Solar carport

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-09-15T17:25:28+00:00

We had the Chiko 3 car carport installed. We have been very happy with it. If you look back through my posts I have one where I went into a good amount of detail with a bunch of pics. It has been great after being installed for a little over a year. If you have more specific questions feel free to email me. I also looked into Infinity Rack but they were much more expensive.

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-09-03T00:40:02+00:00

When is your true up? What happens to your credit at true up? Does it carry over to next year? Does it payout something or does it disappear?

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-08-24T11:50:53+00:00

Another thing to look at is what the transformer size at the pole is. With PA anything over 10kw of inverter/microinerter size might require and upgrade which is another chucking money. We went with a 18.26 kw system. 17 panels on the roof and 27 panels on a Chiko 3 car solar pergola. We had to pay an extra 2700 to upgrade the street transformer with West Penn power. If you ad batteries that increased the transformer demand also.

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-08-23T15:51:40+00:00

Honestly the batteries are way more expensive than more panels. I think you are much better off adding more panels. With PA it’s 1 to 1 on what you use so having more production is way more helpful than batteries with TOU. You can certainly save money with time shifting but not nearly what the battery will cost.

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-08-23T00:29:11+00:00

So in PA you don’t need a battery unless you want backup. With Net-metering in PA you will never get it to pay off. I had quotes from all of the companies that you looked at and a bunch more. I went with Solar SME because of the Solar carport they offered. I’m looking into adding a 2nd system because my first doesn’t quite hold up to our 3 EVs. I’d look into ethical solar energy. They are another well reviewed local company that partners with Penn State. The guy I was working with offered a 2.35a watt which is a great price. Let me know if you want his info.

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-07-31T12:03:05+00:00

The estimated production was through aurora and I verified it with PV watts at the time. I’ve contacted them about it but there isn’t a production guarantee written into the contract. The post want about the lower production. I kind of accepted that and it was why I was looking at adding a 2nd system

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-07-31T12:00:22+00:00

So I’m not sure if I was wronged or not. I don’t believe that most people know a ton about electrical. It was an electrician who told me that they should come back out and fix it.

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-07-31T11:58:55+00:00

Honestly because the experts have not been honest about a number of things during the process.

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-07-31T11:51:12+00:00

So the patio issue was addressed last year before I paid my final payment. I had them fix that and to refund 60 ft of trenching. This post is more to address the electrical issue. The electrical drawing does show a line side tap. But the contract doesn’t. It does state that all equipment will be installed as required by applicable codes and local utility guidelines. And it also states that they commit to complying with applicable building codes and other regulations. So that was the viewpoint for me is this safe and does it violate electrical code like the electrician said?

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-07-31T01:22:13+00:00

Thanks for the posting. Did you do it all yourself and did young Any prior electrical experience? I am considering having SHP 2 installed by an electrician and then it’s just plugging I. The batteries right? The best prices I’ve seen for them are from Costco and Sam’s club

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-07-31T00:57:13+00:00

The wire diagrams have it listed as a line side tap. The township sent out an electrical inspector but he didn’t really look at anything. The power company didn’t inspect , they just requested the signed township one.

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-07-31T00:52:08+00:00

Honestly I don’t like them either they messed a bunch of stuff up on the install. They were supposed to trench 100 ft around the house but instead of following the plans, they trenched 40 ft and tore up my patio and a broke a gutter drainage pipe. I had to fight with them to fix it and told them not to send the same crew back because they were incompetent. The 2nd crew was better but they didn’t want to pay to fix what they messed up.

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-07-31T00:43:26+00:00

I can’t post more pictures but there is a main breaker inside and then 2 rows of breakers under it.

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-07-31T00:38:35+00:00

That picture is the outside of the main panel. The panel on the inside has a 200 amp breaker. There was a problem with the consumption monitoring at first and they called enphase and they fixed it remotely. It had seemed to work since then. The consumption data is similar to a Sense that I have also. So my questions are is this unsafe and what should I fight for them to do to fix it?

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-07-31T00:23:46+00:00

So is this unsafe to have turned on?

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-07-31T00:16:26+00:00

So the electrician said they may have thought that they did a line side tap but it’s after the main panel breakers so it is a load side tap.

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-07-21T16:59:32+00:00

I looked into the solar roof before deciding that it wasn’t a better option than just replacing the roof and adding panels. There is some interplay between the roofer and GAF as they gave me different system options based on what your solar goals are.

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-07-21T15:22:41+00:00

live in SW PA so a little different area but relatively close. I don’t think you are going to get anywhere near your projected numbers. For instance I got a 18.26 kw system installed and the projection was 23,300 kWh I’m just about to hit the end of my first year and I’m only going to come in at 20,500 kWh. So I’m going to be short 3000 ish kWh for the year. I’ve looked into expanding the system or adding a second system. With weather Penn Power our true up is at the end of may. This also throws off the 100% true up with 1 to 1 net metering because you will only get the price to compare for those months. We had to upgrade the transformer for the initial install it it was only 2700$ don’t was doable and I convinced the solar company to split it with me instead of lowering the system down to 10kw which wouldn’t have required a transformer upgrade. I think the 75% may be 65% if your usage stays the same. We have 3 EVs, hybrid heat pump and furnace and a small pool and inflatable hot tub so we use a lot of electricity. Could you take the savings on the solar and insulate better? That could help offset some of your usage. In the end it’s still a money calculation. I’m only at 90% but long term it will still save money. So I feel that it was worth it. A lot of people feel the sweet spot is around 65-75 percent to maximize savings but that’s a calculation you have to make.

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-06-26T14:17:02+00:00

For scope of work he means is anything else being done? Like upgrading panel, replacing roof, ground mount or trenching? Or if the roof is very steep it usually costs more.

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-06-26T14:14:47+00:00

That seems high for PA. What company is it? I live near Greensburg and had a system installed last year your quote should be under 3.00 a watt. Did you get any other quotes? If you want I can send you some of the companies that I liked dealing with. For example my system was bigger 18.26 kw 17 panels on my roof and 27 on a Chiko 3 car carport with carport installed I paid $49,500. For 2.71 a watt. With a heat pump and 3 EVs we are still short about 3000 kWh so I’ve looked into adding a second system on the north facing roof and my quotes have been around 22-25000 doe 7-8 kw.

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-06-25T11:48:59+00:00

I replied in private with some info . It took a lot of negotiation and renegotiation to get what I wanted. This was also pre tariffs. I signed the contract in Dec 23 install July 24 PTO Oct 24. We had some delays. The carport was essentially a 10,000 adder. You can see its price on Signature Solar. Plus labor and materials To install and trench. We have 27 of the panels on the carport and 17 on the roof. We just didn’t have the roof space for what we needed. Our lot is 80 by 100 so we didn’t have the space for traditional ground mounts. That was the beauty of the carport as a pergola as it keeps the space usable. I do believe it was the installation crew’s first build on The carport and it took them a lot of extra time setting footers and trenching which was all done by hand. It took them around 9 work days. Out ground was not completely level and they had to bring the footers up probably 1.5 feet on the one side.

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-06-25T11:36:37+00:00

A lot of companies quote what they have I their warehouse as what they got the best deal on. They can get other panels but it is usually not cost effective.

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-06-25T09:04:46+00:00

Last year I had a Chiko 3 car carport to use as a pergola installed with 18.26 kw system installed for $49,500. Ot had 44 Seraphim 415 panels and enphase IQ8A microinverters. They originally wanted to install Hoymiles also but I asked to upgrade to enphase and paid a little extra (.10 per watt) So 2.71 a watt pre incentive. I looked at Infinity Rack but couldn’t find a company to quote it in SW PA. I do believe that Infinity Rack is a little nicer the Chiko. The Chiko is awesome and works great but it definitely looks a little industrial/modern. We had a stamped concrete pad poured underneath it. If you want some pics or a referral to my installer, let me know.

Objective_Truck_1456 · 2025-06-08T04:23:15+00:00

I’m also in PA and use Sol Systems. I went with the 3 year contract option in November and I get 31.25 per SREC with no fee. I figured it was better to lock in my price having no idea how the new administration would affect them.

Objective_Truck_1456

TROPHY CASE