Hey Guys.. please help this "Newbie Girl" make the right choice!

[sara]

Hi:

My first post!

I've done a lot of research and I'm close to buying a system to be professionally installed at my home. This is such a big investment for me and I'm a bit nervous about making a mistake. I could really use your advice regarding a final choice pertaining to panel selection before going ahead.

Here are the proposed systems from my installer:

33 240 watt panels (Solarworld Mono Black panels)
33 Enphase 215 Inverters
$39,600

My quick math says that's $5.00 a watt.

Or...

33 240 watt panels (Suntech Poly "Pluto" .. these are blue panels)
33 Enphase 215 Inverters
$36,036

So that's $4.55 a watt

The pretty obvious concern is the price difference... about $3,600 more if I go with the black Solarworld panel.

I do think the black panels would look much better on my home. That's one consideration. But if I put the aesthetics aside, is the Solarworld panel better and worth the extra cost? I know they are an American company and I do like the idea of buying American.

Is the Suntech "Pluto" Chinese panel good? I read that Suntech is a huge company and has been around a while, but this new "Pluto" panel is a new technology and it's brand new to the US (and has only been around in Europe and Australia a few years). Should I be concerned about that?

The efficiency rating is about the same for both of these panels.. 14.8% for the Suntech Pluto and 14.3% for the Solarworld Mono Black.

I'm confused. What would you do?

Thanks!!

Sara

[raydias]

can you post a side by side comparison of the panel statistics.

[sara]

can you post a side by side comparison of the panel statistics.

SolarWorld Panel: http://www.solarworld-usa.com/system...o-black-ds.pdf

Suntech Panel (the 240 version info included on the sheet): http://am.suntech-power.com/images/s...nnector%29.pdf

[Nadja]

Solar Panel Prices

Myself, although already living off the grid for over 16 years now, am looking into the newer solar panels from a german co. called " shuco" Best deal I have found for a super quality panel so far. My price here at one of our local solar stores for sure. 255 watt, and price was $585.00 per panel Just type in Shuco Solar, and look at these 255 watt panels.

[russ]

A site that does comparisons for you - free. There is a paid version but I have never seen it.

http://www.solardesigntool.com/

[3PennyPower]

SolarWorld versus Suntech

Sara,

They are both great companies. My advice would be to eliminate the EnPhase aspect. THOSE are not worth the extra money unless you have shading issues. An M215 is about $165 per piece plus cabling whereas a SMA SB7000US would be about $2700. You could make up that $3000 right there.

In addition, at this point, I would look at Sharp NU-U235F4. Sharp has taken a very agressive stance in the market in the last few weeks and has dropped their prices considerably. At this point you are flipping a coin between SW and Sharp IMO.

You should be able to get into this system, on a shingle roof, for a shade over $30k plus taxes if you have tax on solar in your area. In AZ, we don't charge our customer's tax on solar installations. Yes, you should be paying right around $4 per watt right now. Maybe $4.25 per watt for EnPhase.

I hope this helps.

[russ]

The Suntech Pluto seems to have the best specs -
1) slightly higher watts
2) slightly higher efficiency - STC & PTC
3) zero negative tolerance to +5% better than SolarWorld or Sharp
4) slightly better temp coefficient than the other two - better performance in hot weather
5) a better warranty period

From your quotes it Suntech also cheaper

On the enphase vs single inverter you can get people to argue both ways. Member Naptown loves the Enphase while 3pennypower prefers the single unit. Who knows? The new Enphase have an improved warranty and they did away with the electrolytic capacitors that many didn't like.

If there is any shade issue then Enphase has a big advantage. A small amount of shade on a string is a big deal.

If the panels are not all in the same plane you would either have to use Enphase or multiple central inverters.

Russ

[sara]

The Suntech Pluto seems to have the best specs -
1) slightly higher watts
2) slightly higher efficiency - STC & PTC
3) zero negative tolerance to +5% better than SolarWorld or Sharp
4) slightly better temp coefficient than the other two - better performance in hot weather
5) a better warranty period

From your quotes it Suntech also cheaper

On the enphase vs single inverter you can get people to argue both ways. Member Naptown loves the Enphase while 3pennypower prefers the single unit. Who knows? The new Enphase have an improved warranty and they did away with the electrolytic capacitors that many didn't like.

If there is any shade issue then Enphase has a big advantage. A small amount of shade on a string is a big deal.

If the panels are not all in the same plane you would either have to use Enphase or multiple central inverters.

Russ

Thanks Russ. I do have some minor shading issues, so I think the Enphase is my best bet. The Suntech data does look a liitle bit better.

This might sound silly, but one reason I was leaning toward the black Solarworld panels is that it seems the trend in residential solar is toward black panels. Do you think we will ever get to the day when all solar panels are black? 10 years from now would I have a hard time finding a blue panel if I needed to replace one of the Suntec Pluto panels?

[Mike90250]

re: panel looks. I'd suggest looking at the electric bill, and appreciate any reductions. Blue, black, blue with black anodized trim, or black with gold anodized... I just care about the power. In 4 years, they may be orange.

[sara]

re: panel looks. I'd suggest looking at the electric bill, and appreciate any reductions. Blue, black, blue with black anodized trim, or black with gold anodized... I just care about the power. In 4 years, they may be orange.

I completely get what you are saying Mike and I agree.

In my case, if all goes as predicted, my electric bill should be $200 a year instead of the present $1,300 a year. So yes... the savings.. and the SREC's are more important than color.

I could afford the extra $3,600 to get the all black Solarworld panels instead of the kinda blue Suntec Pluto panels, but it just does not seem to be worth the extra cash (especially because the Suntec Pluto specs are so good. They even slightly beat the Solarworld specs as Russ pointed out).

Orange panels... you are silly Mike

[meridiansolar]

Yes, you should be paying right around $4 per watt right now. Maybe $4.25 per watt for EnPhase.

It really depends on where you live I guess. East coast USA it it still $5.50 to $6/watt. If AZ is $4.25 that is pretty awesome!

[russ]

First time I have seen the 4.25$ cost - where is that?

The costs will vary state to state as well county by county. Cost of permits and all vary greatly.

Costs of any modifications to the electric service as well as roof type can make a big difference.

Without a lot of clarifications the rule of thumb numbers are not a very good guide.

[sara]

First time I have seen the 4.25$ cost - where is that?

The costs will vary state to state as well county by county. Cost of permits and all vary greatly.

Costs of any modifications to the electric service as well as roof type can make a big difference.

Without a lot of clarifications the rule of thumb numbers are not a very good guide.

For the system I described (see 1st post in this thread) I'm paying $4.55 a watt with the Suntech Pluto panels and Enphase. Seems like a good installed price.

[KRenn]

Hi:

My first post!

I've done a lot of research and I'm close to buying a system to be professionally installed at my home. This is such a big investment for me and I'm a bit nervous about making a mistake. I could really use your advice regarding a final choice pertaining to panel selection before going ahead.

Here are the proposed systems from my installer:

33 240 watt panels (Solarworld Mono Black panels)
33 Enphase 215 Inverters
$39,600

My quick math says that's $5.00 a watt.

Or...

33 240 watt panels (Suntech Poly "Pluto" .. these are blue panels)
33 Enphase 215 Inverters
$36,036

So that's $4.55 a watt

The pretty obvious concern is the price difference... about $3,600 more if I go with the black Solarworld panel.

I do think the black panels would look much better on my home. That's one consideration. But if I put the aesthetics aside, is the Solarworld panel better and worth the extra cost? I know they are an American company and I do like the idea of buying American.

Is the Suntech "Pluto" Chinese panel good? I read that Suntech is a huge company and has been around a while, but this new "Pluto" panel is a new technology and it's brand new to the US (and has only been around in Europe and Australia a few years). Should I be concerned about that?

The efficiency rating is about the same for both of these panels.. 14.8% for the Suntech Pluto and 14.3% for the Solarworld Mono Black.

I'm confused. What would you do?

Thanks!!

Sara

I would go with the Suntech Pluto modules Sara. Zero power tolerance loss, much better temperature coefficient, high efficiency,
you really can't lose plus Suntech is the world's biggest solar panel manufacturer so they do have some financial stability. Not a big
fan of Chinese modules but Suntech is a different beast altogether, very good reputation in the solar industry, vertically integrated
manufacturer.

[KRenn]

First time I have seen the 4.25$ cost - where is that?

The costs will vary state to state as well county by county. Cost of permits and all vary greatly.

Costs of any modifications to the electric service as well as roof type can make a big difference.

Without a lot of clarifications the rule of thumb numbers are not a very good guide.

$4.20 is totally doable in Arizona, there's a few companies doing it but most are using garbage panels and
low-grade inverters. There's two or three who are in that range and are using high quality modules along
with high-quality inverters. Anything less than that and I'd be skeptical of what garbage modules they're
giving you or just how long it will take to install those modules. There's companies taking over 9 months to
install in some parts while other takes as little as 60 days.