A nice email I got that I thought I would share.
I got the following email from one of my readers. I thought it was well written and could help out others when installing their solar systems. I asked Ted if it was OK to share it and he was nice enough to say yes.
Email From Ted
Dave, I started watching your site in late 2008 and became
interested in the possibility of going solar. My project installation
was completed and went live last late last month. I thought you may
have some interest in what I, as someone who had no prior knowledge of
the subject, experienced.
After some months of research and discussions with people selling the
product I concluded that solar energy was not some arcane mystery
(which I believe is the impression that many have — and solar vendors
tend to perpetuate). I also concluded the expertise for installation
of a solar panel system does not require the skills of a brain
surgeon. In practice, in my opinion, the expertise required consists
of competent electricians’ and roofers’ knowledge. Again, not areas
of brain surgery.
I should point out that in my case high electricity bills were not a
driving consideration since my annual electrical bill is slightly less
than $1,000 (in large part due to having windows and patio sliding
glass doors replaced with gas filled, double-paned windows and doors).
While I am “green” oriented I needed some additional incentive to
pursue a solar project I happen to have an IRA account with a balance
of about $16,000 in a brokerage account that pays no interest.
Withdrawing those funds are subject to taxes that could be offset by
the Federal income tax credit, a meaningful option for me.
During my research I contacted some seven or eight contractors. The
first one seemed to know less about solar than I did. When offered an
opportunity to finance some of his customers contracts, I dropped him
like a hot potato. I ruled out a major provider of leased systems
since it did not fit with my financial objectives.
Five other contractors submitted bids based on their evaluation of my
requirements, quoting various panel manufacturer’s products that they
recommended. One of them quoted a system including a panel cleaning
system with an annual $600 contract to service it (more than I could
save in electric costs!). The price for that system was about
$36,000 (plus the aforementioned service fee). That was about twice
the final cost estimates I considered, ruling that contractor out.
A second company would only bid on a particular manufacture’s product
rated at 195kW. I learned that they had only become active in the
solar field a year or so ago, apparently having speculated by
acquiring a large quantity of those panels which is the only product
they would quote. Their price substantially exceeded the final quotes
I obtained that were based on 230kW panels. That contractor did not
get out of the starting gate. Coincidentally, I note in today’s
newspaper their add stating that they now offer Sun Power panels.
After researching the panels offered by three remaining contractors I
decided on using the SolarWorld SW 230 mono-crystalline panel, in a 14
panel configuration with a rated 3.22 DC kWh output producing a 2.747
AC kWh result. My specification included the SMA America SB-4000 240v
inverter and a Sunny Beam blue tooth metering device. The latter
based on my being dubious about going out to the inverter to copy
production stats from time to time. The blue tooth meter sits in my
den and provides all the info from the inverter, and is down-loadable
via the supplied USB cable to my computer.
One of the three final contractors would only bid on the Sun Power
SP230 in lieu of the SolarWorld. Incidentally I also specified that
the mounting hardware was to be Professional Systems’ Tile Trak since
I have a tile roof.
Based on my research I also concluded that installation in series vs.
parallel provided certain advantages relating to panels’
“water-falling” power losses, of which you are undoubtedly aware.
The total of the bids returned were: $22,218, $18,370 and $24,472 (the
latter the Sun Power quote). The bottom line after CA state rebates
and the Federal tax credit were: $12,301, $9,502 and $14,256.
I chose the lowest cost bidder not only based on price; I also found
the company owner a straight talker, more so than others I dealt with.
The sweetener in my deal arises from the fact that the net cost is
coming from the tax free liquidation of my IRA account. I estimate
that the net cost for the system ($9,502) will produce (without
speculating on future electricity rate increases) a return of about
3.98%, better than any CD is offering today.
The work performed was done in a very professional and timely manner.
All wiring from the panels into the roof went into my garage and no
wiring is visible on the outside of the house (it’s contained in a
neat-looking metal gutter box beneath the inverter). A picture of the
inverter as installed is attached, providing a good indication the
quality installation.
Ted
California
