Newbie looking at solar install in Fremont, CA

[JCP]

After talking to Solar City, I've decided that I'll go with reputable local installers. I don't like the PPA stuff as it does not allow me to easily expand my installation over time. Using 7000KWh per year, I'm thinking of going for 3500-3700W installation with micro inverters to deal with some shading and ease of expansion. I have a composite shingle roof looking south.

Questions:
- Are Enphase better, or are all micro inverters created equal?
- Solar panels, should I care about brands?
- What's a realistic price per Watt pre incentives for a complete install?

So far, I'm relying on Yelp to find installers. Any recommendation is welcome.

[ashayh]

I'm in Femont too...

Most installers in a 30 mile radius should be willing to provide quotes.
I've received 5-6 quotes so far from Berkeley to Campbell.

The answers to you questions are IMO not simple one liners.

You'll have to trawl the forums for old posts to settle on the right answers.

[JCP]

More questions. My main breaker is rated 125A. If I get a 4KW install, do I need to upgrade my main panel?

[inetdog]

More questions. My main breaker is rated 125A. If I get a 4KW install, do I need to upgrade my main panel?

Not necessarily. Your 4kW system corresponds to ~17A at 240V. That means that you will have to feed the AC side of your inverter through a minimum 25A breaker. (It just misses 20A.)

If your main panel is rated for 200A and just has a 125A main breaker in it, you can add up to 115A of backfeed into it without any need to upgrade the panel or your service.

If the main panel is only rated for 125A and has the maximum allowed 125A main breaker installed, then you can still feed 25A back into it, but that will be the upper limit.

[JCP]

Not necessarily. Your 4kW system corresponds to ~17A at 240V. That means that you will have to feed the AC side of your inverter through a minimum 25A breaker. (It just misses 20A.)

If your main panel is rated for 200A and just has a 125A main breaker in it, you can add up to 115A of backfeed into it without any need to upgrade the panel or your service.

If the main panel is only rated for 125A and has the maximum allowed 125A main breaker installed, then you can still feed 25A back into it, but that will be the upper limit.

Thanks, that's what I gathered but I was not sure. If I had to upgrade the panel, how much should I expect the cost to be? I was given a number on the phone that seemed a bit crazy to me.

[inetdog]

Thanks, that's what I gathered but I was not sure. If I had to upgrade the panel, how much should I expect the cost to be? I was given a number on the phone that seemed a bit crazy to me.

That depends too.
Upgrading the panel will usually require fitting a larger panel and at least moving and may extending your existing wires. From there it may also trigger your POCO asking you to install a larger service (even though you will not need it) and maybe even paying their costs to put in a larger transformer.

On the low end with everything going right and cheap labor, you could be under $1000. But on the high end it could go above $2000.

[advan24r]

I am in Fremont as well and researched 4-5 installers. Initially was going to go with Sunpower but ended up going with LG. I just PMed you with a referral. My system was just completed/installed last week. It's getting turned on tomorrow!

[JCP]

I cannot reply to the PMs (not enough posts), but thanks for the info! The newest twist is that I now need to figure out how many Amps I can pull from PG&E. I have an underground cable, so I'm not sure how it's sized and what's the biggest panel I can get. I know for a fact that I'll need to change my main panel though since it's most likely an 100A.

[ashayh]

I am in Fremont as well and researched 4-5 installers. Initially was going to go with Sunpower but ended up going with LG. I just PMed you with a referral. My system was just completed/installed last week. It's getting turned on tomorrow!

With whom did you go with? Please PM.

[russ]

For all of you requesting a PM about an installer - maybe the name you get will only be because of a 500$ kickback - the screw your buddy plan.

[J.P.M.]

For all of you requesting a PM about an installer - maybe the name you get will only be because of a 500$ kickback - the screw your buddy plan.

Good point. Unless you want to risk raising your quoted price by the amount of a referral fee by tempting a vendor to do just that, keep your mouth shut about where you got the recommend. Referral fees are not free. Someone will pay for them, one way or the other. The vendor will do their utmost to recoup that cost. That leaves the new customer who either pays a higher price or gets poorer quality. It's just business. Think cynically, you won't be disappointed - just pleasantly surprised when/if you're occasionally wrong.

[JCP]

Rack is up on the roof. Panels are going up tomorrow.

[Ward L]

How Much?

How much did your system cost and how much to install it per kW? Good luck!

[JCP]

How much did your system cost and how much to install it per kW? Good luck!

$3.79 per Watt. It's an all in price. Enphase inverters plus Solarworld 255 panels.

[Ward L]

That's better than I did, so good job! Mine was $3.80 something....