6Kw going in soon in Aliso Viejo

[silversaver]

looks really nice. Only part I 'll address is the range hood. If you don't do too much of cooking, I guess it should be fine. I recently installed a 900CFM rangehood because we do lots cooking at home

[Alisobob]

AZ6A5336_zpsbe9ac719.jpgAZ6A5329_zpsc4d06e08.jpgAZ6A5299_zpse0089c31.jpg

So.. I got to do solar, and the wifey got to do the kitchen...

We both followed the same parameters.

1. Dont go the cheapest, go the best value. Your contractor needs to make money to stay in business. If you try to hammer him on the price ( or get into some kind of barter situation) ..its a lousy way to start a business relationship.

2. Tell the contractor EXACTLY what you expect... and thats you will accept.

3. Question everything. A good contractor will love to explain everything. A crappy contractor will get all defensive, and is your first warning sign.

Our kitchen came our perfect, on budget, ON TIME, and will soon be moving upstairs to do the master bath.

We like our contractor, and he likes us...... see how it works???

[silversaver]

You're welcome. I'm still very, very happy with their work.. and my solar systems performance. Halfway through Jan, and I'm over generating by about 5%.

I'll have plenty of credits come summer!

As far as the LG panels... LG is a global company who makes everything.... kinda like a Korean General Electric.

I have a LG Washer / Dryer that I dislike, which pushed me towards Solarworld. It was just a personal preference.

I dont think the LG panels would ever give you an issue.

Let me know how things progress!!

After having 2 Maytag, I switch to LG and love them.

[Alisobob]

Hey Bob, Thanks for telling me about your installer...

You're welcome. I'm still very, very happy with their work.. and my solar systems performance. Halfway through Jan, and I'm over generating by about 5%.

I'll have plenty of credits come summer!

As far as the LG panels... LG is a global company who makes everything.... kinda like a Korean General Electric.

I have a LG Washer / Dryer that I dislike, which pushed me towards Solarworld. It was just a personal preference.

I dont think the LG panels would ever give you an issue.

Let me know how things progress!!

[russ]

Thanks for the input on the tree issue everyone. I will check the associations CC&Rs. I am hoping that the tree I cut down on my property a few years ago that was too close to his home will soften the blow of me asking him to remove his beloved palms. I wonder if they could be moved...

They are easy to transplant from what I have seen - a particular variety I don't know though. In the Mid East the rich guys don't like to wait for a tree to grow - they have the full size planted often.

[mcollins]

Thanks for the input on the tree issue everyone. I will check the associations CC&Rs. I am hoping that the tree I cut down on my property a few years ago that was too close to his home will soften the blow of me asking him to remove his beloved palms. I wonder if they could be moved...

[J.P.M.]

Hey Bob, Thanks for telling me about your installer (name withheld to protect the innocent). I was really impressed with his laid back straight shooting style. I could have been asking him to install a ceiling fan, simply competent knowledge with years of been there done that. His price was excellent compared to my 4 other installers (all 5 star Yelp companies).

My roof is small and broken up into different levels and different orientations. For this reason I have moved away from my first thought of a single inverter and have moved to micro inverters. He has recommended 16 - LG 300 panels to maximize each panel. I have tried to find out about this brand but it barely shows up on most "best of" lists. Any input would be appreciated.

Also, anyone know about how to approach a neighbor who's palm trees are hanging over my roof? They are literally against my home. My association says it is a "matter between neighbors". Are there any solar laws that could help?

Thanks again for your posts.

Matt

See CA public resource code SEC. 25980 to 25986. The Solar Shade Control Act deals with this sort of thing. Under that act, mostly, if the veg. was there before the panels were installed, it can stay. See the ref. provided for details. Any veg. growing over to your property in a general way is a different matter. I'm think you can trim that as a private nuisance. I'd think the HOA CC &R's would have something to say about such things. I'd read them as well.

[inetdog]

H
Also, anyone know about how to approach a neighbor who's palm trees are hanging over my roof? They are literally against my home. My association says it is a "matter between neighbors". Are there any solar laws that could help?

Some states have solar laws, but for the most part they only affect changes in conditions from when you started out with the system, such as trees being planted or growing taller.

In your case the basic law which applies is that you have the right to trim any portion of the tree that overhangs your property as long as you do not kill or significantly damage the tree in doing it.
If the whole head of the palm is overhanging your lot, you could probably require the owner to pull it back over his property or remove it, since trimming it would kill the palm.
If it is on his property and is just shading your roof, you have less support unless your area has a sunlight access law, not necessarily just for solar PV.

How to approach depends a lot on how you think the neighbor will react.

[mcollins]

Wow..... (wow, wow, wow)

I took the boards advice, and contacted a small, local company with nothing but 5 star reviews on Yelp. No Russ..... I wont say the name.

This is their deal....
24 , 270 watt Solar World MONO panels ( 6480 watt total)
24 Enphase Inverters
Envoy monitoring with life time web access
Attic run electrical, nothing on roof
Move v ents as needed
R/R all Roof Tile under solar panels to repaper roof.
25 year warranty for all parts and labor. If product supplier goes out of business, they will pick up the remainder of supplier warranty
4 year maintenance agreement ( Wash panels, inspect wiring, etc..etc.. 2 x per year) after 4 years, service is $150 per year if so desired
NO PANEL UPGRADE NEEDED! They will flip around some circuits to make the panel "End Fed" which will satisfy the building inspector without replacing the panel.

All permits and HOA paperwork included

Price: $23,291 ( 3.59 per watt installed)

-30% Tax Credit $16,303 ( $2.51 per watt installed)

It looks like this is the way I'm going to go.....

Thanks everyone. Bob

Hey Bob, Thanks for telling me about your installer (name withheld to protect the innocent). I was really impressed with his laid back straight shooting style. I could have been asking him to install a ceiling fan, simply competent knowledge with years of been there done that. His price was excellent compared to my 4 other installers (all 5 star Yelp companies).

My roof is small and broken up into different levels and different orientations. For this reason I have moved away from my first thought of a single inverter and have moved to micro inverters. He has recommended 16 - LG 300 panels to maximize each panel. I have tried to find out about this brand but it barely shows up on most "best of" lists. Any input would be appreciated.

Also, anyone know about how to approach a neighbor who's palm trees are hanging over my roof? They are literally against my home. My association says it is a "matter between neighbors". Are there any solar laws that could help?

Thanks again for your posts.

Matt

[lkstaack]

looks like i stand corrected. But the way i'm looking at it, changing my W-4 will allow me to receive some of the credit up front (via monthly paycheck) and all of it by August

That's a sound strategy. Money today is worth more than the same amount next year.

[lkstaack]

As tax season is just about here i will verify with my tax guy, but one of the solar companies verified. If you normally get a refund, you will not get any kind of extra refund by going solar - Going solar gives a 30% Tax Credit and not a refund, so if you don't owe anything to the IRS at the end of the year- the 30% Tax Credit doesn't help you.

Actually this can help those who have already gone solar - If you find that having gone solar doesn't get you back any extra than before going solar, reduce you 2015 witholdings so that you can use the tax credit on your 2015 Taxes next year - everyone is free to chime in.

Look at line 52 of Form 1040. It is the Residential Energy Credit (your solar cost from Form 5695 goes here). Line 55 is the sum of taxes you owe minus credits (sum of lines 47-53, includes solar cost). Line 72 is the sum of all payments. Line 73 is the amount you overpaid and your refund. You don't have to owe taxes in order to get a tax refund.

[lkstaack]

This may be a help to others thinking of going solar.... I typically get a tax refund, so last week i went and changed my W4 from 1 (myself) to 9 (i am still single), this way i am sure to owe and will be able to take full advantage of the 30%. If you never have to pay taxes at the end of the year, you will not be able to benefit from the 30% federal tax credit. I believe you the tax credit rolls over for 5 years and is lost after the the 5th year.

I'm pretty sure that is incorrect. If you paid more taxes than you owe, you will get a refund. It doesn't matter if you paid in more than you needed to. That is how I read my 1040.

[Alisobob]

Good point. I will pick some up to try.

Hey Bob any chance you would consider a visit from other enthusiasts to see the system you installed?

Anytime.... check your messages.

[J.P.M.]

Glad to hear that on the solar companies - when they are charging almost 3 times the cost of the system installed, keeping the 30% tax credit, and allowed to write off the depreciation = 20 years of monthly profit from each lease customer.

Put up $1500-$2500 (depending on system size) up front and get that up front money back (maybe even more)in the next 5 years and collect that same $1500+ every year for the next 20 years. What a scheme! Yes, investigating needs to be done when tax dollars are involved. The shame is that the consumer doesn't get the cost benefit of going solar.

Welcome to the lease vs. purchase discussion.

[mcollins]

Sweet!

( I prefer buying at Lowes or H/D for their return / exchange ease...)

Good point. I will pick some up to try.

Hey Bob any chance you would consider a visit from other enthusiasts to see the system you installed?