I'm in the process of buying a 1050 sq ft house, and the current owners say they average about $600 for their summer electric bill and $300 in the winter, with a rate of 30.55 cents per kWh. I've only dealt with small solar setups before (like 100W or less), but now I'm considering a more substantial system. Here are a couple of kits I've found:
#1: [Complete Hybrid Solar Kit](https://www.portable-sun.com/products/complete-hybrid-solar-kit-12-000w-120-240v-output-30-72kwh-eg4-lithium-powerwall-12-2-kw-watts-of-solar-pv-kit-e0005?variant=50224063119635&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-e6-BhDmARIsAOxxlxUYZkLVBqChGWjB_VB3b-sutNLR3TpAj8LipZ-3xpqhN7F0j6FRjpUaAgs5EALw_wcB)
#2: [Off-Grid Solar Kit](https://sungoldpower.com/collections/solar-kit-system/products/off-grid-solar-kit-12-x-550-watts-solar-panels-25-6kwh-lithium-battery-10kw-solar-inverter-48vdc-120v-240v-sgr-10k25s?utm_source=google&utm_medium=PMax&utm_campaign=21792728615&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-e6-BhDmARIsAOxxlxX0BYyqO4UkHO2lZXQxdUylILeeVg3Gd48_0uJv3NvxjFavhUDCVdAaAm_9EALw_wcB)
Do you think one of these would provide enough power to eliminate my electric bill?
3 Answers
Before you hit that buy button, consider improving insulation and replacing any outdated systems first. That summer bill seems pretty high for your house size, so investing in energy efficiency first could save you a lot when you do add solar. It's typically easier to reduce usage than to completely offset it with solar!
You're definitely on the right track! Just keep in mind that your energy usage might differ significantly from the previous owners. It's super important to monitor how much energy you actually use in a typical month. Both kits you're looking at seem solid and have enough capacity to run a house, but you may want to consider an energy audit first. It helps to find where you can conserve energy, too—sometimes insulation and energy-efficient appliances can cut bills more effectively than just throwing solar at it!
I've been using EG4 equipment for a couple of years without issues. The kit you’re looking into is decently easy to install with some basic electrical knowledge. Just a heads up: make sure you know about your local codes and regulations, as some areas can be strict. Plus, these kits often don’t come with everything you need—be ready to grab some additional tools and mounting hardware.
Right, there's a lot of other small stuff you'll need to get, so be prepared if you're going the DIY route!
Yeah, I moved into a much larger house with older appliances and it took some brainstorming to cut our bills down. Just switching out some bulbs and adjusting our pool’s usage made a noticeable difference!