We spent $40,330 on a 15.2 kWp system containing 38 400W Hanwha Q400 silver frame panels, 38 TS4-R-O power optimizers, 2 SMA Sunny Boy SMA inverters, mesh squirrel protection, Solar Sense energy usage and a solar generation monitor. After 26% tax rebate that should work out to $29,844 that I estimate should pay itself off in 7-10yrs. Production guarantee is 21,200 kWh initially and falls off to the manufacturers production warranty of 85% at 25 years. My current yearly usage estimate is ~17,000 kWh, so we are 125% solar for electric (enough excess to support a future electric car for our next vehicle upgrade). One important feature of Solartime production guarantee is extending beyond the 12yr manufacturer's product warranty to 25yr (provided they are still in business). Higher production warranty panels like the smaller 350W LG were more expensive for a 92% production guarantee (compared to 85%), but the geometry of the house did not allow more panels on our maximum efficiency faces of our steep pitch roof (up to 45 deg). The larger 400W panels allowed for a higher production guarantee that was $5,000 less than competitors. My sales rep, Jason, was very knowledgeable and went above and beyond the competitors in providing detailed and timely responses to my technical questions. Dora made sure scheduling and follow-up went smoothly while Martyna followed through with an onsite visit and personal touch. On the installation, Greg, Ziggy, Mo, Joel, and company were professional, flexible, friendly, and had attention to detail in completing everything to my satisfaction as I added a number of modifications throughout the install. Alicia in technical support went above and beyond in responding to my numerous text messages and provided access to more system monitoring for my technical interests which was really helpful in my monitoring the initial installation and working through intermittent panel communication outages as the system synced up with my wifi over the first week. The power optimizers allow single panel control/monitoring on the string inverter to provide benefits similar to micro inverters. While the Solar Sense monitor took a couple of extra visits to get working, that has been an invaluable way to monitor energy usage and solar production in real time (highly recommended). I switched to Green Mountain Energy because of their unlimited one-for-one energy credits with their net-metering, so the excess credits are used to pay for our usage at night and during summer when we consume more than we produce with summer AC. ONCOR came out and set up the net metering after the installation and the final city inspection, and it took about 1 week before the net metering changed from estimated to actual on the numbers reported to GME and SmartMeterTX.com (extremely useful site showing last two years of energy usage and includes solar excess sent back to grid with net metering). The solar business in the Dallas area is competitive and iooks like there are many good options. I've been impressed with Solartime's consistent quality of work and customer-oriented focus and cost-effective solutions with their larger less-expensive QCELL 400W panels, though there is a slight trade off with energy efficiency at the end of 25 yrs with the QCELLs. Solartime's 25yr production warranty is a strong selling point worth comparing to other estimates. Everything is working great, and I recommend adding them to your list of bids if you are installing solar around the Dallas area.
