kenacp
Bronze Member
Thinking that I might want to take advantage of my states 80% tax credit on solar power,can anyone suggest a supplier for a 2kw off grid package for a do it yourself install? Thanks
solar power
- Thread starter kenacp
- Start date
- Views: 4821
forgeblast
Elite Member
Backwoodssolar?
dmccarty
Super Star Member
You check to see if you can get the tax credit if YOU do the installation. NC requires a certified contractor performs the install. I THOUGHT the Feds required this as well.
80% sounds very high to come from just the state. Which state are you living? NC gives a 35% discount and the Feds another 30%. Progress Energy which is our power company adds another 10% I think.
This website has a great deal of information on Solar energy including state and Federal tax incentives. DSIRE: DSIRE Home
Later,
Dan
catfishdaddyengineering
Silver Member
Make sure go with a reputable seller/installer and read through all the information. Get someone to double-check any numbers that they give you on payback, output, etc. There are some unscrupulous dealers out there telling half-truths and outright lies. The output numbers that some are telling customers are not only wrong for our area, but upon calculation would take 26 hours of sun per day to get the output.
Phils
Platinum Member
There is a great forum for solar at Solar Electric Power Discussion Forum by Northern Arizona Wind & Sun - Powered by vBulletin
It's sponsored by Wind-sun.com but the company doesn't exert any pressure to buy from them, nor do they remove posts that recommend other suppliers. Wind-sun DOES have competitive pricing and won't even sell things that don't work.
The members there are almost as patient and knowing as the ones here. That is my favorite forum after TBN and ahead of the other 1/2 dozen forums I frequent.
Phil
Off-grid since 1977
It's sponsored by Wind-sun.com but the company doesn't exert any pressure to buy from them, nor do they remove posts that recommend other suppliers. Wind-sun DOES have competitive pricing and won't even sell things that don't work.
The members there are almost as patient and knowing as the ones here. That is my favorite forum after TBN and ahead of the other 1/2 dozen forums I frequent.
Phil
Off-grid since 1977
RobertN
Super Member
Sierra Solar has a good web site, and has LOTS of books available
dmccarty
Super Star Member
WOW! 50% is huge.
Check what the Feds require regarding installation to qualify for the tax credit.
The asking price for installed PV systems in my area is $8-10 a watt so roughly $20,000 installed for your 2,000 watt system. I do not think that $8-10 per watt cost included a system with batteries.
Later,
Dan
eepete
Platinum Member
Unless you need to get power when dark (i.e. off grid), I'd go grid tie so you don't need batteries. Why the focus on off grid (just curious 
)?
Dan's number match what I was quoted, I did the install myself, about cut the cost in half. Hadn't heard that the install had to be done by a licensed contractor, guess I'll figure that out soon enough.
Here's how mine went:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/178663-my-solar-panel-power-project.html
Pete
)?Dan's number match what I was quoted, I did the install myself, about cut the cost in half. Hadn't heard that the install had to be done by a licensed contractor, guess I'll figure that out soon enough.
Here's how mine went:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/178663-my-solar-panel-power-project.html
Pete
dmccarty
Super Star Member
I just went and look at the NC regulations and I DID NOT see a requirement for the installation to be done by a certified contractor or words to that effect. The requirement might be there but I could not find it. The law changed quite a bit on Jan 1, 2010 so the requirement could have been removed.
Geothermal now qualifies for a tax credit. :thumbsup:
We put in energy efficient blinds this year. Some blinds could get a tax credit but you had to get just the right ones. After looking at brands, models, and crunching the numbers we did NOT use the blind models that got the tax credit. The tax credit blinds were priced to a point that we could buy less expensive models and not have to file paper work to get our money back. The blinds we bought did keep the rooms warmer by a couple of degrees and it was noticeable.
One has to look at the details to get the tax credit. You might very well be able to get energy efficient "stuff" cheaper than following the regulations to get a tax credit.
In NC you can get 35% of the cost back as a tax credit. Sounds good and it is but there is a but. There is another limit on the tax credit. One can only get 50% of you state tax bill back in a given year. In other words if your NC state tax bill was $1,000 and you spend $10,000 on a PV system you COULD get up to $3,500 back. But since your tax bill is $1,000 you only get $500 back. Not $3,500.
You can take another five years to get as much of the $3,500 back but if your tax bill stays at $1,000 a year you will only get 6*$500 or $3,000 back not the full $3,500.
The details in the regulations to get the rebate are important.
Later,
Dan
Geothermal now qualifies for a tax credit. :thumbsup:
We put in energy efficient blinds this year. Some blinds could get a tax credit but you had to get just the right ones. After looking at brands, models, and crunching the numbers we did NOT use the blind models that got the tax credit. The tax credit blinds were priced to a point that we could buy less expensive models and not have to file paper work to get our money back. The blinds we bought did keep the rooms warmer by a couple of degrees and it was noticeable.
One has to look at the details to get the tax credit. You might very well be able to get energy efficient "stuff" cheaper than following the regulations to get a tax credit.
In NC you can get 35% of the cost back as a tax credit. Sounds good and it is but there is a but. There is another limit on the tax credit. One can only get 50% of you state tax bill back in a given year. In other words if your NC state tax bill was $1,000 and you spend $10,000 on a PV system you COULD get up to $3,500 back. But since your tax bill is $1,000 you only get $500 back. Not $3,500.
You can take another five years to get as much of the $3,500 back but if your tax bill stays at $1,000 a year you will only get 6*$500 or $3,000 back not the full $3,500.
The details in the regulations to get the rebate are important.
Later,
Dan
