sseelhoff
Veteran Member
Just received our first quote for a grid tied solar installation. Comes out to $7,300 for a 9KWh system. That's installed. All components are U.S. manufactured. Awaiting other quotes.
Grid-tied solar
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Kyle_in_Tex
Super Star Member
What kind of subsidies and rebates get the price down that cheap? or have they really come down that much?
Jim Nelson
Platinum Member
We just had a system installed and after the 30% fed. credit it was $11400.This is 14 panels with Enphase micro inverters all U.S. parts supposedly. This was $4000 less than the other bid we got.We went with this company because a neighbor used them and was happy.
$7300 sounds like a heck of a deal.
$7300 sounds like a heck of a deal.
ultrarunner
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Sounds like a super deal...
The local company with great reviews and the one that did the local High School quoted that for a 3 kW 12 panel system using Enphase Micro Inverters and Canadian Solar 255W panels...
It was an upgrade to get the Micro Inverters that have a 25 year warranty.
The local company with great reviews and the one that did the local High School quoted that for a 3 kW 12 panel system using Enphase Micro Inverters and Canadian Solar 255W panels...
It was an upgrade to get the Micro Inverters that have a 25 year warranty.
sseelhoff
Veteran Member
$1.20 per KW. Just got our second bid. $8500 for a 5KW system, but that does not include the utility credit, so it would drop another $5000.
I'm thinking the 9KWh system is the better deal, since it will handle 92% of our electrical needs, and they estimate the 5KWh system will handle 75%. That and the second bid used Chinese panels. I would rather stick with all U.S. components for a lot of reasons.
The quotes you guys are getting makes me wonder if I should get a quote to expand my system. We were at 88% of usage before adding the mini-splits units in June, so now we are using more than before.
I don't have a long enough history yet of how much power the mini-splits will use. The month of July will give me a pretty good idea I think. This June's usage was 130 kWh above June 2013, that was for the last three weeks of June only.
I don't have a long enough history yet of how much power the mini-splits will use. The month of July will give me a pretty good idea I think. This June's usage was 130 kWh above June 2013, that was for the last three weeks of June only.
sseelhoff
Veteran Member
The mini-splits used more than a central unit? Shocked by that. We were looking at mini-splits as our next move after solar.
Not sure what you mean, or perhaps I have confused you. :laughing: We never had a central unit, or AC of any kind before getting the mini-splits.
Our solar system generated 88% of our needs before we got the split units. The solar will supply a lower percentage now due to increasing our total usage.
sseelhoff
Veteran Member
I assumed you went from central to mini-splits. Your post makes a lot more sense now.
ultrarunner
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Well... the revised cost for the 3 kW system is $8800... not so much of a deal.
Seems the permit process and site constraints added to the bottom line.
In the old days, someone actually came out and met the owner to discuss the job... today, at least around here, all the preliminary is done via internet with Google Earth images.
Seems the permit process and site constraints added to the bottom line.
In the old days, someone actually came out and met the owner to discuss the job... today, at least around here, all the preliminary is done via internet with Google Earth images.
SirReal63
Platinum Member
Look into the DC powered mini-splits, they are reportedly way more efficient than the AC ones. There are quite a few DC powered appliances on the market too. When the time comes, we will be looking very hard at going with as many DC powered items as possible, from major appliances to DC powered LED lighting.
sseelhoff
Veteran Member
Do you have to be on battery to use the DC? WE have to be grid tied to get the utility rebate, which is a big financial incentive.
SirReal63
Platinum Member
I believe the mini-splits use 48v DC, so you would probably need to be battery capable to take advantage of them.
sseelhoff
Veteran Member
I'll put it on my list to discuss with the solar guys. I would like to go to battery power at some point, but it may be phase 2. Or 3.
SirReal63
Platinum Member
We are considering a complete off grid system, mainly because the electric company is going to want about as much to run poles and wire as the solar/wind system. Later on when they get the poles closer we may tie into the grid.
sseelhoff
Veteran Member
I would love to be off the grid, but we bought an existing house and it was all hooked up. Long term, I hope to get there.
Jim Nelson
Platinum Member
When they first came out to look at ours the guy showed up at my shop which is about 250' from the house and he had a copy of a Google photo of my shop building.He was starting to measure when I found him and redirected him. Of course this caused the whole thing to start over
ultrarunner
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Were you able to make the deal and if so... anything you would do differently?
Jim Nelson
Platinum Member
We are nearly done.The power co. came out Friday afternoon for their final inspection and the inspector said it now goes to billing dept. who will issue the permit to operate, usually about 48 hrs..
The biggest delays on ours was the solar co. applying for permits and inspections in a timely manner which the inspector from the power co. said is common with all of the solar outfits. All and all ours went pretty fast as we signed the contract on 5/24/14 with the expectation that it would take til the first week of Aug. and it looks like it will be 2-3 weeks sooner.The reason for this is it was a cash deal.If the solar co. had applied for permits and requested inspection when we were ready for them it would have been 2 weeks earlier so you have to remember the old "squeaky wheel" theory.
The biggest delays on ours was the solar co. applying for permits and inspections in a timely manner which the inspector from the power co. said is common with all of the solar outfits. All and all ours went pretty fast as we signed the contract on 5/24/14 with the expectation that it would take til the first week of Aug. and it looks like it will be 2-3 weeks sooner.The reason for this is it was a cash deal.If the solar co. had applied for permits and requested inspection when we were ready for them it would have been 2 weeks earlier so you have to remember the old "squeaky wheel" theory.
