help picking solar companies.

[tomkat]

Hi, my name is Tom. I am in the process of picking a solar installer to do some installations in some rental properties I manage. I like 2 companies right now. The 1st sells Sun Power equiptment. The 2ed is selling Trina or Canadian solar panels with Sma inverters. Both companies have installed over 1 mw of solar last year. The company selling Sun Power has a little more professionalism for their sales people. The company selling the Trina or Canadian solar panels says they installed 2 mw last year and is giving me a price thats 1.05 cents cheeper for the installs. That adds up for 100 kw worth of solar. I feel both companies are capable to do the work. Is Sun power equiptment that much better of equiptment to warrent the extra money? The sales pitch is that Sun Power is going to be in business 20 years down the road while I can't be sure the other panels will be in business to service any warrenties. My systems are to be installed in NJ. Some are ground mounts and some are roof mounts. thanks for your advice. Tom

[Mike90250]

Who knows who is going to be in business 20 years from now. Shell Oil ? BP solar ?

Sunpower advantage is smaller footprint / more efficient panels. If you have the roof space, and the larger, less efficient panels fit, take them and save your $$.
Who covers the roof leaks from the mounting racks ? Is it better to re-roof now, before panels go on, or pay to take them off in 15 years when the roof needs re-do, and all the hardware is sized up, and has to be cut off? Warranty coverage on the inverters ? Buy a couple extra panels and store them in the garage, in case you can't get spares in the future. Most failures will happen in the first 2 years.

[tomkat]

Thanks for the reply. I hear you about not having a crystal ball. Thanks for the tip on the extra panels. The issue of the roof leak concerns me. I am willing to reroof the buildings if need be. But I am worried about the brackets. The sales pitch is that a good sealant will be used that is gaurenteed for 30 years. But the contractor in me doesn't believe it. I have seen one company flash each bracket with a piece of aluminum which i liked. But will that tear up the roofs that are a few years old when you pick up the shingles? What do you think of the claims of the sealant lasting for 30 years? Tom

[Mike90250]

What do you think of the claims of the sealant lasting for 30 years?

Possible, it's going to be sort of protected under the panels.