Online Vendors of DIY Complete Grid-Tie Systems?

[Chris D]

I'm surprised there's not a sticky thread for this, since I'd assume a lot of people come here looking for advice on the subject.

While deciding which vendor to go with for our grid-tie micro-inverter system's components, we've found a few online retailers who cater to the DIY crowd and sell "complete" systems (minus the stuff that makes sense to get at the big box; conduit, home run wiring, etc.) and "BOE" systems that include everything but the panels.

The few that we've found include:

anapode.com/content/Home

solarpanelstore.com

wholesalesolar.com

What are your experiences with these outfits? Good? Bad? Indifferent?

I'd like to hear, and I'd like to hear of others you've had experience with.

I've so far spoken to a guy at Anapode, who was pretty helpful and encouraging.

Thanks in advance-

Chris

Mod note, links for first time posters are not allowed. Looks too much like link dropping or spam

[Wy_White_Wolf]

Haven't delt with any of them.

I did however deal with thesolarstore.com for a kit for my well. While they did initially mess up the order they did make it right in the end.

WWW

[russ]

Try our sponsors www.solarreviews.com maybe that will help you

[foo1bar]

Try our sponsors www.solarreviews.com maybe that will help you

Do they have reviews of distributors/wholesalers? I couldn't find it.

Usually I get some idea of complaints about a company by searching "<company name> sucks"
But that does give you just the negative side, so you have to take it with a grain of salt.

[foo1bar]

...

What are your experiences with these outfits? Good? Bad? Indifferent?

wholesalesolar was the other company I considered - Actually went with a different company, mostly because of price. The company I used is local (Mountain View, CA), which also helped me decide to use them.


When you're shopping, make sure you compare apples-to-apples... It can be easy to miss that one company doesn't include quickmount-PV e-mounts, while the other does. (and at $14/mountpoint that adds up quick)

[Chris D]

wholesalesolar was the other company I considered - Actually went with a different company, mostly because of price. The company I used is local (Mountain View, CA), which also helped me decide to use them.


When you're shopping, make sure you compare apples-to-apples... It can be easy to miss that one company doesn't include quickmount-PV e-mounts, while the other does. (and at $14/mountpoint that adds up quick)

Makes sense, and the racking system included in the package has started moving up on my list of "what's important."

Some of the racks look cheap, flimsy, and more importantly, difficult or confusing to install. I'm handy, but I'm not a contractor. I like that some of the systems (like Sunmodo) seem overbuilt, and pretty easy to install.

Some of the vendors include the Enphase Envoy with the package and others do not. That's a $500 difference!

[Amy@altE]

I know of a great store ; )

A lot of online stores are moving away from DIY. Definitely call and talk to the companies you are trying to choose between, some offer more pre- and post- design help than others. And as foo1bar says, be sure to compare apples to apples. I know we don't include flashing in the kits because there are so many different roofs, it's impossible to do a kit that works for every one. The kits tend to be a starting point from which you can customize for your needs.

Also, of course, check out shipping quotes, solar's heavy.

[foo1bar]

Makes sense, and the racking system included in the package has started moving up on my list of "what's important."

Some of the racks look cheap, flimsy, and more importantly, difficult or confusing to install. I'm handy, but I'm not a contractor. I like that some of the systems (like Sunmodo) seem overbuilt, and pretty easy to install.

Some of the vendors include the Enphase Envoy with the package and others do not. That's a $500 difference!

FYI, I started with planning on doing Enphase, and wound up doing Solaredge.
(cheaper, somewhat similar shading and per-panel info.)

I went with ironridge xr10 - it seems pretty widespread/common. And it was within $50 of the alternative racking system I was looking at.
One of the things I had high on my list for racking was the integrated grounding solution (ie. grounding mid-clamps)

BTW - IMO all of the racking options have one big challenge - the mount points. Make sure you choose a good solution for attaching that will work well with your type of roof.

[foo1bar]

I know of a great store ; )

Not that you're biased.

Also, of course, check out shipping quotes, solar's heavy.

Yeah - shipping was >$500 and I think that was somewhat local since it was pretty fast.
Most surprising to me was that the rails came on a separate truck (and separate carrier) from the panels.
I'm guessing the panels were shipped straight from a source, never going through hands of who I bought from. But that's just based on it being two separate shipments with two different carriers, nothing that I saw in the paperwork.

[Amy@altE]

Who me?

The IronRidge XR10 are fine for where there is no snow and very little wind load. We generally use the XR100 for most places in the north, and the XR1000 in the extreme north. Most southern locations, unless they are hurricane prone can usually use the XR10.

IronRidge has an excellent online design tool to determine the acceptable span with your snow and wind load. You of course have to confirm with the building inspector to see if the span is allowed. I know the XR100 can usually be used with 6' spans, but the inspectors like to see 4' to distribute the weight across the rafters. http://www.ironridge.com/rm

[Samsolar]

I understand the draw of buying a kit. In theory, you pick the size and flavor of kit you want and everything you need shows up at your door. In practice, there are numerous differences including roof layouts, roof types, cable lengths, service location, etc, etc. For instance, I needed 46 roof flashings instead of 40 due to my racking/rafter layout.

My suggestion would be to get a design together (on your own or hire a firm) and then seek quotes from a few vendors. Asking for their best price can often yield additional savings.

I found the people from altE and Renvu to be helpful, knowledgeable and offer good pricing. Another company that I contacted (not named in this thread) took days to get back to me and didn't seem very interested in working with me. They never got back to me when I asked for a revised quote.

Good luck with your project.

SAM

[Spektre]

Second on Renvu

At least as far as getting a quote for a complete system, I found xxx to be fantastic. I actually couldn't find another website that made it so easy.

$1.60/watt (including freight CA to AZ) for a complete 17kW DIY system for mounting on a flat roof (though I think the tool undersized the second inverter.) This was for virtually everything:

Renvu Solar Quote.JPG

Disclaimer: I don't know anyone working there and have no association with xxxx whatsoever, other than finding their online system-building tool super easy to use.

Mod note - Let us not use specific names

[Amy@altE]

Do they have reviews of distributors/wholesalers? I couldn't find it.

It actually took me a long time to find it too, it's under Other Services. https://www.solarreviews.com/solar-distributors/