The first array will be 11 or 12 panels, just depends on how degraded they are.
I ordered 7.3kw of used poly panels shipped to my work for $1,875, all 25 panels survived me forklifting them off the truck, loading them on my leafs trailer and driving down bumpy country roads.
When freight shipping buying 12 or 25 panels, costs almost the same to ship so when I order panels I getting a full pallet.
For the inverter I'm going to get it from the same guys, they have 400 used ABB made inverters of all sizes that they are just now starting to test. So I'm budgeting $600 for a used 3.8kw inverter.
The racking I'm using is 12 gauge super strut and 6 inch stand off mounts.
The standoffs are $290 for 30 of them, probably going to use all 30.
Then about $350 for super strut.
Also $40 for 100 flush panel hold downs, which I won't use all 100 of.
Most if not all the hardware comes from work. I get free partial boxes, mixed collections of stainless hardware, been focusing on getting all the 1/4, 5/16 and 3/8 nuts and bolts.
I have a whole mess of MC4 connectors, I buy partial rolls of wire still on the rolls from the scrap yard for pennies on the dollar compared to new and that's where most of the conduit came from too.
A/C disconnect switch, same story, used and got very cheap.
The grid tie in will cost around $500. So II guess I split up 500 dollars 4 ways for a rig made up of 3 more systems that will be 3 to 4kw each.
$900 for twelve 295 watt panels.
$700 for the racking and attaching
$600 for the inverter, maybe less.
$125 for this arrays portion of the grid hook up.
Total of $2,325, let's say $2,500 incase I forgot something.
I think $2,500 for a 3.5kw system is pretty good.
I hope to average about 17kwh per day through out the year. Which at 7 cents a kwh will pay back about $35 per month will be about a 71 month pay back.
I would say that's pretty good considering the average payback is 10 years to never.
Moving forward the only thing I don't like is the roof standoff mounting cost. Next array I will likely build my own out of stainless steel angle and stainless flat bar then tig weld them together.
I ordered 7.3kw of used poly panels shipped to my work for $1,875, all 25 panels survived me forklifting them off the truck, loading them on my leafs trailer and driving down bumpy country roads.
When freight shipping buying 12 or 25 panels, costs almost the same to ship so when I order panels I getting a full pallet.
For the inverter I'm going to get it from the same guys, they have 400 used ABB made inverters of all sizes that they are just now starting to test. So I'm budgeting $600 for a used 3.8kw inverter.
The racking I'm using is 12 gauge super strut and 6 inch stand off mounts.
The standoffs are $290 for 30 of them, probably going to use all 30.
Then about $350 for super strut.
Also $40 for 100 flush panel hold downs, which I won't use all 100 of.
Most if not all the hardware comes from work. I get free partial boxes, mixed collections of stainless hardware, been focusing on getting all the 1/4, 5/16 and 3/8 nuts and bolts.
I have a whole mess of MC4 connectors, I buy partial rolls of wire still on the rolls from the scrap yard for pennies on the dollar compared to new and that's where most of the conduit came from too.
A/C disconnect switch, same story, used and got very cheap.
The grid tie in will cost around $500. So II guess I split up 500 dollars 4 ways for a rig made up of 3 more systems that will be 3 to 4kw each.
$900 for twelve 295 watt panels.
$700 for the racking and attaching
$600 for the inverter, maybe less.
$125 for this arrays portion of the grid hook up.
Total of $2,325, let's say $2,500 incase I forgot something.
I think $2,500 for a 3.5kw system is pretty good.
I hope to average about 17kwh per day through out the year. Which at 7 cents a kwh will pay back about $35 per month will be about a 71 month pay back.
I would say that's pretty good considering the average payback is 10 years to never.
Moving forward the only thing I don't like is the roof standoff mounting cost. Next array I will likely build my own out of stainless steel angle and stainless flat bar then tig weld them together.