I am going solar

The company I used only uses SolarWorld panels (made in US) and Fronius or ABB/PowerOne inverters (both made in US). They had a problem a few years ago with an Chinese supplier's panels and committed to US only panels after that.

 

Canadian Solar is a Chinese manufacturer, but they seem to have a good reputation and they have a 3rd party warranty that kicks in they go BK

 

It would be:
Solaredge + optimizer+ centrally located huge inverter + AC disconnect= AC output
PV panels above 225 watts + Microinverter (Enphase M-215 or other brand) under the panels +AC disconnect= AC output
I own the latest type of system and I'm very satisfied.
I can monitor PV production at any given moment trough a web browser to each panel production.
Check my signature for the 10KW system (actually 9880 Kw)
This type of system is a bit more expensive that the counterpart but more reliable.

 

At the time, I had only a 1.6kW starter system, so my meter couldn't spin backwards very fast. Even in summer, it wouldn't lose ground over multiple days unless we were on vacation. Because my house shares a transformer with two other houses, that single transformer wasn't 'running backwards', let alone the whole neighborhood doing so.

Of course! How can one verify and confirm that everything is designed and installed correctly without testing? Engineers (I'm a retired engineer) are continually testing things.

If anyone had objected, I was ready to cease 'testing' and pull out my temporary meter, shutting down the whole system. Neither the L&I electrical inspector, the regular meter reader (a regular meter read happened during this interval) nor the utility technician doing his agency's final inspection and production meter installation expressed any concern.

The annual production incentive form even had a space to record how much energy was produced prior to that official meter install, though the homeowner must also provide justification to support that estimate. So, the local utility is clearly expecting some significant energy delivery during this unofficial 'testing' phase.

 

When I'm finally ready to commit, I plan on inviting mrbigh over for an evaluation/site survey... er I mean BBQ
He's only 25min ride west of my location...

Wow.. I didn't know that was happening.
That would be awesome for me... any info (links) you can share on that?

 

Excellent news- love to see things being manufactured here again!
This seems to be a working link:
‘Historic day for Buffalo,’ Zemsky says of SolarCity RiverBend plans - Business - The Buffalo News

 

ny_rob ...I have an open schedule for another BBQ party......

 

USB,
That is absolutely correct, no shading issues.
I have Spanish tile roof so no resurfacing..
$15,000 delivered and $3000 for install, came out to $2 a watt before tax credit.

A local installer did it. Our power company approved the install and changed the standard meter to a net meter. Very simple and painless.

Also, I purchased a web connect network card and installed it in the inverter myself. This allows me to monitor total system production in real time.

Our system is open to public viewing on the sunnyportal.com website. Check it out at anytime. Also you may look at hundreds of PV systems anywhere in the world if they have public viewing turned on. I also receive daily production emails with pdf file attached.
You will love it when it's complete.

I charge both our PIP's with a factory EVSE upgraded to dual voltage.

 

When we're ready- I'll set up the BBQ... steak, ribs, chicken.. or all three? With your non-vested interest- I'd rather have you come take a look before any commercial installers.
My location problem is my primary roof surface ridgeline runs from N-S which means half of my roof faces due East and the other half faces due West. No Southern exposure, so from sun up till mid afternoon the East facing roof gets full sun then shading after that and the West facing roof gets full sun after maybe 10am till sunset. So it's a bit of a complex setup.... I wonder what kind of output I'd get out of a split setup like that? IIRC- I calculated I can fit 13 panels on each side of the roof for a total of 26 panels total. I do have one small South facing roof that could probably take 4-5 panels if that makes a difference too.

 

Can you provide some instruction for upgrading the EVSE to dual voltage? I am going to convert a Leaf EVSE by following an Instructables I found online, but I can't find any info for the Prius charger.

 

Dual voltage??110 -240VAC? I want to know also, please.

 

Sounds promising!
Thanks again- will apprise when ready to proceed.

 

This is a screen shot of today PV energy production, cold, very cold but mostly bright.
You will be able to assess in real circumstances what to expect from East-South-West exposures with not shading