4kW system installion in Santee, CA

[SD_Rider]

Hey there, can you please PM me the names of the panel upgrade guys you found for $1800? Many thanks!

Info sent. Total was $1850...I was mistaken on the first post.

[J.P.M.]

To update. Due to being in contract and the possible delay...I went ahead with the install. I did however manage some last minute negotiations and the company did try to appease with upgraded panels.

So my system is:
16 x LG270W panels with M315 Enphase microinverters. All installed in one day. This bumped me up a bit to 4.32kW.

To recap. (19140-1850)/4320 = $4/W.

To everyone that offered help and advice, thank you. I could have fought it, but I figured I'd just eat it and avoid the headache. ...at least I get a bigger tax credit to use over the next 2 tax seasons, right?

Anywho, from what I read and hear, I didn't get a horrible deal, but I also didn't get the best. If only I'd found this site when I was shopping...

Pics next. It's a clean install and went up in one day.

If you're happy, that's all that counts. You did your homework. Terrible to pay too much, worse to pay too little. 10 years from now when better, cheaper, more reliable causes replacement for a lot of us, I wonder if you'll remember what you paid.

Good luck.

[MARKSDCA]

I've had quotes for the panel upgrade and they seem to average about $1800 with permits, so I figure my bottom line is $17,340 for a 4kW system. Installed with an installation warranty. That puts me at $4.34/kW and they dropped their price after one of my bids was the same cost as the original bid.

Hey there, can you please PM me the names of the panel upgrade guys you found for $1800? Many thanks!

[SD_Rider]

Installed.

To update. Due to being in contract and the possible delay...I went ahead with the install. I did however manage some last minute negotiations and the company did try to appease with upgraded panels.

So my system is:
16 x LG270W panels with M315 Enphase microinverters. All installed in one day. This bumped me up a bit to 4.32kW.

To recap. (19140-1850)/4320 = $4/W.

To everyone that offered help and advice, thank you. I could have fought it, but I figured I'd just eat it and avoid the headache. ...at least I get a bigger tax credit to use over the next 2 tax seasons, right?

Anywho, from what I read and hear, I didn't get a horrible deal, but I also didn't get the best. If only I'd found this site when I was shopping...

Pics next. It's a clean install and went up in one day.

[J.P.M.]

Here is a SP system in your area 32 X 225W @ 7.2kW you can use as referrence

https://www.sunpowermonitor.com/resi...b-ef18f62aaf8b

Also, check out PVoutput.org. Snoop around and find the maps for S.D. Co. Lots of users.

[silversaver]

Pretty happy so far. Lots of sun out here in San Diego's East County. I'm putting plenty of kwh's in the bank now, but come summer I'll need them.

Here is a SP system in your area 32 X 225W @ 7.2kW you can use as referrence

https://www.sunpowermonitor.com/residential/kiosk.aspx?id=4b8792d5-d27f-448e-b2fb-ef18f62aaf8b

[ericf1]

Your LG + Solaredge is probably the best performer I saw in the past. I seen few LG300 +Enphase, none is close to your output. Weather is one factor, but your system is really rock.

Pretty happy so far. Lots of sun out here in San Diego's East County. I'm putting plenty of kwh's in the bank now, but come summer I'll need them.

[silversaver]

At this point, I would seriously consider walking. It is highly doubtful that the CS panels are not available, so you can probably guess his reasoning.

I used an installer right here in Santee. $3.42/W, great communications from start to finish and they still answer my e-mails the same day. A link to my system's SolarEdge public page is in my sig.

Your LG + Solaredge is probably the best performer I saw in the past. I seen few LG300 +Enphase, none is close to your output. Weather is one factor, but your system is really rock.

[J.P.M.]

SD Rider: Check your PM's.

[SD_Rider]

As thejq wrote, most everything talked about around here is before any tax credits, kickbacks, rebates, whatever.

So : $19,140/(16 X 255) = $19,140/4,080 Watts = $4.69/Watt.

That's pretty expensive, even with an electrical panel upgrade.

Thanks to this forum, that's what I've learned.

(19140-1800)/(260x16) = 17340/4160 = 4.17/Watt. not much better. Especially when compared to 3.5 / Watt. I should be paying $14560 + 1800 = $16,360. So the other 3k is going into someones pockets at my expense. Not happy at this point. At 3pm, I'm sending a cancellation letter.

[J.P.M.]

I was hoping there was a misunderstanding.

I've sent an email. All I have is a copy of the "Installation Agreement" which states $15,523 before tax credit.

I only have this in an email:

4.08 kW system (16 x 255 watt)
Enphase Micro-inverters (16)
New Main-Panel Upgrade

$19,140 gross

-$5742 tax credit
$13,398 net

I sent an email yesterday, to which I didn't receive a reply. Another just sent. Next will be a cancellation notice and I will deal with any fallout.

The only reply I got yesterday is that I was being upgraded to 260W CS black panels. 16 would put me at 4.16 kW.

As thejq wrote, most everything talked about around here is before any tax credits, kickbacks, rebates, whatever.

So : $19,140/(16 X 255) = $19,140/4,080 Watts = $4.69/Watt.

That's pretty expensive, even with an electrical panel upgrade.

[SD_Rider]

Yes, because tax situation is different for everyone, the price quoted is always before tax credits.

I was hoping there was a misunderstanding.

I've sent an email. All I have is a copy of the "Installation Agreement" which states $15,523 before tax credit.

I only have this in an email:

4.08 kW system (16 x 255 watt)
Enphase Micro-inverters (16)
New Main-Panel Upgrade

$19,140 gross

-$5742 tax credit
$13,398 net

I sent an email yesterday, to which I didn't receive a reply. Another just sent. Next will be a cancellation notice and I will deal with any fallout.

The only reply I got yesterday is that I was being upgraded to 260W CS black panels. 16 would put me at 4.16 kW.

[thejq]

Big question.

The prices everyone is quoting. Is that before or after the "30% tax credit"? Mine is before. After would be 3.35/kW. Or...even better minus the 1800 for panel upgrade, after tax credit, would be $3.05/kW.

Yes, because tax situation is different for everyone, the price quoted is always before tax credits.

[SD_Rider]

Big question.

The prices everyone is quoting. Is that before or after the "30% tax credit"? Mine is before. After would be 3.35/kW. Or...even better minus the 1800 for panel upgrade, after tax credit, would be $3.05/kW.

[SD_Rider]

At this point, I would seriously consider walking. It is highly doubtful that the CS panels are not available, so you can probably guess his reasoning.

I used an installer right here in Santee. $3.42/W, great communications from start to finish and they still answer my e-mails the same day. A link to my system's SolarEdge public page is in my sig.

Very nice.

I will keep y'all updated.