6.4kW Solar Panel Installation – Part I
Earlier this year (late January) I started getting bids to install a new solar array. The purpose of this array was to get us closer (and maybe slightly beyond) net zero — meaning that our renewable energy production would equal our consumption of fossil fuel generated electricity. Years ago our house was close to this number but since we switched to electric cars and installed air condition we were no longer close to this number.
Back in 2004, I installed my own 4.2kW solar array but since that time there is much more red tape involved and most manufacturers require that the solar array and inverter is installed by a licensed contractor. Things have also changed with regards to cost. In 2004, the cost per watt for solar panels was over $4 per watt and nowadays the cost is much lower.
With the passing of time (and my age) I elected to do things via a qualified electrician. In January of this year I started calling qualified installers here in SE Minnesota and had a few of them out to survey our site and produce an estimate. Most of the bids were higher than I expected to pay and the time frame to install was already out to June of this year.
One installer in particular was had a more reasonable, closer to home and stated he could have the array up sooner than the other two installers. How could I say no? Most importantly he was a local company located in our county and I always give preference to contractors who are my neighbors. I always try to support our local economy whenever I can.
So in February, we put a deposit down on a 6.4kW (DC) solar array with Viking Electric. Scott Prahl, owner and master electrician notified me just a few days later that he already had the hardware ready-to-go in his warehouse. Then in early March with a break from winter, Scott called to ask if our ground was still frozen where the ground-mount array was to be installed. It took a few days but low and behold I was able to drive a pipe in the ground and within a few weeks Scott was out with his crew to install the panels.
We still need to have the wiring trenched from the inverter to the grid but things are moving along very fast, exceeding my expectations by many weeks. Stay tuned we should be up and running in just a few weeks from now.
Need Solar? Need an Electrician? Check out Viking Electric: https://vikingelectric.net/
— Alan Stankevitz