Reputable Solar Installers?

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smkettner wrote:
Only hard part is pulling the wire.

Nah... Getting panels on the roof is.

Btw, OP - neither AM Solar nor Arizona WindSun are installers. They have a list of independent installers, or at least AM have, which are kind of dealers. The store has no control over the installers work, they just let them use/promote/install the products that they sell. I looked into AM a few times on different stages of my system planning and installation and couldn't find anything that I would need or like, neither panels nor controllers. As others noted, they carry a limited assortment of items. They do have some unique items though.

"RV places" are normally useless as a source of parts because there is no such thing as "panels sized for RV", or controllers "made for RV", or anything else - with few exceptions like roof junction boxes (which boxes should better be avoided, to begin with, but sometimes you have to have it).

Don - Pianotuna - rarely says something that is not backed by either experience or profound research. I agree with him 100% - plan your system, choose the components and put your requirements before installer. If they can't do what you want - walk away.

Some discussion with installer on choice of components and hardware and system layout may be productive though, if you feel that they have anything to contribute to discussion. There have been many examples of poor work done by installers for pretty big money - unreliable mounting of panels, inadequate wiring, poor choice of controller. Many RV-ers are pensioners, with no engineering background, unfamiliar with solar, and this appears to be a new Klondike for dishonest.

alliemac9 wrote:
Just contemplating my options and know there's a huge difference in really knowing the best components

Why don't you ask about it then?

Handy Bob solar http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com is highly opinionated but right, it is a good place to start.

In my book, you have 3 choices.
1) is to read and learn all you can, then decide who/what you're gonna believe, then decide what you want, and how you want it, then go into a place and whip it on them. If they give you any guff, leave. (and good luck finding one that will do it your way)

2) Do most of the above, then do it yourself. (by far the best of all 3)

3) Drive into a place and tell them you want "X" amount of watts installed, and if the price is right, and it works reasonably well, don't look back.

Rich is pretty well right on this (among the others). The thing about solar is that it's seldom as easy as buying an off-the-rack suit and having it altered to your dimensions. Since usage is different, locations vary, and roof real estate has to be dealt with, one size does not fit all or even a single customer. The other insidious thing is that when you get some solar charging, there always seems to be something else that can be powered with the sun.

At least do a bit of research so you're comfortable with the way things work.

You will need to ask yourself several questions
One of them being
Exactly what is it that you want from a solar system?

A few things you might want to consider

Hi,

The hard facts are, that an installer has to make money. My system (four panels and a controller), using a factory pre-wire took 8 hours with an installer and a "gopher".

If the seller buys a panel, he marks it up 50%. He *might* get a better deal on the panels than us buying retail--but if he pays $1.00 per watt, he will sell it at $2.00 per watt. The same is true of all the other materials that will be needed.

Add all these costs together, and I think you may find that it costs at least three times more for a "professional" installation than doing it yourself.

Unless you understand what is required for a good installation and insist on it, you may be disappointed with the results.

RJsfishin wrote:
In my book, you have 3 choices.
1) is to read and learn all you can, then decide who/what you're gonna believe, then decide what you want, and how you want it, then go into a place and whip it on them. If they give you any guff, leave. (and good luck finding one that will do it your way)

2) Do most of the above, then do it yourself. (by far the best of all 3)

3) Drive into a place and tell them you want "X" amount of watts installed, and if the price is right, and it works reasonably well, don't look back.

/\ This... without a doubt. Take your time, read here, determine your usage rate, pad it a little to play it safe, and do #2 yourself. You won't regret it.

A suggestion... Over wire your rig with heavier gauge wire, and pull it just once. That way, if you cut it a little tight on Amps produced from your original solar panel set up, you can add more without the wiring being a snafu in the event you decide to upgrade. Measure twice, and cut once.

Charging your deep cycle battery is a little like running a business, you do need to check in from time to time, follow up, and measure the vital signs on a daily basis, to make sure all is well. Engineers and tinkerers love this stuff, set it and forget it types don't, and are better off buying and installing excess capacity in their solar panels, and hoping for the best. YMMV.

Almot wrote:
Btw, OP - neither AM Solar nor Arizona WindSun are installers.

AM Solar IS an installer. They installed my system.

OP http://www.rvsolarconnection.com/ is an installer in Denver. Develop your system design and see if they will execute it to your satisfaction.