Solar Companies vs Private Contractor

[jman714]

My friend thinks that it is better and more financially beneficial to buy your own solar panels/inverter and hire a contractor to do the installation. He knows of a contractor that has experience in installing solar panels for homes.

I think this is risky and could be less financially wise because of warranties, monitoring, design, permits, etc. I met with SolarCity, SunPower, SunRun, etc. I'd like to get opinions on whether buying the hardware and hiring a private contractor is a better approach then going with a company.

[lkruper]

My friend thinks that it is better and more financially beneficial to buy your own solar panels/inverter and hire a contractor to do the installation. He knows of a contractor that has experience in installing solar panels for homes.

I think this is risky and could be less financially wise because of warranties, monitoring, design, permits, etc. I met with SolarCity, SunPower, SunRun, etc. I'd like to get opinions on whether buying the hardware and hiring a private contractor is a better approach then going with a company.

The answer depends upon whether or not you ask an independent contractor or a company.

[inetdog]

There can be problems buying some types of panels as an individual. Shipping, getting first grade panels in the first place, warranty, etc. This will vary by panel manufacturer.
Expect to pay an independent contractor a bit more on the same labor to make up for him not getting a markup on the panels. You can still save money overall in some cases.
If the solar company is getting a good bulk price from the manufacturer, then you might not end up saving as much as you expected.
Then there is the risk of getting a bad panel or two and having to handle shipping of the small number of panels if warranty replacement is needed.

I expect that it can work out well, and may be comparable in results to getting an independent (non-chain) solar installer to also procure the panels for you. Better than Solar City either way.

[Naptown]

I am a contractor but only install systems where we provide all the materials.
You may be able to save some by contracting the install yourself.
However there are some caveats to that route.
All panels inverters racking etc are yours.
If a panel is broken in transit and not found immediatly at arrival and a new one has to be gotten that causes a special trip to install you will be charged for at least the trip.
Your independant contractor will likely not help with any warranty issues other than where his workmanship is involved.
They may or may not help with permits design etc.
Most reputable installers wont do it because almost invariably there are parts forgotten mis ordered wrong part etc with owner supplied materials.
( stopped allowing owner supplied stuff a long time ago and imstalls go much smoother.)
Remember if you save a thousand dollars gross cost it is really only a seven hundred savings.
Caveat emptor

[inetdog]

I am a contractor but only install systems where we provide all the materials.
You may be able to save some by contracting the install yourself.
However there are some caveats to that route.
All panels inverters racking etc are yours.
If a panel is broken in transit and not found immediatly at arrival and a new one has to be gotten that causes a special trip to install you will be charged for at least the trip.
Your independant contractor will likely not help with any warranty issues other than where his workmanship is involved.
They may or may not help with permits design etc.
Most reputable installers wont do it because almost invariably there are parts forgotten mis ordered wrong part etc with owner supplied materials.
( stopped allowing owner supplied stuff a long time ago and imstalls go much smoother.)
Remember if you save a thousand dollars gross cost it is really only a seven hundred savings.
Caveat emptor

Electrical contractors and electricians generally feel the same way about customers who want to provide their own materials, even though in many of those cases the fixtures, etc. may be a matter of taste and aesthetics rather than just function. (Sometimes it is a matter of the customer thinking they are getting a better price at Big Orange than what the contractor would charge them. Generally not true in the long run.
The main argument is that invariably something will be broken, missing, or incorrectly specified and the contractor ends up having to deal with it, to the detriment of the schedule and customer satisfaction.

[Samsolar]

My friend thinks that it is better and more financially beneficial to buy your own solar panels/inverter and hire a contractor to do the installation. He knows of a contractor that has experience in installing solar panels for homes.

I think this is risky and could be less financially wise because of warranties, monitoring, design, permits, etc. I met with SolarCity, SunPower, SunRun, etc. I'd like to get opinions on whether buying the hardware and hiring a private contractor is a better approach then going with a company.

I suppose it depends on where you live and how complicated the install is. Materials including shipping (from CA to NH) were just under $2/watt (8.1 kW) for my install (LG/Enphase). Total hours for install were 80. I did the design and install myself, but let's say I hired out the electrical and roofing for $65/hr which works out to $5200 or $0.64/ watt. I'd be at $2.64/ watt installed vs over $4/ watt in my neck of the woods if you go with the commercial Solar companies. $11k ($7700 after incentives) in savings easily covers a broken panel, hiring out the design and just about anything else you can imagine and you still will have saved many thousands.

Going with a Solar company does have plenty of merit though. They deliver a turn key solution with hopefully few headaches for the homeowner and stand behind their work for multiple years and perhaps much longer if they are still around. They are a phone call away if you need them and will have people on staff with solar specific training when (if) service issues arise.

[solarix]

If you buy from me - a small local contractor, you will get the same people on the phone every time you call, on the second ring - and we'll remember who you are and be able to take care of you personally. If you go with the big corporation, you'll have to run the phone computer gauntlet, talk to someone who doesn't know you, and in general - get the run around..... Your choice!

[jman714]

Thank you so much for everyone's input. Sounds like there's no clear cut decision and there are merits on both side. I just found out that I would have to pay for paint and a new 200amp breaker that will cost $2000. I suppose things are adding up so its not turnkey as I would like.

[inetdog]

Thank you so much for everyone's input. Sounds like there's no clear cut decision and there are merits on both side. I just found out that I would have to pay for paint and a new 200amp breaker that will cost $2000. I suppose things are adding up so its not turnkey as I would like.

That new 200A main breaker might list for a very high price, but you can get a whole service panel with a 200A breaker already installed for far less than that.
(You were perhaps talking about a whole panel replacement including labor and not just a breaker?)

[jman714]

That new 200A main breaker might list for a very high price, but you can get a whole service panel with a 200A breaker already installed for far less than that.
(You were perhaps talking about a whole panel replacement including labor and not just a breaker?)

Yes, including labor but I was assuming that SunPower would do the labor for free. I am getting pressure to sign the contract and now that I'm hesitating, the rep tells me that my 100A breaker should be ok for a 4.58 KW system (14 E20/327 panels). I'm thinking this can't be true especially when he said I need a 200A - 225A breaker originally.

[inetdog]

Yes, including labor but I was assuming that SunPower would do the labor for free. I am getting pressure to sign the contract and now that I'm hesitating, the rep tells me that my 100A breaker should be ok for a 4.58 KW system (14 E20/327 panels). I'm thinking this can't be true especially when he said I need a 200A - 225A breaker originally.

It is possible that they are proposing what is called a line-side or supply-side connection in which the PV disconnect/breaker/subpanel connects on the service side of your main breaker. That avoids the 120% rule completely. But not all POCOs allow that even though the NEC accepts it.