Getting bids for system in the OC

[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]

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.....

[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]

Ended up going with Enphase M215 inverters.

[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]

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.

[buellwinkle]

That is awesome. How long did it take to get permits from the time you signed the contract? Just started my process by signing the contract. The cost is 3.22/W and includes 26 LG 280W panels and an SMA Inverted. I did not go with string inverters because my roof is delicate and wanted to minimize future foot traffic on it for any warranty repairs and also liked the 1,500W outlet box on the inverter that allows you to plug things in during a power outage. I figure it will be a month before I can get it installed.

Thanks for you help, if not for you, I would have paid much more.

[rbintl]

That is awesome. How long did it take to get permits from the time you signed the contract? Just started my process by signing the contract. The cost is 3.22/W and includes 26 LG 280W panels and an SMA Inverted. I did not go with string inverters because my roof is delicate and wanted to minimize future foot traffic on it for any warranty repairs and also liked the 1,500W outlet box on the inverter that allows you to plug things in during a power outage. I figure it will be a month before I can get it installed.

Thanks for you help, if not for you, I would have paid much more.

buellwinkle, who did you end up going with to get down to $3.22/w?

[darkhelmet]

Took 32 days to get everything installed. Permitting is quick in my city. Still need a final inspection before net metering is enabled with SCE. Not sure how long that will take.

[thejq]

That is awesome. How long did it take to get permits from the time you signed the contract? Just started my process by signing the contract. The cost is 3.22/W and includes 26 LG 280W panels and an SMA Inverted. I did not go with string inverters because my roof is delicate and wanted to minimize future foot traffic on it for any warranty repairs and also liked the 1,500W outlet box on the inverter that allows you to plug things in during a power outage. I figure it will be a month before I can get it installed.

Thanks for you help, if not for you, I would have paid much more.

Congrats on the signing. So did you go with the guy that I PM'd you from San Diego?

[buellwinkle]

I went with Rob Smith at Solar Symphony, PM me for the contact info as I'm not sure what I can post here, but tell him I sent you. He's the owner, so no sales commission overhead many of these outfits have.

[rbintl]

I went with Rob Smith at Solar Symphony, PM me for the contact info as I'm not sure what I can post here, but tell him I sent you. He's the owner, so no sales commission overhead many of these outfits have.

Thanks buellwinkle. I'll PM you after I get to 10 post.

[wrlsguy]

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.

What version of firmware are you now running? From other posts on the forum, I have a fear if I trigger the firmware update on my Envoy, I could lose my grandfathered per panel visibility (last year I did not have to pay the extra $250). I am using a TP Link nano router in client mode for now...

[darkhelmet]

Quick update. Panels are producing between 27 - 20 kwh a day depending on temp and cloud/fog. SCE turned Net Metering on Sept. 27th, a little over two weeks after final inspection. So far so good. Thanks again for everyone's help.

[buellwinkle]

Oh man, you are lucky, 2 weeks. I'm still waiting for SDG&E to give me permission to operate. Luckily it's the time of year with the lowest usage, but just anxious to get my first under $200 bill in years.