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Hi Everyone. It's exciting to find this forum. I'm trying to get up to speed on residential PV systems so I can intelligently choose a system and installer for my brother's house, probably in the 5kW range.
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Hello charles2 and welcome to Solar Panel Talk!SunnyBoy 3000 US, 18 BP Solar 175B panels. -
Start by reading Solar for Dummies - a free online download. Then, figure out your annual usage by month and how you pay for it. Then, see how your POCO (POwer COmpany) treats what you generate in terms of buying it back. Then, run PVWatts after reading the help/info screens and decide what size/price/particularsv is best for your needs. Then, and only then, call reputable vendors and ask for bids on the size and particulars you think are best for you. Know what you want before you shop.
Take what you want of the above. Scrap the rest.
Welcome to the neighborhood and the forum of few illusions.Comment
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Thank you! I've done a lot of reading and I have several questions, but I'm confused about whether to post them in the "Solar panel systems for homeowners" forum or the "Equipment for solar electric systems" forum. How do I decide? Or should I attempt to split them into 2 groups?Comment
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The same way you start any learning process - questions, observation, research and inquisition.
I'd start by finding reputable, licensed electrical contractors who've been in business for at least 10 years before they got into solar, and sold solar for at least 5 more years. If you can stay in business for 15 years, that's quite a feat in itself and shows some fair amount of a lot of necessary quantities like persistence, product knowledge, organizational skills and probably a fair amount of integrity as well as a lot of other "incidentals" like how to meet a payroll, and train and retain good people. Along the way, they'll also probably have acquired an appreciation of how to run a project, and not least importantly the value of a reputation and a customer.
After you get knowledgeable about solar and residential PV, pick at least 3 good vendors - and interview them. With your gained solar knowledge, ask them questions you already know the answers to. That is often one of several ways to winnow out who is a real professional and who's full of B.S. (disreputable). I'd not necessarily pick vendors your friends and neighbors pick - those folks probably don't know any more about picking good vendors than you know, and probably no more than the (perhaps) honest folks who prattle on Yelp, Angie's list and even the BBB. You're pretty much on your own. Use your head and your gut. Unless someone is a complete moron, a decent screening process usually allows the cream to rise to the top. (reputable), or the big chunks in a cess pool (disreputable). One other tool to distinguish is your nose. You can usually smell B.S. Beware the hard sell.
Another tool and second B.S. filter: With your newly acquired solar knowledge, prepare a list of things you want to buy. system size, inverter(s), locations, roof attachments, schedule, who does the paperwork, payment terms, discounts for cash, and anything else you want to have and have done in association with the project. Give that to all those vendors you want to bid on your project. Ask for best price to meet your Request For Proposal (R.F.P.). Allow alternate proposals but insist on quotes as per you proposal. Those who respond are probably professional and reputable. Those who don't bother to respond at all, or treat your R.F.P. dismissively are probably not worthy of your business (disreputable).
Do not share prices between vendors. You will only pay more by doing so. Don't make it a Dutch auction. Vendors probably know where they need to be on price anyway. Sharing prices will lock you into paying $.01 less than the next highest bid. Keep the prices to yourself - you lose nothing by doing so and might get a better price. Evaluate bids with an eye toward meeting the stated goals with most bang for the buck in mind - not necessarily low buck. Buy cheap, buy twice applies here. A few bucks saved will never be remembered as much as poor quality that is a constant reminder. Negotiate fair, tough and professionally, and keep in mind that if you squeeze vendors too hard, and they are hurting for work, you may shoot yourself in the foot by forcing a vendor to "buy" a job and then skimp on quality in ways you'll never know about until something fails from poor quality. You also need to figure their work level. If they are loaded, expect to pay more - simple supply/demand.
Knowledge is power. Get some and you can use it to help increase the probability of a successful project.Comment
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Depends on what kind of knowledge and expertize you're looking for. Before I quit drinking, I hung out in several watering holes and learned very useful tools from the REAL knowledgeable and very helpful experts (after years of intense discussion, instruction and mentoring) in the two lofty crafts of keeping the Irish economy going by doing my best to ensure the Guinness folks at St. James Gate stayed on 3 shifts keeping up with my created demand for their product while simultaneously doing my best to ensure all the women of the world were Gaelic by injection (with Guinness of course - with those already claiming Irish decent/heritage getting booster shots).http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/images...es/biggrin.gif
As for this forum, I suspect other readers/posters may do something similar to my current modus operandi and start by checking new posts and pick/choose from there.Comment
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I am thinking that the "Solar panel systems for homeowners" forum might be a little to slow for me, but that the "Grid tie installation questions and technical solar talk" forum might be too advanced. Would you do me a favor? Make up a placement quiz of perhaps 10 questions, then use my score to place me. I promise I won't cheat and Google the answers.Comment
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Both of those threads provide a lot of information concerning solar being used for your home which is also connected to the Grid.
My advice is to pick one that go through the postings until you come up with some questions. You could ask your questions or go to the other thread and read the posts there.
I know there is a lot to read but IMO better than watching TV anytime.Comment
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