Solar System questions

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Sinverguenza

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I’m thinking of adding solar to my house. I have someone coming tonight from Costco. 
 

I know someone here sells / installs solar. 
 

What should I look for?

What questions should I ask?

Thanks!!

 
I would not get it under the HERO program. 

A: The HERO Program is a financing mechanism that allows residential and commercial property owners to make energy efficient, water conservation, and renewable energy improvements to homes and businesses and to pay for these investments over time through their property tax bills.

 
Always over build your system. What ever they recommend add panels. I have a tesla power wall and really like it. Its useful for all the CA time of use bullshyt

 
As you are in CA, I cant speak to the finical/ tax incentives you can get, but I built my system myself with panels from SanTan Solar (www.santansolar.com), and batteries from G4. My system is only 5kw of panels and 7kw of batteries currently, but it is enough to run the AC in the summer, which took my bill from 190 a month in the summer and put it at the 35 I pay in the winter.  

Panels, battery, and wiring all done by me, and I'm in just under 8k for the current cost. I hope to upgrade the system to a whole home, off grid one in the next year or so, as the new tax credits make it a better deal. Cost wise, I will loose money doing so, but I HATE the power company, APS, and dream of the day I can tell them to come pull their meter. 

 
Please don’t cheap put on the controller as they cause a tremendous amount of RF interference.

 
I had SunRun come over yesterday and they recommended 8.7 KW. 
 

I’m waiting for Mohr Power to contact me for an appointment. 

 
IFLY said:
I would not get it under the HERO program. 

A: The HERO Program is a financing mechanism that allows residential and commercial property owners to make energy efficient, water conservation, and renewable energy improvements to homes and businesses and to pay for these investments over time through their property tax bills.
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I have some co workers that used Hero and paid too much. 

 
My neighbor put  19k on  his house.... 54 tesla panels... his bill with 3 ac's, the shop, the pool and everything else is like 100 in summer....no battery back up, yet.  Cost him @ 40k but he was spending close to 1000 a  month  from May to Sept.  

 
A good company will take the time to build a plan before they show up to your door.  They will look at the roof surrounding area and give you an idea of how much is practical on your roof.  You might be able to get a lot on your roof and even over build the system but if they are only working at a minimum capacity because of home orientation , big trees, chimneys or neighbors it stops being worth just stuffing more up there because you have room.  A good company will do a roof survey, before final design and get what will work. Better to have 10K working at 100% than to pay for 20K and have it only producing 50% of what it can.

Things to think about before you start is how old is your roof and when will it require replacement,  What is the size of your service entrance section and is it sized for solar to be installed, (some older houses will require a new SES) Also where are you going to place the electrical components in the garage? or outside? If outside make sure the HOA will allow, they get kind of finicky when you start putting a bunch of stuff the Karens can see. 

 
I am in the process and getting 2 tesla powerwalls for back up.  I am in a tier 2 fire zone and i qualify for the sgip program, but my installer is telling me the fed is no longer allowing the ITC or 30% credit combined with the sgip.  Anyone else hear of this?  

SGIP= self generation incentive program.  Part of the big investment in america bill that just passed.

 
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People always say I have this many or that many panels, what you are looking for is KW. Twenty of one size panel will produce the same as fifty of another size or brand. 
I’m in San Diego with a two story home, 2 a/c’s and I did 6.7KW and I overproduce enough to break even or be a little ahead of SDGE bill. 

 
I think the new panels are 400+, so much more than just 5 yrs ago.... I see used panels at 100w for sale cheap now...

 
Do not go with SunRun, their customer Service is nonexistent.  I would do everything you can to buy the system, do not lease.  

 
Thanks everyone!!! So , Mohr Power is is less expensive then SunRun. 
 

Mohr Power is doing 153  percent offset. 
 

Picture attached. If I use my 30% rebate and use it for the solar, solar would be in the $21k range. Which is not bad.  
 

Having another salesperson from SunRun come over tonight. The salesperson for tonight is straight from SunRun and supposedly is cheaper then using one from Costco. We will see. 
 

Picture attached is from Mohr Power. 

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My neighbor used Costco Chino Hills.  Contractors they used F'd up his roof cause when it rained he now had a leaky roof.  Took a while for the contractor to repair the damages.  You've been warned.  On a side note get as many panels as they allow, bribe, I mean tell the sales rep to add a few extra panels from what they calculate.  My guy was a family friend and he loaded up my roof with as many as would fit.  AC in summer so cold we need sweatshirts and bill is $0

 
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