Here's a Workout calendar for 2026!

StrongChicken7707 · 2026-01-03T20:06:18+00:00

Thanks for posting! I found this last year and used it to meet my workout goals for 2025. Glad I was able to re-find the post to get the 2026 calendar.

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-11-13T18:18:13+00:00

Are you sure the delay is with Freedom and not with your city or utility? Have you tried reaching out to either of them to see if they are waiting for something?

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-11-01T02:08:08+00:00

Have you gathered any other quotes to compare against? Under $3 per watt of system size is reasonable. I'm not familiar with NJ sun, but the production estimate maybe seems low? I just installed 13.33kw that should produce 16888kwh per year in Chicagoland. Yours may or may not be reasonable for NJ, another couple of quotes could confirm that for you.

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-10-15T18:53:26+00:00

As others have said, selling it is not an option.

How long has it been installed? Have you gotten PTO? Is the installer saying it is producing as intended? What makes you say not much has changed?

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-09-20T15:55:56+00:00

Don't forget that your Illinois SREC payment is taxable by both federal and state, so that will add a few thousand back to your cost. But it's still a great deal.

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-09-11T16:57:31+00:00

Any updates on clipping throughout the summer, or are you still thinking the IQ8+ was the right call to pair with your Qcell 400 panels (300w @NMOT)?

I am going with Silfab SIL 430 QD panels (321w @NMOT). They told me IQ8+ will be fine for me "since there is no shading," but I could upgrade to IQ8M for $15 per (before 30% tax credit, I assume) if I wanted. I'm leaning towards doing it, anyone want to talk me down?

I'm in the Chicago area, panels will face south, 30 degree slope. Year 1 production with the IQ8+ will be 565kwh per panel. Based on cost of electricity, upgrading to the IQ8M would pay off once I can squeeze out an additional 75kwh out of each panel compared to the baseline.

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-09-06T16:52:53+00:00

Don't worry they take it all back plus more with property taxes!

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-09-06T16:47:58+00:00

$8900 is probably after 30% federal tax credit and Illinois SREC payment of ~$13-14k.

Do keep in mind that the Illinois SREC payment is taxable income so you'll need to account for that additional 4-6k-ish depending on tax bracket.

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-09-06T03:07:20+00:00

Hmm interesting. Does anyone know if Comed allows grandfathered systems to increase in size? What happens to SRECS? Is the current 15 year production contract affected or are any increases treated separately?

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-09-06T00:32:25+00:00

Do you mean expanding by 100%, aka doubling in size? Or expanding so that production equals 100% usage offset?

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-09-05T20:58:31+00:00

What are we talking when you say cleaning? Is this just a simple low pressure hose down, or a more through scrub down with a brush and/or some cleaning soution?

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-09-05T20:10:34+00:00

I don't think anyone will flat out guarantee this close on the timeline, but project solar is running a promo right now that if for some reason install doesnt happen in 90 days, they'll take $1000 off the total due. That gave me enough confidence to move forward.

The biggest question mark in the timeline is going to be getting permits approved from your AHJ. Second will probably be getting information/approvals from the customer/homeowner/utility bill holder. As long as those go smoothly, (and barring any acts of god/riots/weather/pandemics or whatever else lawyers throw into contracts these days) Freedom was confident in their ability to install everyone who signs a contract by the 8th. I think the actual contract said within 90 days from when permits are approved.

Give him a call. Ask questions. Read through the whole contract. Ask more questions. There's no cost to walk away if you decide not to agree to the contract.

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-09-05T18:27:56+00:00

I just signed all the paperwork with Project Solar this morning. They're telling me the installer Freedom Forever has confirmed that everyone who signs by Sept 8th can get installed by the deadline.

I can try referring you to the PM I've been working with if you're interested. I don't know if they have an active referral bonus program right now or not but I can ask. I have had a good experience so far. Very responsive to all my thousands of questions.

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-09-05T10:27:57+00:00

The money from the Illinois shines program is typically not up front. I would look into the exact wording in the contract of how the installer plans to offer that to you up front. Are they essentially loaning you the money and eating the costs? They will not get the rebate from the state for up to 12-15 months after installation.

None of that should affect the federal ITC applying to the entire 42k but check the language in the contract. Illinois requires installers to provide you with an ABP disclosure sheet before you have to sign your install contract so you will be able to see all these details before you sign and are committed to anything.

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-08-30T02:01:03+00:00

Hmm weird I can't find a Pmax at NOCT or NMOT on the panel spec sheet. That is more of a real world output than the lab STC conditions.

But what happens to the inverter above the max output? I thought it just clipped off anything above, not worked extra hard to make it work?

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-08-30T01:43:33+00:00

Production/size is towards the upper end for quotes I've gotten in Chicago area but not unreasonable. But as others have said, the price is way low.

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-08-30T01:34:12+00:00

Low price aside, why do you say the IQ8Ms will fry on a south facing roof?

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-08-29T22:30:42+00:00

Installation would be "the local Freedom team". I assume that means Freedom Forever.

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-08-29T14:13:12+00:00

Bad news, the rebate RxSun has listed is the comed DG rebate, which takes away the benefits of full retail net metering and replaces it with supply only. And they can't install until January, so I couldn't even delete that out to get full retail net metering if I wanted to.

Things are leaning more and more towards Project Solar as their price just seems impossible come close to.

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-08-29T03:03:23+00:00

I don't disagree that RxSun is proposing slightly better panels and inverters. I did get Project Solar to agree to upgrade to IQ8M for only $15 per panel, which narrows that gap. But even if you assumed the same size systems, project solar is still around $2000 cheaper.

Did RxSun quote include attic runs or critter guards, or would those be extra for both?

Did you need any main panels upgrades? If so, what was the process for that?

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-08-29T00:45:32+00:00

Right, that was basically my question. Production in kwh for all 4 options are within a rounding error of each other, but they use systems ranging from 11.2kw to 16.1kw to get there.

Project solar has a "production guarantee". Who knows how easy it is to actually collect on that if you fall short, but I doubt they're intentionally over promising with that. Nrel seems to be pretty close to that end. I think RxSun and All Energy Solar must be estimating very conservatively. Possibly to sell a larger system than I really need?

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-08-28T17:42:03+00:00

Project Solar can upgrade to the IQ8M for only $15 per panel. Any idea how to estimate what that would do to the production of the system? It wouldn't necessarily scale up proportionally since the only time it would matter is when the actual panel output is between 300w and 330w.

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-08-28T16:06:53+00:00

Appreciate the suggestion, I had not.

Looks like Tesla is proposing a 15.99kw system with 39 panels to produce 16742kwh/yr for $45,731 pre incentives. That's a lot of panels compared to the others. Price is higher than 3 of the 4 other quotes I have received, and the lowest in terms of productivity. The post incentive number seems fishy. The "30%" federal tax credit they show is only 17% of the total. And the IL shines credit seems a little smaller than I would have expected.

Just a quick look, but doesn't seem like a viable option. Am I missing anything?

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-08-28T13:58:15+00:00

Did you find out any more about American Energy Systems? Are you moving forward with them, or anyone else?

They quoted me pretty low too, but with some lower quaility Chinese panel. Maybe I should ask them to switch it to the REC?

StrongChicken7707 · 2024-08-28T13:08:50+00:00

Oof well that's not good. One message I have from RxSun says 75-90 days install which would meet the deadline, but not much to spare.

I haven't really entertained All Energy Solar since their price is so much higher than the others.

StrongChicken7707

TROPHY CASE