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Test Drive a Solar Array's Wattage Before You Build With RoofRay Google Maps Calculator
Posted by John Mahoney at 1:30 AM on August 13, 2008
Thinking of camping out at Ikea once they start selling those solar panels? While you're waiting, RoofRay will help you plan exactly how many SUNGLYÄSS units you'll need, and how much you'll save. Draw the shape of a prospective solar array on Google Maps' satellite image of your roof, enter its slope angle, and watch RoofRay calculate how much DC juice your panels will generate. It doesn't take into account exactly what kind of panels you'll be using, so of course it's an estimate, but an interesting tool for getting the general idea of how much you could knock off the electric bill. See it in action in a demo video below.
[RoofRay via Treehugger]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Wireless Joe
Posted 2:15 AM 13/8/08
Internal Server Error
Goodbye, site.
Wireless Joe
BoinK
Posted 2:15 AM 13/8/08
Oh and another thing (which I'd include in my previous post if we were allowed at least a small time window for edits *hint hint nudge nudge*), that Swedish product name generator that you guys use suck balls.
BoinK
BoinK
Posted 2:14 AM 13/8/08
@mferrari: It would be sad if you _didn't_ know where you were on the globe I'd say.
BoinK
mferrari
Posted 2:09 AM 13/8/08
Is it sad that I knew exactly where to zoom from the outer space view? Google earth is such a nice timewaster.
mferrari
outinthedark
Posted 2:02 AM 13/8/08
This. Tool. Sucks.
I can't get this thing to calculate anything. Getting errors and retrying multiple times does not help.
outinthedark
Rabid Penguin
Posted 1:55 AM 13/8/08
I'll probably never install solar paneling, but that seems like a really neat tool.
Rabid Penguin
tinyhands
Posted 1:49 AM 13/8/08
Either the site is getting hammered or it only has California power companies & rate plans. Or both.
tinyhands
GeekyNerdGuy
Posted 1:42 AM 13/8/08
I wonder if I could actually afford enough panels to be able to run my refrigerator and 2 or 3 lights. I'm betting the fridge is too power hungry.
GeekyNerdGuy
Gann
Posted 1:39 AM 13/8/08
I tried to see how much energy would be produced by covering all of canada in solar panels but it wouldn't let me. "Your surface is too large or is too far spread out. Try creating a new calculation."
Gann
jkr's bold comment
Posted 2:30 AM 13/8/08
@Gann: "I tried to see how much energy would be produced by covering all of canada in solar panels"
Still not enough juice to run one of these babies [gizmodo.com] .
jkr's bold comment
twoeightnine
Posted 2:24 AM 13/8/08
This would be awesome if Google ever got within 5 levels of my house. Thank god we have street views of Bumblefuck, Alabama though.
twoeightnine
bpapa9013
Posted 3:05 AM 13/8/08
I'm presuming that this does not take trees/other shade into account either...
Useful for the average bored nerd to mess with, won't help at all if you are actually planning on mounting panels. You'll still have to do a pretty in-depth site survey to be sure...
bpapa9013
Hat Trick
Posted 8:58 AM 13/8/08
Worked pretty well. Found my house, put the panels on half of my roof, and voila! A $35,000 investment today with a payback in the year 2027. I was considering a purchase of 35 "I'm Rich" iPhone apps but this seems (moderately) more practical.
Anyone know of a good solar panel retailer?
Hat Trick
Posted 5:03 AM 13/8/08
I signed up and was logged in, but every time I attempted to save my array I got an error that said I wasn't registered. Also, only have California power companies listed. Several times the site timed out. Seems like a neat site, hope its gets out of beta soon. Also, when I started messing with the site, only 63 people had created arrays. Perhaps its not intended as a public beta just yet.