r/solar 2h ago

Discussion Solar Panel wire touching roof for 2-3 years. Is this okay?

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3 Upvotes

I had my panels installed nearly 4 years ago, and they were perfect. Passed inspection and no wires were touching the roof.

I thought I had a stray zip tie up there for the last 2-3 years and finally went up on the roof to get it. Now, I can see that it’s a wire from the panels touching the roof shingle. It’s been this was for 2-3 years.

  1. Is this easily fixable by the installer? Or does the wire need to be replaced?
  2. Is this a fire risk? Or if it outer jacket wore through, would it simply short out?

Any advice on what I need to do here? Thanks


r/solar 6h ago

Discussion Two things I just learned installing Tigo optimizers

0 Upvotes
  1. The data cable. Run the Tigo ethernet through the same conduit as your DC wiring and code requires 600V shielded ethernet. Custom order, expensive!

  2. The connectors. Tigo units use Stäubli MC4s. Generic MC4s aren't good enough ... mixing brands is a fire risk and voids UL. If your panels don't have Stäubli connectors, you're buying Stäubli connectors AND their ~$1,000 crimp tool. Use a Klein crimper instead and it's not UL certified ... and the Stäubli tool leaves an imprint on the crimp that a fire investigator can check for.

Easy fix for #2: buy panels that ship with Stäubli MC4s from the factory.

Anyone who's installed Tigo optimizers ... how did you handle these?


r/solar 20h ago

Solar Quote Not sure solar is worth it (quote)

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49 Upvotes

This system is going to cost me $33k. About $205 in savings per month. Over 30 years of this system we would save ourselves $73,800. But 30 years is a long time! $33k invested in an index fund at 7% for 30 years is $251k. Am I missing something? I suppose energy rates could go up a bunch and this is kind of like pre-paying your energy bill. How would I model that if I wanted to compare the costs and opportunity cost of this money.
Thanks for any help. Sorry if I left out something important. Quite new to solar.


r/solar 16h ago

Discussion Solar stopped working

2 Upvotes

Recently had Solar installed. Not worked since last Friday.

Zero watts being generated usually generate around 5 kWh.

Spoke to installers. They have raised a ticket with Fox(inverter).

I would have thought the installer would have payed us a visit


r/solar 8h ago

Solar Quote Fair price and good equipment?

2 Upvotes

34,900 in California 6.5kw with 2 5kw batteries all hooked up to existing generac. Seems like good products. Thanks for help.


r/solar 21h ago

Advice Wtd / Project Getting out of Sunnova Lease after install

3 Upvotes

Silly me signed a 25 year lease with Sunnova in Florida who is now Sunstrong. My sales rep was with LGCY. My home insurance came up for renewal and through talking to my agent, he suggested that I add extra coverage for the panels, but to find out what they're worth first to get an accurate number. From there I started REALLY looking at what the cash price of my system might be and was blown away. I have 21 panels, and an 8.6 kw system. I've seen people saying they paid as little as $24k for them. The total payments at the end of my lease would be about $67k. Naturally now I'm ready to pay whatever termination costs there are to get rid of these panels. I called and the cs rep said after the 7 day cancellation window, there is no option to cancel. Mind you, that's not what my sales rep said when I asked him prior to signing up. I was initially sold on these because my electric bill at that time was ~350/mo. Now I pay about 145 to solar and 25 ish to the electric company depending on how much is produced. I figured ok thats still less than paying the electric company outright. Either way, I'd never heard of a lease that can't be broken. Any comments or advice good or bad please. Is it too late in the game and just sit with my choice and leave it alone? Is there a better setup than the one I currently have?

Context: I posted this last year and didn't realize it got deleted due to low karma 🥹 but I got them installed July 2024


r/solar 4h ago

News / Blog Canary Media: Balcony solar is sweeping the US, but who's actually selling it?

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14 Upvotes

r/solar 20h ago

News / Blog 35.5%! LONGi Once Again Breaks World Record for Crystalline Silicon-Perovskite Tandem Solar Cell Efficiency

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cleantechnica.com
28 Upvotes

r/solar 10h ago

Advice Wtd / Project asphalt tile remounting

2 Upvotes

I had a company do a bad install. Mounting feet were not set into roof rafters, but instead the decking. Anyone know if there are replacement mounts that can sufficiently be mounted to decking instead of the rafters? Company is trying to say they can do that so the whole system doesn't have to come down and get a full reinstall with lags properly set in rafters this time. They're certainly trying to minimize warranty costs. Looking for advice. Old NE house. 2/6 rafters with board decking I think


r/solar 20h ago

Advice Wtd / Project Advice wanted - planning on redoing roof that has current array, panels will have to come down. should I move the panels to a ground mount instead of back onto the roof to avoid ruining new shingles?

2 Upvotes

existing shingles are toast. roof needs to be redone. I should've done it when I had the panels installed. Now I'm thinking of getting a ground mount instead of putting panels back onto the roof to avoid the foot traffic needed to re-install all the panels. this would make it easier to maintain the array and expand it later on as well... the roof is quite treacherous and hard to reach. thoughts? costs? and I could get a ground mount that auto tracks the sun for more production...


r/solar 9h ago

Solar Quote HELP: Is This a Competitive Quote for Solar

2 Upvotes

Hello community members. My wife and I are looking into solar and have received quotes from multiple companies (local and not-local). Can you all tell me whether this quote (photo attached to body) is competitive and fair? That's all I'm looking for? I simply want to make sure these specs make sense and that we would not get screwed. Additional information: the loan is with Sungauge. Thanks!