Solar Contract Signed with Sunpower

[ajpslp]

So I am finalized with my Solar panel lease. Went with a 36 panel 335's from Sunpower. These are the ALL black panels with no grid due to my roof being very visible in Staten Island,NY. One Sunpower Inverter, roof mount , advanced monitoring, all inspections (in ny the Dept of Buildings, etc) architect, engineers, fixing two small vent holes on roof. This setup cost me zero out of pocket, and leasing it for $180 a month, I called a few elite dealers near by and seems like everyone was in the same ballpark or a bit higher. Its a 12.06 KW system expected to produce around 16,000 KW a year and hopefully washing out my Con Edison electric bill. Wish the process with NY was easier as it take about 3-4 months for all approvals and con ed to turn it on .. Thoughts ? Think it was a great deal considering my current balanced budget just went up from $316 to $336 due to increase. Also sunpower lease has zero increase for 20 years. Thoughts ?

[KRenn]

So I am finalized with my Solar panel lease. Went with a 36 panel 335's from Sunpower. These are the ALL black panels with no grid due to my roof being very visible in Staten Island,NY. One Sunpower Inverter, roof mount , advanced monitoring, all inspections (in ny the Dept of Buildings, etc) architect, engineers, fixing two small vent holes on roof. This setup cost me zero out of pocket, and leasing it for $180 a month, I called a few elite dealers near by and seems like everyone was in the same ballpark or a bit higher. Its a 12.06 KW system expected to produce around 16,000 KW a year and hopefully washing out my Con Edison electric bill. Wish the process with NY was easier as it take about 3-4 months for all approvals and con ed to turn it on .. Thoughts ? Think it was a great deal considering my current balanced budget just went up from $316 to $336 due to increase. Also sunpower lease has zero increase for 20 years. Thoughts ?

1 Inverter??? Should have seen what utilizing 2 PVI transformerless inverters instead of SMA's big brick inverter would have cost. Higher efficiency inverters for higher efficiency panels.....its the combo that SunPower is promoting together, not all dealers are necessarily on the same page though with that.

[Ian S]

1 Inverter??? Should have seen what utilizing 2 PVI transformerless inverters instead of SMA's big brick inverter would have cost. Higher efficiency inverters for higher efficiency panels.....its the combo that SunPower is promoting together, not all dealers are necessarily on the same page though with that.

Do they have a residential inverter that big?

[KRenn]

Do they have a residential inverter that big?

I'm guessing that they gave him an SMA 9000 inverter for his 12kw system.

[ajpslp]

contract stated Sunpower-SPR11401f-240 , guessing its big enough to handle system. Dealer also said its a Fronious brand , but says sunpower on contract , have another meeting tomorrow to find out rest of details .

[KRenn]

contract stated Sunpower-SPR11401f-240 , guessing its big enough to handle system. Dealer also said its a Fronious brand , but says sunpower on contract , have another meeting tomorrow to find out rest of details .

So they gave you a Fronius instead. I would still ask about the Power One's, but that's just me, huge fan of their products.

[ajpslp]

So they gave you a Fronius instead. I would still ask about the Power One's, but that's just me, huge fan of their products.

is the power one more efficient or slimmer or also more expensive? thanks

[Ian S]

So they gave you a Fronius instead. I would still ask about the Power One's, but that's just me, huge fan of their products.

Interesting that the specs on that inverter have it weighing 110 lbs while my 7000m that's capable of a lot less power weighs 141 lb. Is that the difference bewteen a high frequency and a low frequency transformer?

[inetdog]

Is that the difference bewteen a high frequency and a low frequency transformer?

Could well be.

[Naptown]

The Fronius is IMHO the best of their offering when equal strings can be done. That is a 3 stage inverter that stays at the top of the efficiency curve all day.

[KRenn]

Interesting that the specs on that inverter have it weighing 110 lbs while my 7000m that's capable of a lot less power weighs 141 lb. Is that the difference bewteen a high frequency and a low frequency transformer?

You obviously have an SMA inverter....they're just heavy as hell....first time I picked one up I almost threw out my back. :P

[sunmetrix]

Hi there,

Congratulations on your new system. I'm trying to better understand different buy/lease options. Are they offering a lease contract with an option to buy the system down the road, or is it more like a power purchase agreement?

All the best,

Oz

[ajpslp]

The agreement is a lease with option to buy after year 7 and release after year 20 , or buyout at year 20 or take it off my roof year 20. I called sunpower and little help there ! I do have a 36 panel full square roof string all consecutive panels so gonna meet tomorrow with sales rep and owner and talk about it but everyone comments definately helps !

[KRenn]

The agreement is a lease with option to buy after year 7 and release after year 20 , or buyout at year 20 or take it off my roof year 20. I called sunpower and little help there ! I do have a 36 panel full square roof string all consecutive panels so gonna meet tomorrow with sales rep and owner and talk about it but everyone comments definately helps !

Get multiple quotes, price can vary drastically among various SunPower dealers.....I'd recommend getting at least 3.

[ajpslp]

received three quotes from dealers and think paying 36 panels for 335 panels around $4.80 was a great deal considering people in neighborhood received more expensive quotes for less panels and the 327 series of panels . !! thanks