6kW system in Agoura Hills

[J.P.M.]

I got another quote from the same installer for a similar 34xLG300=10.2kW DC system but with SolarEdge SE10000A-US/optimizers instead of M250 micros for $31,824 bringing the price down to $3.12/Wt DC, this is $2856 less than for the M250-based setup. I'm finding prices about $2k for the 10kW SE inverter, and $60 per optimizer, so for 34 panels I expected the price to drop to be about $1200-$1500. I double-checked if they forgot the optimizers as they aren't specifically called out on the quote and they confirmed they are in fact included. Is this too good to be true?

Systems with string inverters often and usually cost less than systems with micro inverters. Folks around here have been saying and claiming that in quotes for some time now.

[sushijin]

Indeed. I'd want to know what the warranty is with this inverter, as opposed to the 25 years you get with Enphase. I have the 250s and love the system so far.

Systems with string inverters often and usually cost less than systems with micro inverters. Folks around here have been saying and claiming that in quotes for some time now.

[thejq]

I wonder if business is a bit slow right now.

I think there maybe some truth to it. Seasonally late summer to end of the year is probably the busiest time for installers, as huge AC bills push some over the edge and then the rush to secure tax credits before year end. Right now people are preoccupied with tax returns and electric bills are the lowest without heating and AC.

[gvl]

In my opinion, no. If you feel good about the installer's history and are confident they will do a good job, it looks like a very good price. I've been getting calls from San Diego installers again in the last couple weeks, working through their old contact lists. I wonder if business is a bit slow right now.

Confidence is not the word I would use to describe my feelings but yes the reviews I found do give me some hope they do indeed go above and beyond to keep their customers happy. Btw, this was over the phone/e-mail quote, but I did provide them with all the relevant info. I suppose a face to face meeting will help to build up confidence or the opposite. They are not a big shop which has its pros and cons, but with understanding of what they are I still prefer to work with a small company. I'm waiting for another quote. I'm not fully sold on the LG panels, I understand they are nice but I have no space constraints, so it may make sense to go with lower efficiency/price.

[J.P.M.]

Indeed. I'd want to know what the warranty is with this inverter, as opposed to the 25 years you get with Enphase. I have the 250s and love the system so far.

String inverters warranties often run 10-12 years. In that time, most new stuff today will be working but outmoded and you will either want new stuff or have moved. Also, inverter tech. will have advanced a fair amount and prices will perhaps have dropped.

Also, there is perhaps more than a small likelihood that many/most/all inverter makers, string and otherwise will be out of business or look much different than today. If you're worried about the warranty on a string inv., buy a spare with the money you save and eliminate the extra potential failure points and labor that Enphase doesn't/may not cover, or buy a rip off extended warranty with the savings.

[Gmoney!]

How is your installation working out for you, and how long did you have it? Sounds like there are a lot of similarities between our situations, I drive about 60 miles a day average, need 400-500kWh/month for my EV needs. Just as another data point, do you know what is your gross consumption for 12 months?

Installation went well, waiting for city inspection now.

I do not have 12 month data as i just bought the house but my first two months we were consuming around 1100-1200 kwh, majority of that was car and pool pump so i can shift that usage to off peak.

[gvl]

Systems with string inverters often and usually cost less than systems with micro inverters. Folks around here have been saying and claiming that in quotes for some time now.

Yes, it is just the price decrease was more than I expected as compared to micros based on the cost of equipment, i suppose they may have added an additional discount just to get my business.

[gvl]

String inverters warranties often run 10-12 years. In that time, most new stuff today will be working but outmoded and you will either want new stuff or have moved. Also, inverter tech. will have advanced a fair amount and prices will perhaps have dropped.

Also, there is perhaps more than a small likelihood that many/most/all inverter makers, string and otherwise will be out of business or look much different than today. If you're worried about the warranty on a string inv., buy a spare with the money you save and eliminate the extra potential failure points and labor that Enphase doesn't/may not cover, or buy a rip off extended warranty with the savings.

+1. You can buy an extended warranty that goes to 25 years on SolarEdge above 7.5kW for $745 as opposed to the 12 you get with the product. I wouldn't do it for the reasons stated above. There is always a chance your unit goes kaput late in the standard warranty window and you get a new one or at least a failure-prone component inside the inverter will be replaced. I'd rather bet on that than on SolarEdge/Enphase being in business in 20 years.

[J.P.M.]

+1. You can buy an extended warranty that goes to 25 years on SolarEdge above 7.5kW for $745 as opposed to the 12 you get with the product. I wouldn't do it for the reasons stated above. There is always a chance your unit goes kaput late in the standard warranty window and you get a new one or at least a failure-prone component inside the inverter will be replaced. I'd rather bet on that than on SolarEdge/Enphase being in business in 20 years.

Opinions vary. I'd not bet the farm on much of anything lasting 20 years at this point.

[silversaver]

+1. You can buy an extended warranty that goes to 25 years on SolarEdge above 7.5kW for $745 as opposed to the 12 you get with the product. I wouldn't do it for the reasons stated above. There is always a chance your unit goes kaput late in the standard warranty window and you get a new one or at least a failure-prone component inside the inverter will be replaced. I'd rather bet on that than on SolarEdge/Enphase being in business in 20 years.

Depends on your installer. Few recently installation job from my friends, the installers have cover either 20yrs (string inverter) or 25yrs (Enphase) both parts and labors which I think it is a big plus. One of the installer actually only starting solar about 4 yrs ago, but they are in water heater/AC business for 26yrs, so I am sure they will be around for the next 20yrs. The price for solar has really drop in recent yrs, it is not hard to get a decent pricing with longer warranty coverage.

[gvl]

Installation went well, waiting for city inspection now.

I do not have 12 month data as i just bought the house but my first two months we were consuming around 1100-1200 kwh, majority of that was car and pool pump so i can shift that usage to off peak.

Where are you located? Did you factor in the summer months? I may not be able to shift out all of my summer A/C usage out of on-peak due to kids get home from school at 3pm or spend whole day at home during summer break so I expect my 5 ton system to be on full blast during that time, me and my wife work from home 30% of the time as well, plus pets. Then there is panel degradation over time. Guess no other way but to spend some time with spreadsheets to see how much downsizing I can tolerate.

[gvl]

Depends on your installer. Few recently installation job from my friends, the installers have cover either 20yrs (string inverter) or 25yrs (Enphase) both parts and labors which I think it is a big plus.

You mean it is an additional warranty from the installer? I thought that Enphase already covers both parts/labor for 25 years, and SolarEdge does that for the optimizers but not the inverter which is only covered for the hardware and not the labor.

[silversaver]

You mean it is an additional warranty from the installer? I thought that Enphase already covers both parts/labor for 25 years, and SolarEdge does that for the optimizers but not the inverter which is only covered for the hardware and not the labor.

Enphase doesn't cover the labor part....etc. Like you said, no one knew what will be coming. The labor part is something you should look into.

It will be extra if your installer mention both parts and labor coverage for 20yrs, right?

[gvl]

I'll make sure to read the contract carefully and understand the warranty terms. I'm handy and comfortable working with electricity, so can do certain things myself, like remove/reinstall the inverter, which gives me some comfort. Problems like roof leaks that require removal of all panels are a concern of course.

[Gmoney!]

Where are you located? Did you factor in the summer months? I may not be able to shift out all of my summer A/C usage out of on-peak due to kids get home from school at 3pm or spend whole day at home during summer break so I expect my 5 ton system to be on full blast during that time, me and my wife work from home 30% of the time as well, plus pets. Then there is panel degradation over time. Guess no other way but to spend some time with spreadsheets to see how much downsizing I can tolerate.

Yes I factored summer.. We are in Murrieta so climate is similar to yours although we get a nice cool breeze in afternoons which you dont get being in agoura. I am very familiar with your area lived in Thousand Oaks most my life.

Last summer in Temecula we hardly ran the AC but we were able to deal with 80 deg temps inside, not everyone can. Even with running the AC here and there i will have plenty of juice. I didnt deal with degredation aside from whatever the pvwatt default was... Over time the kids will move out of the house so our demand should decline, of course that isnt for another 20 years haha.

Gotta get the spreadsheet out and factor it all in to figure it out. For me, TOU-A was the best plan and a 5.1 system was more than sufficient. If I get rid of my car it will be slight overkill but I think we will probably keep the ev long term now.