Inverter/ Grid-Tie inverter Technology-pricing

**jagec** · February 10th, 2012, 19:48 PST

Originally Posted by Thomas

How is Quality of life switching back and forth power supplies daily?Nightly? Headaches? Nausea? Thank you.
My bill is down some , it has been for the 6 months I have installed solar, at least the consumption is, I am on a levelized billing program, pay more in winter ,less in summer, it is just the same, if I keep investing in solar, maybee the whole average will continue to go down. thanks again for the feedback

There is no switching, the grid-tied inverter just pumps juice onto the grid (spinning the meter backwards) when I'm producing more than I'm using. At night the meter spins forwards again. Over the course of the year, I'll produce about as much as I use, so I'll probably end up barely ever paying for electricity.

I have an energy monitoring system so that I can see how much I'm producing and consuming in real-time, or historically.

**Thomas** · February 10th, 2012, 19:56 PST

when the meter is back to spinning the other way , after the GTI is done, isn't that switched back to the grid ?

**solarvic** · February 10th, 2012, 20:16 PST

Its always on the grid 24/7. If you aren,t generating what you need such as a cloudy day the grid furnishes the remainder power needed. On bright sunny days you should be generating much more than you use. Thus accumulating for night time and low power generating days. Jageg,s system is big enough that he averages enough power to not to need to pay for any power from the grid. I also have a big enough gti setup that I havn,t had to buy any power from the power co since last Jan 2011. I got rid of the electric dryer, ,installed a ge geospring waterheater and a space heater and got more efficient with my home.

solarvic

**Thomas** · February 10th, 2012, 20:20 PST

Thats my goal, during the day I think I make about 20% more than I use, I won't look at the meter though, Voodoo here....

**BB.** · February 10th, 2012, 20:23 PST

No "switching involved"... Just like DC power system in a car. The battery supplies power to the lights/stuff, start the engine, the alternator recharges the battery bank. At the end of the trip, the engine shuts down and the battery again supplies power to the radio/lights/etc.

"The Grid" is just like a giant AC Battery. The GT Inverter is very much like the Alternator (DC rectified) from the car.

-Bill

**solar_dave** · February 10th, 2012, 20:36 PST

Originally Posted by BB.

No "switching involved"... Just like DC power system in a car. The battery supplies power to the lights/stuff, start the engine, the alternator recharges the battery bank. At the end of the trip, the engine shuts down and the battery again supplies power to the radio/lights/etc.

"The Grid" is just like a giant AC Battery. The GT Inverter is very much like the Alternator (DC rectified) from the car.

-This is wher the Voodoo of having a correct type meter installed to spin backwards and an interconnect agreement with the utility comes into play.

**Thomas** · February 10th, 2012, 21:01 PST

No scammin really about the meter, it has got more to do with my 'midas touch' problem...watched pot never boils. Case in point my solar hot water panels, as soon as I do anything to them like adjust the rate of water flow thru them, the whole thing reduces like 30% or something...untill a few days after I do not fool with my last pump speed..can I see the results of the last adjustment.
as for the meter I do not even want to lay eyes on it and all of the technicals that would follow, my bill reflects conservative savings, good enough for now to me...