Replies

1. 
   GregGibson | Apr 19, 2009 05:28am | #1

   I've been looking at Northern.com - not sure how competitive they are, but they have a good selection. Their stuff's usually priced right.

   Greg

2. 
   Clewless1 | Apr 20, 2009 12:16am | #2

   I think I just recently priced Siemens or BP Solar for a project. Both have had good reputations in the industry.

3. 
   brucet9 | Apr 20, 2009 09:16am | #3

   I just saw Andalay AC panels (http://www.andalaysolar.com) being installed at our Habitat project in San Juan Capistrano. Project is being funded by Merrill Lynch, so I guess they have been pretty well vetted. Cost is about $1,000 per 175W AC panel.

   Panels with mini inverters are cheaper to install because there is no need for conduit to run high voltage dc and you can use Romex direct from solar arrays to the service panel.

   Panels with mini inverters are wired together in parallel, so if one gets shaded, dirty, or damaged, the output of the others is unaffected. DC arrays are wired in series, so one bad panel cuts down total output like one dead battery in a flashlight.

   Andalay panels are cheaper to install than others because there are no separate rails to set up and bonding is integral with the mechanical fasteners, so you don't have to spend time drilling and screwing ground lugs and stringing bare copper ground wires from panel to panel.

   At 6 hours per day and 20 cents per KWH, they would generate $6 per month, breaking even in about 13 years.

   BruceT
4. 
   LukeTaylor | May 22, 2019 12:06pm | #4

   I have already installed solar panels for a long time, and I want to say that it is very economical.