Anyone installed solar PV in the last 6 mo or so in the RDU area?

[RDUBiker]

As promised, here's my "build thread" with as much detail and photos as I can come up with:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/ralei...-decision.html

[MI-Roger]

I got some questions answered; such as why the system shuts down during power failures - it loses its utility synchronization signal for timing of the 60 Hz sinusoidal AC power produced by the inverter; and learned the cost of installation in my area is ~$4/watt before tax credits and ~$3/watt after credits are included (a 6KW system suitable for a very large home will cost ~$24,000 initially and the home owner will receive ~$6,000 in tax credits).

Installation looks very simple; a free-standing steel & aluminum rack, PV panels, and the inverter box which does everything.

I wonder if I can put a couple panels on the roof of our poolhouse? Each side of the roof is approximatley 7ft x 12 ft, with a fairly steep 7/12 pitch, or 168 sq ft of space for panels.

Ypsilanti, Michigan Solar Project

[RDUBiker]

Originally Posted by MI-Roger

I got some questions answered; such as why the system shuts down during power failures - it loses its utility synchronization signal for timing of the 60 Hz sinusoidal AC power produced by the inverter; and learned the cost of installation in my area is ~$4/watt before tax credits and ~$3/watt after credits are included (a 6KW system suitable for a very large home will cost ~$24,000 initially and the home owner will receive ~$6,000 in tax credits).

Installation looks very simple; a free-standing steel & aluminum rack, PV panels, and the inverter box which does everything.

I wonder if I can put a couple panels on the roof of our poolhouse? Each side of the roof is approximatley 7ft x 12 ft, with a fairly steep 7/12 pitch, or 168 sq ft of space for panels.

Ypsilanti, Michigan Solar Project

That's pretty cheap. My understanding is the nat'l average is closer to $5/watt installed before subsidies and rebates. My cost is around $4.65/watt before help, and about $1.32/watt after.

Installation is simple on paper, but if your roof is steeply pitched, or there are other access issues, it can be hairy. The actual parts themselves are simple but doing it right may not be. You don't want your roof leaking, either.