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[zhackwyatt]

Do not go with Vivint, solar or alarm. Horrible predatory company.

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[bluestarct]

Do not go with Vivint, solar or alarm. Horrible predatory company.

Viviant is now owned by Sunrun. The house I bought in San Diego unfortunately had a Viviant system with a power purchase agreement a prior owner had signed up for. I can't buy them out for another 4 years. I am sure they are going to try to inflate the buy out.

So I am limited on adding additional solar panels and backup without doing a complicated system.

 

[bpbailey]

If you can find a competent solar technician/broker in your area, that is the best way to go. I live in California and I found a solar technician/broker (relyantsolar.com) who doesn't work for any of the solar installation companies. What she did for me was assess what we needed and then go out on the market and find the best deal amongst the numerous (often unscrupulous) solar installation companies. We ended up getting a large solar system installed (no battery backup, however), that is currently generating about 110% of our total electricity needs, and we paid absolutely $0 out of pocket. It is a 25 year lease where we pay $173 per month (to Sunrun) but only pay for natural gas to San Diego Gas & Electric. Since we are generating more than we are using, we are amassing a credit with SDG&E, and that credit will help offset some of our natural gas bill with SDG&E. Yes, our solar plan is with Sunrun, and Sunrun has been a pain in the ass at times, but our solar technician/broker has been a tremendous intermediary between us and Sunrun. When she says "jump", they have jumped.

 

[AZBill]

Yes, the industry does seem shady, and promises seem to be worthless. We've analyzed it more than once and never taken the plunge due to too long a payback period.

Same for me every time I look into solar they claim prices have gone down, the payback period will be after I'm dead and gone.

 

[markboris]

Three years ago, I went with a local solar company to install my 12 kW system consisting of Silfab panels and SolarEdge inverter. After it was installed, I called Tesla and had them install 2 PowerWall batteries. I paid for everything outright so would not have to pay any interest.

Living here in the Sierra foothills of CA, in the last three years, my Tesla app shows I have had a total of 12 power outages totaling approx 3 days of no power with the longest outage at 13 hours. The batteries have been great for backup but they also power the house every weekday between 5-8 when my utility company charges its peak rate. I generally charge my car during the day using solar.

 

[RickMachE]

I like when the payback matches the equipment obsolescence, so you finish breaking even and you then lay out another $20k. That assumes you aren't now forced to re-roof, even though it's not needed yet, because it won't make it for another 20 year cycle.

 

[Motomax]

We ended up getting a large solar system installed (no battery backup, however), that is currently generating about 110% of our total electricity needs, and we paid absolutely $0 out of pocket. It is a 25 year lease where we pay $173 per month (to Sunrun) but only pay for natural gas to San Diego Gas & Electric.

Here’s my problem with leasing and why I tell every to never do it.
you’re stuck in a contract which makes selling your home difficult. Then at the end of your contract what do you do? Pay them even more money to keep the now really old system?
your monthly cost is likely more than what an inflated solar loan would have been anyways. If you generate more than what you use you literally lose money since you’re paying the solar company for production vs usage which is several times more than the credit. Never get a system over 100% when leasing. The idea that you won’t have to pay for repairs to the equipment is irrelevant since most systems have 25-30 year warranties.

My parents have a vivint/sunrun lease and they only did that because they live on a golf course. 6 or so broken panels so far and now sunrun doesnt want to fix them anymore. Atleast in this situation, no one’s making any money lol.

 

[dtbaker61]

Short version:
Predatory sales techniques led to lies. Does anyone have a solar/battery company they would recommend?

Sorry for the rant... so, can anyone recommend a company that does Solar/Battery systems?

There are tons of PV module mfg, but only a few I would consider buying.... having a true 25/25/25 warranty. Two of those are exiting the market, one is overpriced. In my opinion REC and Silfab modules are top choices..... and then there is a whole lot of crap with 10-12yr product warranties. The warranty is what supports long-term transferrable appraisable value when you sell your home.

There are several choices regarding top quality grid-tied Inverters... Enphase (micros), SMA, SolarEdge (string), and new but entering strong is Generac. Generac may not be available in your area as it is a new product for them.

Battery backup systems (BBS) can be either 'ac-coupled', like Tesla PowerWall and Enphase Encharge... or DC coupled like the SolarEdge HUB and Generac PWRcell. or, a small system can be used like a 'generator' with limited capacity to keep the cost down, and you can use your giant MME battery to backstop the Generator for emergencies.... whether you have Solar or not.

There are MANY ways to go.... depends on local Installers, what they have on their menu as Authorized installers, and what kind of 'deal' your local Utility allows for Interconnected systems to determine the rate of return on your net investment. I would highly suggest you deal with a LOCAL installer, and only if they use the following modules: REC, LG, Silfab, Panasonic, Sunpower

If you have limited tax liability, and cannot leverage the 26% fed tax credit in one year.... you *may* be able to carry un-used credit from Solar forward; you should verify w your CPA as I have heard opinions both ways regarding carry-forward for solar tax credits.

 

[dtbaker61]

I'd say it is about 50/50. I am concerned about outages, about as much as I am wanting it for the renewables.

outages you can handle for about $350 using your MME as the battery.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I designed my system and then contacted local installers and selected the one who gave me a quote closest to what I wanted. I would not go with a large installer and I would not lease.

 

[Scooby24]

I went with Solar Wholesale and did it myself, but they also can make recommendations on partner installers. Solar Wholesale is great and will be sure your system is right for your needs. It would just be down to the installer on doing a good job.

https://www.solarwholesale.com/full-install/

 

[dtbaker61]

I went with Solar Wholesale and did it myself, but they also can make recommendations on partner installers. Solar Wholesale is great and will be sure your system is right for your needs. It would just be down to the installer on doing a good job.

https://www.solarwholesale.com/full-install/

in most areas it is a nightmare for a homeowner to DIY a grid-tied solar install. The paperwork required for Permits, Inspection, and Interconnection generally required licensed Electricians. Almost all the top modules require authorized (trained) installers as a condition of warranty.

It is totally not worth DIY for grid-tied.

It IS worth it for off-grid, or standalone 'emergency' solar generators

 

[dtbaker61]

Same for me every time I look into solar they claim prices have gone down, the payback period will be after I'm dead and gone.

depends on your area, cost, and interconnection rules.

In NM residential installs typically return about 7% annually (savings/net investment). This means about 10 yr 'payback'... and if you have the good stuff w 25 year transferable parts and labor warranty you will effectively double or triple your investment whether you live in the house for 25, or sell it (adding the remaining warranteed production value to your list price).

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

in most areas it is a nightmare for a homeowner to DIY a grid-tied solar install. The paperwork required for Permits, Inspection, and Interconnection generally required licensed Electricians. Almost all the top modules require authorized (trained) installers as a condition of warranty.

It is totally not worth DIY for grid-tied.

It IS worth it for off-grid, or standalone 'emergency' solar generators

100%

I grew up off-grid, designed our first solar system, and lived with off-grid DC and AC blend for a long time.

Those systems are easy-peasy compared with trying to make sure you don't kill a line worker six blocks away with a grid-tie system. Even though I'm certain the newest technology would not be too difficult to install and set up, in doing the research I found out—in my area at least—the utility requires a Level 1 Responsible Engineer in Charge to be named. They have provisions for DIY. But neither my ego nor any amount of money is worth someone else's life.

 

[Scooby24]

in most areas it is a nightmare for a homeowner to DIY a grid-tied solar install. The paperwork required for Permits, Inspection, and Interconnection generally required licensed Electricians. Almost all the top modules require authorized (trained) installers as a condition of warranty.

It is totally not worth DIY for grid-tied.

It IS worth it for off-grid, or standalone 'emergency' solar generators

Wasn't at all an issue for me for my grid-tied. The paperwork wasn't that big a deal. The struggle was just getting the electrical company to come out and sign off and swap out my meter and that would have been a hassle doing it myself or with an installer.

As far as warranty, my AP systems micro inverters are registered with Solar Wholesale as the installer and the warranty goes through them as such. The panels are Next Energy Alliance which are their own brand so warranty goes through them for those.

The Electrical diagrams were designed by them and were signed off on by a licensed engineering firm and an electrician licensed in my state.

I'm in Kansas, they definitely aren't trying to make it easier here either.

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