sanity check on SolarEdge backup interface install time

[green1]

I'm working on finalizing a quote for solar installation on my home. I'm looking at a SolarEdge Energy Hub system. For future-proofing, and to give me power while the sun shines even in a grid out situation, I would like to add the SolarEdge Backup Interface configured for whole home backup (I can decide to shed load as needed). Note this will be without batteries or generator at this time, though I believe that battery backup is pretty much inevitable at some point in the future.

My main panel has a ton of empty wall space around it, and the inverter, and backup interface, would both be mounted right there. The company is quoting 16 man-hours (2 technicians x 8 hours each) to install the backup interface. Note this is just the backup interface, not including any of the rest of the system, and as I noted previously, this is without connecting batteries, or a generator at this time.

From my reading of the installation information for the backup interface, it looks very straight forward, so I'm really struggling with the idea that it would take that much time to install. Especially being that the company says that my setup is as straight forward as it gets.

Is there something I'm missing about how much work is involved in that particular component? Is that much labour time actually justified?

[GTAZ]

Seems awfully pricey to me.
I avoided Solar Edge. I have no experience with their equipment. It's probably decent or better, but it's the type of company I don't usually choose to work with (Of course I'm a DIYer).

Companies like Solar Edge (And I've seen them in every industry) often provide a good product and good service, but you pay dearly for it. They are Sales driven type of companies. Fancy executive offices, well paid execs and salesmen, they may even pay their techs well, but all that raises your price considerably and while it may be a good system, it's not necessarily a better system. There are other good systems. Sol-Ark is one of them that you can either DIY or hire a local solar installer to install. Excellent reviews, excellent equipment, excellent support (I've used it) and I guarantee it won't take 16 hours to hang their box on the wall. (more like 10 minutes ha ha ).

In short, SolarEdge is the type of company some hires when they just want it done, they don't want to know all the details, and they want some one they can call if there is a problem. Basically write a check and it gets done. If that is your thing, go for it. You'll probably be just fine (I have no reason to think you won't). But since your question is about price, I suspect they may not be the right fit for you.

[green1]

DIY solution does have some appeal, there are a couple of factors pushing me away from it. In my jurisdiction to get the government rebates you must go through a specifically listed solar installer. The government rebates are large enough versus doing it yourself and having to spend all your time on labor that it becomes much harder to justify DIY. Additionally, I don't really have the time for this project at the moment. I'll also admit that I'm somewhat scared of all the regulatory paperwork involved DIY for this project versus just having someone who knows the paperwork handle it on my behalf.

The overall system cost makes a lot of sense to me versus alternatives I have seen, it is just this one particular component, not the inverter, but the backup interface, that seems a little off. So I'm looking for someone with specific experience with solaredge systems in general, or better yet their backup interface in particular, to give me a sanity check on this one component of labor.

[GTAZ]

Not trying to push ... but

1st: give Sol-Ark a call. I know some DIY friendly companies will actually produce the engineering schematic and specs you need for permits. I'm not sure if Sol-Ark does, but they have a phone number on their site.

2nd: Their system is pretty simple. It's an All-in-One device. You only have one box to hang on the wall. it reduces DIY complexity to almost Plug-n-Play simplicity. And if you choose to use a local installer it reduces their labor time.

You can add batteries later if you want, or not. You can add a generator as back up if you want, or not, you can run off grid if you want, or you can push extra production to the grid. And you can do almost any combination of these things at the same time (ex: use panels to supply your house load, charge batteries, and push to grid at the same time. It's an integrated transfer switch (one of the fastest at 4ms) that will switch you back to grid when panels stop producing, or switch you to batteries if the grid goes down etc. It has the most functionality I've seen from any manufacture.

They are made in Texas. You can talk to a real person, and the person you talk to knows the system - not just some $12/hr help desk person who asks the questions they are told to ask.

They have 5kw, 8kw, and 12kw units right now. A new 15kw unit is due in June.
This is one of those companies that listens to users and installers and actually addresses the points they make. The 12k unit is a good unit, but has one drawback that caused me to hold off. But the new 15kw unit more than solves that issue, so I'm waiting on that unit.

[green1]

I really mean no offense here, however my question wasn't about whose system I should use, it was about quoted install time of one specific component of a system. You are sounding a lot like a salesperson for this company, and all I really want is an answer about a completely different product. I understand that you like this system, however that's not really what this question was about.

[Mike 134]

Rather than try and break down the cost by item how does the total cost compare to what you're expecting or to other quotes you've received. You may have asked for a breakdown of the labor, so he/she just plopped down hours here and there.

[green1]

The original quote was quite reasonable, I then asked about the possibility of adding the backup interface as it was not in the original quote. The response included a cost for the item, cost for other materials, and then this 16 man hours of labor. The rest of it seems quite reasonable, but the 16 hours has thrown me a back a little bit as it seems excessive.

Is there something I'm missing about the complexity of adding that particular item?

[Ampster]

Just a FYI that SolArk is not made in Texas. It is a rebranded DEYE inverter with some tweaks that SolArk added. It is manufactured in China.

[peakbagger]

Installers look at the truck roll time, dependent on the how tightly they schedule the crews, the 8 hours to me is from the techs hop in the truck to when they hop out and get cleaned up at the shop at night. It is probably going to take more than 4 hours with driving to and from the site so they really cannot schedule another job for that crew that day so you are paying them for the day. No doubt the crew will pad out the day with breaks as needed to hit 8 hours for the two techs.

I would be wary about prepping things for the future unless the future is defined as less than a year. Hybrid tech is a moving target and integration of batteries into the grid is a moving target. There is good chance that the investment in future proofing could be wasted money.

[green1]

I'm sorry that doesn't make any sense, this is a system that has not been installed yet, we're not talking adding it to an existing system, we're talking adding it to a quote for a system. So there should be no extra truck roll at all as the crew will already be here. As for future-proofing that was only part of the reason the other part was so that I can generate some of my own electricity when the sun is shining and the grid is out. The fact that battery tech is a moving Target is why I've not installing batteries at this time, however for the backup interface itself shouldn't have any significant changes going forward.

[SunEagle]

The original quote was quite reasonable, I then asked about the possibility of adding the backup interface as it was not in the original quote. The response included a cost for the item, cost for other materials, and then this 16 man hours of labor. The rest of it seems quite reasonable, but the 16 hours has thrown me a back a little bit as it seems excessive.

Is there something I'm missing about the complexity of adding that particular item?

Sounds like two people each with an 8 hour shift. But remember that the owner has to make a living besides paying the help so figure at least 30% of those 16 hours as being profit.

It is also funny when I keep hearing people say they need to create a minimum wage of $15/hour but when they have to pay for labor they get all upset.

So either figure out how you will be able to cover the added labor expense or learn to live with higher costs.

[Mike 134]

I did I quick look seems to be a bit more than just hanging it on the wall Pipe and wire in and out, subpanel, have you looked at a detailed wiring diagram?

[green1]

I think you've completely missed the point to the question, at no point did I question the hourly rate, only the number of hours. The question that no one in this thread has even attempted to answer so far is whether or not it takes 16 man hours to install a backup interface in a simple situation. That's the question I posed in this thread, and the only question I want answered in this thread.
Instead the answers I've gotten are that solaredge inverters aren't as good as a competitor, that extra truck rolls are expensive, or that people need to make a living wage. None of those are related in any way to the question I have posed.

Is there anyone reading this thread who has any experience with the solaredge backup interface, and who would be willing to weigh in on the complexity of its install? Is 16 man hours a reasonable amount of time for the install of this component in the most straightforward setup for whole home backup? If so, then the quote I got is perfectly reasonable. If not, then the quote is unreasonable. That's the question.

[green1]

I did I quick look seems to be a bit more than just hanging it on the wall Pipe and wire in and out, subpanel, have you looked at a detailed wiring diagram?

Thank you for the first on topic reply. I did take a look, yes there will be pipe and wire in and out, in my situation I don't believe a sub panel is required as I'm talking whole home backup. My impression of the backup interface is that it can be used as a service entrance, so it should just be a matter of wiring it between the meter feed in and the main panel. I definitely understand that this will require some time to complete, it just doesn't feel like 16 hours worth of time.

Based on my understanding of the install, it should be a matter of redirecting the main service feed that currently goes into the main panel out to this box sitting beside the panel, and then wiring back from that box to feed the main panel. That seems to me that we should be talking replacing the run from the meter to the panel, which is in conduit directly on the other side of the wall from the meter, and then a new run back from this box to the panel. Unless I'm missing something obvious, it feels like something that I could do myself in about 2 hours, maybe three. The question is am I missing something obvious? There's definitely been a temptation to simply do it myself, however it certainly makes more sense to do it at the same time as the utility shut down that is required anyway, instead of having the utility provider come back a second time, which is expensive, to shut off the feed to the house.

[oregon_phil]

Thank you for the first on topic reply. I did take a look, yes there will be pipe and wire in and out, in my situation I don't believe a sub panel is required as I'm talking whole home backup. My impression of the backup interface is that it can be used as a service entrance, so it should just be a matter of wiring it between the meter feed in and the main panel. I definitely understand that this will require some time to complete, it just doesn't feel like 16 hours worth of time.

Based on my understanding of the install, it should be a matter of redirecting the main service feed that currently goes into the main panel out to this box sitting beside the panel, and then wiring back from that box to feed the main panel. That seems to me that we should be talking replacing the run from the meter to the panel, which is in conduit directly on the other side of the wall from the meter, and then a new run back from this box to the panel. Unless I'm missing something obvious, it feels like something that I could do myself in about 2 hours, maybe three. The question is am I missing something obvious? There's definitely been a temptation to simply do it myself, however it certainly makes more sense to do it at the same time as the utility shut down that is required anyway, instead of having the utility provider come back a second time, which is expensive, to shut off the feed to the house.

My situation is not a direct 1 to 1 comparison, but I had a NG generator installed right next to my main panel with the transfer switch right next to my main panel. I have 2x6 exposed framing in my pole barn.

2 people x 2 hours to review my layout and determine all the piece parts. Wait for generator to arrive.

2 people x 8 hours to install transfer switch, conduit and prep all wiring including generator control wiring.

2 people x 4 hours for power to pull meter, rewire power panel, test generator start up, wait for power company to put the meter back in, wait for county electrical inspection

In the end, I would estimate it took about 2 people x 8 hours to do the electrical panel and transfer switch rewiring. And the master electrician did it in a way I didn't think of doing it because he knew more about my electrical panel and all the line power connectors than I did.

SolarEdge makes two different model numbers for the Backup interface. Make sure you get the service rated interface if that's what you want.

If you included a picture of your main panel area, maybe that would help. Do you have drywall? Framing that needs adjustment? Is your electrical panel flush mount or recessed?