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It is absolutely NOT too good to be true, though I was wondering the same thing back when I began my project...
Amazing how much prices have changed since my post in this thread about 9 months ago. Back then, I was at the very start of considering a solar project for my house, now I have gone through almost the entire process (19,000+ watt DC system is installed, Building & Safety signed off, just waiting formality from LA DWP so the system can be turned on & the rebate check cut..) When all is said and done, state & fed rebates factored in, etc, I should have a 3 year break-even point on a close to 30,000 kwhr/yr system (!). Insanity.
I ended up buying the Canadian Solar CS6P-230P panels and at this point I'd say I can't imagine having ordered anything else (unless I wanted to pay more and possibly get less). Quality control was excellent on all 83 panels I bought. The CS6P-230P panels are plus rated (+0 to +5) and have a great PTC (211w for a 230w panel). Remember, when you pay for your panels for "x per watt" that's based on the gross/DC watt, which isn't what you actually get on output. PTC seems like a far better indicator and that's where I'd make my pricing comparisons (which will only further push you towards CS6P-230P's). Occasionally over the past year I'd see 245 or 280 watt panels (typically - mono instead of poly) that had attractive prices per DC watt, and then you'd look at PTC, power tolerance spec, etc and realize that some of those watts you were paying for were essentially vapor and the panel was notably more expensive per "real" watt than the CS 230 panel.
Having since spoken to other installers in the area, etc, I have only heard positives about the quality of Canadian Solar panels.
I purchased through Sun Electronics. Back when I pulled the trigger prices were $1.44/watt, but the price dropped again shortly before shipping and they floated me down to the new price ($1.28/watt) without issue. The panels arrived within a few days, and all 83 were well-packed, in pristine condition and had new manufacture dates (maybe 2-3 months earlier).
Since then the panels have dropped to either $1.14/watt (worst case) or $1.04/watt (ad on their front page). You'll have to inquire with them, someone mentioned to me that they thought the $1.04/watt are for panels that have minor cosmetic imperfections but are guaranteed to have the same outputs. Even if that's the case, if it was my money and given the size of my system, I would have gone for the $1.04's personally. I suppose there's an outside chance the $1.04 price is for the perfect A panels but you'll have to check with Sun. Given how inexpensive the panels have been from Sun throughout the past year, I kept questioning again and again if I was going to end up with some dinged up, old manufacture (or other issue) panels but I got exactly what they said I'd get (perfect brand new panels).
Sorry for the ramble but maybe the info/thoughts will be helpful for those contemplating Canadian Solar and/or this vendor. I had so much uncertainty and concern at the beginning especially without seeing a lot of comments on these panels back then. But now having been through it, spoken to other installers, etc, Canadian Solar is a total no-brainer to me (at least the CS6P-230P!)
Amazing how much prices have changed since my post in this thread about 9 months ago. Back then, I was at the very start of considering a solar project for my house, now I have gone through almost the entire process (19,000+ watt DC system is installed, Building & Safety signed off, just waiting formality from LA DWP so the system can be turned on & the rebate check cut..) When all is said and done, state & fed rebates factored in, etc, I should have a 3 year break-even point on a close to 30,000 kwhr/yr system (!). Insanity.
I ended up buying the Canadian Solar CS6P-230P panels and at this point I'd say I can't imagine having ordered anything else (unless I wanted to pay more and possibly get less). Quality control was excellent on all 83 panels I bought. The CS6P-230P panels are plus rated (+0 to +5) and have a great PTC (211w for a 230w panel). Remember, when you pay for your panels for "x per watt" that's based on the gross/DC watt, which isn't what you actually get on output. PTC seems like a far better indicator and that's where I'd make my pricing comparisons (which will only further push you towards CS6P-230P's). Occasionally over the past year I'd see 245 or 280 watt panels (typically - mono instead of poly) that had attractive prices per DC watt, and then you'd look at PTC, power tolerance spec, etc and realize that some of those watts you were paying for were essentially vapor and the panel was notably more expensive per "real" watt than the CS 230 panel.
Having since spoken to other installers in the area, etc, I have only heard positives about the quality of Canadian Solar panels.
I purchased through Sun Electronics. Back when I pulled the trigger prices were $1.44/watt, but the price dropped again shortly before shipping and they floated me down to the new price ($1.28/watt) without issue. The panels arrived within a few days, and all 83 were well-packed, in pristine condition and had new manufacture dates (maybe 2-3 months earlier).
Since then the panels have dropped to either $1.14/watt (worst case) or $1.04/watt (ad on their front page). You'll have to inquire with them, someone mentioned to me that they thought the $1.04/watt are for panels that have minor cosmetic imperfections but are guaranteed to have the same outputs. Even if that's the case, if it was my money and given the size of my system, I would have gone for the $1.04's personally. I suppose there's an outside chance the $1.04 price is for the perfect A panels but you'll have to check with Sun. Given how inexpensive the panels have been from Sun throughout the past year, I kept questioning again and again if I was going to end up with some dinged up, old manufacture (or other issue) panels but I got exactly what they said I'd get (perfect brand new panels).
Sorry for the ramble but maybe the info/thoughts will be helpful for those contemplating Canadian Solar and/or this vendor. I had so much uncertainty and concern at the beginning especially without seeing a lot of comments on these panels back then. But now having been through it, spoken to other installers, etc, Canadian Solar is a total no-brainer to me (at least the CS6P-230P!)
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