any one have trouble with solar panels??

[buckhound]

just wondering if anyone who has solar has had issues with higher than normal voltage (257 or more ) coming in from the street?or even low voltage  at times that shuts the system down...guys I know this is a hunting site but i am at fed up with the blame game and just reaching out to try and get some answers....

[Haskell_Hunter]

Who is the manufacturer of your panels, and who did the installation?  When was the last time you had your transfer switch looked at by an electrician?

[buckhound]

solar city installed them Oct 2015  started having problems spring 2016 apparently 257-260 volts is some how coming into house off the street last fall the electric company tested the lines saw the high voltage and replaced some wires moved the transformer closer to the house. seems like this time of year when you are producing more it starts sending high voltage in to the house. its crazy all my appliances are being affected , cfl bulbs blow out ,ceiling fan motors are burning up, twice my heater blower motor burned up.

[Haskell_Hunter]

My guess is there's something wrong with your transfer switch.  That, in theory, is supposed to ensure that the street and your panels only supply the appropriate amount of power to your home.  So if you're getting too much current, I would have an electrician come in and take a look at it and then call the installer to check it out.

[CJ3a]

Can you measure the street side and the solar side independently with no load?

[buckhound]

i have had 2 electricians the installing company (solar city)  and  atlantic city electric all they can say is its coming from the street. I am 99% certain this was happening before the solar panels had been installed and we just figured it out because the solar company  monitors the system.since we have been in this house the electric has been crazy my first summer the electric bills where $1200 - $1500 and appliances  started to burn up lights blowing etc...was hoping to find someone having same or similar issues  LOL

[Axiom]

 

was hoping to find someone having same or similar issues  LOL

 

 I had similar issues with a house I rented in Chester nj.. electric bills over $1100 a month.. no explanation to be found.. moved when lease was up..

[buckhound]

Can you measure the street side and the solar side independently with no load?

 that i am not sure of....

[buckhound]

 I had similar issues with a house I rented in Chester nj.. electric bills over $1100 a month.. no explanation to be found.. moved when lease was up..

i wish i could move LOL

[Haskell_Hunter]

i have had 2 electricians the installing company (solar city)  and  atlantic city electric all they can say is its coming from the street. I am 99% certain this was happening before the solar panels had been installed and we just figured it out because the solar company  monitors the system.since we have been in this house the electric has been crazy my first summer the electric bills where $1200 - $1500 and appliances  started to burn up lights blowing etc...was hoping to find someone having same or similar issues  LOL

 

If it's coming from the street and you've had all those folks confirm it, your next course of action is to file a complaint with the state utilities board.  It's pretty easy to do.  If your transfer box is working okay, and it sounds like it is, this isn't a solar issue.

 

I run three fridges and a ton of servers and electronics in my house.  I hover around $200-$220 a month, which I think is excessive.

 

Your utility bill should show the about of power you are using.  Have you had your house load tested?  (http://tinyrevolution.us/2011/06/20/how-to-determine-the-electric-load-of-your-house/)  Are all of your utilities electric (like power, clothes dryer, heat, etc.)?  If you can estimate your house's draw, you should be able to estimate your monthly draw and compare that to what the power company says your drawing.

 

You're paying way too much for power, IMHO.  I've heard in some rare cases that previous tenants/owners didn't pay for their utilities, and the company amortizes that past due cost into your power bill even though you didn't create the overage.

[buckhound]

You know I actually called the utility board last year never got a follow up they called electric company and thats it , I have oil heat and hot water and last fall i put in a natural gas dryer. I don't have the box that shows how much i use.I have 72 panels an 18,000 plus KW a year system and i still have a $300 or more bill on top of solar some months...according to the bill it is 100% mine alone LOL this whole thing is a mess usually cfl bulbs only last a few weeks then the end blows out ,dvd players get about 6 months, ceiling fans maybe a year ,washer dryer refrigerator all had to be replaced my 65" samsung tv developed a black spot in the center of the screen after 3-4 months,my  microwave caught on fire on the counter ,even the cable boxes and modem are replaced yearly...  this whole thing is crazy 

Edited May 5, 2016 by buckhound

[Haskell_Hunter]

I would follow up with the utility board.  You've got a potential situation that could cause someone serious harm or start a fire in your house.

[buckhound]

we have had two blower motors burn up in less than a year filling the house with smoke bringing out the FD ..........  i will give them a call and possibly talk to an attorney  hopefully i can get this resolved without a catastrophe...

[Kype]

cant help you, but my solar powered watch is going 8 years strong 

[CJ3a]

I called the power company in the passed about high voltage and they fixed it immediately. JCP&L.