JohnEC
S 00443
Just entered into a contract with SolarCity to get a NEMA 14-50 outlet installed in my garage. As my main panel is 100A-capable and is neatly located on the outside of the garage wall where I need the outlet to be, SolarCity deemed it a simple enough install that'd not require a main panel upgrade. The cost is $450. Had I needed a main panel upgrade, it'd have been $2,650!
The whole process was straightforward:
- Sent an email to [email protected] and got a call back from a rep who took down some initial info including about which Model S battery pack I'm going for and estimated car delivery date (I said early November).
- The rep then sent out a simple fill-in-PDF survey that asked some questions about the install location, the main panel and the sub-panel.
- I returned the filled-in survey by email along with pictures of the panels, the 100A breaker switch and the garage itself.
- At a time of my choosing, had a followup call with a specialist who had reviewed the survey and the pictures. We talked about daily commute distances and agreed that a 14-50 rather than an HPWC was good enough or me. The specialist gave me the cost estimates on the phone and followed up with an agreement by email (for an install without upgrading the main panel) that I could e-sign. This agreement had estimated install date ranges that are about 3 weeks out as of today.
That's pretty interesting. I contacted SolarCity too and went through the same process as you did. I figured I would get a reasonable price from them as they did my solar panel install and electrical panel upgrade a couple years ago. They came back with a quote for $750 for an outlet less than 20 feet from the panel. I wasn't too happy with that so I got another quote from a local electrician at $649.
I ended up doing it myself for about $125 in parts and wire form Home Depot. It was a pretty easy job. Working with the #6 wire (hard to bend) being the toughest part.
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