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Researching what I need to know to make a wise pick (IF I want to install, JPM has pointed out sound economic reasons home PV may not be wise), I am formalizing a questionnaire to ask PV installers.
Welcome anyone to add, change, rip, praise, etc
Design:
Sun Hours per roof face (could include Tilt and Azimuth of roof and minimum degrees from perpendicular to sun)
System size (based on panels)
offer multiple configurations, including the smallest system they will build
Estimated system production
Offset of annual electrical use
Equipment:
PV panel data sheets (make, model, etc)
Microinverter / Optimizer / Inverter data sheets
Mounting system (racks, studs, etc) data sheets
—sub group is cosmetic items like skirt that will degrade performance (ask to remove).
Connection / combiner / controller box (between PV and Breaker box), could include empty junction box.
Network (cellular, Ethernet (ideal), Wi-Fi (least ideal))
System performance visible
Conduit and routing
Ethernet cable run (if requested, I would)
Install services:
Permitting (HOA, Municipal, Utility)
Connections (interconnections, testing, networking)
Account setup
Roof rebuild (if the roof needs reroofing)
Suggested power companies (if applicable)
Warranty service:
Parts
Labor
Roof coverage
Account and network support (aka member care)
How fast is response?
Financing:
PPA: RUN AWAY, FAR AWAY, DO NOT LOOK BACK!! (Never get PPA!!)
Loan:
something else?
Guarantees:
Is there a minimum production / power generating guarantee? (Should have no issue making one)
Other type?
and the big ones:
Cost:
System cost Gross
System cost after incentives and discounts
$/watt
Power bill estimate with PV (utilities will charge something even if the electricity is 100% covered all year)
Possibly an ROI estimate
Thoughts???
Also include here solid advice JPM posted in other topic and copied over here.
(PS: I did read the relevant part of Dummies book, PV for home section was not that big, went though it pretty quickly)
Welcome anyone to add, change, rip, praise, etc
Design:
Sun Hours per roof face (could include Tilt and Azimuth of roof and minimum degrees from perpendicular to sun)
System size (based on panels)
offer multiple configurations, including the smallest system they will build
Estimated system production
Offset of annual electrical use
Equipment:
PV panel data sheets (make, model, etc)
Microinverter / Optimizer / Inverter data sheets
Mounting system (racks, studs, etc) data sheets
—sub group is cosmetic items like skirt that will degrade performance (ask to remove).
Connection / combiner / controller box (between PV and Breaker box), could include empty junction box.
Network (cellular, Ethernet (ideal), Wi-Fi (least ideal))
System performance visible
Conduit and routing
Ethernet cable run (if requested, I would)
Install services:
Permitting (HOA, Municipal, Utility)
Connections (interconnections, testing, networking)
Account setup
Roof rebuild (if the roof needs reroofing)
Suggested power companies (if applicable)
Warranty service:
Parts
Labor
Roof coverage
Account and network support (aka member care)
How fast is response?
Financing:
PPA: RUN AWAY, FAR AWAY, DO NOT LOOK BACK!! (Never get PPA!!)
Loan:
something else?
Guarantees:
Is there a minimum production / power generating guarantee? (Should have no issue making one)
Other type?
and the big ones:
Cost:
System cost Gross
System cost after incentives and discounts
$/watt
Power bill estimate with PV (utilities will charge something even if the electricity is 100% covered all year)
Possibly an ROI estimate
Thoughts???
Also include here solid advice JPM posted in other topic and copied over here.
(PS: I did read the relevant part of Dummies book, PV for home section was not that big, went though it pretty quickly)
1.) Do not lease or PPA - Ever - or under any circumstances. They are traps. You will regret such a decision. Especially Vivant and Sunrun who were both bottom feeders before they combined, along with SolarCity that got incestually swallowed by Tesla.
2.) Learn about energy conservation first and PV second before you do anything else. Then, estimate use reduction from those efforts before sizing any future PV.
Not using energy is far and away more cost effective than throwing expensive PV at an electric bill that can easily be made lower (and the PV smaller = less $$ BTW) by lifestyle adjustmants and energy conservation measures before any PV installation.
3.) If you truly want unbiased knowledge, buy a copy of "Solar Power Your Home for Dummies" and read it before you commit to spending money. ~ $25 - cheap. You need an education. It'll give you the basics. Then, if you want insight and feedback, come back here and fill in knowledge gaps your self education creates. Besides, your questions will then have more meat on them. You'll get out what you put in. Spoonfeeding gets you pablum.
4.) If your thinking about a roof mount - which is common - get your roof inspected and serviced before you commit to any vendor. PV on a roof can last a long time. Chasing a leak is never easy. Under an array it's nearly impossible. Give your roof a high probabilty of lasting as long as the array on it.
5.) After your self education as described in 3 above, if you do commit to PV, go for a quality install, and that means a quality local vendor who's been a licensed, local electrical contractor who's been in business at least as long or preferably as long as PV has been popular. Know that solar vendors are dropping like flies. Established long run electrical contractors who also sell PV are probably your best bet at having a vendor be around in the future.
6.) Spend as much or more time and effort evaluating vendors as you do equipment (which is mostly a commodity these days anyway).
- Have the goal of most bang for the buck with overall quality in mind, not low initial price.
- Buying low buck is the errand of shortsighted fools. Especially with something as expensive and isolated as rooftop PV.
- Negotiate tough but fair - and remember - everything is negotiable.
- Vendors are in business to make money by putting PV on your propery, not necesarily by lowering your electric bill. Still, vendors need to make a profit.
- Don't fall for the price matching game. It's a trap for suckers. You'll only pay more if you fall for it. Think about it from the vendor's perspective and you may understand why.
Welcome to the neighborhood and the forum of fewer illusions.
Take what you want of the above. Scrap the rest.
2.) Learn about energy conservation first and PV second before you do anything else. Then, estimate use reduction from those efforts before sizing any future PV.
Not using energy is far and away more cost effective than throwing expensive PV at an electric bill that can easily be made lower (and the PV smaller = less $$ BTW) by lifestyle adjustmants and energy conservation measures before any PV installation.
3.) If you truly want unbiased knowledge, buy a copy of "Solar Power Your Home for Dummies" and read it before you commit to spending money. ~ $25 - cheap. You need an education. It'll give you the basics. Then, if you want insight and feedback, come back here and fill in knowledge gaps your self education creates. Besides, your questions will then have more meat on them. You'll get out what you put in. Spoonfeeding gets you pablum.
4.) If your thinking about a roof mount - which is common - get your roof inspected and serviced before you commit to any vendor. PV on a roof can last a long time. Chasing a leak is never easy. Under an array it's nearly impossible. Give your roof a high probabilty of lasting as long as the array on it.
5.) After your self education as described in 3 above, if you do commit to PV, go for a quality install, and that means a quality local vendor who's been a licensed, local electrical contractor who's been in business at least as long or preferably as long as PV has been popular. Know that solar vendors are dropping like flies. Established long run electrical contractors who also sell PV are probably your best bet at having a vendor be around in the future.
6.) Spend as much or more time and effort evaluating vendors as you do equipment (which is mostly a commodity these days anyway).
- Have the goal of most bang for the buck with overall quality in mind, not low initial price.
- Buying low buck is the errand of shortsighted fools. Especially with something as expensive and isolated as rooftop PV.
- Negotiate tough but fair - and remember - everything is negotiable.
- Vendors are in business to make money by putting PV on your propery, not necesarily by lowering your electric bill. Still, vendors need to make a profit.
- Don't fall for the price matching game. It's a trap for suckers. You'll only pay more if you fall for it. Think about it from the vendor's perspective and you may understand why.
Welcome to the neighborhood and the forum of fewer illusions.
Take what you want of the above. Scrap the rest.
. I also have external wind braces that I added to reduce twisting. If it fails there is nothing of value downwind. Having dealt with commercial roofs damaged by wind uplift I have seen the potential damage and decided that I did not want to risk it on my roof as if could make my home unlivable should a high wind occur. (I do live about 5 miles north of the point where the second highest wind velocity on the face of the earth was recorded)
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