SunPower with SolarEdge or SMA - OR - SolarEdge with Other Panel ???

[Zman]

Sure. I would suggest Miasole flex-02W 360w modules. .

Interesting! Any idea of the cost per watt installed for this type of system?

[ButchDeal]

Another question... Most of my roof is flat (with a TPM membrane). One area has a 10 degree north facing slope. Could PV panels be placed on that area? Both installers suggested a 10 degree ballasted system for the flat area. Aerocompact ballast system literature says max roof slope is 4 degrees.
Do you think the 10 degree north facing roof can be used for solar panels? I don't want penetrations into the TPM membrane though.

Sure. I would suggest Miasole flex-02W 360w modules. No ablest system required, almost no racking at all in fact ( just for wire management) and very few roof penetrations.

[Zman]

Thank you again for your thoughts. I double checked the LG Quote B and it comes to $3.85/W not $3.20/W. Sorry about the type. Installer B is NABCEP certified and BBB accredited.
Another question... Most of my roof is flat (with a TPM membrane). One area has a 10 degree north facing slope. Could PV panels be placed on that area? Both installers suggested a 10 degree ballasted system for the flat area. Aerocompact ballast system literature says max roof slope is 4 degrees.
Do you think the 10 degree north facing roof can be used for solar panels? I don't want penetrations into the TPM membrane though.

[randomuser]

Bigger question... Quote A for SP panels came in at $5.11/W. Quote B came in at $3.20/W for LG315 panels that include SolarEdge power optimizers, individual panel monitoring, and inverter.
System size is approx 8KW. Am I crazy to go with Quote A?

Can you provide the solar reviews link for the LG installer? As far as which to go with, my reading on this forum is that SP vs other panels is a religious/political debate. I don't think it's bad for people to spend however much they do for what they have, where they've researched the differences. I'm more in the quote B camp but some people sleep better at night with going the quote A route and I don't fault them for that.

[inetdog]

Thank you Inetdog. Can I expect that between SP and the installer that fire safety concerns would be designed in to the system with or without optimizers?

If your location is operating on the 2014 NEC and so requires Rapid Shutdown, then either system will have to have that feature to pass inspection. Adding that to the SMA system will be an additional cost and extra hardware up at the array.
If your location is not yet on the 2014 NEC (pretty common across the country) then chances are the SMA system will not include that feature unless you ask for it and pay extra.

[Zman]

Thank you Inetdog. Can I expect that between SP and the installer that fire safety concerns would be designed in to the system with or without optimizers?

[inetdog]

Bypass diodes at every cell would keep a partially shaded panel from dragging down the string current and would also keep a single shaded cell from reducing the panel power by 1/3 as would be the case with only two bypass diodes.
But if a single panel sees uniform light at half the intensity of the rest of the panels an optimizer will deliver the 1/2 nominal power that panel is capable of producing while cell-by-cell bypass diodes will cause that panel to show up as a negative 20 volt element in the string. Not such a hot idea.
What it comes down to is what types of hard edged shade and overall low light you think you are going to get.
One thing that optimizers will do that the SP design cannot is allow you to mix panels facing in different directions into a single string.

Oh, and the bypass diodes do nothing for Rapid Shutdown.

[Zman]

Do Sunpower bypass diodes eliminate the advantage of power optimizers like Solar Edge?

Sales rep explained to me that power optimizers are not necessary on SunPower panels because SP panels have bypass diodes at every one of the 96 cells within each panel. Does this makes sense that the large number of bypass diodes eliminates the advantage of optimizers?

Bigger question... Quote A for SP panels came in at $5.11/W. Quote B came in at $3.20/W for LG315 panels that include SolarEdge power optimizers, individual panel monitoring, and inverter.
System size is approx 8KW. Am I crazy to go with Quote A?

[KUK]

I just received the following quotes from one of the most reputable installers here in So Cal:

Option A: SolarEdge 7600 Inverter, P400 Optimizers, 25 year warranty on the Inverter, Wi-Fi monitoring, with 24 SunPower 327 watt panels for $36,000. That's a 7.85kWh system, for $4.58/watt.

Option B: Same inverter setup (w/P300 Optimizers) with 26 LG300 panels (7.8kWh system) for $26,500 (that's $3.39/watt)

Option C: Same inverter setup (w/P300 Optimizers) with 28 LG300 panels (8.4kWh system) for $28,420 (that's $3.38/watt)

In addition, this is from one of the most reputable installers here in So Cal. Thoughts?

I had a similar system (to option B and C) installed for $3.36/watt (23 LG305 panels) so I think your quoted price is good. I shopped around for a while and got mostly quotes around $4/watt ($3.81-$4.36 for various different systems around 7kWh) and then someone on this forum put me in touch with his installer.
The system has been up and running since mid-June and I am very happy with its performance (produced almost 1.2MWh in July and August).
I went with the LG (over Sunpower) not only because of the price but also for some excellent reviews they got from members of the forum plus I believe in the general quality of LG products (I have several LG appliances and TVs and all work flawlessly).
Thanks,
Kay

[sdhomeowner]

I think you are both right

I think the chance of having an issue with the panels is pretty slim. That said..

I was debating between having a contractor install Sunpower and doing LG myself. For a number of reasons, I ended up choosing Sunpower and contractor install. Warranty was one of the reasons. I would read through the warranties very carefully, they are all available online.

I believe the Sunpower warranty is better than LG because:

1. 25 years SP vs. 10 years LG on panel
2. SP degradation warranty is slightly better
3. SP warranty can be transferred to another owner, LG cannot
4. I'm not sure if LG will pay for another installer to complete repairs if the original goes out of business. Sunpower will.

Good luck!

[sensij]

People like those on a forum like this areprobably the opposite; you guys are all very involved in your installations and probably wouldn't mind sourcing a new contractor to install a replacement panel 10 years from now. Me? lolno

If panels routinely need to be replaced after only 10 years, that would be a huge black eye for the industry. Inverters, maybe... panels should last much longer.

[igerstein]

2.) The Sunpower warranty may be better than some. However, I'm not sure I'd call it bumper to bumper. Also, it's part of the Sunpower premium, so it ain't free. BTW: If the panels are built like a tank, why do they need such a great warranty ? Read it and decide for yourself. This may be more anecdotal than provable, but it seems that, like other types of electronic appliances, if panels fail they do so relatively soon after install, and so far relatively few panels of most any mfr., Sunpower or anyone else's product have failed. More anecdotal stuff: In my HOA after about 7 years and about 55 residential installs, no panel failures to r

Here's the difference between your install using your "established local contractor" and cheap panels vs a sunpower system: If John the electrician shuts down his company, it goes out of business, whatever, you're &^%$#. Good luck calling Yingli and getting them to do warranty work. A huge part of the attractiveness of Sunpower (which yes, you pay a premium for) is that you'll never have to deal with that kind of stuff. Even though SP uses local installers, because their warranty is comprehensive even if whoever did your install is gone you're still protected. A defective panel doesn't mean a new one on a pallet in your driveway (like it does with EVERY OTHER MANUFACTURER IN THE INDUSTRY), it means a new panel installed on your system. I guess that kind of security just appeals to me. People like those on a forum like this areprobably the opposite; you guys are all very involved in your installations and probably wouldn't mind sourcing a new contractor to install a replacement panel 10 years from now. Me? lolno

[ashleystarlie]

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[sdhomeowner]

Thanks JPM

An older version of Solar for Dummies is online and free for the looking and download. It's a bit dated but most of the info is still good, not unlike 3 yr. old solar panels - their output is still good.

Will check it out!

[sdhomeowner]

Hello Solar Pete

Hello sdhomeowner and welcome to Solar Panel Talk.

This thread is a bit old so gsxmike might no be around much anymore. You should be aware that there are those who lurk on the forum trying to get people to buy from the installer they used as they get a referral fee, much better off doing your own homework.

A good place to start is by using the services of our site sponsors, www.solarreviews.com enter your zip code and or www.solar-estimate.org that one spits out a rough quote and an installer will call or email to go over in more detail.

Read up on solar there is a lot of good info to sift through here, understand that conservation is the best and most cost effective way to reduce your electricity bill, you might want to try googling solar for dummies apparently there is a free version of this online somewhere and its good for beginners to get a clue on how solar works.

Thanks for the warm welcome! I've gotten some great food for thought by reading opinions on this forum, but you are right, i will take any advice with a grain of salt.