Taxman's Lightning Chronology

[LUXMAN]

Imagine if it wasn't a situation covered by insurance. Just that the roof was worn out and needed to be replaced. All out of pocket. OMG

This house was new when we put the Solar on. Only six months old. So I would suggest anyone putting that on there, consider the age and do it before they added it if they think it would be needed in the next few years.

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[TaxmanHog]

Do you already own an EcoFlow? Does it have a solar input?

I do own two Delta Pro's with two extra batteries, combined storage is 14.2 kWh, but these systems live in the house basement to cover emergency needs of the house. I did not buy the 400w EF solar panels when I bought the system, it was an option though, later I considered having a local company install an off-grid panel system to exclusively feed to the Delta's, never pursued that

If I did a solar system for the garage, it would probably be helpful to have battery storage for capturing daily production when the truck is not plugged in, also be grid tied to sell back some excess production once the battery is full.

Being retired, we are home most of the day, except morning and afternoon errands for about 2 hours away time.

At our age, me 64 and wife 75, the life time usage factor has me doubting if it's a worthy investment. It's possible that I might decide to sell the house and move to warmer motorcycle friendly climates.

 

[tearitupsports]

I do own two Delta Pro's with two extra batteries, combined storage is 14.2 kWh, but these systems live in the house basement to cover emergency needs of the house. I did not buy the 400w EF solar panels when I bought the system, it was an option though, later I considered having a local company install an off-grid panel system to exclusively feed to the Delta's, never pursued that

If I did a solar system for the garage, it would probably be helpful to have battery storage for capturing daily production when the truck is not plugged in, also be grid tied to sell back some excess production once the battery is full.

Being retired, we are home most of the day, except morning and afternoon errands for about 2 hours away time.

At our age, me 64 and wife 75, the life time usage factor has me doubting if it's a worthy investment. It's possible that I might decide to sell the house and move to warmer motorcycle friendly climates.

It’s going to be 82 degrees in Houston today. Electric rates are about 1/3 what you are paying.

 

[Scorpio3d]

Nice PW3s! Wish I could get the expansion packs. They need to make it compatible with PW2.

Here are some PW pics and I figure I almost have enough solar, but you can see what a Texas Hailstorm can to to the panels. Supposedly they can stand up to Golf Ball size hail, but bigger is a problem. The reason they look like a Shotgun blast is they get hit by a large hail stone and that weakens the whole structure and the rest of the panel is blasted. I only lost 3 panels in the 2023 storm, but I lost 10 in the 2024 storm. But the system kept running.

With the loss of the Tax Credit however, I wouldn't even consider a system now. The price of electricity is < 12 cents here. So it is a tough one to justify, but electricity rates have increased 50% since I installed the first system in 2018.
And our Coop recently started a VPP with Tesla PW owners so that is actually starting to pay dividends. Even covers my gas bill.
I don't know how the solar industry will survive in a place like Texas however. So I hope Tesla continues to service the area (since I have a 25 year bumper to bumper warranty). I know they are making buy out Lease deals on solar so hopefully that will help. Good thing @TexasGardeningGirl is patient with my solar follies

BTW, @GDN that is Jesse's foot in the picture on the roof

Yeah, I know about hail I live in the metroplex too! Pics from the 2016 storm we had! Within 24 hours

I was going to install additional panels as well as the power walls, but it didn’t work out with my previous solar company, but I saved about four grand through Tesla plus the tax credit! So hopefully that will allow me to add more panels price should come down now!
I am on Oncor so I have electric choice, but yeah, rates have gone up even though they are relatively cheap compared to many other places in the country!
P.S. @TaxmanHog sorry for hijacking the thread!

 

[LUXMAN]

I do own two Delta Pro's with two extra batteries, combined storage is 14.2 kWh, but these systems live in the house basement to cover emergency needs of the house. I did not buy the 400w EF solar panels when I bought the system, it was an option though, later I considered having a local company install an off-grid panel system to exclusively feed to the Delta's, never pursued that

If I did a solar system for the garage, it would probably be helpful to have battery storage for capturing daily production when the truck is not plugged in, also be grid tied to sell back some excess production once the battery is full.

Being retired, we are home most of the day, except morning and afternoon errands for about 2 hours away time.

At our age, me 64 and wife 75, the life time usage factor has me doubting if it's a worthy investment. It's possible that I might decide to sell the house and move to warmer motorcycle friendly climates.

It’s going to be 82 degrees in Houston today. Electric rates are about 1/3 what you are paying.

Yeah, I know about hail I live in the metroplex too! Pics from the 2016 storm we had! Within 24 hours

I was going to install additional panels as well as the power walls, but it didn’t work out with my previous solar company, but I saved about four grand through Tesla plus the tax credit! So hopefully that will allow me to add more panels price should come down now!
I am on Oncor so I have electric choice, but yeah, rates have gone up even though they are relatively cheap compared to many other places in the country!
P.S. @TaxmanHog sorry for hijacking the thread!

Oh yeah. I remember you are in the area.
Hopefully it will be awhile before we all get hit again. One of the few negatives of living here. IT seems my house is a magnet for hail but @GDN seems to have a magical hail resistant dome over his place!

 

[davehu]

Wrap up of the 2025 and life time cost of operation for my 2022 Lariat-ER.

Energy includes battery conditioning on the plug as well as off-the plug remote starts to condition the cabin. The misc cost's jumped this year due to an insurance premium increase.

The energy logs show Emporia=4008 kWh & FCSP=3938 kWh, while the spreadsheet total energy of 4085 kWh includes a couple DCFC sessions during this year, 98.1% of my charging is at home.

​

Though the Lightning is not as economically rewarding, it is still a joy to drive.

Thanks for this. interesting. but why is your Miles/KWhr so low. After 22k miles I'm at 2.3.. (although 80% local) Weather? I'm in the south

 

[TaxmanHog]

Thanks for this. interesting. but why is your Miles/KWhr so low. After 22k miles I'm at 2.3.. (although 80% local) Weather? I'm in the south

I do a lot of off the plug cabin conditioning in the cold weather of New England.

Do note, that I can experience better efficiency in the spring or early fall where minimal HVAC is needed.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Week by week details:

 

[davehu]

I do a lot of off the plug cabin conditioning in the cold weather of New England.

Do note, that I can experience better efficiency in the spring or early fall where minimal HVAC is needed.

Born and raised in Michigan, I understand!

 

[B177y]

Week by week details:

Is this supposed to be in your "chronology" thread?

 

[TaxmanHog]

Is this supposed to be in your "chronology" thread?

Thank you very much, MOVED, see what happens when one has to many TAB's open LOL

 

[TaxmanHog]

I've been busy the past month getting my race bikes engine rebuild finished, today picked up fresh racing fuel to complete the stationary heat cycling of the engines rings & bearings, fire in the hole 4/30/2026 @1400 EDT

Once that's done and no problems crop up, first drag racing trip to New England Dragway is planned for 5/2, the Lightning will be towing my 7x14 dual axle, round trip is about 212 miles.

Only $24 a gallon, 10 gallons should get me about 40 quarter mile passes, depending how well the season goes, I may need a third can.

 

[Grumpy2]

first drag racing trip to New England Dragway is planned for 5/2

Watching for updates and PHOTOS. Good Luck to you!

 

[hturnerfamily]

as an Insurance Agent, and agency owner for over 1/4 century, the advent of adding solar panels, and maybe even more concerning, solar equipment and wiring, to the roofs of insured homes, and structures, is a realistic consideration for not only the Insurance company, but also, realistically, the homeowner.

we have been preached to that 'solar' is the savior of the earth, then the death of having to 'rely' on the grid, then, maybe, to charge our EVs for 'free', etc., although the solar industry never expounded upon the concerns of this cost, and logistics, in the future.
They missed giving us some important considerations.

the insurance industry has started to see the additional cost and time for repairs and replacement claims due to solar equipment being mounted on insured roofs. They have also seen, with good reason, the possibilities of incorrect, or less-than-perfect, installation problems, mainly drilling HOLES into otherwise perfectly protected roofs. One contractor to apply a roof. Another to apply a separate and potentially concerning set of additional weights, and fastening applications.

the insurance industry is now in the business of potentially having to 'pay' to remove equipment, and reinstall it, although this equipment is not part of the property 'structure', and many times, not a recognized insured part, especially if that solar installation has created elements of the claim, i.e., leaks.
Coverage may include repair or replacement of the damaged part, or areas, but will never pay to cover the initial PERIL, i.e., improper installation, lack of or missed caulking, etc.

An insurance company typically approved coverage at the outset with the current 'proper roof and covering', although a future solar installation will then potentially change that, since that roof has now been 'modified', and potentially beyond what the insurance company would have otherwise accepted.

my points, and while I enjoy the basic idea, or premise, of what solar can 'do', is that we have to REALLY drill down on all the future points, and concerns, of what this installation MEANS. Yes, whether an insurance claim is involved, or not, replacing our roof, for obvious age, and conditions concerns, down the road, is going to potentially be VERY expensive, and even aggravating, when having to then consider BOTH removing the solar equipment, PROPERLY, and Safely, and without damage, and then REINSTALLING all of this solar equipment, Properly, Safely, and without damage, AGAIN.
Likely the same contractor will also NOT be doing both, and maybe neither should you WANT a single contractor to do both.

Will this ultimately cause MORE costs and expense and time, where the initial base idea of the 'solar savoir', and savings calculations, is now defeated?

 

[tearitupsports]

as an Insurance Agent, and agency owner for over 1/4 century, the advent of adding solar panels, and maybe even more concerning, solar equipment and wiring, to the roofs of insured homes, and structures, is a realistic consideration for not only the Insurance company, but also, realistically, the homeowner.

we have been preached to that 'solar' is the savior of the earth, then the death of having to 'rely' on the grid, then, maybe, to charge our EVs for 'free', etc., although the solar industry never expounded upon the concerns of this cost, and logistics, in the future.
They missed giving us some important considerations.

the insurance industry has started to see the additional cost and time for repairs and replacement claims due to solar equipment being mounted on insured roofs. They have also seen, with good reason, the possibilities of incorrect, or less-than-perfect, installation problems, mainly drilling HOLES into otherwise perfectly protected roofs. One contractor to apply a roof. Another to apply a separate and potentially concerning set of additional weights, and fastening applications.

the insurance industry is now in the business of potentially having to 'pay' to remove equipment, and reinstall it, although this equipment is not part of the property 'structure', and many times, not a recognized insured part, especially if that solar installation has created elements of the claim, i.e., leaks.
Coverage may include repair or replacement of the damaged part, or areas, but will never pay to cover the initial PERIL, i.e., improper installation, lack of or missed caulking, etc.

An insurance company typically approved coverage at the outset with the current 'proper roof and covering', although a future solar installation will then potentially change that, since that roof has now been 'modified', and potentially beyond what the insurance company would have otherwise accepted.

my points, and while I enjoy the basic idea, or premise, of what solar can 'do', is that we have to REALLY drill down on all the future points, and concerns, of what this installation MEANS. Yes, whether an insurance claim is involved, or not, replacing our roof, for obvious age, and conditions concerns, down the road, is going to potentially be VERY expensive, and even aggravating, when having to then consider BOTH removing the solar equipment, PROPERLY, and Safely, and without damage, and then REINSTALLING all of this solar equipment, Properly, Safely, and without damage, AGAIN.
Likely the same contractor will also NOT be doing both, and maybe neither should you WANT a single contractor to do both.

Will this ultimately cause MORE costs and expense and time, where the initial base idea of the 'solar savoir', and savings calculations, is now defeated?

As a licensed but non-practicing insurance agent, I do disagree now that the insurance companies are charging premiums for having solar panels (at least USAA does).

The actual problem is the roof industry (at least here in TX). I quite believe it is a collusion between insurance companies and the roofers. As standard they put on a roof that cannot hold up to hail, in a state where hail happens all the time. Every so often, every house in the neighborhood is re-roofed with the same crappy product that will need to be replaced within another 1-10 years again.

Roofers get a substantial amount of repeat business, and insurance companies charge significant premiums. Both get a lot of profit from it.

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