Comments on: Shining a light on solar-power costs

Solar systems don't come cheap, so HelioVolt is teaming with Exceltech to cut back on the installation costs.

[StanJasek]

HelioVolt has to make a Product!

This story is a combination of "dreams" at this point in time. I think HelioVolt has great technology but is not close to manufacturing GIGS PV panels yet.
Reducing the labor cost of PV systems is important but far less important than having a saleable and market ready product.
FOCUS! Get the CIGS/PV product to market!!!

[Battleshipagincourt]

Find a more practical use for solar panels

One way to make solar cheaper is to forget the invertor completely
and focus effort to use solar direct current for hot water heaters.
The hot water could also serve to heat homes in winter. It would
not produce electricity for appliances, but it would cut the price for
utilities. The reduced costs of hot water and savings from a
furnace might cut enough expenses for an earlier break-even date.

Not a good idea at all.

Low grade heat such as hot water and space heating is far more efficiently obtained from thermal collectors (e.g. circulated hot water panels) ant not P.V.

The price of inverters will drop sharply with volume production. Right now they are very much over-priced for the components they contain, all of which are basically commodity items.

[jonrboyd]

Good advice on the comments section.

The question I have is the best voltage level to use, if we design our home to use DC as generated by the solar panels.

I was thinking 48V because I believe that is the highest practical voltage that is still considered fairly safe. And telephony back-up systems use 48V so it is fairly common.

Any other thoughts on this?