Tesla Solar Journey

[kengchang]

03/28/19 - Filled out Request for Information on Tesla website
04/03/19 - Created EnergySage account, most quote were Panasonic panel at $2.80ish
04/05/19 - Missed call back from Energy team, called and was sent a link to fill out basic information. Solar reservation made
04/06/19 - Scheduled Home Assessment on 04/12/19
04/12/19 - Site assessment
04/13/19 - Contacted by Energy Advisor for more detailed information (usage, panel option, powerwall)
4/13~4/19 - Back and forth communication on design, Q&A etcs
04/19/19 - First design complete, system too small for my liking, Tesla was using last 12 months of usage. Talked to the advisor and he will make the system bigger. Panasonic + Delta Inverter and $3.49/W
04/23/19 - Second design, almost there but want 2 more panels to get to 9kW. Panasonic + SolarEdge and $2.85/W.
04/26/19 - Talked to the Energy Advisor. Third design, 9.24kW but want to move PowerWall/Gateway/Load Center to exterior wall and asked about PowerWall reservation pricing
05/04/19 - Fourth design with exterior install
05/07/19 - Signed contract and bunch of documents as they appears in the Tesla account, contacted by Energy Project Coordinator
05/09/19 - Contacted by Re-roofing team and roofer to discuss any additional works (replacing skylights and adding vents)
05/13/19 - Contacted by Re-roofing team that roofer can start on 5/20/19, but skylights won't arrive until 5/22. Roofer will start on 6/3/19
05/21/19 - Roofer can start on 5/28, works for me.
05/22/19 - Roofer can actually starts 5/23 but since I already requested 5/28 off, sticking with that day.
05/23/19 - Energy Project Coordinator texted permit is due on 5/30 for solar install.
05/28/19 - Roofer showed up and started re-roofing

 

[Hydralistor]

how old is your roof? what does re-roofing cost? What does re-roofing do? just move the skylight?
I am considering solar panel, but my house was built in 2001, the roof is almost 20 years old. It is still good now, but I am not sure if I need to install a new roof for the new solar panel

 

[TheTalkingMule]

With a 20 year old roof I bet they'll tell you to have it redone. The idea is that these panels don't have to move for another 25 years, during which time your original roof would surely have broken down making repair doubly difficult.

Even doing the roof 5-10 years before you otherwise might is a good deal because you can take the 30% federal tax credit on the roof cost if it's to accommodate a solar array install.

 

[kengchang]

how old is your roof? what does re-roofing cost? What does re-roofing do? just move the skylight?
I am considering solar panel, but my house was built in 2001, the roof is almost 20 years old. It is still good now, but I am not sure if I need to install a new roof for the new solar panel

Roof is 32 years old and cost 10K for concrete tile roof. Re-Roof covers removing existing tiles, do the underlayment and put back the tiles. Skylight is totally not involved with the solar but I want to replace it since they are already up there.
What roof do you have? Shingles? I have concrete tile roof so the cost is higher.

 

[TSV2000]

I never had a site assessment and they have already scheduled an install. How can they be confident that the roof is in good enough condition? Is this based on the satellite pictures?

 

[dhrivnak]

Even doing the roof 5-10 years before you otherwise might is a good deal because you can take the 30% federal tax credit on the roof cost if it's to accommodate a solar array install.

I doubt this as I checked twice and was clearly told new shingle cost would not be claimed for the solar tax credit. I could only do so if I used solar shingles.

 

[cwied]

I doubt this as I checked twice and was clearly told new shingle cost would not be claimed for the solar tax credit. I could only do so if I used solar shingles.

I think the conventional wisdom is that the portion of the roof under solar panels can be claimed as part of the solar system cost if reroofing at the same time. At least, that's what my sister-in-law's accountant told her.

 

[kengchang]

05/29/19 - Day 2 of re-roofing

 

[jwlsh]

Claiming the re-roof as part of tax credit is news to me also but I just found this too

Reroof and Solar | Sullivan Solar Power

then this:

Solar Federal Tax Credit: What Is and Isn’t Eligible

and finally:

I had a new Roof and solar system installed 2017. In the Energy ... - TurboTax® Support

 

[kengchang]

05/31/19 - Re-roofing completed

 

[kengchang]

06/11/19 - Called today to schedule installation, first day available is 6/24. Solar team seems to be pretty busy!

 

[kengchang]

6/24 - PowerWall Crew showed up at 7AM and Solar crew showed up shortly after. Installation was done by 4PM.

 

[stealthnhawk]

Can I ask if you have installed Panasonic 315 panels? Thanks.

 

[kengchang]

Can I ask if you have installed Panasonic 315 panels? Thanks.

It is SolarCity SC330 (Panasonic)

 

[stealthnhawk]

Thanks. They have offered me Hanwha 315 or Panasonic 315. They’ve said Hanwha looks better.. in terms of specs, both are the same except Panasonic has 15 instead of 12 yrs warranty.. so confused which one to get..

 

[kengchang]

Thanks. They have offered me Hanwha 315 or Panasonic 315. They’ve said Hanwha looks better.. in terms of specs, both are the same except Panasonic has 15 instead of 12 yrs warranty.. so confused which one to get..

Isn't 315 the Black panel?

 

[stealthnhawk]

Hi yes that was I what thought based on the forum but Tesla senior advisor insisted that it’s not.
He said this is what the Panasonic should look like but I think it’s not.
The Panasonic specs picture shows differently.

My schedule install is this coming Thursday so I need to decide on which panel. Panasonic or Hanwha

 

[kengchang]

In the PDF you attached, it says "SC315B2 AND SC310B2 BLACK MODULE" and "Q.PEAK DUO BLK-G5".

Pretty sure that's Black panel.

 

[stealthnhawk]

I guess it’s better to go with Panasonic.

 

[stealthnhawk]

Hi. I have another question if you don’t mind help answering. My main panel is inside the house. When they install solar, do they need to run cable to the main panel or just to the meter outside?