4.5kW SolarEdge/LG System coming soon to San Diego

[newe70]

As promised, I got a quote on LG280 in place of LG300 as follows:

System Size: 4480 kW
Panels: 16 LG280
Inverter: SolarEdge SE5000
Total Cost: $17344 (includes $2500 service panel upgrade), difference of $661

PV System Cost (pre-tax credit) = $14844 ($3.31/W)

The vendor gave me these expected production numbers:
My understanding is that the difference is based on the nameplate difference and the 1% less linear warrantied performance of the LG280s
15 LG300 / 4500kW : 7192 kWh
16 LG280 / 4480kW: 7078 kWh

Comparing ratios ( LG280 to LG300)
Nameplate: 4480/4500 = 99.56%
Production: 7078/7192 = 98.41%
Cost: 14844/15505 = 95.74%

Looking at the ratios it looks like a sound financial decision to go with the LG280s.

I'd really like comments/feedback on the LG280s vs. LG300s

I'm also in the market for the solar systems. Would you please pm me your installer? Thank you much in advance!

[J.P.M.]

if anyone knows who subdriver went with, would you please PM me? I can also share quotes/data I've collected over the past two weeks. Thanks!

I believe that's the outfit we've been guessing is making (attempting, asking, wishing) all their customers keep quiet about their prices.

[jakepv]

if anyone knows who subdriver went with, would you please PM me? I can also share quotes/data I've collected over the past two weeks. Thanks!

[rfay]

After ~1.5 months of research and estimates from 6 vendors. I came to agreement on price with a vendor today. System specs are:

Option 1 : SE6000
System Size: 4500 kW
Panels: 15 LG300
Inverter: SolarEdge SE6000
Total Cost $18140 (includes $2500 service panel upgrade)

PV System Cost (pre-tax credit) = $15640 ($3.48/W)

Option 2 : SE5000
System Size: 4500 kW
Panels: 15 LG300
Inverter: SolarEdge SE5000
Total Cost $18005 (includes $2500 service panel upgrade)

PV System Cost (pre-tax credit) = $15505 ($3.45/W)

While I've posted price, equipment, and $/W up front. I would caution anyone in the vendor selection process to be wary of focusing solely on finding the lowest price and equipment selection without consideration of the installation quality. The best way to avoid a cheap solar system is paying a cheap price. Or buy cheap, buy twice. I focused first on vendor reputation (yelp, this forum, solar reviews.com, angle's list), credentials (license(s) held), company history (years in business), and references. Only after narrowing the pool of vendors to those I felt would do a quality installation did I start working toward the best price. For this and most things in life, everything is negotiable.

Interestingly, the vendor that I ended up choosing had one of the lowest estimates that I obtained. Finding low prices is easy, but sifting them through them to identify a quality installer requires more effort. One thing I did is I actually asked references if I could visit their home and evaluate the installation quality myself. In another topic, http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showth...manship-Photos , I posted the installation work of two vendors... one which is clean and professional (the vendor I choose) and the vendor leaves much to be desired. Both were very similarly priced.

I ended up going with a vendor with a base of business in C-10 electrical contracting (as opposed to solar only C-46 vendor). My theory is that electrical contractors have a longer company history than recently started solar only businesses and have something to fall back on when the solar tax credit dries up in a couple years and the pace of solar installation slows.

My only gripe with the vendor was that the sales guy would not budge on their $2500 price tag on the service panel upgrade. I posted a whole thread trying to reconcile this price. In the end, I was able to get the vendor to come down $700 on the overall cost.

The vendor will be sending someone out to do a site survey (measure the roof) next week. Assuming that goes well, the contract will be put in place a couple days after that. The vendor has 26 jobs currently and 3 installation crews. The projection is Jan or early Feb to have my system up and running.

Will update as they come...

NOTE: My vendor initially quoted the service panel price as $2500. During price negotiation the vendor reduced the overall system cost by $700, but it wasn't clear if he was reducing the service panel price to $1800 as he was adamant about the $2500 price initially. Further down the road when I was considering not upgrading the service panel review of estimates revealed that the vendor was clearly assigning $1800 to the price of the service panel upgrade. --- It's interesting to consider that assuming service panel upgrade is included in the overall system cost, a higher price assigned to the service panel upgrade reduces the $/W cost. Something to consider if you know you require a service panel upgrade and vendors are quoting different prices on the cost. The majority of the bids I got were $1500 for the service panel upgrade, $1800 from one vendor (which this one eventually matched), and the $2500 initial price from this vendor.

I am in San Diego and I have a few quotes but if you could PM me to let me know how you are liking the system and who you went with it would be greatly appreciated!

[subdriver97]

Would also love your contractors name if you have a chance to PM me... Thanks!

Pm sent...

[pianogineer]

Would also love your contractors name if you have a chance to PM me... Thanks!

[genesmasher]

Same here, would love to get info on your vendor/installer via PM. Thanks!

[thenewb]

subdriver,

I'd also be interested in the vendor you used. Thanks in advance!

[jonezez]

I know one of the things Ikstaack wasn't happy about was that our common vendor left unpainted exterior conduit runs. I actually choose this vendor because I viewed thejq's install and the exterior conduit runs were nicely painted. I was pretty surprised when I found that they left initially unpainted runs on my install as well.

Difference here maybe be that I made it a point to be home while the vendor was working and inspected the work as it was being conducted. I asked specific question about what was being done at each point and made sure I understood how the worker intended it to look when completed. If I wasn't happy with the answer I pointed out how I would like it.

Case in point with the conduit runs. I noticed immediately that the conduit run wasn't painted and I brought it up. The vendor actually said they don't typically paint the exterior conduit runs, but since I asked they would go to home depot get a paint match can of spray paint and painted it. They didn't not initially paint the interior conduit run either... but I had some white paint and brushes on hand and they were happy to do it.

Definitely specifics that could have been better, but overall I was happy with the vendor... like all contractors, best results watch them like a hawk and squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Thanks for the info subdriver and sharing your experience

[lkstaack]

I know one of the things Ikstaack wasn't happy about was that our common vendor left unpainted exterior conduit runs. I actually choose this vendor because I viewed thejq's install and the exterior conduit runs were nicely painted. I was pretty surprised when I found that they left initially unpainted runs on my install as well.

Well, that was just one of a few little things they did or didn't do that may be indicative of their quality standards. Here is a short list.

-Repaired broken sprinkler pipes with conduit PVC pipe
-Used irrigation PVC connectors on electrical conduit
-Used spare concrete roof tiles without permission (they used them as temporary mini retaining walls while trenching down hill)
-Smashed the roof tiles in place rather than bring them up the hill and re-stack them
-Advised me that I was on my own the second time my ZigBee receiver failed

Overall they did an adequate job, but I wouldn't give them a stellar recommendation.

[Alisobob]

Rule #1: Assume nothing will be done unless well documented and verified.

...... absolutely.

[J.P.M.]

I know one of the things Ikstaack wasn't happy about was that our common vendor left unpainted exterior conduit runs. I actually choose this vendor because I viewed thejq's install and the exterior conduit runs were nicely painted. I was pretty surprised when I found that they left initially unpainted runs on my install as well.

Difference here maybe be that I made it a point to be home while the vendor was working and inspected the work as it was being conducted. I asked specific question about what was being done at each point and made sure I understood how the worker intended it to look when completed. If I wasn't happy with the answer I pointed out how I would like it.

Case in point with the conduit runs. I noticed immediately that the conduit run wasn't painted and I brought it up. The vendor actually said they don't typically paint the exterior conduit runs, but since I asked they would go to home depot get a paint match can of spray paint and painted it. They didn't not initially paint the interior conduit run either... but I had some white paint and brushes on hand and they were happy to do it.

Definitely specifics that could have been better, but overall I was happy with the vendor... like all contractors, best results watch them like a hawk and squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Signing a contract is the beginning of project management more than the end of the vendor selection process. Welcome to project management. Rule #1: Assume nothing will be done unless well documented and verified.

[subdriver97]

Caveat Emptor. I used the same installer and wasn't as pleased. YMMV.

I know one of the things Ikstaack wasn't happy about was that our common vendor left unpainted exterior conduit runs. I actually choose this vendor because I viewed thejq's install and the exterior conduit runs were nicely painted. I was pretty surprised when I found that they left initially unpainted runs on my install as well.

Difference here maybe be that I made it a point to be home while the vendor was working and inspected the work as it was being conducted. I asked specific question about what was being done at each point and made sure I understood how the worker intended it to look when completed. If I wasn't happy with the answer I pointed out how I would like it.

Case in point with the conduit runs. I noticed immediately that the conduit run wasn't painted and I brought it up. The vendor actually said they don't typically paint the exterior conduit runs, but since I asked they would go to home depot get a paint match can of spray paint and painted it. They didn't not initially paint the interior conduit run either... but I had some white paint and brushes on hand and they were happy to do it.

Definitely specifics that could have been better, but overall I was happy with the vendor... like all contractors, best results watch them like a hawk and squeaky wheel gets the oil.

[jonezez]

PM Sent

Hi subdriver97... mind PM'ing me who you used also? I'm in SD as well. I couldn't send you PM b/c am new to forum and requires 10 posts.

Thank you!

[Willaby]

Caveat Emptor. I used the same installer and wasn't as pleased. YMMV.

thanks, I haven't heard back from subdriver yet, but I'm guessing it is the company in your monitoring dashboard.