2 less panels cost $3300 less?

[GoingElectric]

Overlook637 Welcome back!

30 panels 11.5kW canadian solar 395w with a single powerwall3.

Possible to get breakdown of panels ($4200 for 30?) / battery / install?
Comparing to my 20 panel install at an estimate that is comparable price, so great job!

You might want to ask if they install EV chargers, it could be a deal if less that $1000.

[Overlook637]

It’s taken a few quotes. Finally got a much better quote 30 panels 11.5kW canadian solar 395w with a single powerwall3. T
$43,000 total cost cash.

Pallet of solar panels is $4200.

[GoingElectric]

Overlook637 in case you will check back:
if you are limited to 10kW (not kWh), and get 28 panels, then they are about 360W each, which is very low end, maybe out of production unit, suggesting you are getting old stock or even used.
You are right to suspect this is a rip off, maybe around 2x actual costs. As others have said, get more quotes.

[David Amon]

Unfortunately, these solar companies are less than honest with their pricing especially if you are planning on financing through them. The first thing is never sign a contract that you have not fully read and modified to read exactly what you are being provided down to a complete hardware list, dates of completion, date of being tied to the grid and make sure monetary recovery is called out if these dates are not met. Most of these boiler plate contracts they advertise only give you 3 or 4 days to cancel without fee and then even if they are not performing up to expectation you can't cancel without paying a 10% cancellation fee. That fee also covers 10% of the financing fee which is generally around 20% of the actual cost if you were paying cash. So lets use your $7500 dollar system as an example, the financing fee they are probably charging is like $15,000 and that is on top of the current loan rates of 8-9 percent. That tax credit you are getting back is all going to just your financing for the first year. If they fail to meet dead lines or make verbal commitments they decide to back out of later you have two avenues to get out of the contract: 1. Pay the 10% fee or $7500 due upon cancellation which most companies are gambling that most people can't afford since your financing. 2. You can try to hire a lawyer and claim a bait and switch or failure or truth in lending act since most of the times they don't list out the lending fees, but again this costs money and isn't guaranteed. Well I guess option 3 exists and that is to let them jerk you around take your blood pressure through the roof and be stuck writing them a check every month for as long as the loan is, some up to 25 years! Oh and if you think not paying and just letting them destroy your credit for the bill, they normally throw in a statement that allows them to put a lean on your home.

[chrisski]

Unfortunately, the quote will not go into a detailed list of all parts.

FWIW, my Q cell panels were about $1300-$1500 each installed. These went to a MPPT and a DC coupled battery charger. I gave a quote and bill, but not an itemized of how much the panels, inverter, and battery cost separately.

My numbers I use for fair market value for an installation is $15k for 5 kw of panels and $12k for 10 kWh of battery.

I don’t understand why the POCO limits you to 10kWh.

[Ampster]

Get several quotes and see how they compare. A lot can depend on location and site challenges. It also may be worth asking whether the10 kWh limit is based on inverter capacity or panel capacity.

[Overlook637]

Initial quote for 28 Q-Cell panels with enphase iq8h inverters and 2 Franklin batteries was $73,500. We found out that my power company (Georgia power) limits system size to 10kWH for net metering.

I asked for a new quote to stay at 10kWH. That would be two less panels. The cost decreased by $3300. My very limited knowledge tells me that a premium panel and most updated en phase should material cost less than $700 per panel and inverter. That’s $1400 in materials (not including brackets). With my limited knowledge- seams like they are charging a hefty installation cost.

Seeing the red flag. I checked the total system material costs.


I checked an online retailer. Two Franklin batteries, Franklin aGate controller. 28 Q-cell panels and 28 iq8h micro-investors totaled $41,000. Leaving me questioning $34,000 remaining costs for design, permits, installation, and warranty.


Any thoughts? Am I looking at this wrong approach?