My solar testbed has been running for a few months now. In the summer here in Austin I tend to get 700 WH per day, but it does vary. I was wondering what the payback is for my little setup. My panels are just whatever I found on Amazon. Not the best or the worst. Price probably ok at $150.

At 700 WH per day, and using $0.10 per kWH, it comes to about $0.07 per day production. Doesn’t sound like much but thats $25 per year. So I’m looking at about a 6 year payback. Not bad. Of course there are lots of variables. My equipment has a battery, inverter and controller that I’m not including. Also $0.10 per kWH is top tier here in Austin, but that is what we pay. But there are other fees on our power bill that aren’t included, and they are significant these days in Texas. And if you use less electricity the tier and the rate will be lower. Of course the output of the panels will be lower in the winter. But a good ballpark number.