So I've got a customer that I am finishing up the electrical installation on his new house. He asked me yesterday if I could install a PV system for him. My response was that Ive never installed a PV system on a house, only ever small scale for remote controls and automation equipment but that I've always wanted to do an install on a house. In the last 15 years Ive worked on all sorts of electrical projects from residential to large scale industrial equipment, but ive never had a chance to do a PV Array. So the question is how hard is it? Can a well rounded electrician do a job like this with little experience actually doing it? It all seems pretty straight forward, the hardest part for me now that im looking into it is just where to buy all this stuff and all the terminology of the parts and pieces since its not stuff ive ever bought before.
Should I install this residential PV system
- Thread starter Zmax25
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gadfly56
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Professional Engineer, Fire & Life Safety
As a general rule, I find if you're doing something for the first time, however long you think it's going to take, double or triple the labor hours and boost your material costs by about 1.5. That way you won't lose too much money.
ggunn
PE (Electrical), NABCEP certified
- Location
- Austin, TX, USA
- Occupation
- Consulting Electrical Engineer - Photovoltaic Systems
Like a lot of other things, it's not that hard if you know what you are doing and difficult to impossible if you do not. If you want your customer to have a good experience and get a system that will perform well for many years, I recommend that you refer him to a reputable PV system provider rather than jumping into it yourself with no experience or training in PV system design and installation.
gadfly56
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Professional Engineer, Fire & Life Safety
Yes, this is really the "A" option. The "B" option might be to see if you can partner/sub to an experienced PV installer who will let you look over his shoulder on the project.
Regarding my original post, while I think it's accurate enough, the inevitable less-than-stellar experience for your customer might generate more negative word-of-mouth than the job is worth.
Ravenvalor
Senior Member
- Location
- Piedmont region of NC
If you own property where solar may be a good option for you, you can install a system there first. Enphase has some good online courses on their microinverters. A good book is "Install Your Own Solar Panels" by Joseph Burdick.
You might have trouble finding good panels at a reasonable price since you may not be already established with a supplier.
You might have trouble finding good panels at a reasonable price since you may not be already established with a supplier.
jaggedben
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern California
- Occupation
- Solar and Energy Storage Installer
If you're gonna do this involve someone who is an experienced roofer. A rooftop PV retrofit is really two trades, electrical and roofing. People don't realize that.
Who is your competition? If there are established PV installers in your area your client is probably better off going with them. If not, and your client is a trailblazer, maybe this is your opportunity. Without knowing what the market is really like in your area it's hard to say. I agree with gadfly that you should charge more than you think you need to.
Who is your competition? If there are established PV installers in your area your client is probably better off going with them. If not, and your client is a trailblazer, maybe this is your opportunity. Without knowing what the market is really like in your area it's hard to say. I agree with gadfly that you should charge more than you think you need to.
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