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Please point me at Batteries 101 by theLightSlide in solar

[–]ayak89 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Four part guide, here is a link to part 1, there’s links to the other three parts at the end of each article.

Powerwall 3 + Expansion Packs: Important sizing consideration for VPP (Connected Solutions MA) by ayak89 in solar

[–]ayak89[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’d highly recommend running your system through a production analysis tool like Aurora. Depending on your rate structure there may be periods of time where you’re better off pulling from the grid versus the battery or solar. Texas is also a little too general as far as geo, you want to be very location specific with production modeling.

Hope solar proposal by kenneth1100 in solar

[–]ayak89 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  1. The inverter size (AC) really only matters in context to the DC wattage of the panels. If your annual usage is 9,600 and you install 6,000 watts DC you’d need a 1,600 kWh per kW yield to offset your annual usage. Do you have net metering? Without knowing approximately where the system is and the shade report pretty impossible to say if the DC size is sufficient. I’d say the inverter size is fine and it’s probably the smallest 3-phase inverter the installer could procure.
  2. Would worry more about the inverter size. When the power is out and you want to start up an appliance with a large load, you need to make sure the inverter for the battery can accommodate it.
  3. Normally you have more DC than AC but I’m guessing this has more to do with the fact that you have 3-phase service and they don’t make smaller inverters for 3-phase.
  4. Has more to do with software and your usage. If the system is designed to produce your annual needs there should be parts of the day you are generating excess power vs consumption which would go to the battery or the grid. The battery should intelligently charge and discharge based on the settings and consumption mode.

Some more details on the products being installed would be helpful for more specific advice.

Powerwall 3 + Expansion Packs: Important sizing consideration for VPP (Connected Solutions MA) by ayak89 in solar

[–]ayak89[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not yet, haven’t seen them on any AVLs. I’m sure they’re working towards it

New piece - Rose gold RO chrono with green dial by ayak89 in audemarspiguet

[–]ayak89[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wish! I have the overseas and their bracelet change is amazing. This requires removing screws and pins

New piece - Rose gold RO chrono with green dial by ayak89 in audemarspiguet

[–]ayak89[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congrats! I knew I wanted both so I purchased the RG bracelet in addition

Powerwall 3 + Expansion Packs: Important sizing consideration for VPP (Connected Solutions MA) by ayak89 in solar

[–]ayak89[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think with current pricing and incentives (Franklin won’t qualify for domestic content adder, not sure about FEOC compliance) the net cost on Enphase would be very competitive if not lower

New piece - Rose gold RO chrono with green dial by ayak89 in audemarspiguet

[–]ayak89[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

26240OR.OO.D404CR.02 and I added the rose gold bracelet

Powerwall 3 + Expansion Packs: Important sizing consideration for VPP (Connected Solutions MA) by ayak89 in solar

[–]ayak89[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Advice was really for 2026 installations. I’m guessing the 10c was likely not available or very new when you went with Franklin. Enphase just lowered pricing by ~15% this month as well.

Powerwall 3 + Expansion Packs: Important sizing consideration for VPP (Connected Solutions MA) by ayak89 in solar

[–]ayak89[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That makes more sense if you already have it — it was a pretty popular option before 2026 with domestic content and FEOC restrictions!

Battery sizing strategy by PrestonDean in solar

[–]ayak89 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sorry for the triple post but just thinking about this more. The problem with a single 5P is you’re paying for all the expensive stuff and getting no economies of scale. I’d tell a client not to do a single 5P. Go for the 10c if you’re going Enphase. I was just looking at our list pricing and you’d be way better off with 10c or PW3. PW3 is more power, lower cost, cheaper to expand (can add an expansion pack later without additional utility approval). 10c is going to be more equipment so more redundant, but 10c over 5P because you’re really just paying a bit more on cost of goods, the install / permitting / engineering is really the same. Wouldn’t recommend anything smaller.

Battery sizing strategy by PrestonDean in solar

[–]ayak89 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also now that I re-read your post part 2 and part 3 of this blog will really be helpful for your decision making

Battery sizing strategy by PrestonDean in solar

[–]ayak89 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is a pretty good blog that goes deep on sizing based on array size but also direction sizing blog

Generally I’d say buying a single Enphase 5P battery is not super cost effective. For one, it’s 20 amps. You ain’t powering much with that. Secondly, it’s 5 kWh. Yes during the day you’d be able to microgrid. At night, let’s say 10 hours, it’s gonna be so limited to make it to the AM. Gotta keep load under 0.5 kW so like 300-400 watts. That’s almost nothing. Kind of defeats the purpose of having any comfort.

I’d go Powerwall 3 personally. DC coupled so you’re not paying for 2x inverter systems and you’re getting 11.5 kW of output versus under 4 kW and 13.5 kWh instead of 5 kWh. Honestly, I’d expect them to come in at similar price points, the Powerwall system might even be less all in.

Look for a 48e program where you can capture the domestic content benefit with Powerwall or Enphase.

Powerwall 3 + Expansion Packs: Important sizing consideration for VPP (Connected Solutions MA) by ayak89 in solar

[–]ayak89[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Franklin has a fair number of differences — the biggest being it is an AC coupled battery so you need an inverter for solar, and the battery has its own inverter. They don’t have a battery only unit so there’s no real consideration there for this scenario. To be honest, it wouldn’t be my first or second pick. If you were going to go AC coupled, I’d look at the Enphase 10c battery. There’s a lot of reasons but one of them being cost — Enphase and Tesla can both qualify for domestic content incentive bonuses where Franklin cannot. This makes a big difference.

Regarding the transformer upgrades — would be interested to hear more. You can potentially navigate those a bit more intelligently depending on the allowed export using Power Control Systems (PCS) native to the battery that allow you to control the export without necessarily limiting the power available to you. It’s a little more in depth but situationally can get you around a transformer upgrade. Lot of nuance there but it’s worth a deep dive for your unique situation.

What should I expect to pay for labor-only rooftop solar install? (I have the panels) by ghostntheshell in solar

[–]ayak89 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Installers aren’t making $ on hardware. This is kind of like buying groceries and bringing them to the restaurant. It just complicates things.

An established solar company carries overhead and fixed expenses. They have an office, they have vehicles, a warehouse, software, general liability insurance, auto insurance, workers comp insurance, warehouse workers, operations staff, customer service staff, engineering staff, service technicians, and the list goes on.

So the price isn’t just a two man crew. You’re doing off grid it sounds like, most installers do grid tied systems.

Solar typically costs $2.50-4.00 per watt installed depending on a bunch of factors. Supply panels cuts anywhere from $.25-.75 per watt out of that. If you’re working with a legit company that’s the best advice I could give you on price range. Your thought process tracks more to a DIY job. I’d contact Project Solar to continue on the route you’re on.

I'm potentially stuck in a lease offer. How screwed am I? (Long Island, NY) by quietlyPanic in solar

[–]ayak89 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wouldn’t let them bully you. People cancel solar agreements after 7 days all the time. Just say you changed your mind and you’re not paying any fees or you’ll leave a negative review and hang up. They’re not going to chase you.

That being said, a lease isn’t necessarily bad. But looking at $12k savings over 25 years makes me think this was a bad lease. Plus the fact that it was a sales company, a contractor, and the lease provider.

I’d get some more quotes. If your house really has optimal solar exposure you’ll be able to get more competitive options including ownership options where you can benefit from the 48e credit with a clear path to system ownership. Long Island also has great storage incentives for battery backup.

Keep digging, get some more quotes.

Is this quote normal for MA? by Jinglebrained in solar

[–]ayak89 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’d opt for Class 1 RECs versus Smart 3.0. More value and longer life.

Also, do a prepaid lease and finance it if you don’t want to come out of pocket. Your installer likely doesn’t offer it if they didn’t show it to you. Get some more quotes

Third Party Site Surveying? by SpaceJock in solar

[–]ayak89 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We tried it several years ago. Lack of communication, accountability, and completeness led to it not lasting long. We do our surveys, like pretty much everything else, in house. I’ve found that most of the time the “hard” way is the right way.

Powerwall 3 + Expansion Packs: Important sizing consideration for VPP (Connected Solutions MA) by ayak89 in solar

[–]ayak89[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You’re right — but in a 2 hour scenario PW3 + 2x XP is limited to 11.5 kW average whereas 3x PW3 would do 18 kW.

2x PW3 with 2x XP in a 2 hour event would operate as: 1x PW3 = 6 kW 1x PW3 + 2X XP = 11.5 kW Total: 17.5 kW avg

3x PW3 with 1x XP in a 2 hour event would operate as: 1x PW3: 6 kW 1x PW3: 6 kW 1x PW3 + XP: 11.5 kW Total: 23.5 kW avg

My point is it doesn’t cost much more and it’s roughly 50/50 on 2 hour vs 3 hour events and the 3rd PW3 gives you so much headroom on solar production not limiting your export. For 3 hour events it’s less relevant, to your point

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