Forum Discussion

alaska315's avatar
alaska315
Explorer
Oct 08, 2016

Cost For Solar Install Please

I thought I would post this question to you folks to try and find the fair coast of a 400 watt solar system using 4 100 watt panels and associated wiring controller etc. on our 5er.We would be supplying all the equipt including the inverter so all I am asking about is the total hours to install a simple system like this.I was quoted 50.00 an hour by an experienced but unlicensed individual which seems fair enough.It's the total hours for install I am looking for so any help you can offer is appreciated.

I'll get your input and then let you know what I was quoted and then what my experienced Amish friend also quoted me.
Thanks
  • Huntindog's avatar
    Huntindog
    Explorer
    Oct 09, 2016
    2oldman wrote:
    BFL13 wrote:
    Lesson is to know yourself what is right and wrong before getting anything done, then get some quotes. Then make sure it is done the way you specified.
    x2

    The grunt work is what the installer does. The design is (or should be) what YOU do. That's so you know what's up when something goes wrong.

    I've talked to many folks with solar who don't even know whether their panels are wired in parallel or series. Please, spend some time learning and designing before turning it loose to people who only want to get it done quickly.


    So long as this amount of operator involvement is necessary, Solar will not become mainstream.

    There are many more people that don't care to know the details about how things work, than there are techies who love to know this stuff.

    I have a ton of knowledge about many things, but I don't know everything about everything.
    For example:
    I don't care to know how a microwave works, just that it does.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Oct 08, 2016
    BFL13 wrote:
    Lesson is to know yourself what is right and wrong before getting anything done, then get some quotes. Then make sure it is done the way you specified.
    x2

    The grunt work is what the installer does. The design is (or should be) what YOU do. That's so you know what's up when something goes wrong.

    I've talked to many folks with solar who don't even know whether their panels are wired in parallel or series. Please, spend some time learning and designing before turning it loose to people who only want to get it done quickly.
  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    Oct 08, 2016
    You are supplying the equipment, but who is doing the design? Do you know how the solar SHOULD be installed? Does the installer? :(

    Several folks have been on here after finding out their installed solar was poorly designed and high cost.

    Lesson is to know yourself what is right and wrong before getting anything done, then get some quotes. Then make sure it is done the way you specified.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Oct 08, 2016
    Would take me two days on the solar so $800 would get you started.
    Maybe another day on the inverter depending on conditions.

    It is the details that take time to do it neat and clean.
  • corvettekent's avatar
    corvettekent
    Explorer
    Oct 08, 2016
    Mounting the solar panels, controller, and inverter are the easy part. Running all the wires so they as short as can be but still hidden and the custom built cables for the inverter plus relocating and adding more batteries are the time consuming part. Then there is the 120 volt side of the inverter, are you going to use a transfer switch or wire in a few outlets? I probably have 16 to 20 hours into my install.
  • RJsfishin's avatar
    RJsfishin
    Explorer
    Oct 08, 2016
    2oldman wrote:
    6 hours

    I agree 6-8 hrs, depending on the controller mounting. A nice clean flush mount cost another hour or so.
  • Chum_lee's avatar
    Chum_lee
    Explorer
    Oct 08, 2016
    Find/take your fiver to a place that installs solar systems. Let them look at it and tell them what you want to do. Get their quote.

    PRICES VARY BASED ON LOCATION, TIME OF YEAR, AVAILABILITY, CURRENT WORKLOAD, JOB SCOPE, etc.

    When you have plans, specifications, and, a price for something well defined, then you can go from there. Until then, you're just fishing on the internet.

    $50 an hour seems a little high for an "experienced" but unlicensed (possibly uninsured) professional, but, no one can see your fiver.

    Chum lee

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