Solar install turning out really bad - looking for some help/advice please.

[russ]

The complaint was only filed two weeks back - give them some time. As far as they are concerned there are two sides to the story - they have to have both to do anything.

[J.P.M.]

Added to all that has been learned by the OP and everyone who followed this solar odyssey/cluster function, it's another example why I'd never buy a home with an existing solar system attached - simply put - unverifiable QA.

Other possible reasons that would cause me to look elsewhere: a system not properly sized for my needs, either way too big/small, paying too much for obsolete equipment in a fast evolving market, and the high probability of a system being a lemon due to the purchaser being one of the solar ignorant sheeple and therefore getting shorn.

Rather than start a solar business, maybe the OP could take the 700+ posts in this thread and use them as a syllabus for an on line self help course on how to get screwed by a solar contractor.

[HX_Guy]

After seeing the work your contractor did.... I think AZ would license a Baboon.

I'm pretty disappointed the AZ contractors board didn't take a proactive approach , and fry this guy.

The complaint is still open, though I haven't heard anything yet and I mailed off the complaint on Jan 23rd. I did receive a copy of a letter dated Jan 27th that was sent to the contractor advising them that they have 15 days from the day of the letter to submit a written response addressing the allegations raised by the complaint and provide any documentation supporting their response. Tomorrow (02/11/15) is 15 days from that letter.

On a side note, I talked to a friend of mine who knows a guy at the ROC (or something to that effect) that said, as hard as it may be to believe, that the ROC actually sides with contractors while trying to come off as siding with the consumer. Reason being is that the contractors pay them through yearly renewal fees etc, so the more contractors on board the better. You'd think it would be corrupt like that, and it may not even be true, but would be sad if it is.

[Alisobob]

AZ law doesn't allow unlicensed contractors to do solar installs

After seeing the work your contractor did.... I think AZ would license a Baboon.

I'm pretty disappointed the AZ contractors board didn't take a proactive approach , and fry this guy.

[Living Large]

But this is fairly tangential to this thread.

Maybe you should start a separate thread.

Not looking to hijack or start a thread - there isn't much to say that isn't obvious to people here, and you pretty much covered it. Continue with the discussion.

[foo1bar]

Maybe the moral is to think twice about a solar-powered house, whether grid-tied or not.

Grid tied IMO is going to be relatively neutral, to maybe a slight positive.
I'd want to have a good look at the roof. (extra $ to replace the roof if that's needed)
And I'd want to know what the production is - so that I could guess what it's worth in $ for production for it's remaining life.

Battery-based? Large negative IMO.
Have to deal with buying/maintaining/replacing batteries.
And the effective cost for electricity is pretty high.
Usually an off-grid setup means a remote location - which depending on your view could either outweigh the negative or is a negative by itself.

But this is fairly tangential to this thread.

Maybe you should start a separate thread.


BTW - Congrats HXGuy on getting your system running.
I don't think I'd start a new business doing solar installs if I were you. 1> I see lots of downside in ~22 months. 2> I think you would need more experience with electrical work. 3> you've only done 1 type of roof - and think about how many man-hours it took for that roof (both yours and others)

[Living Large]

{snip} it is installations like yours that push me towards J.P.M.'s view that buying a house with a PV system already installed is less desirable than buying one without it. {snip}

In a tangental matter (though not pertinent to grid-tied houses), this made me think of something my Realtor told me. We were standing in the doorway of the off-grid camp that caused me to come here and learn about solar, in December at 4pm. It was cold and getting dark. She first said, "hey, if you paid to have electric installed ($90K+), the house would be on a par with others (on-grid) we were looking at." Then she said, "honestly, it is impossible to sell an off-grid house, even if it has solar. I can't even get people to look at them."

This continues to give me some pause.

I know that your comment applies to the quality of the design/install, on grid-tied. Maybe the moral is to think twice about a solar-powered house, whether grid-tied or not.

[Ian S]

Still a few around here LOL!

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2476/3975167029_cc949b8077_z.jpg?zz=1

[HX_Guy]

Yes, nuts. I hope that you subcontract out all of the electrical design and installation, and stick with the mechanical aspects only. Your whining about "nitpicking" from the inspector shows a lack of respect for electricity and how to design and install a system safely. Although the standard you need to meet to operate a company is pretty low (ASL = Exhibit A), it is installations like yours that push me towards J.P.M.'s view that buying a house with a PV system already installed is less desirable than buying one without it.

You had complained about getting kicked while you were down, so I hope you don't mind as much now that you are up.

If I were to pursue this, I would actually need to partner with a licensed electrician. AZ law doesn't allow unlicensed contractors to do solar installs, it's actually a Class 1 Misdemeanor.

[HX_Guy]

Bad idea - You have shown you are the type to try to be cute - too clever by half.

Open a solar business and try to screw your customers similar to what you were?

You were warned about picking questionable contractors at the very first but you wanted the super deal.

Actually it was a great learning experience and I would never treat any customer like that in my life. I put a lot of effort toward attention to detail and pride in work that I do.

[russ]

Bad idea - You have shown you are the type to try to be cute - too clever by half.

Open a solar business and try to screw your customers similar to what you were?

You were warned about picking questionable contractors at the very first but you wanted the super deal.

[sensij]

3. You guys are going to think I'm nuts, but I'm considering opening a solar company after this whole ordeal.

Yes, nuts. I hope that you subcontract out all of the electrical design and installation, and stick with the mechanical aspects only. Your whining about "nitpicking" from the inspector shows a lack of respect for electricity and how to design and install a system safely. Although the standard you need to meet to operate a company is pretty low (ASL = Exhibit A), it is installations like yours that push me towards J.P.M.'s view that buying a house with a PV system already installed is less desirable than buying one without it.

You had complained about getting kicked while you were down, so I hope you don't mind as much now that you are up.

[silversaver]

Well, probably...for three reasons.

1. I saved roughly $21,000 cash (though that figure is hard to really pinpoint if you start looking at time lost doing work where I could have been making money etc)

2. I learned A LOT and the learning process I actually enjoyed. Though I'd love to have learned just as much but without the frustrations.

3. You guys are going to think I'm nuts, but I'm considering opening a solar company after this whole ordeal.

Congrat!!! Finally!!!

1. agree. I'll probably making more money at work

2. I learn a few thing from this post

3. Why not? if you have the market/interest.

[SunEagle]

Well, probably...for three reasons.

1. I saved roughly $21,000 cash (though that figure is hard to really pinpoint if you start looking at time lost doing work where I could have been making money etc)

2. I learned A LOT and the learning process I actually enjoyed. Though I'd love to have learned just as much but without the frustrations.

3. You guys are going to think I'm nuts, but I'm considering opening a solar company after this whole ordeal.

Why not. You certainly have the experience with the technology, installation issues and permit requirements. Sounds like a solar expert to me.

[HX_Guy]

Congratulations! HX_Guy. Now that it's all over and you had to do it all over again, would you do it the same way?

Well, probably...for three reasons.

1. I saved roughly $21,000 cash (though that figure is hard to really pinpoint if you start looking at time lost doing work where I could have been making money etc)

2. I learned A LOT and the learning process I actually enjoyed. Though I'd love to have learned just as much but without the frustrations.

3. You guys are going to think I'm nuts, but I'm considering opening a solar company after this whole ordeal.