Solar Panel Batteries & Additional Panel Installation

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akkord said:
Those with the Enphase...I have the micro inverters not sure if string is different, you can check to see on their app which panels are performing vs those that aren't, send to your installer and they should be able to help, at least my installer was willing to help those I referred when they had an issue.
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Yeah, my brother told me that Enphase app has better details, so I installed it. Unfortunately, my account isn't active yet. Seems like it it needs installer to complete some details.
 
ndmaynard said:
Well after the recent NEM 3.0 decision, I finally have the catalyst I needed to move forward with my solar expansion and battery plan that inspired this thread. Gotta make sure the new install is done by April to get grandfathered into NEM 2.0. My current thinking is to try to get close to 100% solar power coverage and get 1-2 batteries to manage power usage during evenings.

Would appreciate any input from those who have done expanded solar installs - is 100% solar coverage the recommended path or would you suggest a little less/more? From my understanding of NEM 1.0 / 2.0, any excess solar power is sold to the utility at retail rates which should be like .25 - .30 per kwh - is that correct?

Similar question on solar batteries - I will probably go with Tesla Powerwall but is 1-2 sufficient?
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I would forget the Powerwalls for now if you get NEM 2.0.

I got 100% coverage and no powerwalls mid 2022. If I still live here in 20 years when they force me to transfer to NEM 3.0, then I’ll add the powerwalls to take advantage of storing the extra energy and EV charging at night. Technology for Powerwalls will be much better then and Elon will come up with something that gives me 8 days of usage per battery I’m sure.
 
What is the latest pricing ($/watt) for those shopping around now or had an install done in the past few months?
 
zovall said:
What is the latest pricing ($/watt) for those shopping around now or had an install done in the past few months?
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When I installed the 9.6kW system, it was roughly $2.6/watt. For a smaller system (like 5kW), it would have been about $2.9/watt. I think it has gone up a bit since. Currently, I would say it's probably $3-$3.5/watt.

I just checked Tesla solar and it's $2.74/watt regardless of system size.
 
CalBears96 said:
When I installed the 9.6kW system, it was roughly $2.6/watt. For a smaller system (like 5kW), it would have been about $2.9/watt. I think it has gone up a bit since. Currently, I would say it's probably $3-$3.5/watt.

I just checked Tesla solar and it's $2.74/watt regardless of system size.
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I would have thought prices would come down, we got 2.60/watt in 2019 right before the 30% expired, but they brought it back recently. I assume it's b/c panels are better now/more expensive so less panels for the same amount of watts we did back then.
 
akkord said:
I would have thought prices would come down, we got 2.60/watt in 2019 right before the 30% expired, but they brought it back recently. I assume it's b/c panels are better now/more expensive so less panels for the same amount of watts we did back then.
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Inflation. I got the quote beginning of July and inflation was still out of control since then until recently.

I referred a co-worker to Elevation. At first, they quoted him at about $3/watt, but after some negotiation, they gave him the same price as mine. He said other vendors at Energy Sage gave him slightly higher quotes so he ended up choosing Elevation.

It may come back down later this year, especially with NEM 3.0. Tesla's website gives you a discount if you install solar panels + Powerwall.
 
akkord said:
I would have thought prices would come down, we got 2.60/watt in 2019 right before the 30% expired, but they brought it back recently. I assume it's b/c panels are better now/more expensive so less panels for the same amount of watts we did back then.
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Yup, inflation/supply chain/labor costs are what I'm guessing. I got quotes Q2 and Q4 2020 and they had already gone up slightly in those 6 months. Then some people I know who signed in the last 2 months is 10%+ higher than when I signed in Q4 2020. Also, most installers are using Enphase IQ8 microinverters now vs IQ7... don't know what the wholesale cost difference is, probably minor but still an increase.
zovall said:
What is the latest pricing ($/watt) for those shopping around now or had an install done in the past few months?
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I think on the low end will be $2.90-$3/W. That's what some people I know got who signed in the last 2 months. Tesla is at $2.74/W.

If I could give advice, it would be definitely too oversize your system, esp if you want to zero out your utility bill. I calculated my system size correctly based on kWh usage, but with the way TOU rates work (pre-solar I was on tiered rate, not TOU) you pretty much have to generate 1.5x kWh to offset 1 kWh used during on-peak hours (4-9pm). So you need to generate a lot more kWh than you think. I'm looking into adding panels to my less than year old system to get in before NEM 3.0 kicks in in April.
 
hurijo said:
Yup, inflation/supply chain/labor costs are what I'm guessing. I got quotes Q2 and Q4 2020 and they had already gone up slightly in those 6 months. Then some people I know who signed in the last 2 months is 10%+ higher than when I signed in Q4 2020. Also, most installers are using Enphase IQ8 microinverters now vs IQ7... don't know what the wholesale cost difference is, probably minor but still an increase.

I think on the low end will be $2.90-$3/W. That's what some people I know got who signed in the last 2 months. Tesla is at $2.74/W.

If I could give advice, it would be definitely too oversize your system, esp if you want to zero out your utility bill. I calculated my system size correctly based on kWh usage, but with the way TOU rates work (pre-solar I was on tiered rate, not TOU) you pretty much have to generate 1.5x kWh to offset 1 kWh used during on-peak hours (4-9pm). So you need to generate a lot more kWh than you think. I'm looking into adding panels to my less than year old system to get in before NEM 3.0 kicks in in April.
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you don't want to oversize it to the point where you are generating electricity you will never use though. otherwise what's the point?
 
akkord said:
I would have thought prices would come down, we got 2.60/watt in 2019 right before the 30% expired, but they brought it back recently. I assume it's b/c panels are better now/more expensive so less panels for the same amount of watts we did back then.
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I referred Elevation Solar to CalBear after I was referred to Elevation Solar by my friend who got solar installed in the Spring of 2022. I got a quote for 18 REC 400w panels (7.2kW system) and the quote was about $2.70/watt and then I upsized the system to 24 panels (9.6kW system) and the cost went down to $2.60/watt in June 2022 when I put my deposit down on my Taycan. I believe that Tesla was around $2.70/watt back then but the issue with them is they wouldn't give me a good estimate for when the system would be up and running (told me 6-9 months) while Elevation Solar said 3-4 months which they nailed. The lowest price that I got for solar was for my Las Vegas home for a 4kW Tesla system at $2.00/watt back in Sept 2020.
 
zubs said:
When you leave your AC on @ 68 degrees for the whole summer you feel rich.
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given how unstable our utilities has become in the last few years, I would oversize it just to be able to go off grid when shit hits the fan on our infrastructure.

Assuming I can afford all the additional cost that comes with oversizing system + battery.
 
Innosint said:
given how unstable our utilities has become in the last few years, I would oversize it just to be able to go off grid when shit hits the fan on our infrastructure.

Assuming I can afford all the additional cost that comes with oversizing system + battery.
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Up here our PGE infr is so "sus" as the kids say a big motivator for me was ensuring we live blackout free. These recent storms have highlighted that fragility which was originally just driven by the windy hot days in the summer, not to mention the rapid increase in electric rates.
 
OCtoSV said:
Up here our PGE infr is so "sus" as the kids say a big motivator for me was ensuring we live blackout free. These recent storms have highlighted that fragility which was originally just driven by the windy hot days in the summer, not to mention the rapid increase in electric rates.
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friend near SF got power cut off for three days with only a 4 hour notice iirc.

for as often as I shit on SCE, I'm sure glad Irvine isn't provided by PGE.
 
Innosint said:
given how unstable our utilities has become in the last few years, I would oversize it just to be able to go off grid when shit hits the fan on our infrastructure.

Assuming I can afford all the additional cost that comes with oversizing system + battery.
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Yeah, if you're going to oversize, then you need the battery to store the extra charge.

Get the Panasonic 17.5kWh battery.
 
CalBears96 said:
Yeah, if you're going to oversize, then you need the battery to store the extra charge.

Get the Panasonic 17.5kWh battery.
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My 4kw system is barely enough during the day now that i need to charge EV.

I am thinking of adding another 9kw system and 2 of these batteries. I am afraid my roof doesnt have enough south direction real estate for additional panels.
 
Danimal said:
My 4kw system is barely enough during the day now that i need to charge EV.

I am thinking of adding another 9kw system and 2 of these batteries. I am afraid my roof doesnt have enough south direction real estate for additional panels.
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My 9.6kW system has 13 panels on the south side and 11 panels on the north side. I think it's going to be tough to have all the panels on one side.
 
CalBears96 said:
My 9.6kW system has 13 panels on the south side and 11 panels on the north side. I think it's going to be tough to have all the panels on one side.
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Fresco M3 has V shape roof. The current 12 panels are perfectly lined up facing the south side ( avg 25kwh/day summer and 15kwh winter). By the time the sun gets to the other side, it’s probably 2-3 PM which is way past the peak for producing power. This is why I’ve hesitated adding more panels.
 
Danimal said:
View attachment 8891
is yours turned red like this one? Mine does the same thing. I had a solar guy came to troubleshoot our consumption meter. He said this light can be red sometimes when it’s cloudy. The system thinks one or more panels not producing power. Mine does the same but when it’s sunny, light turns solid green.
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After I installed the Enphase app, it showed that 8 panels weren't producing. I did finally got Elevation to come check out my system. After several technicians came on several occasions, they figured out that the connection to those panels was loose. They fixed it today. My output has now gone up from around 4.4kW to 6.4kW. Sounds about right with 8 additional panels producing now.
 
CalBears96 said:
After I installed the Enphase app, it showed that 8 panels weren't producing. I did finally got Elevation to come check out my system. After several technicians came on several occasions, they figured out that the connection to those panels was loose. They fixed it today. My output has now gone up from around 4.4kW to 6.4kW. Sounds about right with 8 additional panels producing now.
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Sent you a PM.
 
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