Solar panels - worth saving from home demolition??
Submitted by bradz on Wed, 2017-05-24 11:05
Morning all
I will shortly be demolishing an old house that has 8 solar panels on the roof. Are these worth salvaging? See picture.
Also, it has a bloody big Frangipani in the front yard that I am hoping to save...but if I cant, does anyone know what it would be worth to sell?
Cheers
____________________________________________________________________________
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
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Marineboy
Posts: 842
Date Joined: 14/03/14
Frangipani
hey bradz, frangis transplant very well I scored a stump from a real old one that everyone had raped the branches from as cuttings and it now sits proudly next to my Bali hut doing very well, you don't even need to be too careful of the roots when digging them up they are so hardy. As for value check gumtree out there are usually some large ones on there for sale.
My spots are so secret even the fish don't know about them !
sunshine
Posts: 2612
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Perfect time to be digging it up
As winter there is little sap running, remember the white sap is highly poisonous particularly if you get even a tiny bit in your eyes. I would wrap the top with hessian to keep as many of the limbs intact as possible before priggish it up but as said above you do not need to be overly careful with the root ball but it will be heavy.
bradz
Posts: 693
Date Joined: 29/10/07
Cheers
I'm aware they are hardy...just hope the demolition guy doesn't get too enthusiastic.
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
davmor
Posts: 248
Date Joined: 29/11/11
With the price of electricity
Likc
Posts: 361
Date Joined: 09/08/09
Solar panels deteriorate over
Solar panels deteriorate over time. About 25% of output is gone in 20 years, so depending on the age of yours, they might not be suitable / worth for a grid connected system. But with a battery they will run all your lights around the house for free for many years, if you have the option to install them on a new house.
ElDub
Posts: 54
Date Joined: 02/04/17
That Frangi is pribably
That Frangi is pribably worth a couple grand. Finding someone to pay that is a different story.
fuzzy79
Posts: 127
Date Joined: 31/07/10
I removed a 1kW solar system
I removed a 1kW solar system from my house about 3 months ago. Sold it on gumtree for $300 without any hassle.
chris raff
Posts: 3257
Date Joined: 09/02/10
That’s a huge specky Franga
That’s a huge specky Franga ideally keep it . $500 or so bucks might see it gone fairly quick be it they keep it whole or chop off limbs to cut , dry and repot /plant them . A quick squizz on gumtree I see someone asking for $1400 but I reckon they’re dreaming ..
“Intelligence is like a four-wheel drive. It only allows you to get stuck in more remote places.”
crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
LOL Chris
Havent seen a "franga" that big, maybe for a sperm whale contraceptive. A pretty big frangi though
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
bradz
Posts: 693
Date Joined: 29/10/07
Solar
I'll get my sparky to give the panels the once over. Might salvage them for the shed.
I've spoken to the Demo guy and he reckons he can work around the tree. Just one more thing to worry about before we build. But geez I'm looking forward to the project.
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
Swompa
Posts: 3893
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Synergy we're going to
Synergy we're going to charge me $500 to remove my 1.5kw setup, and give me $200 if they could take it away...
In my opinion, if you know someone who will give you a few hundred bucks for it, give it to them. If not, the system cost me 3500 to install and now I am looking at 5kw systems for 4K. No one is willing to use existing panels.
pelagicyachts
Posts: 1322
Date Joined: 23/02/11
hi mate if you are chasing a
hi mate
if you are chasing a 5kw system have a look at grays online - they have 5kw systems going (at online auction) for around 2200 (all up inc buyers premium) installed all the conditions/terms are on the website - I know all systems vary bla bla bla but the technology is changing so fast for 2200 it wont matter - in 5-7 years you will be paying 3-5k for a fully self sufficient system (battery, solar, vertical wind turbine)
sorry for the rant!
http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0003-5026354/solar-energy/5-kw-solar-pv-system-with-standard-installation-inclusions
chris raff
Posts: 3257
Date Joined: 09/02/10
Self sufficiency in a few
Self sufficiency in a few years that’d be nice . Striking while the iron’s hot and maybe flogging half of Western Power for a rumoured 11 bill might’ve been the go .. soon going to be whacking us with another 15% increase they’ve touted .. apparently we have a bit of a debt
“Intelligence is like a four-wheel drive. It only allows you to get stuck in more remote places.”
pelagicyachts
Posts: 1322
Date Joined: 23/02/11
Western Power is not
Western Power is not increasing the cost, it is Synergy. Synergy is the retailer (send you the bill) WP is the poles and wires - ie the transmission. The govt subsidises everyones bill to the tune of around 500 per household p/a - it is this that is going over the next 2 years that will result in increases - ie your bill will go up because the subsidy needs to be removed -
to be honest I believe that's fair - the govt should not subsidise peoples power use. Remove the subsidy and then its user pays -
As for debt - yep a fair whack! but interest rates a low globally so if you are going to try and pay some off, now is a good time. As for the sale of WP, definitely, it is a regulated business so power prices could not go up regardless of the ownership.
I think labour made a huge mistake by promising not to sell it.....
marrisy
Posts: 202
Date Joined: 08/09/11
We pay tax to the
We pay tax to the government, so they supply the people with roads,. Medical, police, water and power at an affordable price. If it's user pays, then cut the tax. Also the constitution states money raised for a purpose must be used for that purpose, and the people should not pay a toll on roads built with tax revenue. The government gets around this by giving a grant to private enterprise to build roads put toll gates on the roads.
We seem to have an elitist government who believe the taxpayer owes them every dollar, and treat taxpayers like worker ants.
Rant over. 0
pelagicyachts
Posts: 1322
Date Joined: 23/02/11
Agree with cut the tax except
Agree with cut the tax except - if you do the govt will not have enough money to supply roads, medical, police, water etc - why? because most of the tax paid by tax payers goes on welfare - so whilst I can see why people believe the govt seems elitist (and trust me I am not defending them for one second) I think the real problem is too many people are holding their hand out for a free dollar.
A good example of this is the reaction to welfare recipients having to take drug tests - huge backlash on that - well guess what, we have drug testing at work, I get tested about 6 times a year, so is it fair that I do and my taxes go to those who don't have too?
marrisy
Posts: 202
Date Joined: 08/09/11
Always getting drug or
Always getting drug or alcohol at work, don't have a problem with it.
One thing that bothers me is giving aid money to countries that have nuclear programs.
Swompa
Posts: 3893
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Synergy don't dictate the
Synergy don't dictate the cost, the government does. We just make the power.
Trailcraft570
Posts: 124
Date Joined: 06/11/13
Tree
my neighbour has a white flower frangipani in her front yard, similar size to yours. A couple of years ago some dude dropped by and offered her $5K for it as he wanted it for a unit development somewhere. She said no and it still stands strong in the yard now. Suggest you give a commercial nursery a call and see what they say.... they might be able to line you up with a developer who is looking for mature trees....you might be surprised what it's worth!
bradz
Posts: 693
Date Joined: 29/10/07
Tree
Thanks for the idea. Might give it a go.
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8672
Date Joined: 24/07/07
PM of Frangi
Mate runs a frangi nursery, will PM you his number
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
I bought 15YO panels.
They were from the original Kalbarri solar power pilot plant installation . It was demolished last year when it was deemed to be at end of design life. I bought 10 panels for $25 ea--when I tested them, they were within 90% of original spec. They were 80w BP panels, which are quality, and the original specs were easy to find on the net. Had four of them hooked up for camping, was getting 20a output.
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
i will agree
bp panelles are quality gear its all rio tinto uses on their nav aids in all the years i was at the marine wksp at rio dampier i never had to replace 1(apart from the onces that got stollen) just cleaned the seagull crap of them and they were as good as new (not a nice job)
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
Keep them and put them back
Keep them and put them back on. The reinstallation would need to be up the the latest specs but because you have already got the stc's for them no drama re using as far as i am aware. Would be a good shed system!