Installing the panels yourself?

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  • dannieboiz
    Solar Fanatic
    • Mar 2015
    • 107
    #1

    Installing the panels yourself?

    The best quote I received on solar installation is $21k for a approx 5.5kwh system using Solarworld panels and emphase micro inverters. After 30% tax credit it'll be roughly $14k

    I was quoted $9500 for a complete kit rails and all for the exact same system, $300 for permit and $200 for them to design and supply all the documents for permits after tax it'll be about $11k for the system plus 30% tax credit, I'll be at $8k if I do the work myself.

    I have electrician friends that can come out and do the final connection to the mains for me so no cost there.

    $2/watt is looking very good for me. Was wondering if anyone installed their own?

    I've looked at how things are installed and it seems just too easy to pay someone $10k to install some panels.
    Tags: None
    • foo1bar
      Solar Fanatic
      • Aug 2014
      • 1833
      #2
      Originally posted by dannieboiz
      I've looked at how things are installed and it seems just too easy to pay someone $10k to install some panels.
      It'd be $7K (21k - 11k * 70%)

      And it's less than that because there are number of things NOT in that kit.
      conduit
      conduit flashing
      wire
      jboxes
      paint
      misc hardware (for me I had to buy some screws for mounting the inverter and a bunch of bolts for mounting the optimizers to the rails)
      tools (shingle ripper, saw blade for cutting alum. rails and conduit, conduit reamer, conduit bender, cordless drill, cordless impact wrench, torque wrench, misc. hand tools)

      And then the time needed is significant.

      I'm not saying you can't do it or that it's not worth it - but if you haven't thought about a bunch of those things, you should. I'm 2/3 of the way through my install.

        Comment

        • J.P.M.
          Solar Fanatic
          • Aug 2013
          • 15039
          #3
          Spammers.

            Comment

            • sdold
              Moderator
              • Jun 2014
              • 1467
              #4
              Originally posted by dannieboiz
              $2/watt is looking very good for me. Was wondering if anyone installed their own?
              Yes, you can, but you need to commit to doing it right and not cut corners. That means spending a lot of time learning, are you up to the challenge? You need to have the same mindset as someone who is building a kit airplane.

              Edit: And also make sure the building authority and power company buy off on the idea.

                Comment

                • HX_Guy
                  Solar Fanatic
                  • Apr 2014
                  • 1002
                  #5
                  Read my super long thread, it should help out quite a bit.

                  As was mentioned though, make sure youre actually allowed to. Some cities will only allow a licensed electrician to submit for the permit.

                    Comment

                    • SunEagle
                      Super Moderator
                      • Oct 2012
                      • 15169
                      #6
                      Originally posted by HX_Guy
                      Read my super long thread, it should help out quite a bit.

                      As was mentioned though, make sure youre actually allowed to. Some cities will only allow a licensed electrician to submit for the permit.
                      Some states will only allow an electrician who has been certified to install solar to do the work. Talk about a PIA.

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