My 3 Biggest Regrets After 6 Years of Solar

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Having solar panels and a home solar system is awesome but these are my 3 biggest regrets, now that I've had solar power for over six years. #solar #solarpower #diy
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КОМЕНТАРІ: 440

@mr.growngamer1369 Рік тому

Nils, LOVE not only your channel and your videos… But your transparency, and detailed explanations. Thank you for existing. Keep up the grind!✊🏾 You are much appreciated.

@ryancook2105 Рік тому

The irony of the shirt is gold

@xNecromancerxxx 11 місяців тому

I came here to say this! 😂😂😂

@MrZ28cowboy 9 місяців тому

Lmao, true

@JMoney-ne3to Місяць тому

Lol, YES!!!

@akinoshimo Рік тому

Even if one does research and selects a company in business for 15+ years with a large customer base (both commercial and residential), the company can go out of business despite the best research and lengthy history. Example is Sullivan Solar in Southern California. They installed megawatt systems on Petco Ball park, UCSD campus, company executives who live in Rancho Santa Fe, and myself included. Now businesses and thousands of residential customers are without solar system service support. Dozen's more paid money and never got their systems installed (now lawsuits are pending). Just be careful who installs your system and perhaps consider backup support choices if they go belly-up.

@vcom Місяць тому

There are high chances Tesla going bankrupt looking at what musk is doing…

@rroberts2023 Місяць тому

Exactly. Any reputable company can go under for a number of behind the scenes reasons, regardless how good the company brand or item was at the time of purchase. That's the risk you have to take as a consumer.

@joel4210 Рік тому

I just finished doing a Self Install for a 6k system for $11k. It was 16 panels and 16 enphase micros. Definitely a great way to save $6k to $9k

@joel4210 Рік тому

@J San Diego just got the most rain it’s had in a while, zero issues. We actually just went into the attic because I’m building another unit in that property and looked good. Installing a 2kwh system for the ADU.

@jeffjames1869 Рік тому

What product did you select for DIY installation

@joel4210 Рік тому

@@jeffjames1869 Hyundai panels and IronRidge mounts

@learn2farm509 8 місяців тому

That seems outrageous but panels no lower than a dollar a watt usually closer to two... An then accessories yep... 6kw ... Lot of power . We have purchased an working on install 1.6kw with capacity at all points to easily double the array if needed. Don't at the moment bc we are still developing so lights power tool power is about all that is needed.. but for the two of us.. on a homestead I doubt we will ever the full 3.2kw system... As long as we keep some battery headroom.

@jeremycrisp4488 9 місяців тому

I had a warning from enphase saying my production was low. Went outside and saw several panels had a brown sheen from a dirt rain we had the night before. Hosed them off pretty well and that day I had peak production.

@psa110 Рік тому

Wow. What great tips based on your experience, Nils. Exactly what one needs to hear before embarking on such a project. This is why I love UKposts. There are people like you who take the time to help others by making videos with wisdom and instruction that only come from experience. Thanks. BTW, no, not in the market for solar right now. Too many trees (which do help keep the house cooler in the summer by blocking extended sun on the roof).

@dabbbles 9 місяців тому

er-r-r-r.. You DO realise that solar-panels do NOT need to be mounted on a roof? There are umpteen alternatives.

@psa110 9 місяців тому

@@dabbbles I don't get your point. I did not mention anything about the roof being the only way to install solar panels. I've seen the solar panel farms with them on the ground. I would think most people in homes would prefer a roof to having a yard full of panels. BTW, on the ground is a second way; I'd be interested in hearing about a few of the other upteen alternatives you mentioned.

@dabbbles 9 місяців тому

@@psa110 No you didn't say the roof wasn't the ONLY PLACE to site panels. BUT you DID say you weren't in the market (for solar, due to ) "Too many trees .....blocking extended sun on the roof).

@moshead121 Рік тому

I can agree with your statements, I've had Solar on my home since 2014. I went with a local company (who is still around) and I'm glad I did. My customer service has been great, a relative who went with a big company hasn't had a good experience. They connected the inverter to report online, and monitored for 2yrs. When we noticed a drop in production last year, they hopped on and checked. Came over the next day and replaced a fuse on the roof. As far as expanding your system, if your string inverter isn't maxed out just add to it until it is.

@grantbaumetz7514 Рік тому

was this with Freedom Forever?

@tinakinney2597 7 місяців тому

Who do you have and are they still around? And around how much did you pay for yours?

@gojeffgordon24 7 місяців тому

I would recommend a system with some panel level insight. I have SolarEdge and I like that you can see each panels output in the app so you would have an idea if one panel had an issue. A smaller system isn't always a bad thing as I would rather have that and be able to afford it vs no solar at all.

@Celebatar Рік тому

You make some great points. I've had solar for nine years and since there are no moving parts folks tend to think it just keeps working with no "check ups". The company I purchased from is still around but they don't do anything after the sale nor do the electricians that performed the install (install was contracted out). Luckily I had a monitoring system installed and could see my generation drop over the years though I didn't know who to call. I have learned the following: Find reputable, bonafide installers for tear down and reinstall (I had to get my shingles replaced after hail damage) and keep tree branches trimmed back so squirrels cannot find a way up to chew the cabling. I had chewed cables, blown fuses and untrained electricians that didn't crimp the cables correctly on reinstall. I'm finally back to production like I had on install but it has taken awhile. I think having a monitoring system is very important.

@NavyCopMA1 Рік тому

My company installed the Sense device so I can get a relative idea of what is generating and what is using power.

@aidesahagun3895 11 місяців тому

Hi, I'm new to solar. Where does one purchase a monitoring system? Do you suggest through the same installer?

@dabbbles 9 місяців тому

My problem is birdshit from the birds I feed daily. They sit on the top of the panels. Re. the 'monitoring system': only adding to things that can go wrong. I do a walk-around every day and check the solar output being fed through the regulators which will give you a good idea about what's going in AND coming out on it's way to the battery-bank. A couple of times a week I also check the capacity held in the batteries. (Takes 10 minutes.) New panels these days should come with a 25-year warranty, and if they drop off too quickly get back to the manufacturer/vendor. (I tend to buy used panels for 10cents or less per rated Watt (new panels should cost no more than about 30 centpW.) and find that properly treated they more or less live up to their 25-year-design warranty. The first panels I installed in 1980 are still functioning at 80/85% of rating at a friend's place up in the mountains.: Google up: vimeo.com/109995031 vimeo.com/109995031

@melrobinson6919 9 місяців тому

@@aidesahagun3895 My 9.3kw system uses Enphase components and comes with a free monitoring app I have on my phone and tablet. It is also available via a website, so I pull it up on my laptop. The app tells you all you need to know: how much each panel is producing, by the day, the month, the year and lifetime. It also alerts of any errors in the system.

@dabbbles 9 місяців тому

@@NavyCopMA1 A $5 multimeter does the same thing.😃

@reydelsanchez Рік тому

Thank you for making this video...had about 7 reps trying so hard to sell me solar panels...I'm a DIY and very savvy or I like to learn to others👍

@thesolarenergychannel Рік тому

DIY might be cheaper, but there are some pitfalls to be aware of. This video highlights some of them. ukposts.info/have/v-deo/sIlzfZykr3qYpY0.html

@humbughumbughumbug Рік тому

This is interesting... Because the capacity warning is usually about not getting a system that's too large! That always struck me as odd, but what you said made more sense. There's always going to be an increase of usage as technology progresses.

@melrobinson6919 9 місяців тому

Think getting an EV...

@IL_Bgentyl 6 місяців тому

Typically usage goes down. Most systems are powered by low volt cat6A for instance.

@JoeL-zx2tl Рік тому

I’ve had solar and solar hot water in my home since 2007. The company that put it in back then actually is still in business. I guess I’d be one of the lucky ones I have not had any problems with the system since the turning the switch in 2007. When I initially put in the system I left room for growth later down the road so I could add more panels. A few years later like eight years later I added more panels and maxed out my inverter. Back then they did not have micro inverters and yes it was probably first generation. In 15 years my system has lost 2 V on three of the four strings the fourth string is still the same voltage as the day we turn the switch on. I have been very pleased with the performance of the system and the performance of the solar hot water.

@meghanmontecristi141 Місяць тому

Hi, very concerned about healt issues. I have a 9 solar panels house and I'm reading it causes dirty electricity which causes bad health, inflammation, cancer etc. So do you know anything about it? I'm very interested and scared. Thanks.

@JoeL-zx2tl Місяць тому

7 years later I really don’t think you have to worry about. The electricity in your home is and has always been producing what you call dirty electricity. I don’t think there is enough there to hurt you. I have been around for many years and it has not affected me yet. What you read on the internet take it with a grain of salt

@deanwilliams433 Місяць тому

@@meghanmontecristi141 please avoid reading "alternative medicine" crap.

@ricksherman34 Рік тому

Enphase systems will allow you to monitor the daily output. If you spot something anomalous in the data you can use this as a trigger to inspect.

@pcgodusa 8 місяців тому

Thanks for the heads up. After watching your video and others with the horrors of trying to get homeowners insurance, low home resale values, and the obvious forced child labor for panel creation and battery construction, we will not be installing these. We had three homes in our neighborhood take them down, and re-roof their homes because it just wasn't worth the hassle. Once again, thanks for the additional info we didn't even think about.

@dontbanmebrodontbanme5403 Рік тому

After seeing the issues others have had getting solar installed and me being a very handy person, I've long drawn the conclusion that when I do solar, I'm going to do it myself. I want to understand how the system works inside and out so when something breaks, I can fix it myself. I've seen way too many horror stories of people not getting the full power from their panels because they were sold an inverter that was too small and not told until they asked, hey, why am I not getting the full power that my panels generate?

@dabbbles 9 місяців тому

I'll ignore your misapproach, and simply point out that the 'full-power' that's available does NOT come from the panels. It comes from the BATTERIES. And what you can/can't get out of the batteries depends on half-a-dozen considerations that have not so much to do with 'horror-stories' as it does with human stupidity. ONCE AGAIN: all you need is about five minutes of 'instruction'. And half a brain. I can't think of ANY modern-tech applications that are simpler than a solar-system. As the olde saying goes: If all else fails, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!

@cryengine_x 9 місяців тому

@@dabbbles its insane the left has forced us to use such backwards toxic technology as lithium batteries in 2023 smh. clean coal power would cost 2c a kwh at most without the left. there is no need for any of this utter unbelievably inefficient and FUGGGGLYYY nonsense. but the law says you must, now.

@beattheswissable Рік тому

Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Nils!

@kabvorka Рік тому

Your 7.65kw system can definitely be expanded on your existing inverter. You can probably put 2-3 more kw of solar panels on the roof without having too much clipping. Make sure you balance out the power and dont overload any of your DC inputs (those inverters want < 600v per MPPT). There's some good 3rd party monitoring systems egauge is one of them, takes some setting up tho. Sorry about your screen, I would've recommended building a cover for it to keep it out of the sunlight

@dabbbles 9 місяців тому

??????????????????? MORE expertless 'experts'. The size of your solar system (number of panels) has NOTHING to do with inverter output. Where these nitwits are spruiking about 'inverters' they more often than not mean 'Regulators'. Regulators are related to how much power the panels can produce (ie goes into your system); ALL that 'inverters' do is work with how much power you can draw OUT of your system as a different voltage. ie. Regulators determine how much power your solar-panels (the number of panels is irrelevant!) is allowed to produce and push into your storage (usually battery) setup without destroying it. The panels and regulator controls the 'power-in' side of your system and operate ONLY on DC power, and usually 12 or 24 volts though other voltages are can be employed. The 'Inverter' is connected to the 'power out' side of your storage system and its ONLY task is to convert DCV into ACV, and the 'size' of your inverter determines how much AC power you can DRAW OUT of your storage (batteries), and hence how much power you can use in your household AC equipment. An inverter has NOTHING to do with your panels, number of /panel-output. And in fact there are plenty of people who operate their equipment (and whole house) on DC who never use an inverter at all. BUT every system (except very small ones) needs a REGULATOR to protect their battery-bank from overcharging and collapsing. MY house runs mainly on DC so NO inverter is required. The few small things I run on AC circuits are easily provided for with a 300W inverter.

@jimsauber9252 Рік тому

Thanks for a great walkthrough. These are excellent comments.

@FranLu-qs2xv 8 місяців тому

Wow this was informative and you did a great job educating us, talking to us and speaking well! THANK YOU! I am overwhelmed with how to do this correctly, but I want to try. My research may take a long time, but.. Is there a place we can send questions to solar experts? I am a beginner and I don't have a brother to help AND I'm a Luddite. I've looked into the Jackery 1000 from watching off grid self sufficiency people, but that is small beans I know. I am in a mid size city suburb, I don't have tons to spend and I can't get on the roof to clean the panels when dusty. Anyway-thank you.

@RKDriver Рік тому

I did my system last year with Momentum Solar. They did a solid job, used state of the art panels and microinverters. Their sales rep did a solid job in calculating how many we'd need and never tried to upsell me more. After a year, the system has performed well and when the sun is out (most of the time here in central TX), the system is able to provide all of the home's power needs even when using AC and other devices. When the weather is cooler, I'm selling back a lot of my electricity to our provider and keeping those bills low.

@reydelsanchez Рік тому

Central Texas? Lord I had over 7 reps knock on my door trying to sell me solar panels...25K to 29K installed...thinking of doing this myself.

@johnfitbyfaithnet Рік тому

Do you mind sharing the details of your system? I'm also in Central Texas

@RKDriver Рік тому

@@johnfitbyfaithnet 2300 sq ft single story home. 18 - Hanwha 430w Q cell panels each with its own microinverter. I have a perfect southern roof for all of them which makes a huge difference. Roof location, real estate and pitch are a big factor. The whole system installed was just under $23,000. I sell back my excess to MP2 Energy which is now Shell Energy. There's just a handful of Texas electric providers who offer solar panel owners credit for their surplus energy. I signed a 5 year contract with them.

@ba3y Рік тому

@@reydelsanchez I used to be in solar and am considering going back into it, how big is your house bro? 25k-29k seems off

@Winterstick549 Рік тому

Did it come with a phone app so you can check it's efficiency?

@kevinmatthews2620 Рік тому

just a small comment if you moved your array in the background to the left (as i see it) maybe 2 feet you would be able to get 2 more panels on,avoiding your 2 roof vents, providing of course that you have room on the far left that is (out of camera shot), as for the inverter on the wall contact SMA direct and quote the serial number of the unit you might be pleasantly surprised in there response after all it is just a phone call or email, what do you have to lose versus what you can gain ??

@The2wanderers 8 місяців тому

When you said "reputable," what you really meant was "big." Big companies have their own risks, and other videos on UKposts cover the corners that Tesla cuts in order to keep their prices down.

@psbucs Рік тому

thanks for the honesty and the information, I'm looking into getting solar installed.

@grantbaumetz7514 Рік тому

How is that going for you psbucs2318?

@fearthesmeag Місяць тому

Thanks man, this is really helpful. Once sales person came round and did an excellent sales pitch, slatting a few other brands in his pitch i.e. Tesla. I will certainly be doing my home-work with other brands! Love the t-shirt, my mrs keeps telling me "measure twice - cut once"

@Suburp212 11 місяців тому

Any electrical company should be able to do an upgrade on the current system. No problems. I installed all my system myself and then had an electrician verify the install. Just as you recommend. Super cheap and i know how it was installed. S9lar PV is like Lego, really.

@toby9999 10 місяців тому

That sounds super scary?

@coreymac2381 Рік тому

Thanks for the information. I have been looking into solar.

@Stubones999 9 місяців тому

If it were my house, I would have had the roof penetrations for vents routed to another roof surface so your solar panel bank can not be shadowed by a vent stack. That meets code and does require a new roof, usually. I would always put on a new roof first, since it costs LOTS to have them removing the panels and mounts before they rip off the old roof, then replace the panels and mounts. Micro Inverters are good if you're going to consume the power as it is being generated. If you expect to put any power from the panels into batteries, you have a lot of loss. Micro Inverters save a lot in line costs, since AC power is at a higher voltage than DC coming off the panel directly. DC needs large gauge wires for longer runs than AC power, so that can cost lots. Another drawback of a Micro Inverter system is that most of your system will be AC and either need a AC qualified person doing the work / repairs on the system. They have an advantage though, that a single failure will only lower your output until the Micro Inverter is replaced. So, instead of losing the system like a string inverter, a micro inverter simply has reduced capacity. Move your roof vents to the shaded side before you do anything, so you can have more solar on the roof and fewer shadows.

@ridemfast7625 7 місяців тому

Solar panel failures are 5 in 10,000. ie ,05%, making the sales gimmick to monitor each panel silly. micro inverters require more wiring than string inverters. Micro inverters are limited on panel size int terms of watts limiting panel choices and requiring more smaller panels increasing costs for panels, racking, wire, labor... and requiring more micro inverters. And not all jurisdictions require an electrician to install solar. I just finished my own permitted solar install and this is in communist California.

@uminhtetoo 4 місяці тому

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.

@SolarFarmer Рік тому

All true. I did my installs myself and saved a lot of money. My ROI is typically less than two years.

@SharpestBulbs 8 місяців тому

I would have done it myself also and used USED panels. $80 vs $800 for new and the panels are always in amazing condition.

@1mw4tch1ng Рік тому

Remember Tesla outsources installation to sub-contractors what I heard from people who went with Tesla bunch of issues, delays, some permitting issues, etc. The other reason you want to make sure how good and how well they respond to a request to service your system after it was installed months ago. For most companies, even ones been in service for a long time their priority is sales first and service is last on their priorities. This could be a problem when your solar system is having issues or not working in the middle of a heat wave in the summertime.

@KarenCLang-sw3ts 11 місяців тому

It's also worth mentioning about how !!! hard and costly it is to get them down and back up again if you need a new roof! I'm looking at that after 17 years of solar and now there is the dilemma of remove and reinstall vs buy newer, with a good portion of the life (maybe 8-13 years left on them?) remaining on the original system. not to mention the cost of replacing an invertor every 9 to 15 years, who knew that back when I began this in 2006. Nevertheless I love having the solar even though there have been those 2 worries. my new invertor sends reports not to me, but to the company, and the company is still in business hallelujah! I would have liked having the reports come to me but it wasn't available for this retrofit.

@dabbbles 9 місяців тому

Afterafterthought. If you lift your panels and SLIDE them to another section of the roof, repair the section of roof they WERE on, and then SLIDE them back, and fix them in place before you fix that 'other' section of roof, it'd save you a lot of heavy/difficult lifting.

@JordanCook1 Рік тому

I would love to learn about adding panels, and what that might include. How does that impact your net-metering agreement with RMP? Do you need another permit? What else is there to consider? Like you, we have since added some power-hogs to our home, and are paying a higher power bill. If it makes sense, in would love to add more to my system too.

@thesolarenergychannel Рік тому

Check out this video for some info on adding panels to an existing system - ukposts.info/have/v-deo/koCZqYSIeqmjmac.html

@dabbbles 9 місяців тому

First consideration, obviously, is DIY. Extremely simple and pretty-much foolproof once you learn about three basics. My FIRST consideration would ALWAYS be 'Stand-Alone'. Build and run your own system(s) without others' involvement. . There is NOTHING about installation that's more complicated than joining wires/cables together and incorporating a couple of other components which are available very cheaply and come with (wire-connecting) installation-instructions.

@jazzfan7491 5 місяців тому

Re the sizing, I feel like panels are getting more efficient quickly. Makes some sense to expand down the line.

@Murpie2u Рік тому

I know someone that installed Tesla and it’s been a nightmare with service!!!

@coralofyt 3 місяці тому

Tesla solar installations have caught fire in the past, there continues to be a real threat of fires due to serial defects in the Tesla installations. The consumers have not been adequately informed of the risks.

@amaraamar9031 8 місяців тому

This panel can put out close to 100 watts ukposts.infoUgkxOqI2yqX0XVrhR2BMJciTWrHJpG8FhJyg when positioned in the appropriate southernly direction, tilted to the optimal angle for your latitude/date, and connected to a higher capacity device than a 500. The built in kickstand angle is a fixed at 50 degrees. Up to 20% more power can be output by selecting the actual date and latitude optimal angle.The 500 will only input 3.5A maximum at 18 volts for 63 watts. Some of the excess power from the panel can be fed into a USB battery bank, charged directly from the panel while also charging a 500. This will allow you to harvest as much as 63 + 15 = 78 watts.If this panel is used to charge a larger device, such as the power station, then its full output potential can be realized.

@gary8397 Рік тому

Don't go with the cheapest installer. If you do they will cut corners that will come back to bite you in a few years. Installers need to make a living. One thing I always do with any tradespeople is look at the work van. If it looks like it's never been washed the tyres look almost bald this is a good indication of the type of person you are dealing with. Make sure the person giving the quote is the INSTALLER, not some management company that is going to take all the profits leaving the tradesperson who is doing the job with no profit to cover problems after the installation.

@TheGuitarGod90 11 місяців тому

That Grizzl-e car charger is Canadian ❤️❤️❤️. I’ve installed them for customers. Best configuration for multiple vehicles I could find.

@MrWhoadudewhoa 10 місяців тому

Subscribed! Thank dude. Great help.

@AS-ch4ty 11 днів тому

I had most of these issues where the company that installed the system went BK, no support and the company that did the inverter went from 2G to 5G so I lost connection on my phone which I just got my roof done and they are going to upgrade it for me. Also I think we have way to many panels but the past owners where going to put a pool in so they got 30 installed at least up to code with permit. We took over the financing for the system when we bought the house. I wish I could have started fresh on my own.

@thespiceislife2082 Рік тому

Even if the company is still in business, they may not offer upgrade options. I’m dealing with this issue with SunPower.

@NavyCopMA1 Рік тому

I've had solar for almost a year now and definitely seeing the benefits but never thought about discussing with the company about the options of upgrading the panels with newer technology (such as the panels that, while still in testing and development, can generate at night as well). Will need to call my company that is, thankfully, still in business.

@REALBanannaman Рік тому

Solar at night? Stop being a painful customer. Its not happening

@NavyCopMA1 Рік тому

@@REALBanannaman Hey, it's something Stanford scientists are looking into... You never know...

@diavalus Рік тому

@@NavyCopMA1 that was a clickbait, there are no solar panels producing real power at night

@NavyCopMA1 Рік тому

@@diavalus Actually there is research being done to use radiant infrared to generate some electrical power. Not as powerful as standard daytime solar, but interesting results. Australian researchers have already published a paper on it.

@diavalus Рік тому

@@NavyCopMA1 I read the paper, and as I said, they do no produce any useful power at night.

@callmebigpapa Рік тому

#3 is an edge case most people dont have 1 3d printer, hardly any have many power tools and very few mine crypto in the past and going forward almost none, nor are they UKpostsrs.If at all possible dont mount panels on your roof.....great alternatives are solar carports, gazebos, sheds. That said great video!

@benjones8977 Рік тому

I don’t trust in this economy that’s melting down, that most of these companies will even be in business in the next five years! I learned to do it myself, but I was retired at the time. I didn’t have a grid tied system, it’s totally off grid. I did have a electrician come in to hook it up to my main panel, but everything else I did myself. It’s a good thing I did get an electrician, he had to rebuild the whole thing because it was a fire hazard. I wouldn’t have known that if I hadn’t contacted one. Apparently my system was so old and had too many wires going all over with no connections. Looks like some amateur did it.

@cliff7634 9 місяців тому

By updating your panels and inverters you can change your 255 panels to 400+ panels with the micro inverters and almost double your power. But you may have done that already for a year has gone by.

@PoeticJusticeSC Рік тому

The first issue you described is exactly what happened to us. We did a self install with guidance from the company we bought our panels from. They were great and it all went well. But five years later they are out of business, and one micro-inverter failed. It's under warranty, and the manufacturer will provide a new one, but they won't deliver it to me. Only to a registered installer. We're having problems finding an installer in our area that will take delivery, even if we paid them to install it (a shame since I could do it myself and it will take years for one panel to produce enough electricity to cover the cost well have to pay for this).

@grantbaumetz7514 Рік тому

Too bad there isn't a company, or a solar rep, you can talk to to help you with this... Oh wait, maybe I could help. I've been studying solar and companies extensively for 5 months now. I'd like to offer my advice if you're seeking help and just maybe i can guide you in the right direction, That is why I am here because i want the solar industry to be doing the RIGHT things. If you'd like to see if there could be help for you then what state are you in so i can see if there is a company near you.

@PoeticJusticeSC Рік тому

@@grantbaumetz7514 Thank you for the offer. I was fortunate enough to find another company willing to take us on and replace our microinverter under warranty for free. So at this point no more help is needed.

@dabbbles 9 місяців тому

@@PoeticJusticeSC And the lesson is: READ THE FINEPRINT!,

@melrobinson6919 9 місяців тому

Really (on the company not sending the MI to you). My system has Enphase MIs and they have sent me two MIs under warranty that I swapped out myself. Coudn't be simpler to do as long as you're OK working on your roof.

@PoeticJusticeSC 9 місяців тому

@@melrobinson6919 We found another installer that stepped up and accepted the MI fire us and dropped it off at our house for free. And as you said, replacing MIs is super simple so we've done that. We've had a second MI fall and replaced it under warranty as well.

@Boersenwunder- 2 місяці тому

Hey, have you ever heard of the Shoals Plug and Play cables/system? Can anyone judge whether it makes sense to use it? Although they seem to be a bit more expensive, they are extremely easy to use and no professional installer is required. Installation is also said to be very quick and more energy efficient than conventional cables. What do you think about that???

@jamesalles139 9 місяців тому

what kind of fuel does your water heater use?

@gregsimpson621 11 місяців тому

I know I'm 10 months late but this is an excellent video. Telsa is good. And like you said, check everyone out as so many major manufacturers have discontinued their business or gone belly up. LG got out of the solar panels just as the did on cellphones. Are super strong yet in appliances and televisions. The technology is rapidly changing so be aware of that. Thank you for your comments.

@dtrain5404 9 днів тому

tesla sucks they sell crappy string inverters and do ugly conduit work lmao literally all the big companies he mentioned are terrible momentum, sunrun etc. Dude is on here just giving bad advice to people 😂

@billrusk6354 Рік тому

Good to know. Never thought about the customer service years later

@billrusk6354 Рік тому

@UC-CIVjzMVmASGz0m6VUDYgA I have no idea what you mean by telegram . So this is where I can reply

@nelsonhochberg5182 5 місяців тому

I had a 4KW solar system installed by Solar City, now Tesla. Now I would like to expand the system but Tesla no longer installs solar systems in our area (Flagstaff, AZ) so they will not expand the system. So going with a large reputable company is no guarantee that they will be around for you later. I am probably going to install the new system myself.

@alexanderprelusky7962 4 місяці тому

I’ve worked for a ton of large companies doing solar installs and they can be just a crappy. Maintenance can be done by any company, these systems like solar edge and enphase all have apps that we can get into and see everything going on from amounts being produced to individual panel efficiency, and then we just backtrack the previous work for our own knowledge or we do it over again with the same panels and microinverters just new material and possibly new roof if needed.

@FlatToRentUK Місяць тому

In terms of sizing I went straight for the maximum number of panels my house was allowed. UK Power Networks said that was 9KWp so we got 23 panels totalling 8.9KWp. I estimate we could have had another 11 panels on the roof (it's a big roof although we're still only talking about the side that faces east) but there you go. That might not have been efficient anyway as the inverter is 6KWh so with more panels the clipping would have been increased. Hopefully in future we'll be able to add more.

@cannon3267 9 місяців тому

better check with your insurance company before you install. some insurance companies, especially in flordia and caluifornia, are dropping coverage for solar panels. a few will drop your entire policy, especially if you opt for lithium batteries.

@frankorienter8153 Рік тому

Maybe I missed it, you showed the evacuation process for non-pre-charged lines, but you didn't show how you charged the system with refrigerant and used your gauges to see if you added enough refrigerant. I live in NY, and you must be certified to buy R410 or any refrigerant. So did you get a certified HVAC tech to fill your system, or did you do it but not show it on the video? And what did that cost? I want to put a unit in my attic office, and I'd need at least 40' of line to reach both units.

@j2151law Рік тому

Great vid!!!

@jamesbuchanan3439 Рік тому

The amount of solar you put on your home is not necessarily unlimited, irrespective of space. For instance, the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers incentives to solar customers through the NY-Sun Incentive Program. The program does not allow a system to be sized more than 110% of your previous 12 months usage history (per electric meter) to qualify… And more generally, in many districts 5kW is the upper limit unless special permission is attained. And 25 kW is usually the hard upper limit per net-metering meter.

@imachicote Рік тому

My man said he learned his lesson and still recommended sunrun and blue raven and Tesla lol

@behindthebuild8016 2 місяці тому

Agreed 🤣🤣

@benkanobe7500 4 місяці тому

I could not find any micro inverters at the wholesale place you recommended. Do you have a good source for and brand name for micro inverters?

@dewholdingsllc1050 Рік тому

Yes saves a lot of money for a quality system DYI. I would install panels with micro inverters and not a string system with central inverter. How long are you going to remain in your house?

@LRN2DIY Рік тому

We hope to be here several more years but it’s hard to really know for sure.

@daboak3018 4 місяці тому

I am an Electrician. I install my own system at 6kw at 1.10$ per watt. I am currently installing at 255 million dollar electrical install non-solar, I am 65 and know two or three things. I have produced 19 megawatt = about 2000$ in 1.9 years. This ia about 3 year payoff. I use about 700$ a month in Texas, about 12kw per hour. I would need about 48kw to either bank to the grid or batteries. This would be a large area of panels. At 6kw I am only getting about 20-27KW on average at 5 hours per day. The panels used to cost 7.5$ per watt, when I bought them they were 1$ per watt and now they are .50Cents a watt. Your costs are 40% for panels and equipment, 20% for mounting hardware and 40% for labor and profit by installer. If you do it yourself you can really get it done cheaper. Most of the installation groups set you up for 20 year contract. I am set for 3-5 year payoff. With a 20 year contract it really makes you think hard WHY? The cost of power is set to have a crisis in the USA in 2 years. If you consume 100 to 300$ a month then it would be time to get it installed at the 3-5 year price point. If you want to get there real answer I will give it to you. linkedin.com/in/david-barnaby-56a4648, linkedin.com/in/oak-service-group-8883b627b

@azmike3572 Рік тому

Wondering if it's really possible to run all the high-amp appliances (refrigerators, washers, driers, hair driers, etc.) AND central air conditioning or heat at almost the same time on solar alone, especially in hot areas such as Phoenix, where air conditioning is run 24/7 in the hottest months.

@anonz975 9 місяців тому

Look at your daily power usage from the power company. Depending on your area of the country the panels can produce 3 to 4 times their rating per day (ie a 5Kw system in a sunny Southern state can produce 20Kw a day).

@GlennNDavis Рік тому

I So Appreciate your work. Have you ever considered PVT Aka Hybrid solar that recovers heat from the solar cells to improve their efficiency while heating something else ?

@dabbbles 9 місяців тому

New stuff keeps appearing, but time was that the hotter the panels became the more inefficient they became. Worth checking.

@abc123abc97 Рік тому

I has tesla installed and customer services horrible and im stuck with them for 10 years. Yea reputable in the vehicle market but solar . Its horrible , and it took almost a year to finally get installed .

@Suburp212 11 місяців тому

Always install the maximum area on the roof. You will thank your forethought later, always.

@darwinjina Рік тому

Not discussed is that the capacity is not equal to what would be generated. Given sun position, roof angle, seasons, weather, etc, you may find that you average about 70% of extended period of time.

@alexnissley573 Рік тому

Having no communication is rough. Fortunately those old sunny boy TLs run like tanks, if you want communications you will need to buy a comms card that is not made anymore, you maybe able to find one online

@zimshah 24 дні тому

Thank you very much for this info. 👍👍👍

@funstuffonthenet5573 8 місяців тому

If you can sell back to the grid I thought it would make more sense to forgoe a battery and build a bigger solar panel system

@arishem555 Рік тому

I am driving Uber and time to time talking to people about solar. They have no clue what it is and whenever I'm saying them that the Tesla is only the option cause of warranty and that they can match price, people are still installing solar with some sketchy companies.

@reasonncube6331 2 місяці тому

Your face says all that you are a true Teacher, good man

@nonelost1 Рік тому

I remember back in the ‘80s that home satellite dishes were HUGE. And now they are so much smaller. So I imagine not too many years from now, they will have solar panel set ups that will not have to take up your entire roof. Perhaps they will be no larger than a window to power an average size house.

@rhensontollhouse Рік тому

Problem in California is the power bill is, and will continue, to rise far faster than inflation. It does not take many years to pay back capital costs, especially if you are DIY.

@cifey 8 місяців тому

you'd probably need a magnifying glass from space to beam a laser at your house to supply enough energy for that.

@fishhuntadventure 4 місяці тому

5:40 I believe SMA is still a company in business; you should be able to source parts easily enough.

@bobsteinfinkel Місяць тому

very interesting. thanks for posting.

@HankScorpio1982 Рік тому

You may be able to use the headlight defogger on that fogged-over display

@LRN2DIY Рік тому

I was wondering the same thing - I'll definitely have to try it.

@xanataph Рік тому

@@LRN2DIY Chances are it's the actual LCD screen that is stuffed. LCD screens don't like Sun shining on them. If you do end up replacing the screen and leaving the inverter where it is, arrange some kind of light cover to keep the Sun out of it.

@hmurchison8123 Рік тому

People are looking at this incorrectly. Going Solar is just one piece of the energy gambit. I question how serious our country is about Climate change when they recommend superfluous stuff like Smart Thermostats. The first thing that people should do is capture ALL home electrical consumption through a meter like a Sense, Power-X, Emporia et al. You need to understand the seasonality of your energy use. They sizing a system becomes balancing act. Your two largest energy consumers are typically HVAC and Water Heaters. If your HVAC or Water Heater might be replaced within the next 5 years a person would be wise to calculate what a high efficiency HVAC or Hybrid Heat Pump water heater would save in electricity and factor that future potential in their solar sizing. Insulate your attic if you can, replace inefficient windows. Today in solar, string inverters are passe. New systems should go with Micro Inverters. Bringing AC down from the roof or through a trench is easy with 12 AWG wire is simple. Drop it into a combiner then to a Hybrid Inverter and possibly storage closed loop with the BMS and Bobs your Uncle. If your roof is not crazy in pitch it's DIY'able.

@RB-lt8kt Рік тому

The US seems to appreciate people installing solar as they pay a good feed in tariff. In the UK we get about 4 pence to 15 pence per kW and our average cost to buy from the suppliers per kW is 40 pence (1 pence is about 1.22 cents US). Tesla use contractors but at least you can complain to Tesla if you have problems. Doing solar yourself can be dangerous due to large amounts of power from solar array, battery storage and the supply from your grid system. There is also the danger of falling or slipping off a roof (single storey UK houses are 3.3 metres floor to the guttering, 7 metres for a 2 storey and 10 for a town house / 3 storey). The roof ridge is a lot higher with UK roofs pitched at about 40 degrees. Weight consideration of the solar array for loading on the roof needs a structural engineer and you have to add the weight of the batteries if you put them in the attic. Sixteen panels will add 350 kilograms (772 lbs) to your roof so with rails etc it could be adding half a metric tonne. Fire and smoke sensors also need to be put in the attic.

@thedcp 11 місяців тому

are you using a camera on a moving gimbal or are you doing that in post?

@LRN2DIY 11 місяців тому

I use the Edelkrone motion automation system. It’s a motorized controllable jib that kind of lets you do whatever you want. That way I can film by myself but still get nice movement. My setup is like this one: edelkrone.com/products/cinemove-4-axis-bundle

@DaveBoxBG Рік тому

Tesla has the best app and software also. I would go with them but they are not available in my area in Europe

@HrRezpatex 5 місяців тому

Sadly this crash very much with my support for small local companies. I do not want to live in a world where only gigantic multi-national companies can survive. And we all know how difficult it actually is to be able to talk with a person within this companies once you have bought their product, in case you dont know, try to talk with a actual person at Microsoft custom service. As a Norwegian it was more easy for me to talk with our prime minister then to get in contact with a person from Microsoft custom service. And yes, i know because i have tried both, and i have talked with our prime minister because of that, i have never been able to talk with a real person from Microsoft custom "service". I love small local companies for so many reasons, but if people think like the person in this video advice us to do, we will all end up with Microsoft companies that have absolutely no interest what so ever in their customers.

@gizmobowen Рік тому

I went wit a low cost installer, who luckily is still around but I won't be surprised if they go away like yours did. I think they did a fine job and were about 1/3 the cost of an established installer, so I'm happy with my decision. What I wish was better was interaction with the component manufacturers. They require you to go through the installer and that can be difficult. If they would allow direct connection with consumers, we could resolve our problems ourselves and not be reliant on the installers. I agree that after seeing how it's done, I would probably do it myself next time. This is especially true if it's a ground mount system. Thanks for the video.

@dabbbles 9 місяців тому

The First Law of Business is: It's MY money Ralph. If you can't provide what I want I''ll find some vendor who is happy to do business. That attitude applies across the board. (Woolworths loacally is pushing the 'cashless payment' thing. ALWAYS: It's YOUR money and THEY want it

@austinatencio7775 8 місяців тому

whats the shop called in utah so i can call them?

@paulk5735 Рік тому

Curious if you financed your solar panels for 25 years or paid cash? Thanks

@ronm6585 Рік тому

Thanks for sharing.

@jimpettegrew1913 9 місяців тому

Tesla solar, even if available in your state, may not do the work themselves. The subcontractor they use here in northern New Mexico has very poor online ratings and reviews. So really check ot who will do the work and what chances you have of getting any help after the installation.

@james10739 Рік тому

Ya if you have space which it looks like yuu do for at least like 4 more or whatever fits so you don't take up usable space and keeps some sun directly off your roof and then go with some ground mounted as needed

@josephunden6108 2 місяці тому

What is the name of the solar wharehouse in Utah that you mentioned?

@hundun5604 9 місяців тому

0:55 It sucks, but you couldn't know that. Even reputable companies can lead to such issues. Best is rental solar panels.

@brucejonsson3149 7 місяців тому

In going to all that trouble, why not a flush mount?

@TheGreenDevil21 6 місяців тому

How do we know any of them companies are reputable as this is relatively new to begin with so the company is new

@joeh4295 Рік тому

I'm working with a company here in PA called Sun Pulse solar. We called PA Power & Light to discuss everything the solar company told us. Everything checked out as in per PP&L, the solar company wasn't telling us fluff. I have learned Power Home Solar and Pink Solar are the same company and not reputable. We are going with a grid tied system with a ground based system. I live on a farm and have plenty of room for a ground based system.

@DanburyDK Рік тому

Are you purchasing the panels or is it going to be leased?

@DanburyDK Рік тому

Some things I’ve found out with my system. If I wanted it to be removed I would be charged $200. Per panel to have it removed. Also the amount “per kilowatt hour” will increase on mine one penny per year. And I am now being charged more for the watts from the sun than I would pay for the watts from the local electric company. Be sure to own your system and not pay for a lease.

@joeh4295 Рік тому

@@DanburyDK I will own everything. Good info, thanks for answering

@joeh4295 Рік тому

@@DanburyDK purchasing

@diydan30 Рік тому

Hey Joe, are you happy with your system? I also live in PA and am looking at putting in a 50kw ground mount. So I am curious about your experience.

@rcprod9631 Рік тому

Would a 10.24kWh battery backup system along with solar panels work well with my home? We want to run a 3 ton central ducted heat pump system, drilled well pump, fridge, freezer, electric hot water heater, some led lights, some outlets, and a microwave oven. Any input is appreciated. Thank You.

@emekandukwu8129 Рік тому

Depends how long you intend to run those appliances for. Multiply the run time(hrs) by the power rating of each appliance. Take for example a 55in tv, assuming it has a power rating of say 150W, multiply 150 by the number of hours the tv will be on each day for, let's say 10 hours. This will give 1500wh. Do that for each of ur appliances to get your daily energy requirement. Then you need to know how many peak sun hours you get in your area. Divide you total daily energy needs (wh) by number of psh to get size if your PV array

@JimCunningham-jr7qv 7 місяців тому

What about the Legion system ?

@thomthumbe 26 днів тому

I designed and built my own system. I purchased and installed all the individual components. I have zero desire to “sell” any unused power, thus it is a simple transfer switch going from one system to the other. I installed a 4KW UPS for critical needs like computers and such. I have solar panels, a wind generator all backed up with the proper batteries and finally a Tri-fuel generator. Finally, I have a power company 200 amp service just in case. I am my own customer service engineer!

@harveypaxton1232 5 місяців тому

Great video!

@BBRubyT Рік тому

Finding an electrician is nearly impossible for residential jobs. It took us 2 years to find someone to upgrade our electric. So make sure you have someone you KNOW will be available for you id you choose DIY

@adamhero459 8 місяців тому

There is one thing you forgot to mention. You need to check the cost of solar and compare to tot he potential savings for your particular location. In places where there is tons of sun for at least most the year and electricity prices are very big, solar makes tons of sense. In places where here is little sun and electricity is quite cheap, to makes little financial sense. I, at least for now, am the later. For solar where I love I would need to have the system for at 25 to 30 years to break. I’m all for the environment and love the idea of being off the grid(or at least as much as possible), but there is no way that this makes sense for me given the large up front cost.

@KevinCGleason Рік тому

There is no way to assure the continued existence of any company. The panels and microinverters have warranties from the manufacturers. IQ8+ has the monitoring function built-in. Microinverters are the way to go now.

@Lboogie23 11 місяців тому

Do we need a critter guard? I'm getting solar and battery backup!

@FracturedReality777 11 місяців тому

You will need one to keep the evil squirrels out. Make sure it's installed correctly. The hooks should be every six inches to avoid the mesh screen opening. At the corners, make sure some of the screen is installed over any holes. Try to use galvanized wire instead of UV resistant zip ties.