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What a completely useless article. Anyone who gets solar installed learns that the power is piped back into the grid and used as a credit towards your bill. ".

What a completely useless article. Anyone who gets solar installed learns that the power is piped back into the grid and used as a credit towards your bill. "...many are learning the hard way" Are they? The article doesn't quote or link to anyone discovering this for the first time. A better title is, "A reporter outside of California learns how solar works and writes a click-bait, information free article about it."

Pfhreak 7y ago
It's not at all unreasonable for people to think that power flows back when the grid is operating, and when the grid isn't, they'll still be able to use their solar panels. Yes, you and I know this requires extra equipment and introduces some safety issues, but the first blush assumption is not unreasonable here.
- test6554 7y ago
  When I first learned about this I was annoyed, but then realized you could buy a system that works around this limitation.
  - hootbootscoot 7y ago
    Of course you can. The most elementary modicum of research into solar-powered equipment immediately shoves the question: "grid tied or off grid?" into your face. It's the primary 2 categories of equipment on online solar shops, as the menus indicate.
  - hootbootscoot 7y ago
    the "grid-tied" inverter integrates -a charge controller (PWM or MPTT, I believe the latter is a buck converter, but it trades amperage for voltage and vice-versa to constantly maintain a voltage advantage over the battery) -an AC inverter the charge controller simply needs to have the means to indepedently switch between "grid-tied" and "battery-charging" I believe most grid-tie inverters have to COMPLETELY disengage from the grid in the event of outages by LAW and this is simply because line-repair-staff don't want to get fried trying to repair lines. Lines are either "up" and working or "down" While what the person above mentioned would be technically feasible. (a distributed grid) it's not desirable nor legal under the current way power grids operate. Again, this is no failing of solar etc.
- hootbootscoot 7y ago
  It is ridiculous to propose that a homeowner invests tens of thousands of dollars or more into their home solar kit and has no notion of it's capabilities. As I outlined above, a simple "autonomy" function provided by the already-contained DC-DC charge controller will suffice to charge a battery bank. Sans battery bank, no reasonable person could assume autonomy.
  - souprock 7y ago
    A reasonable person would assume that it works during the day. Of course it won't work by starlight. I have no idea how common this configuration is, but it makes perfect sense. It is almost like a battery-capable system, but without the batteries installed. This configuration makes sense because batteries are expensive, bulky, and hazardous. Day-only usage is still useful.
  - Pfhreak 7y ago
    > no reasonable person could assume You keep using that word, I don't think it means what you think it means. I'm sorry, but there are plenty of people who would absolutely drop 20 grand and say, "When the sun is shining, I have power" without doing any investigation. I know a few of them.
  - brownbat 7y ago
    I spent more than that on a house that I've mostly learned about through things breaking, because homeownership is a deeply humbling experience. Things are complex and people are busy. But would be nice if there was some qualification about how many solar owners are actually confused. "Many homeowners are learning the hard way" are epic weasel words. Maybe they're right and battery sales will spike, maybe commenters are right and no one who lacks a battery system will be surprised or change their decision. I'd guess 1-3% of battery-less eligible solar owners get inspired by the blackout to buy a battery. More than zero but definitely below one in twenty.
- hootbootscoot 7y ago
  I am interested WHO on earth flagged the parent comment and what basis they had for flagging it. Are you going to flag this comment to? Stop it please, the parent comment was perfectly valid and TRUE, more to the point. (and fitting into the rules of HN, so inform me if otherwise please...)

Pfhreak 7y ago

It's not at all unreasonable for people to think that power flows back when the grid is operating, and when the grid isn't, they'll still be able to use their solar panels. Yes, you and I know this requires extra equipment and introduces some safety issues, but the first blush assumption is not unreasonable here.

test6554 7y ago
When I first learned about this I was annoyed, but then realized you could buy a system that works around this limitation.
- hootbootscoot 7y ago
  Of course you can. The most elementary modicum of research into solar-powered equipment immediately shoves the question: "grid tied or off grid?" into your face. It's the primary 2 categories of equipment on online solar shops, as the menus indicate.
- hootbootscoot 7y ago
  the "grid-tied" inverter integrates -a charge controller (PWM or MPTT, I believe the latter is a buck converter, but it trades amperage for voltage and vice-versa to constantly maintain a voltage advantage over the battery) -an AC inverter the charge controller simply needs to have the means to indepedently switch between "grid-tied" and "battery-charging" I believe most grid-tie inverters have to COMPLETELY disengage from the grid in the event of outages by LAW and this is simply because line-repair-staff don't want to get fried trying to repair lines. Lines are either "up" and working or "down" While what the person above mentioned would be technically feasible. (a distributed grid) it's not desirable nor legal under the current way power grids operate. Again, this is no failing of solar etc.
hootbootscoot 7y ago
It is ridiculous to propose that a homeowner invests tens of thousands of dollars or more into their home solar kit and has no notion of it's capabilities. As I outlined above, a simple "autonomy" function provided by the already-contained DC-DC charge controller will suffice to charge a battery bank. Sans battery bank, no reasonable person could assume autonomy.
- souprock 7y ago
  A reasonable person would assume that it works during the day. Of course it won't work by starlight. I have no idea how common this configuration is, but it makes perfect sense. It is almost like a battery-capable system, but without the batteries installed. This configuration makes sense because batteries are expensive, bulky, and hazardous. Day-only usage is still useful.
- Pfhreak 7y ago
  > no reasonable person could assume You keep using that word, I don't think it means what you think it means. I'm sorry, but there are plenty of people who would absolutely drop 20 grand and say, "When the sun is shining, I have power" without doing any investigation. I know a few of them.
- brownbat 7y ago
  I spent more than that on a house that I've mostly learned about through things breaking, because homeownership is a deeply humbling experience. Things are complex and people are busy. But would be nice if there was some qualification about how many solar owners are actually confused. "Many homeowners are learning the hard way" are epic weasel words. Maybe they're right and battery sales will spike, maybe commenters are right and no one who lacks a battery system will be surprised or change their decision. I'd guess 1-3% of battery-less eligible solar owners get inspired by the blackout to buy a battery. More than zero but definitely below one in twenty.
hootbootscoot 7y ago
I am interested WHO on earth flagged the parent comment and what basis they had for flagging it. Are you going to flag this comment to? Stop it please, the parent comment was perfectly valid and TRUE, more to the point. (and fitting into the rules of HN, so inform me if otherwise please...)