On May 17, 6:54*am, Andy wrote:
On May 16, 8:02 pm, JimT wrote:



I think it's viable here (Austin) if you take advantage of the $2.50/kw
rebate but you have to use one of the city approved installers. A PV
certificate isn't going to do much good in that case so that's why I
dropped the course. My wife is calling me a college drop-out.

I'm looking into one of the "plug-in" systems but it seems like they are
still in the development stage.

Jim

Andy comments:
* I guessing that the requirement for a "licensed installer" is more
for
the safety angle of the panels blowing off your roof and damaging
property or persons than whether a "proper" electrical installation
is
involved. *The city of Austin probably doesn't care whether it works
or
not, just whether it is safe ---- as most building codes are designed
to do...

* *One further safety issue is whether the installation will feed
electricity
back into the power line. *If a lineman has to "disconnect" power to
do
repairs a couple streets over, and PV installations are keeping the
power line energized and he doesn't know about it, it will be a safety
hazard....

* *But, mostly, I think it is all the wind,hurricanes, and tornadoes
making loose
shingles, tiles, signs, panels fly about decapitating people..... and
ruining their flower beds.

* * * * * * * * * * * * Andy in Eureka, Texas (south of Dallas)

The inverter can sense grid failure and will shut down or disconnect.
The bad thing is that power companies for the most part buy back
electricity at the wholesale rate which is about 1/3 or 1/4 of what
we buy it from them.

Jimmie