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

[russ]

The same people who protest Wall Street, complain about Walmart wages, then go there and shop because they have the lowest prices. People think they are entitled, when the only thing they are entitled to is a chance if they work at it.

Like Jeff - who apparently has never been on the money end of any business.

[Jeffw1]

I still have a minor share in something I biult up, the others I sold..But what do I know.

[Bandwala]

Poor business model

The solar industry is behaving as though this is rocket science. It is not. There are a few critical points that require care and skill. Even hiring a professional for the final portion of hooking up the panel side to the grid is comfortably within reach if one installs the panels themselves. In fact one could go the extent of hiring a roofer to install the rails and an electrician to do the rest and still come out ahead.

The installers have adopted a poor business model. Rather than making a killing on a few customers why not make a decent profit but lower costs to reasonable levels and install many more panels. Let's keep in mind that the cost to contractor of the panels/rails/wiring is not what a DIYer would pay buying this independently.

No one here has an objection to a person being able to be profitable at their profession. But, ultimately it is a free country and people have a right to challenge status quo. Voice of the customer matters and it will show by increasing number of them shunning these big time solar certified installers.

The unreasonably high cost of install is holding back the promise of green energy which is a pity.

[russ]

The solar industry is behaving as though this is rocket science. It is not. There are a few critical points that require care and skill. Even hiring a professional for the final portion of hooking up the panel side to the grid is comfortably within reach if one installs the panels themselves. In fact one could go the extent of hiring a roofer to install the rails and an electrician to do the rest and still come out ahead.

The installers have adopted a poor business model. Rather than making a killing on a few customers why not make a decent profit but lower costs to reasonable levels and install many more panels. Let's keep in mind that the cost to contractor of the panels/rails/wiring is not what a DIYer would pay buying this independently.

No one here has an objection to a person being able to be profitable at their profession. But, ultimately it is a free country and people have a right to challenge status quo. Voice of the customer matters and it will show by increasing number of them shunning these big time solar certified installers.

The unreasonably high cost of install is holding back the promise of green energy which is a pity.

Blather - pure blather with no knowledge behind it.

[Naptown]

I do or did free estimates it’s part of the job, different field but still. (actually most builders, plumbers, electricians etc do, so you point is???) Cost to travel back and forwards and gas, insurance is negligible and does not justify their mark-ups. NO matter how you paint it.

When somebody is making $10,000+ profit for a few days work (i.e manual labour as this is all it really is), that’s a piss take that only fools sign up for.

Most people I see want a ROI investment and it’s over 10-20 years in solar (Idiots)

Put that money into a Term Deposit 9% 10% you can’t touch for 1 -> 5 years and you’ll see a better return AND you still have your initial capital, in solar you don’t.

So average system I see $20,000 Grid Tied… that’s $1,800 per year Term Deposit interest, after five years you also get your capital back and the interest…THAT is ROI….can you get that in solar???????????? HELL NO……

I’m sorry I appreciate people need to make a living etc., I don’t knock that, but the mark-ups and ROI is a god damn joke…….It’s a license to print money and rip people off in my eyes.

You are obviously not in a contracting type business.
I am in this business and I know for a fact that profit margins are slim.
This is a very competitive business where a few cents per watt can mean the difference between winning a job and losing one.
You are also making the gross mistake of confusing mark up with profit. Obviously you are not even thinking about the myriad of costs it takes to run a business. You don't cover them and you are gone.
The estimate costs are only one very small part of the equation.
Most all of the expenses that we incurr as a business you do not have as a DIYer. You just pay for the equipment
No labor no insurance etc. and you don't need to make a profit.
And unless you are buying like solar city at several megawatts at a time the wholesale cost of panels etc is only about 5 % less than places I have seen advertised on the Internet.

[Jeffw1]

You guys are confusing me with somebody who doesn’t know jack ****….

Mod note - Bye bye to the BS artist.

[Naptown]

Jef1
Seems you have crossed the pond in a few posts
Now tell me what bank in the US is paying 9% on say a 5 year certificate of deposit.

[FloridaSun]

Obviously you are not even thinking about the myriad of costs it takes to run a business. You don't cover them and you are gone.
The estimate costs are only one very small part of the equation.
Most all of the expenses that we incurr as a business you do not have as a DIYer. You just pay for the equipment
No labor no insurance etc.

not to mention taxes, not only on the slim profits but employee SS and unemployment taxes. IRS is the small biz's worst enemy.

[t5800512]

Expat, you still there? Or have you given up on this forum. If you still want help designing and installing your PV system, there are folks here that will assist you. I for one, and I suspect the forum members that help me will also join in. I installed my own system earlier this year and got a lot of help from the members on this forum. So far, I'm very happy with my results. I often wonder why there are not more DIYers. Mostly what I see are people wanting help comparing their quotes.

[Naptown]

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.

Ok
I am a Sunpower dealer and those modules alone are over $2.00 a watt at dealer cost
So your friend must be in the business as Sunpower only sells to authorized dealers.
This also sounds like deal making as he has half Sunpower and half something else.
Or he got his stuff used or stolen on Craigslist.

[t5800512]

Well, I learn something every day. Naptown, I did not know you was a SunPower dealer. That is darn cool.

[SunEagle]

Expat, you still there? Or have you given up on this forum. If you still want help designing and installing your PV system, there are folks here that will assist you. I for one, and I suspect the forum members that help me will also join in. I installed my own system earlier this year and got a lot of help from the members on this forum. So far, I'm very happy with my results. I often wonder why there are not more DIYers. Mostly what I see are people wanting help comparing their quotes.

I am tending to beleive that his statement about a friends low cost 6kw solar system was nothing more that bull. He certainly never repsonded to tips that he should go get his friend to build one for him.

I beleive he fabricated the story hoping someone would help him find a system as cheap as the one that he was dreaming about.

[Sunking]

I am tending to beleive that his statement about a friends low cost 6kw solar system was nothing more that bull. He certainly never repsonded to tips that he should go get his friend to build one for him.

I beleive he fabricated the story hoping someone would help him find a system as cheap as the one that he was dreaming about.

I knew he was a fraud from the start.

[t5800512]

Hey Sunking, I was proud of you for being civil to this guy. LOL

I for one wish we had not chased him off. I would have liked an opportunity to help him. He seriously reminds me of, well, me! A serious DIY'er.

[Naptown]

Hey Sunking, I was proud of you for being civil to this guy. LOL

I for one wish we had not chased him off. I would have liked an opportunity to help him. He seriously reminds me of, well, me! A serious DIY'er.

Nothing wrong with a diyer if you have the skills and knowledge to do the task and can do it legally.
I have a problem with someone coming on and bashing the pros thinking they are making a killing on their job. Not happening at least around here by the reputable guys.
I had one tonight that had a quote of 25K for a 2.8 KW System.
Had not heard of the guy who was from PA
I priced out a system with discontinued panels at a bargain price of 26K for 9.8 KW.
So yes there are shysters out there.