Mythical $3.50/watt installation?

[albert436]

I'm seriously considering starting a solar installation facilitator job, where I work with homeowners to get their solar installation done right.

I have been thinking about the same think but from the consumer perspective.

There are several smart and knowledgeable guys on this site who live in my area. I was seriously thinking it would be worth something to pay one of them to line things up as far as bids and to keep an eye on the project.

Along similar lines, I found that trying to book airline reservations with my frequent flyer miles was just way more hassle than I wanted. So I paid one of the many people offering awards travel booking services. They know the ins and outs and the tricks of the trade. It's way too complicated for me to want to spend my mental energy on it.

As far as solar, I am trying to educate myself and have learned a little so far, but will probably never be in a league with JPM, for example.

Maybe I'll start a separate thread on this subject.

[sensij]

can u explain how I post on pvoutput???
I have an api code, but can't seem to get mine online...thanks

Ah, I guess it is better to post publicly, in case it will help someone else. To use PVOutput with SolarEdge, you need the API key and the site ID. If you only have the API key, you should be able to get the site ID by executing this call:

https://monitoringapi.solaredge.com/sites/list.json?api_key=<YOUR API KEY HERE>

In the response, you'll see near the beginning an "id" tag and a number following it. That is your site id. Further in the response is an account ID, but that number is not the right one.

Once you have the site ID and API key, two sections of your setup on PVOutput need to be filled out:

Settings.GIF
primary.GIF

If you donate to PVOutput, the Status Interval and Polling interval can be set to 5 min, and the Temperature and Voltage data can be enabled. Otherwise, the Intervals need to be set at 15 min.

If you want the "insolation" view to work as intended, you should also make sure the array size, orientation, and location fields are filled out as well. There is more you can do with it, but that should be enough to get you started.

SolarEdge won't let me self-register on their website, so I've now gotta wait for the company I'm contracted with to figure out how to do that.

If you register yourself as an installer, and not just a homeowner, you can create your own portal without waiting for your installer to do it. SolarEdge sometimes takes a day or two to approve new installer logins, but there is no particular qualification required. If your email address is already associated with a homeowner account, you'll need a different email address, or you'll have to contact SolarEdge to convert the account.

The site registration process only requires the inverter serial number. It will auto-identify the optimizers, and yeah... the tags will make creating the layout much easier. A little bit of intentional shade will help identify each panel if the tags get lost.

[skipro3]

I got a similarly sized system for $18,950 including all permits taxes etc. This amount is before the Federal ITC. From paying the deposit to getting permission to operate was around 7 weeks which was a little longer than I would have liked. I think it was a great deal and they did an excellent job. It's been running a little over a week and so far I'm very happy with it.


Cheers
KIWI

http://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?id=41203&sid=39052

Mine was installed by those same gorillas that used to do the Samonite suitcase commercials. GEEZ what a mess they made! They were sub contractors to the outfit I contracted with. I kicked them off the property and a new crew came to fix my roof, fix the other issues and finish the install. However, they obviously never have activated a SolarEdge system. For example; they didn't know to remove the tags for the topography template so the optimizers could be mapped. All the panels had to come off to do that. Which is when I discovered the shingle damage from the first crew and the nuts over tightened so much the screw threads were stretched and all new hardware needed to be ordered.
They didn't know there is a turn-up process that steps you through pairing the optimizers to the inverter. They left the inverter on and connected to the grid, said it would take a few hours to come up and go live. I finally read the manual, turned it all down to cold steel and started it up from scratch following the manual instructions. I had it working and making power in about 10 minutes. Also got the wireless slave up and running, communicating with the router that's connected to my Comcast cable modem.
SolarEdge won't let me self-register on their website, so I've now gotta wait for the company I'm contracted with to figure out how to do that.

My payment schedule is as follows;
10% upon delivery of engineered drawings
50% upon completion of installation w/proof operation, registration and warranty activation
20% upon passing final inspection
20% upon PG&E approval to self-generate and connect to the grid.

I've only paid the first payment since they have yet to register my installation on SolarEdge's website and prove the wifi router is sending data and that my warranty is activated.

If I knew how easy solar is to install, I would have saved myself about $7,000 of the $18,414 I paid. As it is, I've made it clear that they need to 'adjust' the price considering the damage they caused to my roof as well as the time delay that was in violation of the contract.

I'm seriously considering starting a solar installation facilitator job, where I work with homeowners to get their solar installation done right. From what I've seen, there's a lot of unskilled labor out there and a lot of homeowners who haven't a clue what has happened to their home if they can't get on the roof. A permit inspector isn't going to fail an installation for the stuff I found, however, my roof would have probably started to leak within the first 5 years or so if I had left it the way it was.

[sensij]

can u explain how I post on pvoutput???
I have an api code, but can't seem to get mine online...thanks

An api key... so you have a Solaredge inverter? I'll pm the instructions.

[paris401]

I got a similarly sized system for $18,950 including all permits taxes etc. This amount is before the Federal ITC. From paying the deposit to getting permission to operate was around 7 weeks which was a little longer than I would have liked. I think it was a great deal and they did an excellent job. It's been running a little over a week and so far I'm very happy with it.http://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?id=41203&sid=39052

can u explain how I post on pvoutput???
I have an api code, but can't seem to get mine online...thanks

[UkiwiS]

Just answering the OP's question without reading all 18 pages;

I got a 5kw system;
16 - 315 watt SolarWorld panels with a 5000 SolarEdge inverter. Turn key is $18,414 including all permits, taxes, etc.

PM me and I'll let you know who and you can come look at my install.

I got a similarly sized system for $18,950 including all permits taxes etc. This amount is before the Federal ITC. From paying the deposit to getting permission to operate was around 7 weeks which was a little longer than I would have liked. I think it was a great deal and they did an excellent job. It's been running a little over a week and so far I'm very happy with it.


Cheers
KIWI

http://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?id=41203&sid=39052

[skipro3]

Just answering the OP's question without reading all 18 pages;

I got a 5kw system;
16 - 315 watt SolarWorld panels with a 5000 SolarEdge inverter. Turn key is $18,414 including all permits, taxes, etc.

PM me and I'll let you know who and you can come look at my install.

[solar4me]

HI GaryS1964

Do you mind sharing the vendors/install you been working with?

I do not think the forum allow posting vendor/installer name. So If you could please PM me, I really appreciate it. thanks!!

[inetdog]

I am on PG&E and I received a few quotes from dealers/installers that ranges from $4/watt (SolarW* panel) to $5/watt (SunP* panel). Most of these dealers/installers are proposing to cover 100% of my last year usage. Seems like Tier shaving has a lower up front cost and quick on ROI.

Yup, but it makes less money for the installer.

[solar4me]

I am on PG&E and I received a few quotes from dealers/installers that ranges from $4/watt (SolarW* panel) to $5/watt (SunP* panel). Most of these dealers/installers are proposing to cover 100% of my last year usage. Seems like Tier shaving has a lower up front cost and quick on ROI.

[inetdog]

So it seems that folks are getting quality installs down here in San Diego in this non-mythical $3.5 / watt area. Can I ask the simple question of whether folks typically include the cost of a service panel replacement and upgrade in this cost reference point? Seems that some folks need one and some folks don't.

In my case Company A included a replacement in the first bid I have obtained -- I have an original Zinsco 100A here on my house and he stated that it would be upgraded to a new panel with the highest rating that the buried wire from the street would allow. Using LG280 + solar edge inverter / monitoring + optimizers at an offered price of $3.63 / watt (comp shingle roof).

If you have an old Zinsco panel, the opportunity to replace it with a tax credit as part of the solar installation may make up your mind for you. Some Zinsco breakers (along with Federal Pacific) are notoriously prone to failure and dangerous, and replacement parts and breakers can be prohibitively expensive.
Even if your particular panel and breakers are safe, insurance companies have a prejudice against them and it will avoid problems if/when you sell the house.

[mungosocal]

So it seems that folks are getting quality installs down here in San Diego in this non-mythical $3.5 / watt area. Can I ask the simple question of whether folks typically include the cost of a service panel replacement and upgrade in this cost reference point? Seems that some folks need one and some folks don't.

In my case Company A included a replacement in the first bid I have obtained -- I have an original Zinsco 100A here on my house and he stated that it would be upgraded to a new panel with the highest rating that the buried wire from the street would allow. Using LG280 + solar edge inverter / monitoring + optimizers at an offered price of $3.63 / watt (comp shingle roof).

[DanKegel]

+1
Mention of specific installers (other than the big names like Solar City) is too likely to be taken as endorsement by the Forum, so we really would like to see that information exchanged by PM only.

Is there a sticky for that? I couldn't find one.

[inetdog]

I didn't mean equipment vendors, I just meant installers.
In http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showth...l=1#post139070, SolarPete said
"Please note I work for the same crew (well sort of) that runs this site and solar reviews, cheers and good luck with it, hopefully some more knowledgeable people from your area will chime in, and no its not cool to mention installers names here."

+1
Mention of specific installers (other than the big names like Solar City) is too likely to be taken as endorsement by the Forum, so we really would like to see that information exchanged by PM only.
Among the possibilities for abuse are referral plans that benefit the person recommending the installer. That is not going to happen with suppliers.

[bcroe]

There are so many advantages to ground mount, I haven't yet gotten the list together. And there are cheap
ways to get them done; here something like $3.15 a watt. But none of that matters if you have no space.
Bruce Roe