coast to east coast timeline? 3-6 month??

http://guntherportfolio.com/2009/12/andalay-solar-shopping-at-lowes/

These panels are modular and each has a mini-inverter, making assembly easier. They can be expanded in the future by adding panels, subject to house wiring capacity. The DIY implications are frightening.
At $893 + sales tax, works out at over $5 a watt, much more than Greg's ideal of a buck-a-watt.
According to the above site, tax breaks / incentives are available for 8 units and over. You would still need batteries or a grid tie. I do hope some of you decent skilled chaps do get involved in this work. EDF's #Bleu Ciel# system has been plagued by sharp HP sales subcontractors and a raft of complaints about leaking roofs, months of delay in connections and false performance claims, which of course can't be blamed on the poco wot never sold you the system!

As a ham radio operator WA2ISE, I wonder if these things will generate any RFI (radio frequency interference), from the inverter circuit probably? Either radiated directly into the "air" (the RF spectrum) from the panel, or conducted over the powerline from the neighbor's wiring (from his plug in panel) into his service then the POCO feed and down my service into my powerline and into my ham radio?

I had the impression these just plugged into a 15 or 20a 120v receptacle.
We had a discussion about these a year or so ago.

https://www.electrical-contractor.n...id_connect_solar_panels_.html#Post203012

WA2ISE:
Have you noticed any interference from the PSE&G utility pole mounted Petra 200 watt, microinverter panels? You must have some up in Bergen County, there are 220,000 of them statewide. (Pic in Alternative Energy Section)

The 'plug-n-play' with the microinverters will hopefully be to $$$ for the HO, DIY crowd.

Since this thread was started, essentially the same pitch, using the same ad copy and teasers, has appeared all over the internet and in various media- each directing you to a different site.

The ads often pop up in the same places that formerly had 'secret trick' teasers for car insurance, work at home, and meet loving ladies near you TONIGHT.

I suppose that association is enough to set off my scam alert.

Guy keeps saying he's an electrician. Well, so am I, and I must be the dumbest one out there .... because I have no idea what collection of parts he got, or which parts house he went to. Heck, I can spend $200 easily, just on the plywood to support these panels.

The ad is more revealing in what it does NOT say. It's packed with pure emotional appeals and negative assumptions about everyone besides the listener and John Russel.

Fact is - and always overlooked - is that your stuff can break, and requires maintenance, just like the PoCo stuff.

Guy claims to have made 102,000 folks in Minnesota energy independent in Minnesota alone, in the past few years. OK ... let's see pics of just one - and not some pretty cartoons.