Where to get inverters?

gascort · 04-10-09, 08:40 AM

I'm researching for a DIY panel build and I want to grid-tie. Starting with 200W or less on this project... I can't find retailers outside ebay. Recommendations on what to get & where?

Ryland · 04-11-09, 09:25 AM

Have you talked to any of the renewable energy systems installers in your area? you live in a big city so there should be a number of them, altho an inverter for a 200 watt grid tie system seems a bit small so you might have a hard time finding one unless you went with one those that mounts right to the panel.

gascort · 04-11-09, 10:07 PM

Didn't think about installers... good idea. Do you think they would sell me parts for me to install?
I was looking for one of the tiny inverters for this.

Ryland · 04-12-09, 09:11 AM

It seems to me that at least half of the parts that installers sell are to people who are installing them on their own, you also then get something that the installer feels is of a high enough quality that they are willing to recommend it to people and some installers also service equipment, like when my parents had their inverter high by lightening, their home owners insurance covered it but they still had to get it fixed, took it to our friendly solar installers service shop, they replaced parts, tested it and sent me on my way.
Installers are also better at getting tips on equipment to avoid then any online review, as they have looked at the broken parts first hand and can tell if it was installed wrong, or if it really was equipment error.
Also local installers are often cheaper for buying PV panels as they tend to buy in bulk and don't have to charge you as much shipping.

SVOboy · 04-12-09, 07:14 PM

I was just talking about this with darin yesterday. While I realize it would be overkill on a small system, can you give a price range for the low end? Perhaps there is a DIY solution?

gascort · 04-13-09, 08:29 AM

Ok; looking for alt. energy installers locally... will have to make some calls, because my internet search isn't pulling up that much.
I know a business with some solar panels on it; I'll call and ask them.

And if I'm planning on expanding my system, would it be best to just get a big inverter from the get-go, or would it be cost prohibitive to take the risk if I don't follow through with a 500-1000W system eventually?

jwxr7 · 04-13-09, 08:42 AM

there seem to be lots of small inverters coming out.

gascort · 04-14-09, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwxr7

I bought my 200w grid tie inverter here. Enphase Micro-Inverters

Welcome to the Solar Panel Store - Renewable Energy from the Sun is the name of the linked website; looks like a pretty good business and better prices/product than other websites and Ebay combined.
I'm probably going to order form them when I'm ready.

I'm trying to figure out how long the payback on this stuff will be for me; it's hard to say because I don't know how much sun I actually get.
Does it sound like I'm doing my math right?
175W (planning on a 195W panel, but assuming some loss in efficiency and imperfection)
6 hours per day in the sun getting pretty direct light
200 days per year with decent sun during the day - partly cloudy or sunny
7 cents per KWH is our electric rate here.
This comes up to about $20 per year if I'm generous. If the panel and inverter are a bargain setup, the cost will be about $400 after government rebates, making the payback period like 25-30 years still? Am I way off?

Ryland · 04-15-09, 08:32 AM

to get the all of the rebates you often have to have a site assessment a least you do in our state, this will give you an estimated output (very accurate if done by someone with the training), site assessments are pretty cheap and at lest here 60% of it is paid for by the government, you will want to check on the requirements before spending any money on equipment because some of the grants and so on require money to be spent after paper work is filed.

Xringer · 04-18-09, 01:48 PM

I'm paying 20 cents USD per KWH, so you would think that a cheap package
like the 1.4KW kit, $8600 w/DIY install, wouldn't have a such a long pay back.
But, I'm an old guy and won't likely live to see break-even.

GTe 1.4

Maybe, I could live to see the day, if the KWHs go up to 80 or 90 cents..

Which could actually happen if (or when?) the government takes over the power companies.

~~~
With the US gov printing trillions in crisp new bills, we might see the cost
of panels double or triple during the next few years, so now might be a
good time to get some PV hardware..

04-10-09, 08:40 AM	#1
gascort Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 59 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Where to get inverters? I'm researching for a DIY panel build and I want to grid-tie. Starting with 200W or less on this project... I can't find retailers outside ebay. Recommendations on what to get & where?

04-13-09, 08:42 AM	#7
jwxr7 Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: mid michigan Posts: 191 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	there seem to be lots of small inverters coming out. Last edited by jwxr7; 07-15-10 at 06:54 AM..

04-18-09, 01:48 PM	#10
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	"payback period"?? I'm paying 20 cents USD per KWH, so you would think that a cheap package like the 1.4KW kit, $8600 w/DIY install, wouldn't have a such a long pay back. But, I'm an old guy and won't likely live to see break-even. GTe 1.4 Maybe, I could live to see the day, if the KWHs go up to 80 or 90 cents.. Which could actually happen if (or when?) the government takes over the power companies. ~~~ With the US gov printing trillions in crisp new bills, we might see the cost of panels double or triple during the next few years, so now might be a good time to get some PV hardware..

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04-11-09, 09:25 AM	#2
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	Have you talked to any of the renewable energy systems installers in your area? you live in a big city so there should be a number of them, altho an inverter for a 200 watt grid tie system seems a bit small so you might have a hard time finding one unless you went with one those that mounts right to the panel.

04-11-09, 10:07 PM	#3
gascort Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 59 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Didn't think about installers... good idea. Do you think they would sell me parts for me to install? I was looking for one of the tiny inverters for this.

04-12-09, 09:11 AM	#4
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	It seems to me that at least half of the parts that installers sell are to people who are installing them on their own, you also then get something that the installer feels is of a high enough quality that they are willing to recommend it to people and some installers also service equipment, like when my parents had their inverter high by lightening, their home owners insurance covered it but they still had to get it fixed, took it to our friendly solar installers service shop, they replaced parts, tested it and sent me on my way. Installers are also better at getting tips on equipment to avoid then any online review, as they have looked at the broken parts first hand and can tell if it was installed wrong, or if it really was equipment error. Also local installers are often cheaper for buying PV panels as they tend to buy in bulk and don't have to charge you as much shipping.

04-12-09, 07:14 PM	#5
SVOboy Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 291 Thanks: 3 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	I was just talking about this with darin yesterday. While I realize it would be overkill on a small system, can you give a price range for the low end? Perhaps there is a DIY solution?

04-13-09, 08:29 AM	#6
gascort Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 59 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ok; looking for alt. energy installers locally... will have to make some calls, because my internet search isn't pulling up that much. I know a business with some solar panels on it; I'll call and ask them. And if I'm planning on expanding my system, would it be best to just get a big inverter from the get-go, or would it be cost prohibitive to take the risk if I don't follow through with a 500-1000W system eventually?

04-15-09, 08:32 AM	#9
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	to get the all of the rebates you often have to have a site assessment a least you do in our state, this will give you an estimated output (very accurate if done by someone with the training), site assessments are pretty cheap and at lest here 60% of it is paid for by the government, you will want to check on the requirements before spending any money on equipment because some of the grants and so on require money to be spent after paper work is filed.