We’ve been running the house on mostly PV since I got the initial install done at the end of June. I ran some smaller loads from it throughout June while I was testing the equipment, but that was kind of ad-hoc.

Just now coming out of a heat wave that started last Monday, and most of the A/C usage has been from solar. Still running from the “temporary” transfer switch hookup, so I’m not yet taking advantage of the “hybrid” aspects of the inverter. That may be a while since I have to do some more prep work before I can start installing the new breaker box and moving circuits over to that.

I’ve also ordered the fourth rail and 5 more panels, so I should have this upgraded from a 3KW to a 4KW system sometime later in the week. Would have ordered those earlier, but I didn’t want to make the UPS guy deal with them when the heat index was 109 degrees lol. That, and I wouldn’t want to deal with them in that kind of heat, either.

It’s just nice seeing such significant returns this early in the process.

  • Iced Raktajino@startrek.websiteOPEnglish
    0·
    6 days ago
    • 2x 16 KWh LFP batteries and 10 KW hybrid inverter: $6,000 for the set/kit. Rounded up, includes taxes, delivery, and also $300 to pay a mover to move them from the street to my basement because they’re heavy AF lol.
    • 20x 200W PV panels: ~$2200 (averaged $110/panel, some a bit more, some less since I didn’t buy them at once)
    • Mounting Rails: $690 (one large kit and one small kit. All-inclusive with things like the cable clips, lag bolts, and grounding lugs, etc)
    • 2x 30ft 10 AWG MC4 Cables: $60

    Total cost for major components: $8,950

    I haven’t calculated the other misc components since I haven’t bought them yet. The inverter’s output is currently hooked into a manual generator transfer switch I got for free, but that’s just a temporary install so I can use it. That means I can’t feed utility power into the inverter yet to utilize it’s hybrid/load-sharing features and it’s just working in “off grid” mode for now.

    I’ll be spending a few more hundred dollars on a new breaker box, 60A and 20A wiring, breakers, etc to complete the install (which involves moving the circuits from my existing breaker box into a new one that’s better positioned).

    All DIY as far as labor goes, unless I happen to hit a point where the task exceeds my skills / comfort zone.

    It took me about 1 day per column of panels (bolting down two rails, attaching 5 panels, and wiring them) for the first two. Each column is 14 feet long and holds 5 panels. That was due to heat, rain, and an excess of caution since I wasn’t comfortable on the roof at all. The third column only took me a couple hours since I was more comfortable by that point. The 4th column of panels I’m installing later this week should be similar to the third.