Solar Panels, Has anyone got access to wholesale panels? Anyone consider installation

[quicksandfarmer]

Right now the big money in solar is in capturing the government subsidies -- 30% federal tax credit and SREC's, which depend on your state. However, to get the subsidies your system has to be installed by a licensed contractor. In a state with good SREC's the payback period is 3-4 years for a professionally installed system.

You can only get the federal tax credit on your primary residence, and most state programs are the same. So the only case where doing it yourself makes sense is on a second home, or possibly in a state with poor or no incentives.

 

[TnAndy]

You can install yourself and get the 30% federal credit....but you can't claim a labor cost..just the actual materials.

 

[BoylermanCT]

The problem with professionally installed solar is the markup on labor. Its a good business to be in if you are an electrician. On my brother's solar install, you can buy the panels, micro-inverters, roof rack, wiring and switch for $13,000. Labor, which was a 2 day install was $12,000. The electrician says he is booked solid 6 months out with solar installs.

Installation is not rocket science. I work with a group that uses volunteer labor to install solar panels on low income housing. The foreman is a licensed contractor, and there is an electrician to do the hookup, but all of the grunt work - assembling and installing roof racks, attaching micro-inverters to solar panels, attaching panels to racking, plugging in micro-inverter to micro-inverter is done by volunteers. The electrician does the wiring from the solar array to the cutoff switch, meter and house panel. So you can do a lot of the work yourself.

As said before, some states require professional installation to get their incentives. CT is that way. They pay the subsidy to the installer directly So I can pay $12K to get a $3K subsidy! Federal subsidy does not require professional installation. The Federal subsidy is 30% through 2019, and then it drops to 26% in 2020 and 22% in 2021. It ends in 2021 unless extended by Congress.

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks for the links. One of my "to do" projects is a solar water pump to bring water from my pond to a water tank next to my house that I can use to water the garden. My plan is to have the solar powered pump run as soon as the solar panels start providing power until the sun goes down. Then drain the tank every night with a series of pipes all around my garden.

 

[houstonscott]

Thanks for the links. One of my "to do" projects is a solar water pump to bring water from my pond to a water tank next to my house that I can use to water the garden. My plan is to have the solar powered pump run as soon as the solar panels start providing power until the sun goes down. Then drain the tank every night with a series of pipes all around my garden.

http://www.sunpumps.com

HS

 

[Industrial Toys]

I was thinking about doing the same thing, to pump water from an unused well that is uphill from the house and garden. But how much power or money does one really spend running the main 2HP jet pump? Is solar worth it?

I am also curious, how off-gridders generally, have a hot shower, dry their clothes (in winter) and cook the holiday turkey. I mean, propane is expensive too, and if you have to run a generator, then, to me, it doesn't make sense. Of course, much has to do with ones location. My neighbors solar panels are all covered in snow and aren't making any money.

And payback times are for, if nothing breaks down out of warranty. I am not generally that lucky.

 

[bigdeano]

Carefully research the amount of sunshine available where you are and what time of year it's available. The people who make out best with solar are in southern US where the sun is very intense and available all year. Where I am it's so cloudy in winter you would get almost zero power. In summer I use very little power anyway.

If you're going to tie into the grid how much do they pay for your power? Probably less than you pay for theirs.

A neighbor installed a 10kw hydro plant which ran 24/7 about 9 months a year but he took it out because they paid so little for the power it wasn't worth the trouble.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Couldn't he have kept it for his own use at least. I always thought, that set up is what dreams are made of.

 

[bigdeano]

Couldn't he have kept it for his own use at least. I always thought, that set up is what dreams are made of.

That's what I wondered too. He heated with wood so maybe didn't have much use for the power.

 

[TnAndy]

Install I did for a neighbor couple years ago. 10kw, 40 250w Hyundai panels with Enphase micro inverters.

2" gal pipe in concrete with 2 x 2 x 3/16 gal angle welded across the pipe for panel mounting.