Want to DIY a 6000w system - Where to start? Parts list?

[Expat]

I am considering moving into solar, but I will be the 1st to admit that I am not up to snuff regarding what is considered competitive pricing. I also don't have a full idea of what exactly is required to construct a full kit. I have calculated that I need at least a 6000w system to achieve (hopefully) $0 electricity bills using net metering. I have received quotes from professionals for a full install, but it is my opinion that it's still too expensive for it to make financial sense - when calculating the ROI. However, it is my understanding that doing it yourself can yield a ROI in as little as 4-5 years (maybe even less).

So, before I get started, I have a few questions:

* Do any of you have a parts list you are willing to share?
* Is there a list of recommended vendors with competitive pricing?
* Is it feasible to order directly from manufacturers? (China?)
* What would be a reasonable total kit cost for my demand?
* What are some less obvious things I should be considering?

Thanks in advance!

[silversaver]

Not trying to put you down, but if you have no idea at all what you are doing then forget it..... It is not an easy job as you seen... If you are planning roof install, then get a good medical/life insurance.


Here are few place you can get the solar kit:

http://www.freecleansolar.com/6kW-Solar-Kits-s/157.htm

http://www.gogreensolar.com/collections/diy-solar

http://www.solarpanelstore.com/solar-power-packages.cse-medium-grid-tie.html

[Expat]

Thanks for the links, I will check those out.

I've been looking at some kits and install manuals/videos the last couple hours, it seems fairly straight forward. I can't imagine it being any more technical than wiring a home. I may be uninformed with the components involved with a solar system, but it's not my 1st rodeo.

[knsolar]

Expat, I just started on this as well. my electric bill was less than $100 on an average so never thought of going solar.. but with the recent addition of EV, solar seemed more attractive. but as you figured out, total cost was very high. so started researching on DIY. I hope you came across this video: http://archive.org/details/DIY_self_...voltaic_panels - very informative, even though it is from 7 years ago. My research so far showed that you can get panels for 70c-80c/W and inverter (central) for 50c/W..

Please keep us updated of your progress.. I will do the same.

Thanks for the links, I will check those out.

I've been looking at some kits and install manuals/videos the last couple hours, it seems fairly straight forward. I can't imagine it being any more technical than wiring a home. I may be uninformed with the components involved with a solar system, but it's not my 1st rodeo.

[russ]

Expat, I just started on this as well. my electric bill was less than $100 on an average so never thought of going solar.. but with the recent addition of EV, solar seemed more attractive. but as you figured out, total cost was very high. so started researching on DIY. I hope you came across this video: http://archive.org/details/DIY_self_...voltaic_panels - very informative, even though it is from 7 years ago. My research so far showed that you can get panels for 70c-80c/W and inverter (central) for 50c/W..

Please keep us updated of your progress.. I will do the same.

Your "research"is sadly lacking - there is no way you can build cheaper than buy today!

A person with excellent skills and and electrical license may save buy buying factory made and doing an install but even that is doubtful.

[Expat]

Your "research"is sadly lacking - there is no way you can build cheaper than buy today!

A person with excellent skills and and electrical license may save buy buying factory made and doing an install but even that is doubtful.

Perhaps I am just misreading your statement, but are you suggesting installing a kit will run about the same as ordering/having installed from a professional?

Here in the states, it's easily 20-30k+ (sometimes MUCH more) to have a system installed. In contrast, a friend of mine just installed a kit himself and has a little over $10k invested into it. If I'm not mistaken, his system is currently putting out right around 6,000w at peak daylight and averaging 1.7kWh.

Nothing I have seen regarding the install requires excellent skills, but I suppose that is subjective and depends on ones experience and comfort level. I spose these days men seem to be a lot less handy than in the past, eh? lol. Only outsourcing I'd need to do is to hook up to the existing electrical panel (that requires a licensed electrician by law).

[russ]

Perhaps I am just misreading your statement, but are you suggesting installing a kit will run about the same as ordering/having installed from a professional? You don't read to well? A good DIY type can save some money - maybe - if they don't waste money and can buy right.

Here in the states, it's easily 20-30k+ (sometimes MUCH more) to have a system installed. I am from the US and even a citizen for that matter and am aware of the costs. Do more research on costs as you have more to learn. Naptown, KRenn and others in the business will tell you about the margins they work on. People see that absolute cheapest price per watt on panels and multiply that by their desired array size. There are a few more items involved.
In contrast, a friend of mine just installed a kit himself and has a little over $10k invested into it. If I'm not mistaken, his system is currently putting out right around 6,000w at peak daylight and averaging 1.7Kwh. People have a tendency to make themselves look good in matters like these. Of course if he went cheapo, cheapo maybe he did it.

Nothing I have seen regarding the install requires excellent skills, but I suppose that is subjective and depends on ones experience and comfort level. I spose these days men seem to be a lot less handy than in the past, eh? lol. Only outsourcing I'd need to do is to hook up to the existing electrical panel (that requires a licensed electrician by law). Glad to hear you are a qualified electrician and roofer plus are happy to do any maintenance required for the system.

Comments within the text in bold. If you expect the savings you suggest you are going to be very sad.

[Expat]

good panels ( Renesola, ET or Canadian solar ) , inverter ( sunny boy ) and all the little nuts, bolts and nuggets needed would be around $1.40 shipped per watt to your door all is needed is an electrician who can do all of this for you ( ground installs are a little more expensive) . In my area I can get it installed for about 40-50c /watt. total cost .

Thanks for the brand names and some pricing.

Are you familiar with SunPowerCorp?

These are the panels (well, 1/2 of them) that my friend is running:

http://us.sunpowercorp.com/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheadername1=Content-Type&blobheadername2=Content-Disposition&blobheadervalue1=application%2Fpdf&blobheadervalue2=inline%3B+filename%3Dsp_X21_335_345_ds_en_ltr_504828A_040513.pdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1300286718354&ssbinary=true

The other 1/2 are LG I believe.

[russ]

Don't look into any kits that is total BS . Spend a little time reading about it or you can buy some DVD's ( Tom Henry's solar install -14 dvd's ) , write down all the equipment you need for an install and buy it, hire a local electrician or nabcep to do a professional install. Total cost including the racking (unirac) , good panels ( Renesola, ET or Canadian solar ) , inverter ( sunny boy ) and all the little nuts, bolts and nuggets needed would be around $1.40 shipped per watt to your door all is needed is an electrician who can do all of this for you ( ground installs are a little more expensive) . In my area I can get it installed for about 40-50c /watt. total cost . But when you just want to write a check to a company the price jumps to $4 - 4.5/watt . Huge difference and much different ROI time frame even when your electricity is dirt cheap, factor in any federal, state and local incentives and you are paying pennies on a dollar doing it this way. This isn't rocket science all it takes is a bit of reading and understaning.

Lots of BS, blather and a little knowledge in that post. Either get real and cool or ---

[Expat]

Comments within the text in bold. If you expect the savings you suggest you are going to be very sad.

So basically, I should expect to pay close to the $30k+ quotes I have been receiving?

Other than connecting to the electrical panel, what exactly in this install requires a licensed (or even a very experienced) electrician? I'm not an SAE mechanic or professional home builder, but I can still build a motor from bottom to top and frame an addition to my home. I must be missing something here. Since you asked; yes, we've always roofed our own homes when needed.

Man, so much hostility here.

[knsolar]

http://archive.org/details/DIY_self_installed_solar_photovoltaic_panels

Folks: please watch this video.. As Expat says, it is straight forward.. yes, lifting panels to the roof and installing the rails require some skill, but not to the extend of 70% of the total system cost. Russ, do you agree that inverter and panels are major part of the system and can be had for $1.0-$1.2/W for a 5000W system? Currently in my area (northen california) they are quoting around $15K to $20K for this system.

[SunEagle]

Perhaps I am just misreading your statement, but are you suggesting installing a kit will run about the same as ordering/having installed from a professional?

Here in the states, it's easily 20-30k+ (sometimes MUCH more) to have a system installed. In contrast, a friend of mine just installed a kit himself and has a little over $10k invested into it. If I'm not mistaken, his system is currently putting out right around 6,000w at peak daylight and averaging 1.7kWh.

Nothing I have seen regarding the install requires excellent skills, but I suppose that is subjective and depends on ones experience and comfort level. I spose these days men seem to be a lot less handy than in the past, eh? lol. Only outsourcing I'd need to do is to hook up to the existing electrical panel (that requires a licensed electrician by law).

If your friend was able to install a 6000w system for a little over $10k and is satisfied then I would say go duplicate his design.

You will not find a "kit" or parts for a system that is good to high quality components for much less than $2/watt. You will then have to add the cost of the permits, installation prep and connection by a licensed electrician to the total cost.

Also forget about going to a China supplier. You will end up having to pay import tarrifs that the US has put in place to keep the low cost panels out. This will easily add to your "part" costs.

[russ]

So basically, I should expect to pay close to the $30k+ quotes I have been receiving? Nope - look for the best deal

Other than connecting to the electrical panel, what exactly in this install requires a licensed (or even a very experienced) electrician? I'm not an SAE mechanic or professional home builder, but I can still build a motor from bottom to top and frame an addition to my home. I must be missing something here. Since you asked; yes, we've always roofed our own homes when needed.

Man, so much hostility here.Only hostility when someone shows up spreading BS.

Comments in bold in the text.

[russ]

Hostility , yes no doubt. There are few individuals in here who believe they know everything and if someone doesn't agree ,it's always either BS, blather or burry your money in your back yard for better ROI. Now , the last option is the best in a lot of cases I see here where the system costs run at 5 $/watt but it doesn't have to be that much.

Agreed dirtysanchez - and the less time they have been around the more BS they try to spread.

[silversaver]

Perhaps I am just misreading your statement, but are you suggesting installing a kit will run about the same as ordering/having installed from a professional?

Here in the states, it's easily 20-30k+ (sometimes MUCH more) to have a system installed. In contrast, a friend of mine just installed a kit himself and has a little over $10k invested into it. If I'm not mistaken, his system is currently putting out right around 6,000w at peak daylight and averaging 1.7kWh.

Nothing I have seen regarding the install requires excellent skills, but I suppose that is subjective and depends on ones experience and comfort level. I spose these days men seem to be a lot less handy than in the past, eh? lol. Only outsourcing I'd need to do is to hook up to the existing electrical panel (that requires a licensed electrician by law).

Perhaps you should "ask" and "pay" your friend to install a 6kW solar system for you, it will be much cheaper than what you can get here. Don't waste anytime here on the forum because you will not get anything lower than what your friend got. You can mark my words for it.

Men are not less handy, because we can make right judgements. With all the time and risk it takes, I can make more money elsewhere and let the right poeple doing the job for me. I recently got a deal for a 6.63kW DC system $18,799 turn key service.