Going Solar

[Nod]

Found this article on Slashdot:

When we installed our solar power system, we also installed a monitoring system, which allows me to check the stats on the Web at any moment in time. The monitoring box even buffers up daily results, so that when the network connection was cut for several days (when we had the house rewired last summer), I didn't lose any data. That allows me to track my power generation on a minute-by-minute basis.

On top of that, you get fewer hours of sun during winter. We'll look at some charts in a moment, but one key point is that the solar power system generated measurable power starting at 6:20 in the morning on July 31st, peaking at 4,812 watts at 2:20 in the afternoon. Measurable generation ceased at 8:07 in the evening.

Contrast that with December 31st. No power was generated until 7:41AM. The peak of 3,158W was at 12:53PM, and no power was generated after 4:55 in the afternoon. Let's look at these side-by-side.

Other links in the article point to the installation process, which I think should be a nice read.