DIY costs compared to Installers

[FNG AZ]

I assume you meant $1/W - not $1/kW (Otherwise, I've got $50 in my pocket - I'll happily do a 50kW system for $50.

$1/W after tax credit would be $1.42/W before.
I think it's hard to get to $1.42/W and have a complete system.
Inverter is $.33/W for a 7000W inverter
Panels will likely be at least $.60/W
Racking and shipping is probably another $.25/W
That's $1.18/W already.
And I'm probably missing some obvious things before we get to the ~$.40/W in various items from the hardware/big-box stores.

So I think getting to $1.42/W is a real challenge still for a DIY'er.
Might be doable - but I think hitting that price point for an entire system would be difficult without going for panels on clearance and such.

$2/W before tax credits is definitely doable - probably even $1.75/W.

Haha. Ya must have been wishful thinking.... $1/w is definitely achievable., I just did it...twice! My second system will be online this weekend.

Also stay out of the big box stores and check your local supply house for wire and conduit. Definitely a big way to save. Wire is close to 3x the price at a big box store.

Also I did all of my own design (SMA and ironridge make this too easy), drawings and pulled the permit....another way to save more!

[foo1bar]

Haha. Ya must have been wishful thinking.... $1/w is definitely achievable., I just did it...twice!

Is that $1/W with state/local credits/rebates?
Or just federal?
If it's just federal, then why don't you just say you've done $1.40/W or $1.42/W - since that's comparable for everyone?

Also stay out of the big box stores and check your local supply house for wire and conduit. Definitely a big way to save. Wire is close to 3x the price at a big box store.

That really depends on the individual item and the supply house.
I didn't check conduit - IIRC they were ~$20 or $30 in total for me.
But wire can be cheaper or can be more depending on the wire. And it can vary a lot from one supply house to another.
I saved a fair amount on larger gauge wire at the supply house - but IIRC the 8 AWG was cheaper at a local hardware store. (I'd guess in another town that could be reversed)
I know when pricing breaker panels and breakers one supply house guy told me that I was better off going down the street to HD - they can't really compete on price for the vanilla 200A panels.

So - since you are finishing your system this weekend, you probably have a whole pile of receipts ready to be added up for your 2016 taxes.
Why don't you start a new thread and share what you spent so others can see and learn?

[FNG AZ]

Definitely after rebates.... State taps out at 1k and fed picking up the rest. No love from the poco here. Say it however you want at the end of the day it's post rebates that matter!

It definitely pays or saves rather to shop around...Same goes for the 400 amp panel I put in, way cheaper at HD. Also don't forget to ask for 10% off. Heck that goes anywhere when you are spending money it never hurts to ask if that's the best price!

I would share but I don't like the new format for posting pics.

[Amy@altE]

You can check out DSIRE for local rebates and incentives at http://www.dsireusa.org/ . If doing a DIY, make sure you have the whole design done and approved before you start buying stuff. Otherwise you lose a lot of your savings by buying the wrong stuff. A little self serving, but I've seen this so many times, try to get all of the major solar components from one company that specializes in solar. If you start piece-mealing, you may run into compatibility issues and confusion over who's responsible for what.

[foo1bar]

Say it however you want at the end of the day it's post rebates that matter!

But it's pre-rebate that matters for comparing from one place to another.
My friends a few blocks away don't have the same incentives I do - so it really doesn't make sense to compare our post-rebate cost.

For looking at whether it makes sense for your own situation you absolutely want to look at end-cost vs end-benefit.
But that end-cost isn't really useful when trying to see if you're getting a good deal compared to someone else.