Getting bids for system in the OC

[darkhelmet]

What problems are you having with your Envoy? Mine is from last year so I have the Ethernet port only, but I connected it to a wireless client device that lets me connect it over Wi-fi to my network.

The Envoy needed to update to a newer version before it could use the USB wifi dongle. Got it updated this morning and it senses it just fine. The USB is a TP-Link model #TL-WN721N and costs about $12-15 online. Just plug it in and you can attach the Envoy to your Wifi.

[wrlsguy]

Quick update with some pics of the install.



Now if I can get the Envoy to update so it can be wireless that would be great.....

What problems are you having with your Envoy? Mine is from last year so I have the Ethernet port only, but I connected it to a wireless client device that lets me connect it over Wi-fi to my network.

[darkhelmet]

Ended up going with Enphase M215 inverters.

[thejq]

Quick update with some pics of the install.

Now if I can get the Envoy to update so it can be wireless that would be great.....

Looks good. So what invertor did you get?

[darkhelmet]

Quick update with some pics of the install.

IMG_2833.jpg solarinstall.jpg IMG_2837.jpg IMG_2841.jpg IMG_2861.jpg IMG_2868.jpg

Now if I can get the Envoy to update so it can be wireless that would be great.....

[JCP]

We have SDG&E and on their site, I can look at my usage for the past 12 months and if I click on Solar, it gives me estimates to cover different amounts of my bill and 7KW was what it recommended to cover 98% of my bill. Also, it showed I had used is about 12,300 KWH and the formula I was given is ((annual usage/365)/5.5)/0.83 which is my case came out to a 7.38KW system. So those numbers kind of go together. I got bids rom 6KW to 8KW so I get it.

There's two schools of thought. One is to cover 100% of your usage. The other is to cover just the higher tiers, in my case 3 & 4 for SDG&E, or about 70% of my bills which average 37 cents vs. tier 1 & 2 that average 17 cents, about a 5.2KW system that gives you back a better payback. I did the math and the payback was about 6 years on complete system and 5 years on the 70% system. Each of us has different goals, but I want to cover my bill by 100% for personal reasons, not because it has the best ROI.

You may want to take into account that tiers 3 and 4 will probably go away in the next few years, while tier 1 will go up. PG&E wants to collapse tiers 2 through 4 into one tier about 20% higher than tier 1. It'll change the economics of solar. I think SDG&E has the same plan going.

[darkhelmet]

My SunRun person was Kendra too. She was good and got the price down pretty easily. Not sure if you can get them to lower the price by pitting SunRun against itself. She was very clear that they would meet competitor pricing though. I also met with Sullivan and they have a nice presentation but their pricing was high and they had no interest in negotiating.

[buellwinkle]

We have SDG&E and on their site, I can look at my usage for the past 12 months and if I click on Solar, it gives me estimates to cover different amounts of my bill and 7KW was what it recommended to cover 98% of my bill. Also, it showed I had used is about 12,300 KWH and the formula I was given is ((annual usage/365)/5.5)/0.83 which is my case came out to a 7.38KW system. So those numbers kind of go together. I got bids rom 6KW to 8KW so I get it.

There's two schools of thought. One is to cover 100% of your usage. The other is to cover just the higher tiers, in my case 3 & 4 for SDG&E, or about 70% of my bills which average 37 cents vs. tier 1 & 2 that average 17 cents, about a 5.2KW system that gives you back a better payback. I did the math and the payback was about 6 years on complete system and 5 years on the 70% system. Each of us has different goals, but I want to cover my bill by 100% for personal reasons, not because it has the best ROI.

[rbintl]

Best bid I got so far is $3.46/W on a 7.2KW system, LG 280W panels, Sunny Boy 7000 inverter from US Solar. Having one of my neighbors work it that works for a solar company and he thinks he can beat that even adding in optimizers at each panel. There's no sales guy involved to pay a commission to, so that helps.

Have not heard back from Sunrun, so the sales guy assigned is not very aggressive, maybe the same guy you got, David N. SunRun uses RecGroup 265W poly-crystalline panels, so all things equal, would prefer the LG 280W mono-crystalline panels. Just not a fan of the purplish/bluish poly panels, prefer the sleek black mono panels.

$3.46 is good, if you can lower better. My Sunrun gal was pleasant and not pushy but she did get back to me within 4 days for a follow up. Her name is Kendra. Sunrun is at $4.12 opening bid on a 5.2W system and she already said she will lower, I told her I would get back to her after I give other vendors a chance. I had the Solar America guys in on Friday and they were pie in the sky with an opening bid of $4.61 and had to show him the door really quick. He came back knocking and lowered to $4.16, I told him to take a hike and find another sucker. I've heard good things from a local company called Sullivan out of San Diego. Their guy is coming to house next week. My biggest issue is that i'm getting such a variance on the sizes of the recommended systems (5.2Kw - 7.75Kw) with the average coming around 6 Kw. As soon as I off junior status on this forum, I'll PM you more details.

[buellwinkle]

Best bid I got so far is $3.46/W on a 7.2KW system, LG 280W panels, Sunny Boy 7000 inverter from US Solar. Having one of my neighbors work it that works for a solar company and he thinks he can beat that even adding in optimizers at each panel. There's no sales guy involved to pay a commission to, so that helps.

Have not heard back from Sunrun, so the sales guy assigned is not very aggressive, maybe the same guy you got, David N. SunRun uses RecGroup 265W poly-crystalline panels, so all things equal, would prefer the LG 280W mono-crystalline panels. Just not a fan of the purplish/bluish poly panels, prefer the sleek black mono panels.

[rbintl]

Can you PM me the SunRun sale guy. I need to call him because the SunRun guy that came here wants a buck a watt more than that bid.

Sunrun gal started me off at $4.12/watt DC. They are willing to bring price down if you can show similar system build quote from another company. I have one at $3.75 but nothing near the $3.15. I would like the Sunrun guy that quoted the low ball too. I'm in the Laguna Hills Area.

[buellwinkle]

Can you PM me the SunRun sale guy. I need to call him because the SunRun guy that came here wants a buck a watt more than that bid.

[rbintl]

I ended up going with Advanced Improvements in Anaheim, CA. They ended up matching the SunRun price of $3.15 per kw and were willing to put in writing that they cover labor to replace failed inverters/panels. I basically gave up about $400 in Costco cash to get a better warranty. Hopefully they will be around in 5-10 years should I need warranty work done....

Congrats, you set the bar high at $3.15 per kW. I have a lot of work to do. Need to grind these guys more.

[inetdog]

A name is fine - it shouldn't sound like an advertisement is all.

And definitely not include a clickable link to the company website....

[darkhelmet]

I ended up going with Advanced Improvements in Anaheim, CA. They ended up matching the SunRun price of $3.15 per kw and were willing to put in writing that they cover labor to replace failed inverters/panels. I basically gave up about $400 in Costco cash to get a better warranty. Hopefully they will be around in 5-10 years should I need warranty work done....