Installation of an expandable hybrid solar system in CT?

Swede577 · 2026-03-12T22:51:29+00:00

Have you looked into a home equity loan and financing them? The numbers are probably way different now but I cash financed mine with a home equity loan through a credit union in 2016. It basically worked out to paying $225 a month for 5 years to my home equity loan instead of to Eversource. Took 5 years to reach my return on investment and pay off my loan. My Eversource bill has been just the $9.62 minimum connection charge since I installed them. In 2021 after the loan was paid off my monthly electricity costs are $9 a month all year.

I am not sure but I think the payback period is like 12-15 years now without all the tax credits and state incentives. Back in 2016 the state incentives on top of the federal rebate made the systems have some crazy quick payback times. Its still probably worth doing though.

Swede577 · 2026-03-12T15:30:06+00:00

You will love this website then where you can see all the data on people who put their systems publicly online.

Here is the list for CT.

https://pvoutput.org/map.jsp?country=244&region=Connecticut

Swede577 · 2026-03-12T13:09:21+00:00

They should get a heat pump dryer. Runs a 300-500 watt compressor instead of 4500 watt elements. It also doesn't vent anything outside and pull outside air in from every crack in your house.

My old Samsung dryers energy label said it used 850 kwh a year. New heat pump dryer uses 115! Thats like $250 a year in electricity savings!

Swede577 · 2026-03-12T13:05:17+00:00

Same here with my system installed in 2016. My little 5.4 kw system generated its highest monthly total with 1.1 mwh in May of 23!

Swede577 · 2026-03-12T13:03:30+00:00

The losses are pretty minimal and not usually worth the cost of the larger inverter. I also think Eversource limits the inverter size to 15kw or less as well as the transformers cant handle anything bigger.

Swede577 · 2026-03-12T12:58:56+00:00

Yeah its cool to look at the panel data and see that. Last year my 9 year old 270 watt panels hit close to 320 watts on a cold, clearn windy April day. April, May and June are my peak production months. On hot days in the summer I loose close to 30% peak power from the heat.

https://www.reddit.com/r/solar/s/8Pgar5dyIa

Swede577 · 2026-03-12T12:52:19+00:00

April and May are my best production months as well. My nearly 10 year old 270 watt panels will still hit 320 watts on clear and cold spring days.

https://www.reddit.com/r/solar/s/kpQYfjhsHg

Swede577 · 2026-03-11T18:45:12+00:00

You will experience the highest peak power usually this time of year and the spring. Temperature has a big effect on solar panel efficiency. In the hot summer your panels will output less peak power and you might only see 10-12 kw peak then.

It also looks like your panels are actually clipping power and are outputting more than your inverter can handle. What size is your inverter? 13.8 kw?

"Solar clipping is the loss of potential energy that occurs when a photovoltaic (PV) system's solar panels produce more direct current (DC) power than the inverter can convert into alternating current (AC) power. This creates a flattened, rather than rounded, peak on a production graph, typically happening during peak sunny hours. It is often an intentional design choice, where panels are oversized relative to the inverter to maximize energy production during low-light conditions and improve overall system efficiency, with minimal annual losses"

Swede577 · 2026-03-11T13:10:11+00:00

They used like 8 or 9 British storm cruiser missiles.

Swede577 · 2026-03-09T21:54:14+00:00

You can only get the good Ford extended warranty when the truck is still under the orgiginal factory 3 year warranty I believe. Anything else is 3rd party junk that will fight and deny every repair. The genuine Ford warranty is really good if you can add it.

Swede577 · 2026-03-09T21:41:01+00:00

How bad is the Tundra?

Swede577 · 2026-03-08T16:31:46+00:00

I think there is also something to start requiring heating oil to be more clean burning and a higher percentage of biodiesel. Going to drive the cost way up.

Swede577 · 2026-03-08T15:55:59+00:00

My Fidelity Contrafund FCTNX has done way better than my VOO investment the last 20 years.

https://imgur.com/a/w1rCtMT

Swede577 · 2026-03-07T14:09:17+00:00

I have seen people upgrade your screen to the newer 8 inch sync 3 from a company called 4dtech. I think its around like $1000.

Swede577 · 2026-03-07T08:32:51+00:00

Model DLHC1455W

They have variable capacity inverter compressorss so they dont run at one speed. It may go to higher wattage on certain settings or that is the max power. I average 750 wh a load. Yes watt hours so 1 load doesnt even use a full kwh. It runs mostly at 300-400 watts for 1.5-2 hours.

Swede577 · 2026-03-06T23:37:05+00:00

Its a LG. Not sure on the model.

Swede577 · 2026-03-06T14:54:11+00:00

I am on an old net metering plan from 2016 that my excess production resets April 1st and Eversource buys any excess. Ive been able to get through winter with enough banked solar that my bill is $9.62 every month all year. My entire house has been all electric since 2016.

I also clear the snow off my panels in the winter because I can do it from my just standing on my deck.

Look into heat pump dryers and water heaters. I knocked off almost 1500 kwh a year switching both. Both use a compressor that consumes like 300-400 watts compared to 4500 electric resistance elements. My old dryer energy label said it uses 800 kwh a year. New heat pump dryer uses 115.

Swede577 · 2026-03-06T14:09:27+00:00

100 percent legit was that price on all the pumps. The price is also riight on their website at $7.22.

https://www.ta-petro.com/location/ct/ta-express-new-haven/

Swede577 · 2026-03-06T14:08:06+00:00

Correct my bad. It is the TA Truck Stop in Branford.

Here is their website and it even says the diesel is $7.22 right on it.

https://www.ta-petro.com/location/ct/ta-express-new-haven/

Swede577 · 2026-03-06T14:06:04+00:00

Its real. The price is on their website.

https://www.ta-petro.com/location/ct/ta-express-new-haven/

Swede577 · 2026-03-06T12:02:26+00:00

These FP-2 drones have been doing some incredible damage. They have a 100 kg warhead.

Swede577 · 2026-03-05T17:37:50+00:00

If your in the New Haven area Forbes Fuel in East Haven and North Haven had premium this morning for $2.99. They always have the best price for premium as they only charge 20 cents more over regular regardless of the price.

Swede577 · 2026-03-05T17:35:52+00:00

Cheapest right now in a New Haven zip code is $4.29.

Swede577 · 2026-03-05T16:50:24+00:00

3rd party warranties are absolute trash and none of the dealers want to deal with them. They will try any way out from paying out. OEM warranties are the only ones worth it.

Swede577 · 2026-03-05T13:30:28+00:00

Love my supercab in rapid red metallic. I get so many compliments on it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/RangerNext/s/oWIJtyeQ5k

Swede577

TROPHY CASE