Feedback on proposals for San Diego: LG/Hanwha + Solar Edge

[Alisobob]

Our new home is 1,000 sq ft bigger and we want a little headroom in case we add a pool down the road.

Many of the recent threads discuss energy conservation first ( like with LED lighting) before adding generation ( like with solar)

Conservation is less expensive than generation.

Make sure you fully explore this, before deciding on a system.

Its pretty important.

[dtfischer]

Those spanish tiles look like concrete spanish style tiles that are made by companies like lifetile.

I have cement tiles that look similar and we used that same mounting system. I repapered the roof a few weeks before those went in and we've had two heavy storms since then, no leaks and don't expect any. I watched them install, seems like quite a few "seals" to keep water out.

[Alisobob]

J.P.M,

Thanks for the reply.

2) Thanks for the call out on the Spanish roof tiles. I'll be sure to ask both how they plan to handle that aspect of the install.

spanish.JPG

My neighbor is installing over spanish tiles... this is the method they are using... flashing each tile.

[J.P.M.]

I forgot to ask : What are the planned azimuth and tilt angles of the proposed array location ? Also, Coastal, inland , mountain or desert billing region
? And finally, do you also get nat. gas from SDG & E or are you all electric ?

Add : question was what's your usage, not your bills.

[jd31]

1.) What does "normalize the size" mean ? The larger system will probably put out about 20% more power over a year's time than the smaller one. Depending on how much either system's output is as a %age of annual usage and how your billed, probably tiered rates, the smaller system may well be more cost effective from the standpoint that it may well replace electricity you are paying more for because that elec. is more likely at a tier tier level. The larger system will be displacing more electricity, but that electricity will tend to be at a lower tier rate.

2.) You mentioned Spanish tile for your roof. I'd be sure I understand, whichever vendor you choose, what they plan to do with the tiles where the array will be located. Spanish tiles are a PITA for breakage and some vendors want to remove them from under the arrays and replace them with nothing or composition shingles. Some of us (probably without skin in the game) are of the opinion that may not be the best way to help ensure against leaks.

3.) what's your annual usage ? By month ?

J.P.M,

Thanks for the reply.

1) I should have been more clear with my 'normalize' comment. In short I meant that I will have each company propose a system of equal size and expect the economics ($/watt) to remain roughly the same.

2) Thanks for the call out on the Spanish roof tiles. I'll be sure to ask both how they plan to handle that aspect of the install.

3) I've only been in my current home for 3 months so I don't have a lot of electric-use history here. But here are some data points:

- our first electric bill, which was based on only 10 days of usage, was $140. It was abnormally hot in SD so we ran our AC a lot.
- $150 / month for the past two months (albeit without running AC and winter rates)
- at our last home solar companies proposed a 6,800 watt system for 100% offset. Our new home is 1,000 sq ft bigger and we want a little headroom in case we add a pool down the road.

[J.P.M.]

Hi all,

Obligatory 'thank you' to all those who contribute to this forum. Amazing resource for a newbie like me. I received great referrals from several forum members.

I previously posted about possibly going the DIY-esque route (buy my own hardware and have someone install it) but have since decided to contract with a company for both the hardware and install. I've narrowed my search down to two highly recommended solar companies in San Diego. Both companies have 20+ years of electrical contractor experience, 5+ years of solar installation experience, and do not subcontract. Here are the proposals that I'm considering:

Option # 1
System size (STC): 8,160 watts
Panels: Hanwha panels (qty 32)
Inverter: Solar Edge 7600
Price (pre-tax incentive): $24,999 or $3.06 /watt

Option # 2
System size (STC) 6,720 watts
Panels: LG280 (qty 24)
Inverter: Solar Edge 7600
Price (pre-tax incentive): $22,243 or $3.31 /watt

Disregard the difference in system sizes. Each installer used a different set of assumptions on how many panels I could fit/want on my roof. I plan to normalize the size and therefore am focusing primarily on $/watt and panel reliability.

Any feedback on these two proposals in terms of equipment and cost?

Thanks in advance!

1.) What does "normalize the size" mean ? The larger system will probably put out about 20% more power over a year's time than the smaller one. Depending on how much either system's output is as a %age of annual usage and how your billed, probably tiered rates, the smaller system may well be more cost effective from the standpoint that it may well replace electricity you are paying more for because that elec. is more likely at a tier tier level. The larger system will be displacing more electricity, but that electricity will tend to be at a lower tier rate.

2.) You mentioned Spanish tile for your roof. I'd be sure I understand, whichever vendor you choose, what they plan to do with the tiles where the array will be located. Spanish tiles are a PITA for breakage and some vendors want to remove them from under the arrays and replace them with nothing or composition shingles. Some of us (probably without skin in the game) are of the opinion that may not be the best way to help ensure against leaks.

3.) what's your annual usage ? By month ?

[jd31]

Hi all,

Obligatory 'thank you' to all those who contribute to this forum. Amazing resource for a newbie like me. I received great referrals from several forum members.

I previously posted about possibly going the DIY-esque route (buy my own hardware and have someone install it) but have since decided to contract with a company for both the hardware and install. I've narrowed my search down to two highly recommended solar companies in San Diego. Both companies have 20+ years of electrical contractor experience, 5+ years of solar installation experience, and do not subcontract. Here are the proposals that I'm considering:

Option # 1
System size (STC): 8,160 watts
Panels: Hanwha panels (qty 32)
Inverter: Solar Edge 7600
Price (pre-tax incentive): $24,999 or $3.06 /watt

Option # 2
System size (STC) 6,720 watts
Panels: LG280 (qty 24)
Inverter: Solar Edge 7600
Price (pre-tax incentive): $22,243 or $3.31 /watt

Disregard the difference in system sizes. Each installer used a different set of assumptions on how many panels I could fit/want on my roof. I plan to normalize the size and therefore am focusing primarily on $/watt and panel reliability.

Any feedback on these two proposals in terms of equipment and cost?

Thanks in advance!