It's been a few months since our panels were installed and we started production — and all is going well. We chronicled the investigation phase and doing so helped us to openly share information about the project with all folks involved. We're happy with the installation and would recommend Got Watts (GW) for anyone else who is chasing down solar... we also just roughed-in our taxes and the rebates promised hold true. Yay! An unexpected bonus: It has been fun watching the daily production of energy.
[The metrics provided by the Enphase app are quite detailed — it's been fun to watch.]
After the initial investigation phase, we selected Got Watts (GW) for the install. They were first on the scene and provided the most comprehensive plans and follow-though. Throughout the install, there were a few hurdles and GW took care of each — after all, Eichler homes are not often easy to work on compared to typical wood-frame construction.
I've detailed a few of the highlights on our Instagram page. Check them out here and here. In the end, we had nearly 70 posts and a half-dozen other penetrations to seal up. Rick at Abril was on the scene to do that and — as always — they did a great job.
The nearly 11KW system is comprised of:
- (29) Solaria PowerXT-370R (370W) panels and
- (29) Enphase IQ7A Microinverters... and the requisite
- 1 Enphase Envoy control unit.
In the end, the total install cost was about $34K with the roof seal-up — with the solar credit of about $9K, the final cost is about $25K ... with our current use of electricity, we should see a pay-off in about 5 years or less. Had we waited to re-coat the foam roof (we did that 3 years ago), that cost could have also been rolled into the solar install — something any foam-roof owner might consider.
Because the mounting points must be along the beams, the spacing of the panels is a bit precarious and today, Nick from K2 and The GW crew stopped by to make some adjustments to ensure continued stability. This is one of the reasons we've been happy with the choice of installers — if there's a problem, they're ready and willing (and able) to fix it.
As mentioned, this was not an easy job to plan or install. From Chris' first visit, Rick drew up the plans and we looked at a few options — finally settling on a 2-array set-up that was not visible from the street. After the planning phase, Lindsay picked up the project as a coordinator and did a great job fielding a great number of random things that came up — from contract to final inspection. Jeremiah, Jeremy and (little) Justin were the main install crew and have come back to make sure things were buttoned up during the winter wind storms. Brian and James on the electrical crew made sure the wiring was all set and Eric from the HVAC team stopped by when there was an HVAC vs. PV-solar concern that came up. At one point, Jeremy (the owner) even stopped by to fine tune some of the settings.
Now that the system is in nearly-full production (June/July will find peak production), we're seeing that a battery might be a good option. Even on the cloudiest day, we're producing more than we use — but at the wrong times. We're not cooking or doing laundry at 1PM and presently, we're selling electricity to PG+E at a wholesale price at noon and re-buying at at a retail price at 8PM... with a battery, we'll be using what we produce (vs. re-buying), so there's a far greater economy there.
[From left: Nick from K2 — and Justin and (little) Jeremy from Got Watts after adjusting and securing the panels. Not pictured: Jeremiah, James, and Brian of the GW crew who were part of the initial install.]
[Because of the beam location and other utilities, the spacing of the rails was a bit precarious. The outer four panels were adjusted to reduce the cantilever — and provide a more secure installation.]
[The secondary array is quite stable and needed no adjustment... the best part of both arrays is that they're invisible from the street.]
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