New roof solar system (many questions)

[BoredSysAdmin]

Has anyone done it?
What are your suggestions?
Any gottchas, pitfalls, good brands, bad brands (etc)?
Any experience you could share would be welcome.

 

[TLS Guy]

Has anyone done it?
What are your suggestions?
Any gottchas, pitfalls, good brands, bad brands (etc)?
Any experience you could share would be welcome.

I have a thread on my build out. “What did I build this for?
That thread has a lot of information. I am just off to Milwaukee right now. So can answer questions later.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Thanks, thought the first few pages are filler, and I marked a couple of your posts as informative, but I still have more generic questions, as I'm clearly much earlier in this process than you.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I have a solar system since 2012 that I installed myself with help of a local outfit who was willing to do the permitting design and submission.
In 2019 I got Tesla to install 2 batteries that was online in May 2020.
You can PM me if you want.
Don't rent or if you have to finance it yourself. Not sure you will be online before end of year as tax credits may be gone with the EV car credit, not sure.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks, thought the first few pages are filler, and I marked a couple of your posts as informative, but I still have more generic questions, as I'm clearly much earlier in this process than you.

I will give you the important details in a couple of days, after I get back to Eagan. I am certain I can help you make the best decision for you. If it is going to be a go, we have to move fast. If you don't have a good south facing roof unobstructed by trees, then it is a non starter.

 

[Speedskater]

The installations from one US brand are a known source of interference.

 

[dlaloum]

I will give you the important details in a couple of days, after I get back to Eagan. I am certain I can help you make the best decision for you. If it is going to be a go, we have to move fast. If you don't have a good south facing roof unobstructed by trees, then it is a non starter.

It can depend - I like my East/West setup - as it means I have solar power from earlier in the morning to later in the afternoon/evening - but yes I have lower overall output... the balance being that I make more use of what I generate.

I also have a small number of panels facing north (the antipodean equivalent of your south)

In summer, the battery fills up, and extends my solar power through to around 10pm typically

Right now, it mostly sits idle... but Spring is coming - and I have noted signs of battery charging...

 

[TankTop5]

The first place you need to start is contacting your power company to find out regulations, subsidies etc. it varies a lot from state to state and here in Colorado it varies from every power company.

I’m a roofing contractor and looked into solar, too much regulation and permitting variables for me to deal with so I sun it out.

Also DO NOT RENT OR LEASE as your homeowners insurance will not cover the panels and if something happens to the panels, the company you’re renting or leasing from still wants their money. It’s also almost always a huge rip off or scam. If you don’t have the cash, the best way to finance solar is through your bank, using a home equity line of credit or a construction loan.